I made it to First Avenue at last. My legs were tired but my adrenaline was rushing through my body faster than my legs could carry me. It wasn't busy yet and usually by now people start showing up to party but it was pretty quiet. I headed to the back door and went inside to the kitchen. There weren't any employees around so I was in the clear. At least I thought I was.

  "Hold it right there missy." I heard a voice say.

I turned and there she was. A pretty and rather dolled up Erinalia.

  "Wow Nali you look hot! So I guess this means you have a boyfriend?" I joked.

  "Nice try. What are you doing here? This is a private show. You should be at home."

My guilt grew on my face. If I wanted to be honest with somebody it would be her and Joey. Since Joey was too little to understand how I really felt I would come clean to Erin.

  "Nali can I talk to you about something?"

She looked confused but she was always there to listen when I needed her.

  "Sure what's up? What's that thing you got on your back anyway?"

Damn good eye girl! Well there's no turning back now.

  "Erin I stole something the other day."

  "What? A puppy?" She giggled knowing that I would never say that I stole something and be serious about it.

  "Erin I'm being serious this time! I really did steal something and now Joey is mad at me. I need to make it right and I need your help."

She soon stopped smiling. Now I really had her attention.

  "Ok? So why tell me about it? Just give back what you stole and apologize to the person you stole it from."

  "Well.....that's why.....I'm here."

  "You stole food? Geez Carly why didn't you just ask......"

  "That's not it Erin!"

  "Well then what was it!?!?!"

And now the reveal. I took the guitar from my back and out of the bag turning my head away from Erin so I would see her judging me. The gasp I heard fall from her lips shattered my world.

  "Carlyn you didn't!" She said as she covered her mouth.

Those deep brown eyes of hers were so wide they could have fallen to the floor. The silence between us was too much.

  "I wanna put it back. That's why I'm here." I said sadly.

  "Carlyn you shouldn't have taken it at all! Prince had the cops here yesterday looking for it. It's an open investigation and if you got caught you could have gotten charged for robbery!"

My eyes got really teary.

  "I know! I know! I'm sorry! Please just let me put it back! Please?" I begged.

Erin wasn't one to snitch but I knew if she didn't say anything that she would be held accountable.

  "You know you're putting my job on the line for what you did right?" She scolded.

  "Pleas don't be mad at me Nali. I can't take it if you hate me too."

Erin sighed and gave me a small smile as she touched my shoulders.

  "I can never hate you. But what you did was wrong!"

  "I know. Is he here?"

  "Not yet but he will be. If you're smart you would leave before he comes. He's not nice when he gets upset. I know. I've seen it."

Great. Just what I need. A famous angry short man. So much for retaliation.

  "Is there anyway I can just put it back without him knowing it was me?"

  "Oooh no! This is your mess. You clean it up."

Thanks Nali. You're a big help I guess. I can't blame her for this. I could possibly get her fired and her sweet summer job would be out the window. She went to finish setting up the tableware when I walked to the stage. There was one overhead light on and the room in front of me was dark. There was no sound anywhere. Just me, this guitar and the darkness. I unstrapped it from my back and sat it down on the stool in front of me.

  "Sorry kid. But you don't belong to me." I said to this non living angel.

Just as I was about to leave I heard a man's deep voice.

  "HEY YOU!"

It scared me so bad that when I tried to run away I tripped over the table behind me and fell flat on my face. The man ran up to the stage and so did his security that was with him the day before. When he saw my face he was stunned to see me so vulnerable.

  "Hey I remember you. Carlyn. Right?"

He put out a hand and helped me from the floor.

  "Sneaking out again?" He asked with a smile.

  "Yes sir. And for a good reason."

  "Oh? And what reason would that be?"

I went over to the stool and grabbed the bagged beauty to give to him.

  "This."

He took it and opened the bag. His eyes got big and he began to smile a sigh of relief.

  "Ahhh hey baby! Did you miss daddy?" He said to his guitar as he kissed it.

It made me feel better that he had it back but this story wasn't over.

  "Where did you find it? I have to thank you properly."

The hugest knot formed in my throat. I had to tell him my whole truth.

  "I didn't find it sir. I.....I stole it."

His face was covered in anger.

  "What for? So you could cash in!?!?"

He was really letting me have it.

  "No! No that's not what I wanted to do I didn't even know you were famous!" I said in near tears.

  "Yeah that's what they all say! Tony get her outta here!"

  "No wait! Please! I'm sorry man! I didn't know! Honest I didn't! I took it because you got me in trouble yesterday and I thought I was getting back at you!"

He didn't want to hear it. That's proof that I fucked up miserably. As his muscle was pulling me towards the back door Erin came to my rescue. Or at least I thought she did.

  "Hey Prince hold on!" She said.

I can't believe she knows him that well to call him like that.

  "What's up little miss?"

  "Don't throw her out. Give her a chance to explain. She's a good kid."

Thank you Erin. You really are a life saver.

  "Yeah? How?" He scoffed as his eyes burned into my soul.

  "She can work it off at Paisley. You always said you needed some young hands."

Shit. Thanks Erin. You really helped.

He turned to her confused.

  "Hold on how do you know this girl?" He asked.

  "She comes around from time to time. I've seen her standing out back listening to the bands at night." She lied covering up why I would really come by.

He looked at her and then looked back at me.

  "Tony. Bring her up."

His security escorted me back up to the stage. I kept my head down so he didn't have to see the shame written all over my face. He was staring hard at me and I could feel it.

  "Come on Prince be nice. She's just a kid." Erin said.

"Yeah a kid with a bad attitude and a lot of problems." She shot at me.

I raised my head quickly in anger.

  "You're one to talk. Jackass." I snapped back.

  "Carlyn!" Erin gasped.

Prince walked closer to me slowly eyeing me up and down.

  "What did you just call me?" He asked as he cocked his head to the side looking at me from the corner of his eye.

  "You heard me! I called you a jackass! I known about you now! Your just some famous prick that runs his wives away! I bet you deserved it too."

  "Carlyn stop! Prince she didn't mean that." Erin said to him trying to help the situation.

  "You don't know anything about me little girl." He hissed.

  "Yeah I do. I know you're just like me! Lonely! You want a family just like I do. You just won't admit that because of your famous ass ego!"

"Watch your mouth."

  "Why because I'm right?"

We stood toe to toe and glared at each other.

  "Go home kid. You don't know what battle you're fightin'."

  "I don't have a home I live in a state funded shit hole."

  "HEY! I said watch your mouth."

  "No! I don't have to listen to you you're not my father!"

  "Good! I'm glad I'm not!" He snapped.

  "Good! I wouldn't want you to be anyway!"

I walked off the stage and to the back door when Erin stopped me.

  "What the hell Carly! You were wrong! You should have bowed out and left it alone! Why don't you ever learn your lesson?"

  "Look Nali I'm sorry. But he's an arrogant clown! For a rockstar you would think he had more respect for the people from his own hometown."

  "So what Carly you still stole his guitar!"

Prince soon appeared from behind the curtain. I looked at him and headed to the back door.

  "See ya later Erin. You're boss is watching."

I turned and left out of the back door and didn't bother looking back.