Chapter 2

Opening night, a colony of butterflies had taken residence in her stomach. She arrived early to get in costume and take her turn in make-up. Walking into the auditorium and seeing all the empty seats, Azure ran straight for the bathroom. Within an hour, the place would start to fill up. Soon after, she would make her debut in front of all those eyes—critical eyes expecting entertainment for their five dollars. Another rush of bile accompanied the thought that those eyes could paralyze her.

Forcing herself to leave the bathroom, Azure went backstage. Andrea, Mr. Michaels’s wife, was doing the makeup, and she waved her over. “Feeling nervous?” She patted her shoulder.

Still feeling sick, she tried to force a smile. It collapsed immediately. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

Andrea smiled gently. “Finn believes in you, and so do I. I’ve seen you really blossom with the extra practices. You can do this.”

“I hope,” said Azure softly as Andrea started her stage makeup.

***

After paying for his ticket and grabbing a program, Mathias took a seat in the third row. Azure Wilkins was listed as the lead, and he studied her name, wondering what he was doing here. There was no way she could help him out, even if she was as fantastic as Finn had promised. There were too many obstacles to surmount if they asked a seventeen-year-old to replace Jada.

He looked up as Andrea took a seat beside him and leaned over to give his petite sister-in-law a peck on the cheek. “Is everyone ready?”

Andrea nodded, looking unconcerned. “The usual bit of stage fright.”

The lights dimmed, and the audience ceased speaking as the curtain rose. The narrator came out and launched into a brief summary of the setting, and he leaned forward with anticipation, hoping the girl could actually fill in for Jada.

***

Azure stood stiffly as Tom sang the verses to the introduction. In two minutes, she would be out on that stage. She looked up as Chase came to stand beside her. “You’ll do fine,” he said with a smile. She managed a weak smile of her own and forced herself to walk into the spotlight as Tom finished his song.

Frozen, she stood there as the silence lengthened. The music for her first song started, and she stood mute when it reached her cue. A sweeping glance into the faces of the audience revealed, to her amazement, she couldn’t see them or their eyes due to the lighting. The words flowed from her mouth, and she became her character.

An amazing thing happened to Azure as she stood on the stage, performing her role. For a short time, she stopped being herself—painfully shy, outcast Azure Wilkins—and became Melisande. She lost all inhibitions and self-consciousness. She was aware of it happening and surrendered to the moment.

***

Mathias listened to the voice of an angel and stared in wonder. Finn had been right on target with this girl. She was the best he’d heard in a long time, and he’d bet she’d never had any formal training, except maybe choir classes. It was exciting to imagine how she would sound after lessons, making his heart race. He had to have her. Burning Starr desperately needed Azure.

The last scene required her to kiss Chase, and she had always faltered, unable to make it look believable. Tonight, as Melisande, she pressed her lips to his without difficulty and was swept away in the moment. He kissed her back as the curtain fell.

As though awakened from a trance, she immediately returned to herself and stepped away from him, blushing. She stood stiffly with the others as they made their curtain call. She was once again plain Azure and could see everyone in the audience with the house lights up. Their eyes focused on her, and she saw their hands moving but didn’t hear the applause. It was a relief when the curtain fell so she could hurry away from the others to change out of her costume.

The other girls in the dressing room praised her forcefully. She was hugged repeatedly, and someone handed her a bouquet of red roses. It was all a blurry dream to her, and she couldn’t really remember much of the performance. She hoped they were all being sincere instead of nice as they congratulated her and enthused about her performance.

She left a few minutes later, slipping out the side door of the auditorium to walk the four blocks back to Brigette’s home, still in a bit of a fog. Had the night really happened, or would she wake up in her narrow bed only to realize it was all a dream?

Her grandmother was sewing in the sitting room and looked up as Azure came in. “Wash off that make-up. You look like a tramp.” She didn’t inquire about the performance or mention the roses in her hand.

The rest of Azure’s small amount of pleasure evaporated as she hurried upstairs. In her tiny bathroom, she removed the stage make and dressed for bed. She curled up on her stomach, lying in the dark as tears streamed down her face, longing for someone who loved her—someone who would have asked about the play, or even better, would have attended. At that moment, she hated Brigette more than she’d ever done in her life. Knowing her grandmother was a cold, unfeeling woman did nothing to ease the ache in her heart.

***

Mathias found his brother backstage, and the two embraced. “You were right,” he admitted. “She’ll be fabulous. Where is she? I have to meet her.”

Finn looked around, asking several of the students if they’d seen Azure.

“She went home,” said the boy who had played the male lead.

Disappointed, Mathias shook his head. “I have to talk to her. Where does she live?”

