Maka slid open the door to the studio nervously. Soul had told her to be there at nine so that they could all practice. Practice what, she had no idea.

She wasn't really sure how to dress for a rehearsal, or whatever the hell this was, so she opted for a red mini-skirt and a white button down. It was casual, but interesting enough that she could play it up if she had to.

Before she could even open the door all the way, she was accosted by a blur of blue and black that nearly knocked her to the ground in anticipation. She was left clinging to the door in surprise, trying to figure out what had just run into her.

"Is this the new girl?! Hey new girl, bet you're excited to be working with a big guy like me, huh?"

As Maka's vision finally settled, she realized there was a boy standing in front of her. He had shockingly blue hair that was spiked up in several directions. He was a few inches taller than her and incredibly muscular, and obviously proud of it if the black muscle shirt that he wore was any indication.

She immediately noticed the drumsticks in his back pocket and everything clicked.

"You must be BlackStar, the drummer," she said, standing up straight and sticking out her hand.

"So you've heard of me? Of course, who hasn't!" He shook her hand in an almost bone-cracking grip and Maka had to fight back a grimace. "Hey Soul, Kid, I like this girl! Can we keep her?" he asked as he threw a look back to the other members.

Soul grinned and shoved his hands into the pockets of his red jeans. "Yeah, I think we can BlackStar. BlackStar, this is Maka Albarn, a new singer in Deadly Weapons." Soul and Kid crossed over to Maka and BlackStar.

Kid handed her a pile of sheet music. and pulled his phone from his pocket. He handed the iPhone to her after opening a recording. "We recorded your part on the piano so you can listen back to it and check your intervals. Do you want me to send it to you?" he asked.

Maka nodded, taking the music from him. "Yeah, thanks, that would be great. Am I doing vocals or instrumental?" she asked the guitar-player.

"Vocals this time. It's a duet that Soul and I worked out. And are you familiar with our older stuff?" he asked her. She nodded, of course she knew their music. "Good, because we were thinking about reformatting one of our old songs and fitting it to your voice. It's a sort of a welcome-to-the-band invitation for our first concert."

"Concert?" she squeaked in surprise.

"Yeah," Soul said with a grin. "For our world tour. And you're holding the music to one of our new songs. Kid's been burning the midnight oil on that one," he jeered.

Kid shoved a hand into his pocket, an uncomfortable look settling on his face. "It's nothing, really. I just think it could be your style," he admitted sheepishly.

Maka stared at the dark-haired boy in front of her. Here was a boy, a man, really, who graduated from Yale and was the guitarist and singer in an incredibly well-known band that was going on a world tour, and he looked . . .embarassed?

"Wait a minute, world tour?" Maka asked suddenly. How she had missed the statement before she had no idea.

"I'll text you the details, don't worry. You're going on tour with us and you'll help us write our new album, right?" Soul asked, sending her an appraising look. Maka tried not to fidget under his crimson gaze.

It's not that she didn't think she could write music for them. But honestly, she hadn't realized just what she was getting herself into when she signed up for this band.

Wow, these guys don't miss a beat. I haven't even signed a contract and they already want me on tour? Maka thought to herself. It's absurd.

Okay Maka, don't let them know you're panicked. Show them you're strong. He mind went back to Kid and all of her nervousness washed away.

She had to suppress a chuckle at his expression. "May I?" she asked, glancing towards the lyrics placed in the center of the staff. She quickly located the chorus and began to sing the words softly, finding that the melody fit with her vocal range and seemed to flow well. "Swallowed by a vicious vengeful sea, Darker days are raining over me. In the deepest depth I lost myself, See myself through someone else. Beautiful and poetic, but a little dark, don't you think?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Soul was the first to react. He started laughing loudly at her remark. "Kind of like you, don't you think?"

"Excuse me? How am I dark?" she asked indignantly, sending a scathing look to the pianist.

Kid, at least, had the decency to avoid her fiery gaze.

Soul wiped a tear from his eye and grinned broadly. "Oh come on, Maka, while you are beautiful and deep, there's something dark in those eyes. Something quite possibly frightening, I'd say."

His friend cleared his throat before agreeing. "Yes, Maka, I have to agree that you aren't a porcelain doll, despite what your appearance might suggest," Kid said, gesturing to her with his hands.

The blonde singer blushed and looked down in embarrassment. "I'm really not pretty, but thank you," she said while squirming uncomfortably.

"You are so beautiful, why would you say that, Ms. Albarn?"

Maka turned to the sound of the new voice in surprise.

