1. Jezebel

"LIZ COLLINS"

The headline glared at me in bold. "America's newest bad girl pops on the scene in Manhattan. Has she finally gone too far?"

"Oh, that's one for the scrapbook," John said as he read over my shoulder. He took the rag mag from my hands and walked to the 7/11 clerk.

I followed behind him after a moment, my boots making a terrible sound on the laminate tile. "We're late," I informed him.

He checked his phone. "Fifteen 'til check. I think we can make it."

We met Joe and Bradley outside and took off. I sat in the farthest corner in the back of our van and tucked my knees up to my chest. I pulled my head tight around my face and stared at the only view of Brooklyn I would actually get to enjoy.

"What's wrong?" Bradley asked, craning his head around. He lit a joint and held it out to me.

I shrugged as I took it. "It's cold."

"Did you guys see Liz's new magazine cover?" John asked loudly before holding it up. "I personally preferred the cover of Rolling Stone, but eh. Whatever."

Bradley examined the cover and then snatched it away to read the story inside. "Liz Collins, the lead singer of Desperate Attempt and prominent scene girl, is no stranger to controversy. From ripping apart hotel rooms in L.A. to getting arrested for possession in New York - "

"Scene girl?" I interrupted. "Of all the shit things these guys say about me, that one is the worst."

Bradley was laughing. "Look at some of the shit they dig up about you. 'Liz attended Stratton Middle School, where some former classmates described her as dark and antisocial'."

I laughed out my weed hit and yawned. "That's big news, dude. Obviously."

"I mean, it really speaks to the way that people think in this country. You're in a metal band - the press shouldn't even be interested in you. But they are. Why?"

"Why, indeed," I replied.

He held a finger in the air. "It's because you're hot."

I snorted. "And here I thought it was because I was the epitome of an old school shock rocker."

"We're here," Joe announced as he parked the van. We all climbed out and he slung his arm across my shoulders. "At least you get people talking about our band," he said to me.

"Except that they're not talking about our music. They're just talking about her," John said before rolling his trunks toward the venue.

Joe shrugged. "Want me to carry your guitar in?"

"Sure." And then I was rushed by a small group of fans that were already waiting out in the cold for the doors to open.

"Will you take a picture with me?!" A girl with short black hair and a safety pin through her cheek asked.

"Yeah, of course," I said to her and to everyone else that was pulling out their phones and cameras. This had become a regular thing, and I wondered if it was part of the annoyance John was feeling. The guys had to set up everything while I spent time with fans. But, what was I supposed to do? I couldn't just leave them all hanging.

I finally made my way into the venue and to the green room to get dressed... which for me was technically getting undressed. My outfit for tonight consisted of panties, fishnets, boots and nipple tape. I painted black around my eyes and exited the small room for the larger backstage area. My eyes darted around, but I didn't see him. I went back and checked my phone; nothing.

"Liz!" Joe's voice yelled loudly.

I walked out of the room again and our eyes locked. We covered the distance between us in seconds and then my feet were off the floor, my legs wrapping around his middle as he hugged me to him. I kissed him violently - I would have ripped his clothes off if I didn't have to be on stage in less than five minutes.

"Holy. Shit." He whispered into my ear.

"I know." We are electric live wires and water when we meet. There aren't words for this type of love. I can't breathe without you. "I love you. I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too. I missed you like crazy."

"You coming Legs?" Bradley yelled over his shoulder as he went towards the curtain. Everyone in the crowd was screaming.

"I'll be in the pit," Seth promised as he set me back down. I kissed him again before I ran to the stage. The crowd was squealing and chanting, the bass pedal began to thump, and then I became something else entirely as our show officially began.