One of the girls nearby said, “You can’t go over there. Her grandmother doesn’t allow guests. From what I’ve heard, the old bitch would freak out if a guy showed up.”

His brother visibly winced. “Watch the language, Jill. I have to pretend to care. Oh, and thanks.” Finn turned back to Mathias, looking as disappointed as he felt. “Why don’t you get Dante here and have him check her out tomorrow night? There’s a party after the performance at Chase’s house, so she’ll be hanging around for a while longer. You can talk to her after the show.”

Mathias agreed and found a quiet place to call Dante. “You have to see this girl,” he said. “Get on the next flight to Denver and meet us here tomorrow night at seven.”

***

The next night, the same thing happened to Azure. As soon as she stepped onstage, she became her character. She was dazzling, better than last night, and even she knew it this time. When the curtain closed, she went to the dressing room. “Do you need a ride to Chase’s?” asked Jill, as they removed the heavy makeup.

“I’m not going, but thanks.”

Jill arched a brow. “You have to come. The star of the play can’t just ditch the after-party.”

Biting her lip, Azure slid on a green T-shirt. She hadn’t told her grandmother about the party, because she hadn’t expected to attend. She didn’t really think Brigette would care if she didn’t come home, but rules dictated she had to call to obtain permission. “Let me call my grandmother.” Jill handed over her cell phone, and Ruth answered on the third rang.

“Is Grandmother awake?”

“She doesn’t want to be disturbed by anyone,” said Ruth. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” She gnawed on her lower lip again, wincing at the sharp sting when her teeth breached the skin. Brigette hated having messages passed to her. She expected Azure to obtain her consent for everything before she did it. It would enrage her if Azure went to the party without speaking to her first. Impulsively, Azure said, “I’m going to a party, Ruth. It’s to celebrate the closing of the play, and I don’t know when I’ll be home.”

Ruth drew a deep breath through her teeth, making a whistling sound in her ear. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” With a bye, she returned the phone to Jill. “I guess I do need a ride,” she said with a false smile, ignoring the twinge of fear that stirred in her stomach.

The girls went backstage to meet the others who’d clustered there. Azure looked up as Mr. Michaels approached her.

“Do you’ve a minute?”

Azure nodded and followed him to his office. Two men stood inside, their gazes focused intently on her. She squirmed under the force of their stares.

The first one was around Mr. Michaels’s height. He resembled Mr. Michaels, except his hair was darker blond and his eyes were a lighter shade of green. When he smiled, she couldn’t help noticing how nice his teeth and lips were.

She switched her attention to the other one and gasped. It was Dante Starr, of Burning Starr. She owned all their music. He was even sexier in person. His black hair was thick and shiny, cut in a spiky style that stood out from his head at odd angles. His green eyes resembled smoky emeralds in person, and he’d grown a small goatee since the last picture she’d seen of him. He was also watching her intently, without the smile.

“Azure, these are my brothers, Mathias Michaels and Dante Starr. Mat and Dante, this is Azure Wilkins.” Mathias extended his hand, and she shook it hesitantly, unaccustomed to adults initiating handshakes. Dante did not offer his hand.

“You were great,” said Mathias. “I saw both performances, and you were even better tonight.”

“Thanks.” The small room was claustrophobic with the men crowded inside. They changed the atmosphere of the room. It was overwhelming, since she was inexperienced with boys her own age let alone men, thanks to her grandmother. “Um, I should go. Jill’s waiting for me.”

“Hold on.” Dante spoke for the first time, his voice husky. “We want to talk to you about something. By the way, you were good,” he added in an offhanded way.

Finn gestured to a chair. “Have a seat.”

Azure sat down, feeling even more claustrophobic as they loomed over her. Loomed wasn’t really the right word, as none of them were taller than five-eleven, but sitting put her at a disadvantage.

“Have you heard of Burning Starr?” asked her teacher.

Azure nodded her head. “Yes, Mr. Michaels. I have all their CDs.” She glanced shyly at Dante.

He seemed amused. “That’s nice. So, you’re a fan?”

Azure nodded again, blushing fiercely. She was having a conversation, sort of, with Dante Starr. No way.

“Did you know Jada Mitchell is leaving the group in June?”

“I’d heard that.”

“We need a replacement,” said Dante. “We want you.”

Azure sat there, stunned at his announcement. She must not have heard correctly, or maybe she was still in her small bedroom on Elmore. She must be dreaming. She’d wake up to find the play had never happened, she’d certainly never met Dante Starr, and she had definitely not heard him say that he wanted her to join Burning Starr. “Excuse me?” Azure’s voice emerged as a timid squeak. She discreetly pinched herself, feeling some pain, which confirmed she wasn’t dreaming.

