Battle of the Hearts: Part Two

The Hearts met in Jesse’s garage to practice for the Boston Fall Festival.

“Alright, we’ve got a month to practice. We’ll need to come up with some new songs for this festival. There’s going to be a lot of people there,” Jesse said as he plugged his guitar into the amp.

“I’ve been writing a few new songs, but they are works in progress,” Steven replied.

“I’m sure they’re great. Lay them on us.”

“This one’s called ‘Time’. Time, is on my side…It’s a friend,…But it’s always running…away from me…Time, will always be there…We tried to date,…But you were always late…We ended it.”

Jesse joined in. “Time, is sometimes on my side…It’s not always reliable,…But it’s still a friend…And will stay that way.”

Lee and Kevin joined in and sang along. “Time and time again…You’re there,…But it’s rare…Maybe I should go back…To Love or switch to Hate.”

They continued to sing until Steven stopped.

They practiced their new songs every day in August and they became closer as a band and as friends.

The day finally arrived, the day of the Boston Fall Festival. They arrived in Jesse’s mom’s minivan and met Mr. Vander at his car.

“Now, the show’s in two hours. I know you’ve been practicing for a month now, but you guys should use this time to practice more backstage,” Mr. Vander said.

“Good idea,” Jesse replied.

“But I wanted to get some food before the show,” Lee whined.

“Too bad, we need to practice as much as we can,” Jesse replied.

“There’s going to be a big crowd tonight. Probably 100–200 people,” Mr. Vander guessed.

“But can we get some food first?” Kevin repeated.

“Were you listening? We need to practice and I told you to eat before we left!” Jesse shouted.

“Hey, there’s no need to fight. I’ll get you guys some food, while you guys go backstage,” Mr. Vander said.

“I want some popcorn! And–he’s gone,” Lee shouted before Mr. Vander walked away.

The band walked through the parking lot and the entrance to the festival. They lugged their equipment and instruments all the way to the stage.

Jesse tripped on a rock and stood back up. “We seriously need to get a tour bus and some roadies.”

“Or at least a van,” Kevin suggested.

“Yeah, I don’t think my mom will let me keep using her car.”

“Maybe we could pitch and buy one. Now that we’re shows, maybe we can buy one,” Steven recommended.

“That’s a great idea, but we’ll discuss this later. We need to focus on not tripping on rocks and get to the stage.”

“Why didn’t they let us park around back and drop off our stuff?” Kevin asked Jesse.

“I asked Mr. Vander and he said they don’t have a back. It’s a fenced-in area.”

They made it to the stage and set up their instruments backstage. They practiced the song they were going to play and Lee imagined all the bad scenarios, in which the performance could go wrong. It could start raining and they’d have to play in the rain. The rain would get into the electrical equipment and start a fire onstage. Steven’s keyboard stand could fall or worse, Lee could strike a wrong cord.

“Earth to Lee!? We’re in the middle of a song!” Jesse shouted.

“Sorry, I’m just nervous about tonight.”

“Don’t be, we’re in this together and if something does go wrong, you just play it off as if you did it on purpose.”

“Oh, thanks for the advice.”

Lee still imagined the worst scenarios, but if something did happen, his friends would have his back.

Mr. Vander, their manager returned with their food. “Sorry, I took so long. The lines were crazy

long. I didn’t know what to get you guys, so I got four hotdogs, some fries, and popcorn.”

Lee still started into space.

“Let me give you all a pep talk before the show starts. You’re all going to do great out there. There will be hundreds of people watching, but don’t think about that. Think about the song, playing your instruments, and why you’re doing this.”

“Why are we doing this?” Lee asked.

“To make money, have fun, and do what we love,” Jesse answered.

“Sure, let’s go with that. Now, keep practicing and I’ll be right back. I have to make a phone call.” Mr. Vander walked away.

“I still have doubts about Mr. Vander. Who is this person he keeps calling?” Jesse asked.

“I don’t know, he must have a lot of clients, so maybe he’s talking to them,” Lee replied.

“I’m gonna go investigate. You guys start practicing without me.”

“No, like you’ve been saying, we need practice as a group, as a band, together. Without you-”

“Alright, I’ll stay.”

They ate and then practiced for the next few hours until it was time for the show.

They walked on stage as it started to drizzle.

“Hello, Boston. We’re The Hearts and our first song is called ‘Time’!”

Kevin tapped his drumsticks together three times and they all began playing and singing.

“Time, is on my side…It’s a friend,…But it’s always running…away from me…Time, will always be there…We tried to date,…But you were always late…We ended it.”

It starts to pour, but they kept playing until lightning struck the amp on stage. Lee ran off before the electrical current shocked him.

Their manager walked on stage with an umbrella and spoke into the soggy microphone. “Sorry, folks. The concert has been rained out and is canceled until further notice or at least until the rain clears.”

The remaining few audience members sighed and left the slippery grass area.

The bandmates and their manager walked off the stage huddled under the umbrella. They regrouped backstage.

“See I knew something like this was going to happen,” Lee exclaimed.

“Hey, anything can happen. It was live and in-person,” Jesse replied.

“I know.”

“The weather it’s going to rain for the next few hours. Maybe we should go back home?” Steven asked.

“Yeah, I’m soaked. I need to change and take a hot shower.” Kevin took off his soaked black long sleeve shirt.

Lee and Steven took notice of Kevin’s popping muscular arms as he wrung out his shirt.

“The rain’s gonna clear, you guys should stay,” Mr. Vander suggested.

