One Man's Trash Read Free

Records as the artist management intern would
be one step closer to making her dream a reality.

Three days had gone by since the phone interview with the hiring manager at Tri
Records and Diamond had yet to hear anything. She tried to remain positive.
Getting the internship wasn’t a deal breaker, she was moving to New York
regardless, but the fact that she would finally be in a position that could
help her music career made her anxious.

Diamond rushed to the front door at the sound of the doorbell. She opened the
door without looking through the peephole.

“Ryan!” She squeezed him tight. “Come in, I haven’t seen you in a few days.”

“How’s it going, Miss New York?” He smiled and sat on the sofa.

Diamond stuffed her feet into her running shoes. “It’s going,” she said as she
laced up her sneakers. “I’m still waiting to hear back from Tri Records.”

“How did the phone interview go?”

“I think it went well, but you never know. Anyhoo, what is up with you? I miss
running with you.”

“I know I haven’t really been working out the last week. I’ve been taking a
mini-vacation since finishing school.” He fell silent for a moment. “I wish my
brother was here to share this moment with me. We always talked about me going
off to medical school and how I would be the first doctor in the family.”

Diamond rubbed his back. She was the only child but Ryan was like her brother,
so she could imagine how not having your real brother in your life could be
hurtful. “I know, sweetie. It’s hard when someone you’re so close to isn’t
around anymore. You were really like his shadow. Wherever Ryder went there was
little, pea head, Ryan following close behind.”

Ryan laughed. It was good to see him laugh considering what he’d been going
through the past five years. Every major accomplishment thus far was like a
bittersweet moment for him since his brother wasn’t there to share it with him.

The chorus of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” echoed through the air.

“Diamond, for the love of God, please get rid of that ringtone.”

“Hush. I love that song.” She smiled. The phone number displayed on the screen
of her cell phone was from Tri Records.

“Hello.” She mouthed the words “Tri Records” to Ryan. He crossed his fingers on
both hands.

“Miss Anderson, this is Kelly from Tri Records. I wanted to call you to let you
know that we have made our decision regarding the artist management
internship.”

“Okay.” She closed her eyes and prepared to hear the worse.

“We would like to offer you the position.”

“Oh my gosh! I accept! Thank you so much, Kelly. Thank you!”

She high-fived Ryan, quietly.

“We will email you a date and time to come into the office for all the
paperwork once you move here. So, congratulations and we’ll see you soon, Miss
Anderson.”

“Thank you again. I look forward to it.” She ended the call and hugged Ryan.
They rocked back and forth in excitement. “Ryan, this is the first step to the
rest of my life!”

TWO Three weeks later… Diamond
slid onto the stool at the small round table in the Pink  Baby lounge, in front
of the open windows near the entrance. The cool summer breeze tossed around her
curls that rested on her bare back. She looked around the dimly lit room. The
lounge had started to fill up as it approached the start of the show. Every
Thursday night was open mic night and a lot of unknown talent came out to
perform.

This was her first time hanging out in New York since her mom had left. Her mom
had kept her promise to help her baby get settled in for the past week. Diamond
hadn’t been to an open mic event since she’d left Atlanta and she hadn’t
performed at one in over a year. Butterflies tickled her tummy. Her first solo
performance ever. God she wished Ryan was here. He would take away all her nervousness.
She had to get over her shyness of performing alone in front of an audience.

“Kimmy.” Diamond