Matt had dropped me off later on and ended the date with an innocent kiss on the lips, compared to the previous ones. Right now I was getting ready for Jacob’s gig at the ‘Sting Rock’ and I didn’t have that much time left, ten minutes actually. I knew I was going to be a little late but I hoped for the best, they would perform about two songs since they hadn’t gotten a lot of time on stage but to them it was more than enough.

Slipping on a Metallica t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans I rushed out of the house after grabbing the car keys my foster parents had allowed me to borrow. Putting the key in the ignition and twisting it, I slowly backed out of the driveway and drove away pedal to the medal.

7 minutes and 27 seconds later I was there. Yes I counted the seconds as well, shut up.
I practically ran into the local and pushed my way through the crowd, though I still was furthest in the back somehow.

“This is unfortunately our last song and is dedicated to my best friend, that’s like a sister to me. Amy” Jacoby’s voice echoed from the big speakers. I awed at that, it was cute. It was sad that I had missed the first song though but I was still happy I made it to catch one song.

The drummer counted to three before they started playing and getting in on the song.

In the brightest hour of my darkest day
I realized what is wrong with me
Can't get over you. can't get through to you
It's been a helter-skelter romance from the start
Take these memories that are Haunting me
Of a paper man cut into shreds by his own pair of scissors
He'll never forgive her...he'll never forgive her...

Because days come and go but my feelings for you are forever
Because days come and go but my feelings for you are forever

Sitting by a fire on a lonely night
Hanging over from another good time
With another girl... little dirty girl
You should listen to this story of a life
You're my heroine-in this moment I'm lonely fulfilling my darkest dreams

All these drugs all these women
I'm never forgiven... this broken heart of mine

Because days come and go but my feelings for you are forever,
Because days come and go but my feelings for you are forever

One last kiss,
before I go
Dry your tears,
it is time to let you go

One last kiss (one last kiss)
Before I go (before I go)
Dry your tears (dry your tears)
It is Time to let you go

Because days come and go, but my feelings for you are forever
Because days come and go, but my feelings for you are forever

One last kiss (one last kiss)
Before I go (before I go)
Dry your tears (dry your tears)
It is time to let you go

One last kiss,
Before I go,
Dry your tears,
it is time to let you go,
One last kiss

His voice was really good especially when he really had to strain his voice or growl a bit. It was husky at those points and the hairs in the back of my neck rose. When they finished the whole crowd was whistling, howling, clapping and anything that was a good sign for Jacob’s band. I managed to get a glimpse of the drum-kit and their logo was on the bass, ‘Papa Roach’. Pretty cool name if you ask me.

I was proud over Jacob to be honest. He was amazing and not afraid to do what he wanted to. Just proved him having the guts to do something I couldn’t and I envied that a bit. Jacob looked like he searched the crowd as he put the gear away quickly and as soon as he spotted me, he flashed me a wide smile.

The next band was setting up the gear and unfortunately I couldn’t see any of the members but I was getting thirsty so I decided to head to the bar and get something cold.

I pushed myself through the masses of people, getting elbows in places you don’t want get elbowed in. I might have walked funny after; at least it felt as if I did. My body managed to finally squeeze out of the sweaty and might I add, smelly crowd. My eyes scanned the bar, thinking if just should grab some water or coke. My eyes squinted as I thought I saw a familiar bulky figure. It couldn’t be right? He said he had something important to do that’s why we ended the date earlier which I found a bit stupid but ignored it since I was rushing to get here.

I got closer and ordered a bottle of cold water, gulping almost half of the bottle before I screwed the cap on I went back out in the crowd again but I stuck near to the walls.
Noticing the same bulky figure, I decided to at least get closer and when I got closer I can’t say I wasn’t pissed or hurt.

Matt was against a wall sucking faces with a blonde girl who was groping him through his pants and they looked like they were in their own little world. It hurt, that he actually was in a hurry for that. Was I really that bad to be around? Am I really that bad of a person? My eyes started to tear up a bit but I wouldn’t let myself cry because in the beginning of all this I knew what I had gotten myself into, I just refused to believe it would actually happen.

Here I went thinking that he actually could be a caring person, sure we weren’t even remotely close to being girlfriend and boyfriend but who the fuck does that?! Right now, I think I had all reason to be pissed, hurt and real confused because of this.

