Rocked Forever by Clara Bayard Page B

break-up conversation?"
    Matthew laughed. "Every break-up you've had has been a shouting match, dude."
    "True," the drummer admitted. "But is that what this is?" His voice was smaller than I'd ever heard before. Almost timid. Frightened.
    "It isn't," Joe said.
    "It better not be," Becca added. "You guys still have a month left on the tour and another album on your contract."
    Julia giggled. "Tell ‘em, business girl."
    Becca ducked her head. "Sorry."
    Joe smiled at her. "No, don't be. It's good to remember where we are. But it's also good to think about what comes next. We've been in the studio or on the road for almost as long as I can remember. Maybe a break isn't a bad idea. Our lives are much bigger than they used to be. Maybe we should think about exploring our other interests for a time."
    The four members of the band looked at each other for a while, lost in thought or imagining life without each other, I assumed.
    "Not to be the reporter in the room, but, what would you do? What would each of you do during some time off?"
    Dex laughed. "Did someone search you for a camera, Ellie?"
    I rolled my eyes. "Come on, you guys want to talk about this stuff, really talk about it for once."
    "She's right," Matthew said. "While I was away I thought about it. I had to consider what I'd do with my life without this band and it was scary, but important."
    Joe stood up. "Shit, okay. Let's talk about it. After the next album I would like to take some time off. Not to make my own music, just to live my life. Sleep in the same bed for more than two nights in a row. Hang out with my wife." He beamed at Liss at the word.
    "That sounds wonderful," she added. "Dex, what about you?"
    The Brit chewed on his lower lip for a moment before answering. "I dunno. I guess I'd like to go back to England for a bit. Write some songs, reconnect with my family back there. See what I'm like away from this chaos. If Becca agrees."
    "I do. Hell, I've been working twenty-four seven since I got hired by Ryan. It would be nice to just rest for a bit. Be bored. Yeah." She smiled. "Rick?"
    He grunted. "Fuck all that. Lazy bastards." He softened the harsh words with a smile. "I have to keep drumming. But, well…"
    Julia put her hand on his arm. "I'll tell them." She tossed her long red hair. "I'm working on a new contract with the label, and I'm going to be headlining my own tour next year. Smaller clubs. No pyrotechnics or anything. Just me and a stage. And I was looking for a reasonably good drummer."
    Rick growled at her playfully. "Woman, you know I'm miles past reasonably good at everything."
    "Yuck," Becca replied.
    "His greatest talent is running his mouth," Matthew added.
    Rick flipped him off. "Oh yeah, big shot? What's your plan?"
    He shrugged. "I don't know. Hell, I'm barely back to playing music again, I'm not looking to stop." He looked at Julia. "We make a pretty good team, don't you think?"
    "A great team, actually." She was right about that. They'd done new arrangements of two songs she was performing on the tour and both were fantastic.
    "Well, it sounds like your trio will be staying together no matter what," I said.
    Matthew's face turned serious. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
    I smiled at him. "That's sweet. But, come on. We're stronger than that. We don't need to be in the same place every day to be together, do we?"
    "No, I guess not."
    "I just don't know what my next assignment is going to be, so…"
    "It's okay. We'll figure it out."
    "Um, actually, I might have an idea about that," Becca said.
    I looked at her. "What do you mean?"
    "Well, remember you gave me a copy of the rough cut of that film you made?"
    "Yeah…"
    "Well, I know it's not done and not for the public."
    "It really isn't."
    "Right. But, um…"
    "It's okay," Matthew interjected. "The only thing I didn't tell you, El, about what happened after I watched it. I talked to Becca. Not just about your job, but about the film. It was amazing. Inspiring to me, but also