EVH Tribute
The car ride was a long, quiet one. None of the girls understood how or why May stormed off out of nowhere like that. Misty and Dawn just looked at each other and wondered what should they do to break the silence that is until Dawn spoke:
"Hey May is everything alright? You know if you wanna talk about it, we're always here for support."
"It's.. It's just I don't understand.." May began
"What is it May? You can tell us." Misty reassured her blue eyed friend.
May desperately wanted to tell her friends about what she was going through with her boyfriend but she just couldn't. Not because she couldn't trust them, she was concerned about their safety. She knew that Drew had a temper that he couldn't control but she didn't know what he was capable of.
Once Misty pulled up to the Maple residence May began feeling her anxiety go off. She quickly said her goodbyes and ran inside her house.
"I wonder what happened during that phone call?" Misty asked hesitantly "Wait, You don't think Drew.. abuses her right?"
"He better not be! What kind of a man would he be?!" Dawn responded with anger in her eyes.
May ran inside her house and went upstairs ignoring her mom Caroline and her little brother Max as well. As she entered her room she began crying and questioning what went wrong in her relationship.
"He used to be so sweet. What's wrong with me going with my friends? Why doesn't he trust me? I do nothing wrong but it's like I can't live my life."
As she began sobbing on her bed she noticed a black object on the floor. It was a cap that had a skull with batwings, after staring at it for a few more seconds she realized what it was.
"I forgot to give Ash his cap!"
Back with the band
"Oh man, I can't help but wonder if everything is okay guys. She looked pretty shaken up didn't she?" asked an all too familiar front man in a Master Of Puppets tee.
"Relax Ashy boy" responded his bass player with the Megadeth shirt
"Yeah Ash, who knows? Maybe it was a family emergency and she had to be home. Just text her later to check on her, the ladies love a caring man" said Brock with a wink in his eye.
"Oh please, can we just get back to practice now? No more girl talk for the rest of the night. We have to prepare for the halftime show remember?!" Paul reminded
'Oh shit that's right! Sorry but I gotta agree with Paul on this one Ketchum. We got a show to do and we only got 2 days until Friday! We can't be waisting anymore time and we promised principal Flores we'd have the setlist in by Thursday afternoon!" responded a shocked Gary
'You guys are right! Are we still going for our tribute show? Ash asked
"Fuck yeah we are!" The other members responded
Alright let's do this!" Ash said reaching for his cap to turn backwards only to be shocked. "Wait a minute has anyone seen my cap?"
Pallet High Thursday afternoon
The boys had a meeting to discuss their halftime show with their principle to see if it will pass or not.
"Alright boys, I love this idea for a tribute to one of the greatest guitar players to ever walk the earth! I am one hundred percent on board for this!" said Principle Flores
"Awesome! Thank you very much sir!" The 4 boys shouted!
"Oh boys I only have one request though"
"Sure, anything." responded Ash
"Tomorrow I would like for you guys to play with pride and show this school what it means to rock!" at that moment principle Flores threw up the horns!
"We promise!" shouted the excited boys!
Friday the morning of the Homecoming Game
Pallet town school spirit was all around the air. People had red and black painted on their faces, school t shirts were worn all over the place, and the band was playing their march song all throughout the halls. Spirit meant a lot to the athletes, the cheerleaders and even yes, even the metal heads who were preparing for an evening of rocking out.
The boys decided to meet behind the stadium to make sure everything was in place. Ash asked "Okay do we have everything ready for today?"
"Let's see." Gary pulls out a clipboard to see if everything was prepared for the night. "Amps, checked, mics, checked, instruments, checked. I say we're just about ready to go."
"What about our-" Brock was interrupted by an all familiar jock
"Hey satanic cunts, you better not get in the way tonight. This is my chance to breakout and score big! If you know what's good for you'll get your shitty performance out of the way quick! so people can get back to seeing the real star of the show."
