Indigo Blues (23 page)

"I'm skeptical about this." Gina shakes her head. "You
could really mess things up for the song's debut."

"How?" I ask.

"Yeah, how?" Zach repeats.

"Sabian has a way with questions, and you could get stuck in a hold and panic. Then you'll end up saying something that you regret," Gina says.

"But this will give us both a chance to explain ourselves. Show people that I'm more than just the guy who
wrote `Indigo Blues."'

Gina shakes her head. "And it could give Indigo a
chance to step all over you."

Zach pats me on the back. "I've known Adam for a
long time. If he says he can handle something, he can.
Right?"

"I can do this." I think. I hope. I know.

"I'm surprised Indigo agreed to the interview," Zach
whispers to me after Gina leaves the room.

"She hasn't yet ... but Eli says it won't be a problem."

"Okay, cool. E! Not too shabby."

The others guys join us and we hustle into the studio.
Time is tight since we're not the only band in town trying
to record a hit song. We go through the same process as
usual, a warm-up and a sound check.

Gina tries to rev us up with morning stretches. When
that doesn't work, she announces, "It's pep-talk time!"

"For what?" I ask. We're all totally jamming, so I don't
see what the point is.

"Just want to make sure we're all on the same page
before we get rolling." I realize that she's wearing a silk
shirt and black pants. A far cry from her usual jeans and
tee. Even Gina is game for the image upgrade.

Jack bangs the drums. "Ready to rock."

"Yeah, man." Tommy does some mad strumming on
his bass.

Gina claps her hands. "Good, I'm glad you're all ready.
I just wanted to say that this song could really push you
guys to the next level. It's your it factor. `Indigo Blues' got
you in the door, but `Sugar Rush' will keep you on top."

"I like being on the top." Zach laughs.

Gina throws him a smirk. "I'm serious. You guys are
young. You have the rest of your careers to think about."

"Thanks for everything," I say. I know she works hard
and I can't remember when any of us actually thanked her
for more than bringing us grub.

"We love you, Gina!" Zach stands up and opens his
arms wide. "Group hug!"

"This is so corny," Tommy mumbles, but when we see
Gina smiling we all get in on the action. It's only a matter of seconds, though, before the group hug turns into a
smack down.

Gina quickly pulls away. "Hey guys, slow down. This
isn't the WWF!"

Zach fake punches Tommy and he falls to the ground.
I pretend to trip Jack, but he comes back at me with a slap
on the back.

Derek, the sound engineer, sticks his head in the room.
"Hey, cut that out. We don't need our studio insurance any
higher than it already is."

I catch my breath and pick up my guitar. Now I'm
ready to rock!

've been spending entirely too much time today trying to
figure out what is wrong with Eli. Like, is he on crack? I
quickly ruled that out, due to the fact that he's a total miser
and purchasing drugs would only drain the "independent
film fund" that he's been saving up for since he was eleven.
I pondered the idea that he might have had a recent fall
that none of us are aware of, or perhaps he has adolescent
onset of some rare psychological disorder? Those are the
only things that would explain why he thinks I should go
on The Sabian Lime Show. I mean, hello, that's E! And the
icing on the cake is that they're doing a show on jilted lovers or something. And I would have to go on the show with
Adam.

And even worse, Eli had the nerve to wake me up ten
minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off this morning. Like he couldn't wait until I was showered and dressed
to drop the bomb on me.

I can't think about this anymore. I throw on my work
clothes and charge down the stairs. I need to grab a bite to
eat before I leave because I'm pulling a double and working until ten tonight. Eli's in the kitchen with one hand in
the box of Frosted Flakes and the other holding his cell. As
soon as he sees me, he tells the caller he has to go.

I pull sliced deli turkey and bread out of the fridge
and fix myself a sandwich. "You didn't have to get off on
account of me."

"Trevor talks too much anyway."

"You just figured that out? You've only been friends
since third grade."

"By the way, he thinks you should do the show."

I cut my sandwich into triangles. "And I should listen
to him?"

"I'm saying you should give it some thought."

"I dunno. It could be like the fuel that feeds the fire,
and people keep on coming back for more."

"Or it could be the bucket of water." Eli smiles. I know
he's proud of himself. I guess he should be at least mildly
proud. How many fourteen-year-olds can say they set up a
major interview for their sister with the E! network?

"You're relentless." I take a bite of my sandwich. "Listen, I have to run to work."

"Just think about it."

I grab the other half of my sandwich and my car keys.
"Bye, Eli."

"This is The Sabian Lime Show..." he says, in the best
TV voice he can muster.

"This is Indigo Jackson signing out..." I slam the front
door and say hello to Darnell.

