Never Again

'We'

Emily looked at Rachel with confused eyes . She asked her to calm down . " I don't drink . " Emily told Judy .

" Trust me it will help a lot . " Judy said pouring her a glass .

The last minutes that were leading up to the show again were killing Emily . Just 10 minutes to go . Time was tickling back . She knew that her nervousness when screw up things again .

So she had a glass of wine .

Then she had another one . She was feeling better that before . Judy was right .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She went on the stage again . This time her nervousness lasted less than one minute . She realized that actually she was loving to perform .

She stopped worrying about playing the songs exactly right and started rocking out with reckless abandon . She hit some wrong notes , but it was only because she was rocking out so hard .

She remembered what her mother told her " The thing to remember when performing in front of people is that you are there to bring value and entertainment to the people in the crowd . You can't do that by focusing on yourself and how everyone in the crowd is perceiving you . The way to bring value and entertainment to the crowd is to be a servant to the art . It s not about you , and it is only tangentially about the crowd . Getting into that mind frame is easier said than done , but the most important part is realizing you are serving the art , not stroking your ego , and that is where most of you effort should go . "

But what her mother didn't told her was that wine also helps !

She started to sing . This time she could read from audience's expressions that they were also vibing . This drained away the tiny bits of nervousness that was in her . She closed her eyes and got lost in the music .

She slowly opened her eyes as she finished her song . Everyone was clapping and cheering . She realized that the fear , the nervousness was for nothing . It was all gone in a blink , the moment she let music take over her . She was getting feelings that were hard to put in words . Her first performance was a success ! Now she was confident that she will also win the musical beats .

She bowed to the crowd who were still clapping and got off the stage . She ran to Rachel and hugged her . After all it was because of her she faced her biggest fear . Judy congratulated her and told Rachel " You were right your singer didn't let me down . "

It was getting late , so it was time to go home . But before that Emily bought some cupcakes and cookies for Matt after all he also had a part .

~~

The beat is vibrating off the wall as Matt walks in the club . The crowd is out in force and ready to party . He went to the bar . The drinks are flowing across the table just as fast as the bartenders can make them , conversation is loud and patriots are struggling to hear over the thumping music and the dance floor is filled with sweaty bodies swaying to the beat . Music and dance intertwined with each other .

" One margarita please . " He was looking for Jessica but he could not find her . Where the hell was she ? All his efforts to get in here could not go in vain . The bartender gives him his drink . The girl sitting next to him was noticing him .

She finally spoke " You know dancing and music is a way for some people to detoxify themselves after a long or a hard day and it is a way to escape from their lives . "

Matt turns to her " Excuse me . "

" Well I have been observing you since you came here and I am pretty sure that neither of the two is the reason why you are here . You are looking for some girl right , I guess your girl friend or maybe your ex . "

Matt was stunned " How can you say that I am looking for a girl ? "

" I don't know . But now I am sure that I am not wrong . Actually when my ex broke up with me I came here to find an escape from the pain . And yes the other reason was that club is the best place to find handsome guys . "

" Oh wait , if you are hitting on me then I must tell you that I am already in a complicated situation . "

" Oh boy , you will wish . I have a boyfriend . He is hitting the dance floors with his friends and I am kind of an introvert . Can I give you a suggestion ? "

" Take suggestion from stranger ! ok shoot . "

The girl asks the bartender for two shots . She pushes one to Matt " Go ahead , it washes away all the pain . "

" Ok "

Matt takes the shot . Ahh ! It was bitter but yes comforting . " Hit us again ! " He said .

" Hit us again . "

He takes the second , then the third , then the fourth and then the fifth . Now he was two drunk to take another or even to walk .

" Hit us again " The girl said .

" Oh no , no , no . wha. . . . .what Im already too drunk an-and I have to drive back . " He said rubbing his red bleary eyes .

" Oh no you are fine . " She said poring him another glass of whiskey " So what's going on with you ? "

" Wha-what do you mean ?

" Oh I can see that you are going through a rough phase don't keep it in spill it all out to me . And I will help you . "

The drunk Matt spills out every thing about Jessica to this strange girl he has never even met before .

" You know I have something that can help you and I will give it to you but not here . Come with me . "

Matt follows this girl . She leads him to the back side of the club . That part had relatively few people . They were getting stoned . Oh dear God this girl was a drug dealer . Matt suspected danger " It is getting late . I have to leave . "

" Where are you going boy ? " A heavily built man put his arm around Matt . Matt gently pushed it away " I don't what ever is going on in here , I just don't want to be a part of all this . " The heavily built man whose name turned out to be Malcom patted his back " This place is not for kids , Fiona get grown up men from next time . You leave boy . "

Matt turned back to leave but wait was Jessica in the crowd . Yes , there she was with Tyler , of course . But why was she here with such dangerous people . " Jessica . " He called out to her but she didn't listened . It was too loud out there . " Jessica . " He waved to her . Tyler held Jessica hand and took her with her . Matt ran towards them cautiously he didn't wanted to bang against the druggists .