“If you think so,” Jesse replied.

“But it’s not supposed to stop until later!” Lee shouted as he showed everyone the weather app on his phone.

“Here, dry yourselves off, while I make another phone call.” Mr. Vander threw a few towels at the boys and opened his flip phone. He stayed backstage since it was still raining.

Jesse listened to one side of his manager’s phone conversation.

“Yeah, I’ve got ’em right where I want ‘em.”

“Soon.”

“They won’t be together for much longer.”

“Boys, we have to stay together no matter what Mr. Vander says,” Jesse advised.

“We know, here he comes,” Lee replied.

Mr. Vander walked over to them. “I just talked to the manager of the fair and he said that people are rushing out of the fair and back to their cars. You boys should probably go home.”

“That’s what I said! Not the exact words but close enough,” Jesse expressed.

“Yeah right. You boys go home and I’ll call you when I get you another gig.”

“Let’s go!” Kevin shouted.

The three boys followed Kevin to Jesse’s mom’s minivan. Kevin drove them back to Jersey City, New Jersey.

“I still can’t believe we didn’t get to finish the show,” Steven said.

“I know, it could’ve been great,” Lee replied.

“Guys,” Jesse said.

“Do you think it’s raining in Jersey?” Steven asked.

“Maybe,” Lee responded.

“Guys!” Jesse shouted.

“What? What is it?” Why are you shouting? We’re all right here,” Kevin said from the driver’s seat.

“I think Mr. Vander, if that’s his real name, is trying to split up the band.”

“Why would you think that?” Steven said.

“I heard him talking about that on the phone with someone.”

“Really? He said he was talking to the fair manager,” Kevin reminded him.

“I’m just saying, we shouldn’t trust him.”

“Yeah, okay,” Kevin replied sarcastically.

“Really, guys. I overheard-”

“We heard you, Kevin continued with sarcasm. “We’ll keep an eye on him.”

Jesse crossed his arms. “Can I drive? You’ve been driving for the last hour. You must be getting tired.”

“No, I’m not getting tired and we still have 3 or 4 more until we get home. Maybe in an hour or

so.”

“Fine.”

A few hours later of listening to different stations on the radio, Jesse asked Kevin again. “Can I drive now?”

“I guess, I’ll pull over at that rest stop coming up and we can switch.”

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Lee said.

“Me too.” Steven shifted in his seat.

Kevin drove them to the rest stop and he got out of the minivan.

Jesse switched seats with Kevin and Lee and Steven rushed inside to use the bathroom.

Jesse fiddled with the radio.

“I’m gonna buy a drink and a snack inside. They’re taking too long and I’m hungry,” Kevin said as opened the car door and got out.

“Alright, bring me back a candy,” Jesse replied.

A few minutes later, the three boys returned with paper bags from Burgertown, which was inside.

Kevin threw Jesse his bag of food as he got into the car.

“Thanks–but I’ve been trying to eat healthier.”

“Too bad, this is the food you’re gonna get until we get back home.”

“Let me go inside and get something else.”

Kevin pulled Jesse’s arm. “I’m not waiting anymore and we need to get back on the road.”

“Alright, but I can’t eat and drive. You’re gonna have to feed me.”

“What are you, a baby? Don’t you know how to multitask?”

“Kind of.”

“Plus, I need to eat my own burger.”

“Fine, I’ll eat it later.”

Once they got home, their butts hurt and they were exhausted.

“Practice tomorrow?” Jesse asked his bandmates.

“Maybe, I need to rest,” Lee replied.

“I have homework to catch up on,” Steven responded.

“I need a break from you guys for a few days,” Kevin said.

They unpacked their instruments and Kevin drove Lee and Steven back home.

A few weeks later, they were practicing.

“This is wrong, this is all wrong!” Mr. Vander shouted as he entered the garage.

“Mr. Vander, what a surprise!” Jesse shouted back.

“Enough with the love songs. I want hate songs.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying this whole time.” Kevin hit his on the cymbal and then held it together.

Jesse’s mother walked into the garage from the house. “I brought lemonade.”

“Who is this?”

“This is my mom, Janet. Mom, I’ve told you about my band’s manager, Mr. Vander.”

“Yes, I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Let me get that tray for you, Janet,” Mr. Vander took the away from Jesse’s mother and the bandmates grabbed the glasses. He set the tray on the floor. “I’m Alexander Vander, but you can call me Alex.”

“Okay, Alex. Would you like to come in for coffee?”

“I’d love to.”

“Jesse, you and your friends keep it down. I need this.”

“Okay, mom.”

“Alexander Vander?” Kevin questioned.

“I know, right,” Jesse replied.

Jesse set his hand on his chin and followed them inside.

Mr. Vander and his mother sat at the coffee and got closer and closer.

“Jesse!? What are you doing in here?” Jesse’s mother asked.

“I just wanted to ask you something.”

“Couldn’t it have waited until later?”

“I guess.”

Jesse walked away.

“Oh and tell your friends, they have to go home. You have homework to do before tomorrow.”

“But Mom, we just started practicing!”

“Don’t ‘But Mom’ me. Go tell your friends!”

“Sorry about that, Alex. Now, where were we?”

“It’s okay.”

Jesse walked back into the garage and told his bandmates they had to go back home. They would practice next weekend.

Weeks and months went by without a gig. The boys were too busy with school and Mr. Vander was too busy dating Jesse’s mom to get any work done. The band slowly drifted apart and eventually broke up.