There are no customers in the store when I get to Rock
Candy, so I straighten up the counter while Tony does the
inventory. Sara's coming for swing shift but she doesn't get
here for another three hours, so it's all me up front.

A couple of middle schoolers in soccer uniforms stroll
in.

I lean over the counter. "What can I get you?"

"Just want to get some candy," the one in the ponytail
says.

"What size bag?" I point to the three different-sized
bags taped up in front of the register.

"Medium."

"Me too." The other girl unfolds the dollar bills crunched
up in her hand.

"I think TJ likes you, Lisa," Ponytail says.

"Really? He's so cute. I would die. Have you heard him
play the trumpet in band?" Lisa hands me the money.

"Mrs. Simpson is always bragging about him," Ponytail whines.

I hand Lisa back her change and say, "Can I give you
some advice?"

"Sure," she says.

"Dating a musician can be dangerous, very dangerous."

Both girls look at me like I have three heads.

"I'm just saying, from experience." I try to retract my
statement but I don't think it's working.

"Okay." Lisa finally nods, clutching her empty candy
bag.

"How about a free piece of fudge?" I ask. "Creamy
Peanut Butter?"

Both girls nod. Works every time.

After that I keep my mouth shut and don't interject
into any of the customers' conversations. I have to bite my
lip when two freshmen are talking about how they can't
wait to work at the TV studio. I was afraid they might
have recognized me from my interview with Krista, but I
think my Pearl name tag throws them off. Sara walks in at
three while they're still jabbering away, but she doesn't say
anything either. She usually keeps to herself.

Tony finally emerges from the back. "Anyone want to
make crushed toppings for the fudge?"

"I'll do it." Sara turns to me. "Unless you want to?"

"No, go for it," I say. She heads to the back and Tony
leans against the chocolate case while I fill the napkin dispenser.

"So, what's eating you?" he finally asks.

"Is it that obvious?" I'm trying my very best not to
think about the interview. Not to imagine my fifteen min utes of fame ending in an infamous episode of "Tainted
Love," for all to TiVo and watch over and over again.

"You've been working here for over two years."

"True. Eli wants me to go on The Sabian Lime Show."

"The E! channel? Cool."

"That's not all. It would be with Adam, on some episode about twisted loves or something."

"But this could be your opportunity to express yourself." Tony pops a marshmallow into his mouth.

"Something tells me it's not a good idea." I flatten a
stray pink sprinkle left on the counter with the tip of my
fingernail.

"Well, what did your car Darryl have to say?" Tony
laughs.

"His name is Darnell, and it's not funny."

Tony straightens out his face. "Sorry, please give Darnell my apologies. But seriously, I would seize the opportunity. You have nothing to lose."

"Nothing?"

"Hear me out, Indigo. You're young. You did nothing
wrong, and I'm sure deep down Adam knows this, too. So
just go on the show and be yourself. And let the world
know what a great person you really are."

"Thanks, Tony. You might have a great future as a
guidance counselor."

"No, I do better with chocolate. My mom was a great
believer that good food is the perfect stall medicine."

"Huh?"

"Give them something sweet, let them thaw out, and then they'll figure it out." Tony tosses out the near-empty
container of malt balls.

"So I need to eat a boatload of chocolate before I go on
national TV?"

"I dunno. I don't think my mom had that one in mind
when she doled out her advice." He pats me on the back
and tosses me the keys. "Just be your sweet self."

"Where are you going?"

"You're closing tonight." Tony sticks his head in the
back room. "Sara, can you stay, too?"

I hear her say yes.

"Great. You can lock up, Indigo."

"But, I..."

He walks out the door and doesn't look back.

Sara returns to the counter and fills the containers of
jellybeans. I take my break in Tony's office and flip through
a cooking magazine on his desk. After less than fifteen, I'm
back at the front.

The remainder of the afternoon is pretty steady with
customers, and then at six a bunch of moms and toddlers
stroll in for a boy's third birthday. Guess those kids are
going to be bouncing off the walls when they get home.
They're cute, though, and I show them all how to make
chocolate-covered pretzels.

In the evening, it slows down, and I'm just left to
think about what Tony said. Maybe he has a point. Maybe
I could do it. Maybe it will clear the air and then everyone
can move onto something else.

While Sara and I are sweeping up, I finally ask her
what she thinks.

"I have no idea what it's like to be in your shoes, but
you have nothing to hide." She moves the broom under
the counter.

"How do you know?" I laugh.

"It might be fun, and you get to go to New York."

"Yeah, that's true, I didn't even think about that." Cat
and I have been dying to go shopping in Manhattan and
this could be our ticket. It sounds a bit more enticing now.
But do I want to expose myself to the world on national
TV for one weekend in the Big Apple?