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the car and zoomed away.
    “As ready as I’ll ever be.” As of right now she had enough money to get her through the audition in two weeks. If they were selected, they made a small stipend and all would be fine for a time. Of course if they won, she would be more than fine. However, if they didn’t make it, she would have to go get a job. Something just told her she had to take a chance and try this before figuring out the rest of her life. Though it was scary at times, there was something freeing about being out on her own and fending for herself.
    “Great.” Ramon drove through the streets of Los Angeles. Thankfully, the band never wanted to return to the theatre, and now they practiced in a loft that belonged to a friend of his father’s, but Christine’s intuition told her he probably paid for the space and used that whole interlude with her theatre as way to look tough and edgy and give their band a backstory of having to struggle for their success.
    Finally at their destination, she got out of the car and followed Ramon up the three flights to their all too trendy space.
    Already the other guys were setting up, and she waved to Buck, their drummer, and Ulric, their other guitarist and male backup singer.
    “Carly texted, said she’s running late with traffic.” Ulric lifted his chin in their direction and continued to tune his instrument.
    “Let’s get ready for when Carly gets here.” Ramon picked up his guitar and tuned it. “Maybe Christine can sing lead and warm us up.”
    “I’m ready.” Buck took the throne behind his drums. “Didn’t come to just sit here.”
    After a week spent singing solo for an audience of one, she felt more than confident, especially with a music backup, so she went to the mic and waited while Buck hit the count off on his sticks and they began to play.
    Right on cue she came in, singing the lead.
    They made it through the first verse and seemed to hit their stride, but right before she went into the chorus, their bit of music magic was kicked to the curb.
    “What is the meaning of this?” Carly shot inside and rushed toward them.
    The music stopped.
    Ramon came forward. “We were just practicing and waiting for you, baby.”
    Carly thrust her hand out. “I’m a little late and suddenly you replace me? This is why you brought her here. It’s all part of your plan.”
    “Honey, no one could ever replace you.” Ramon put his arm around her. “You’re the star, we just wanted to be prepped for you when you arrived.”
    “You said we needed a backup singer and I allowed this, but this I will not allow.” Carly stomped to Christine and grabbed the microphone stand.
    The microphone fell to the floor causing a screech of feedback.
    Christine winced and everyone groaned as Ramon rushed forward and pulled the plug on the noisy device.
    The room fell silent.
    “Get in the background where you belong.” Carly glared her down.
    Christine glanced over at the other band members. Ulrich studied his guitar strings, and Buck actually turned away. Ramon went to her side and guided her to her position. “We were just practicing.”
    At the moment, this band was her best chance. For someone like her, earning enough at one shot to even try to live a normal life was nearly impossible. She spent years trying to move a notch up in society only to stay right where she started. Though she was much better off than some others, she still longed for more, and the Stage of Stars could help her get there. If they even got past the audition, maybe someone would discover her, maybe she could have a name. Maybe she could get something other than junk mail at a postal store she pretended was a real address.
    “Let’s practice.” She took a breath.
    Ramon fixed the mic for Carly. “Come on, gorgeous, let’s hear you. Christine was just keeping your spot warm for you.”
    “Just remember, no one else can fill my shoes.” Carly widened her eyes at him and took her position. “Remember