Mathias rolled his eyes. “What my less-than-subtle little brother means is we think you’ve a wonderful voice and would like you to replace Jada.”

She managed to speak, though it was difficult to get the words past her dry throat. “For how long?”

Mathias shrugged. “Indefinitely, I suppose.”

“College,” she whispered for some reason. The truth was Azure hadn’t enrolled in a college anywhere. Brigette frowned on higher education for women and refused to pay for Azure to attend university or authorize the expense from her trust fund. She made good grades but wasn’t active enough with the school to receive any scholarships. She hadn’t applied for financial aid for anything, having expected she would get a job until she was twenty-five and finally free of Brigette.

“Almost every school has online degree programs now—that’s what I’m doing.” Dante looked like he was preparing to wrestle her next objection into submission.

Azure shook her head, still disbelieving. “How soon?”

“Right away,” said Dante.

Mathias answered at the same time. “After you graduate.”

“My grandmother won’t let me,” she whispered with a sinking sensation in her stomach.

Dante grimaced. “I’m sure we can get her to agree. Let us talk to her. If she says no, we’ll deal with that problem.”

Bewildered, Azure let their voices flow over her, finding herself agreeing to let them meet her grandmother tomorrow at eleven. “She won’t go for it,” she said once more before leaving the men in the office. Jill was still waiting for her, and she spilled the story.

Jill curled one side of her mouth. “You’re saying Dante Starr and his business manager, who’s also his brother, just walked in and asked you to join Burning Starr?”

Azure nodded, understanding her friend’s skepticism. She still didn’t completely believe it herself. “It’s the truth, Jill.” She pointed to the three brothers as they emerged from Mr. Michaels’s office. “There they are.”

Jill looked over and swooned at the sight of Dante Starr. “Omigod, I have to have his autograph.” She tried to push her way through the milling crowd, but others thwarted her attempts to reach him. Giving up, she turned back to Azure. “Promise me you’ll get his autograph tomorrow.”

“I’ll try.” She wouldn’t have the nerve to ask him. He was too unapproachable for her to request anything from him. “Are you ready?”

They drove to Chase’s home, and his mother opened the door. She greeted all the guests, much to her son’s exasperation. His father finally pulled her from the room, and someone turned up the music. A table laden with food had stacks of soda cans, so she took one.

Within half an hour, Jill had managed to tell everyone about Dante Starr approaching Azure to join Burning Starr. She became almost an instant celebrity and finally slipped out to the patio to escape it all. She was drinking her soda and fantasizing about singing with Dante when Chase joined her.

“You were great.”

“Thanks.” Azure dropped her eyes shyly, still sipping at the mostly empty can, just to have something to focus her attention on.

“Congratulations about Burning Starr.”

“It won’t go anywhere,” said Azure, her voice betraying sadness she hadn’t intended to project. “My grandmother will see to that.”

Chase shrugged. “You’ll be eighteen soon. She can’t keep you a prisoner forever.” His tone changed. “Is it true she won’t let you date?”

Azure choked. “Um, she discourages it, but I’ve never been asked out before, so she’s always been happy.” Or as happy as Brigette ever was, she added silently.

“Are you going to the prom?” He seemed to find the patio tile as interesting as she found the aluminum soda can.

Shrugging, Azure set her drink aside, hugging herself as she noticed the chill. “I don’t know. I hadn’t planned to, because I don’t have a date.”

“You wanna go with me?” he asked in a rush, briefly flicking a glance at her before returning his attention to the ground. “It’ll be fun.” He scuffed the toe of his tennis shoe against the ground. “My dad’s springing for a limo.”

Her cheeks were warm, and she struggled to find a breath. She’d often dreamed of a guy, any guy, asking her out, and it was finally happening. Chase might not be her dream guy, but he was sweet and liked her. “Yes?” It sounded more like a question when she answered, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Great.” Chase hugged her.

He seemed embarrassed by his impromptu display of affection, and she could see the ruddy coloring in his cheeks. Hers must match.

“We’ll nail down the details on Monday,” he said, looking like he wanted to make a fast escape, now that the hard part was over.

She bit back a grin, surprised she could be amused and embarrassed. “That would be great.”

***

She stayed at the party for two hours before catching a ride home with a group of people. Her grandmother had gone to bed already, but Azure found a terse note on her door.

“You’re grounded for two weeks.”

Prom was next weekend.

Azure threw herself across the small bed and wept a storm of tears. In her abject misery, she almost forgot about Dante and Mathias’s upcoming visit, and how joining the band could change her life. The excitement of that unlikely possibility paled in comparison to her grandmother depriving her of yet another normal opportunity.