Face the Music Read online

  is washed in grace

  cm

  Twenty-Nine

  Monday, December 5

  We’re flying to Nashville now, where the holiday tour will officially begin on Wednesday night. We have six concerts to perform in two and a half weeks. I think we’re up for it. Allie says she’s never felt better. But Elise insists she will be taking it easy. I think we’ll all be taking it easy—in between performances, that is. I plan to take it hard and fast while we’re on stage. That’s who we are and what our fans expect. We can’t give them less than our best.

  I’m looking forward to seeing Jeremy again. I would be lying to say I wasn’t. Still, I am telling myself to watch it, to keep things even keeled, to not be swept away. We’ve been e-mailing pretty regularly, and I think we’re both on the same page in this regard. We get to admire one another from a safe distance. But oh, how I would love to wrap my arms around him and—okay, now just stop it, Chloe. Control yourself. Sigh. I guess I’m still human after all.

  Fortunately, I have Laura and Allie to help keep me grounded. I know I can’t get away with anything with them around. And believe me, I’m thankful for that. I love Laura and Allie so much. They feel like real flesh-and-blood sisters to me. I don’t know if I will ever love any other girlfriends as much as I love those two. Okay, maybe Caitlin. And Beanie comes in a close second. I guess there’s enough love to go around.

  I finished up all of my tests and classes in order to graduate early. Mrs. King said they were all very impressed with the results. So I suppose this means I’m pretty much finished with high school now, although I don’t feel like it. I may decide to march with the graduating class next spring after all, just so I’ll know that I really made it. Or maybe not. We’ll see how life goes.

  Omega is already scheduling us to make another CD next April, so I guess our career is still on track. Even so, I remind myself daily that everything is in God’s hands. And if all this ends tomorrow, whether I have a big old music contract or not, I will trust Him that life goes on no matter what. I can live without a lot of things, including my career in music, but I cannot live without God.

  ALL I NEED

  if You took

  away the frills

  removed the fame,

  packed up the thrills

  if You stripped

  away the glitz

  no longer welcome

  at the Ritz

  if all was lost

  and i became

  someone with no

  famous name

  if i were poor

  as poor could be

  lived on the streets

  just You and me

  i’d be okay

  i’d be just fine

  if i were Yours

  and You were mine

  You’re all i need

  my everything

  You’re my first love

  You are my King

  You are my life

  You are my breath

  without You, Lord

  would be my death

  You’re all i need

  You light my fire

  You are my God

  my one desire

  amen

  cm

  Discussion Questions

  As Redemption becomes more famous, the band’s challenges change. What would be your biggest challenge if you suddenly became rich and famous?

  How would you define Chloe? As a musician, composer, performer, minister, teenage girl, and Christian? Why?

  How do you define yourself? Why?

  Chloe was considering early graduation from high school. Do you think this was a good idea? Why or why not?

  Chloe’s relationship with her mom really improved in this book. What do you attribute that to? How is your relationship with your parents?

  Do you think maturity is always measured in age and years? What makes a person seem mature or immature to you?

  Chloe and Jeremy’s relationship takes a big turn in this book. Do you think they handled it right? How would you handle it?

  Chloe tries to keep her priorities with God in first place, her family and friends next, and finally her music. How do you prioritize your life?

  Chloe is devastated by Tiffany Knight’s death. How would you feel if someone you knew died? What would you wish you’d said to them before they were gone?

  Redemption sees their music as a ministry. What do you have in your life that feels like a ministry to you? What would you like to have?

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  FACE THE MUSIC

  published by Multnomah Books

  A division of Random House, Inc

  and in association with the literary agency of Sara A. Fortenberry

  © 2004 by Carlson Management Co., Inc.

  Scripture quotations are from:

  The Holy Bible, New International Version

  © 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society,

  used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House

  The Holy Bible, New King James Version

  © 1984, 1990 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

  Multnomah is a trademark of Multnomah Books

  and is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

  The colophon is a trademark of Multnomah Books.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission.

  For information:

  MULTNOMAH BOOKS

  12265 ORACLE BOULEVARD, SUITE 200

  COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80921

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data

  Carlson, Melody.

  Face the Music : a novel / Melody Carlson.

  p. cm. — (Diary of a teenage girl. Chloe; bk. 4)

  Summary: Seventeen-year-old Chloe Miller and her friends continue to tour as

  Redemption, a rising new Christian band, experiencing love, death, and marriage,

  but learning where to turn when things spin out of control.

  eISBN: 978-0-307-56394-1

  [1. Bands (Music)—Fiction. 2. Christian life—Fiction. 3. Friendship—Fiction. 4

  Love—Fiction. 5. Diaries—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.C216637Fac 2004

  [Fic]—dc22

  2004005129

  v3.0