She was met by a tall, graceful looking girl. This girl had dark hair that was tied in a high ponytail, with sapphire blue eyes that practically shined. She wore a tight-fitting pantsuit and held a coffee in her right hand. But what surprised Maka most was the look on her face. She wore an expression of absolute shock and surprise, as if she could never expect someone to say what Maka had just said. Before Maka could respond to the question, she was interrupted by a whoop from the blue-haired boy.

"Tsubaki, Hi! How are you doing? Did you miss me? I bet you did!"

BlackStar shouted at the girl, who met his loud words with a patient and kind smile instead of a look of exasperation.

"Why, yes, BlackStar, I did miss you. I missed all of you, actually. How's our new member adjusting?" she asked, sending a kind look in Maka's direction.

Maka gulped audibly and the rest of the band turned to look at her. "I-I'm doing fine, just a little different than what I expected, that's all!" she promised with a nervous smile. Though she stammered her way through the statement, she knew it was the truth.

There would have to be adjustments made in her life, but she would make them to follow her dream. Though she had never really imagined joining a band and going on tour, now that the option was presented, she knew that she wanted it more than most things she had ever wanted before.

It wouldn't be easy, but it would probably be worth it.

"Now that's the kind of thing I like to hear!"

How many people are there in this band? Maka thought to herself as she was met by two more girls as they entered the room behind Tsubaki.

One was tall and slim with light brown hair. She wore a red crop top and dark jeans and she looked like she was ready to punch someone.

Meanwhile, the other girl was short and curvy, with golden blonde hair and grey blue eyes. She was dressed similarly to her sister, but in cut-offs instead of normal jeans. The shorter girl sent Maka a huge smile when she saw her and clutched for the arm of the taller girl.

"Hey sis, look! It's the new girl! I knew this band needed another girl. Now we outnumber the boys!" she said cheerfully to the woman that Maka presumed was her sister.

The taller girl turned to her sister and grinned, throwing an arm around her. "Yeah, I guess you're right, Patty."

It was Kid who finally stepped in and began the introductions.

Maka had to admit, this kid (pardon the pun) was the definition of politeness and charm.

He steered Maka towards the two blonde sisters and introduced them.

"Maka, this is Elizabeth Thompson," he said, pointing towards the taller girl. "She's in charge of wardrobe for the band, and she helps Tsubaki with locations and travel arrangements."

"Yeah, without me, these boys would be going on stage in basketball shorts," the blonde girl laughed. "Call me Liz," she said, sticking a hand out for Maka to shake.

"That was ONE TIME!" BlackStar shouted from across the room, an angry look on his face. "Let it go Liz!"

Soul punched him in the arm good-naturedly. "Come on, BlackStar, you try to get out of those skinny jeans every time. Kid and I had to practically hold you down last time."

Kid chose to ignore what was going on with the rest of the band, assuming that Tsubaki would keep it from getting seriously out of hand. "And this is her younger sister, Patricia. But she likes to go by Patty."

Unlike the other girl, handshakes did not seem to suffice for Patty. The younger sister launched herself and Maka, throwing her arms around the thin singer and squeezing her tightly. "Do you like giraffes? I do. I hope we can be friends. Sis told me I could do your make-up for the show. The boys only let me do contouring, nothing fun, but with you I can do fun stuff on your face. So can I?"

Maka had to give her credit, the girl did not lack for enthusiasm.

After a moment of discomfort and squirming on Maka's part, and a few laughs from the rest of the band, Kid managed to pry Patty off of the other girl. "Patty is in charge of publicity and the like. She's also in charge of our security team, and is a surprisingly good a martial arts."

So here they were, a band with a wide range of personalities. BlackStar, the wild and energetic drummer. Next was Soul, the laid-back and carefree singer that despised the trappings of fame. Then Kid, the logical and polite, though possibly neurotic, guitarist. And then their retinue of friends that worked behind the scene. Tsubaki, the beautiful and patient manager, who worked alongside the Thompson Sisters who seemed to have a wide array of talents that took care of just about everything else the band needed.

And now, there was Maka.

Maka had now idea how the hell she was going to fit in with this group that seemed to already have their dynamic figured out. But she was more than willing to try.

A/N: Kind of a short chapter. I just really wanted to introduce the characters and set up for the band so you know where they all are and how they relate to each other. If you have checked my profile, you know that I already wrote the next few chapters, but lost the flashdrive. I've just scrapped them and am starting anew. Though admittedly I have written a scene that will appear later in the story as the song inspired me to do.

Thank you for all the Reviews, Favorites, and Follows! You guys are so patient and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

-Wri