Blood of the Rainbow Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Just you - and me.”
    The depth of feeling in Jared’s tone made Sara’s stomach turn somersaults. If he doesn’t stop looking at me that way, I feel like I’m going to melt. “Jared, are you sure you want to do this?” Sara’s voice was shaky. “I might disappoint you. This seems real, and it makes me really feel uncomfortable.”
    Jared grinned. “If you think this is real, wait until you start singing.”
    Sara’s heart was pounding. “Ok, but promise me one thing first – well, actually, two.”
    Jared smiled and adjusted the microphone, placing it in front of Sara. “Anything you want – name it.”
    Sara started feeling extremely anxious. “One, you can’t laugh, and two, promise we’ll still be friends if I pass out.”
    Jared grinned again, remembering. “Deal. What do you want to sing, and in what key?”
    Sara stalled, desperately trying to think of the name of a song – any song . She looked at the microphone in front of her as if it was going to devour her. She felt so stupid. Of all times for her mind to draw a blank – it chose this one. “Ah…” She closed her eyes, hoping if she couldn’t see the microphone, something might come.
    Jared patiently waited.
    A minute went by – still nothing.  Sara sighed deeply embarrassed. “I’m sorry Jared, I can’t think of anything . Why don’t you just keep playing, and maybe something will come to me. Play something you think I might like – maybe we’ll get lucky.” And maybe I’ll thoroughly make a fool out of myself, and you won’t want me in the band!
    Jared smiled slightly, and closed his eyes, as though recalling something from memory. He started playing. “I know a song that would suit you perfectly, and I’ll lay odds you’ll know it too. Now I want you to close your eyes, and don’t open them until you start singing the chorus.”
    Sara closed her eyes. Once she’d heard the introduction, she knew the song Jared was playing. Suddenly, the room went dark, apart from a bright light, shining on Sara’s face.
    “Remember what I said. Keep your eyes closed . This is part of your therapy.” Jared hit record on his piano.
    Sara took a deep breath and nodded as she sang the first few words.
    Out of nowhere, there was an explosion of applause and whistling. Sara smiled. She desperately wanted to open her eyes, but remembered what he’d told her. She kept singing, and as she got ready to sing the chorus, Jared harmonized with her. She slowly opened her eyes.
    The area in front of them looked so real it made Sara want to scream. Faces – men, women and children – it looked, and felt like she was actually performing on stage. Oh God. I think I’m going to throw up. If Sara had been standing, her knees would have buckled.
    She pushed her frightened feelings aside, listened to the sound of their harmonizing voices, and just kept singing. As she neared the chorus a second time, she felt a lot more relaxed. She finished singing the last few words, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
    Jared stopped playing, and brushed it away with his thumb. He studied her eyes and smiled encouragingly. “What’s wrong Sara? That was beautifully done. You sounded like a pro!”
    Sara’s voice choked. “How did you know?”
    “How did I know what?”      
    “That ‘The Rose’ was one of my favorite songs. How could you…?”
    “Destiny,” Jared interjected, smiled, and brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek.
    ------------
    Steve, Carl, and Lucy entered the studio, making enough noise to wake the dead. Both Sara and Jared looked up, startled.
    Steve and Carl approached Jared and Sara. “No, Carl, you can’t play ‘Wipe-Out’ tonight. I’ve already got a headache.” He grinned wryly. “Looks like you two got started without us.”
    Jared sighed deeply and turned back around on the piano stool. Sara started to rise. Jared held her wrist and locked his eyes on hers. “Stay….”
    Jared spoke in a voice, Sara