There really are two sides of a coin I guess and Matt wasn’t any different.

I huffed and turned sharply on my heel, ready to leave the bar but of course faith wouldn’t let me have it as I heard a voice boom out throughout the house.

“Now, we have a special someone to join us since we yet have found a singer…but you see we made a bet and we would like to take up the part we won. Come up on stage Amy…” a voice cooed through the mic and I recognized it as Tim’s voice. My mouth fell open and my head slowly turned towards the stage, seeing the guys up there. Oh hell
no! Could this get any worse!?

“Now, hurry up. We know you are out there.” Terry’s voice came out.

I groaned and roughly pushed my way through the crowd. I climbed up the stairs onto the stage and Tim leaned in after he prepared with his bass.

“We kind of managed to get Jacob to steal your book with songs and… well we made ‘Going under’ into a real song sweets. Hope you remember the lyrics” I narrowed my eyes at him and then found Jacob in the crowd giving him the meanest death glare ever.

The lights faded and all of the sudden you could hear a faint electric guitar playing a cool sound. I decided it was now or never so I sung the first lyric and the guys started playing right after.

Now I will tell you what I've done for you -
50 thousand tears I've cried.
Screaming, deceiving and bleeding for you -
And you still won't hear me.
The guys started doing the back up vocals as we played through the song.

(going under)
Don't want your hand this time - I'll save myself.
Maybe I'll wake up for once (wake up for once)
Not tormented daily defeated by you
Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom

I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through
I'm going under

Blurring and stirring - the truth and the lies.
(So I don't know what's real) So I don't know what's real and what's not (and what's not)
Always confusing the thoughts in my head
So I can't trust myself anymore

I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through

I'm...

So go on and scream
Scream at me I'm so far away (so far away)
I won't be broken again (again)
I've got to breathe - I can't keep going under

I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through

I'm going under (going under)
I'm going under (drowning in you)
I'm going under

Even though I hadn’t prepared my voice by doing any vocal exercises I was surprised with how it turned out. Everything was just flowing throughout the song and I started to relax in the middle of the song, allowing me to get closer to the audience and interact a bit. It was amazing and what I didn’t know would be a life changing experience.
The guys left the instruments and we went all in for a sweaty group hug, still feeling all of the adrenaline pumping through us.

“So, now this was our way of asking if you want to be the singer for our band.”

“Yes!” I quickly shouted. I could really see myself doing this.

“..but I will not dress slutty like Britney Spears or those weird ass pop stars, deal?” I told them.

“Deal” they all shouted at the same time and we went to jumping around in a group hug.

We parted with smiles on our faces and walked down the stage with each other’s arms slung over our shoulders. It was a great feeling and it quickly had taken my mind of Matt. If he was going to be a douche then fine by me. He got his second chance and I was fine with not giving him another one.

Just as we had gotten our drinks and went to sit down at a table a guy wearing a suit came up to us. We froze in our tracks inspecting him as he did the same with us. He took one step forward and offered his hand to us, as if he wanted to shake it.

We all did and he introduced himself as ‘Gary Raymond’ a producer in the music industry. He talked to us, saying we had potential and asked if I was a member or not in the band, which I now was.

“So, what’s your band’s name? I didn’t quiet catch it before?” Gary questioned us. We all looked at each other, panic written all over our faces.

Will decided to answer the question, “well we really don’t ha-“

“Evanescence” I blurted out interrupting him. They all looked at me with different looks and I shrugged my shoulders as a sorry.

“Different and wonderful name I say” Gary complimented us. He then reached over in his pocket pulling out a piece of paper, his business card. He slid it over the table before gulping down the contents of his drink.

“Call me if you are interested in making this your career” he left leaving us with our mouths hanging open.

“Dude”, “The fuck?!”, “Oh my god” we all exclaimed out our reactions at once. Then it was silent.

“Wait, Evanescence?” Terry decided to question.

“Sorry it just kind of slipped out…” I muttered quietly looking down at my lap.

“Why? It’s a fucking awesome name!” Troy announced and I looked up matching their
wide smiles.

We grabbed our drinks… well our waters and cokes and clicked our glasses together while cheering.

“For Evanescence!”