Ash was about to go up and defend his bands honor when Brock stepped in to calm him down. "Ash we can't let him get to us. For all we know he could just be trying to manipulate us so we end up doing something stupid that cancels our performance.
"He's right Ash we can't loose our cool" Paul agreed.
"But we can't just allow him to talk shit about us guys. We're allowed to stand up for ourselves!" Ash hated Brocks idea but he also knew that he was right. A fight isn't worth cancelling one of the biggest gigs of their lives.
"Hey Ketchum I'm talking to you! What are you deaf?!" Drew was angry and stormed off being that the only response he got back was a giant middle finger from the whole band.
"Thanks guys we'll meet back here tonight at 6:30 to set up" Ash said.
"Right!" The four boys responded and were headed to their first period. All except Ash because he spotted an all too familiar girl finishing up cheer practice. He never got the opportunity to check on May after the incident in his garage so he thought now would be the perfect time.
"Hi May" Ash said a little hesitantly.
May turned around and a smile was shown on her face "Oh, hi Ash! Sorry about the other day I was just um, going through some stuff but I'm better now though!"
"Oh that's great to hear! That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about but there's my answer. Are you gonna see the halftime show tonight?" It was strange normally Ash had no fear when it came to promoting his band however this time was different.
Before May could respond she saw Drew at the corner of her eye about to approach them. "Uhh yeah you bet. Sorry Ash I got to go see ya."
"Oh cool yeah, bye May." He responded and left ready for the day.
May and Drew began walking to class before Drew immediately stopped to interrogate her."You gonna tell me why that freak was trying to talk to you?! What was he telling you huh? You cheating on me or what?!
May was shocked and scared. She didn't want to tell him about his encounters with Ash so in order to avoid him finding out she decided lying was going to be the only way out of it.
"No Drew it isn't like that! He just asked what time the game started that's all!
As much as Drew didn't believe her he took the bait anyways. "Well he shouldn't be asking you! You're mine and that's it!" Drew yelled and stomped to class.
Homecoming Game: 10 seconds before halftime
As the time began ticking the Pallet Town Crows found themselves down 21-24 and were at the 50 yard line. The Sinnoh Hurricanes defense were playing phenomenal and were stopping the pass like crazy. It was 2nd and 5 and after deciding that throwing the ball wasn't going to work they knew it was time for their all star running back to put them back in the game. After getting the ball on a halfback toss Drew saw nothing else but green grass in front of him and took the chance to get the ball in the endzone and score right before time had run out and gave them a lead of 28-24!
The fans in the stadium roared with excitement. They were amazed at how fast they were able to comeback but what they didn't know was the excitement was only about to begin!
As the football team were headed back to the locker rooms a big movable stage was brought to the center of the field with a giant curtain. As the band was ready to take the stage May and the other cheerleaders preformed a little routine to hype up the crowd.
Suddenly Principle Flores walked up to the stage to give the intro: "Preforming a tribute to the late but oh so great Eddie Van Halen. Give it up for Pallet Towns very own "Rejected Alliance"!
The crowd responded with roars of excitement ready to see what they had planned.
As the curtains were coming down Gary began playing an all too familiar guitar intro.
Uh!
Oh yeah!
Ah-huh!
Ash roared with excitement: "Everybody get out of your seats. We want Eddie to hear us loud and proud"
Jump back, what's that sound?
Here she comes, full blast'n top down
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Model citizen, zero discipline
Don't you know she's coming home with me
You'll lose her in that turn
I'll get her!
"If you know the words sing it with us" he continued.
Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama
Ain't nothin' like it, it's a shining machine
Got the feel for the wheel, keep the movin' parts clean
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Got an on-ramp comin' through my bedroom
Don't you know she's coming home with me
You'll lose her in that turn
I'll get her
Oh!
Panama, Panama
Ow!
Panama, Panama
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Woo!
"Ladies and Gentleman Mr. Gary Oak with the solo!"
Gary started shredding the solo leading to the third verse
Yeah, we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight
I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off
Know what I'm sayin'
Uhh, I reach down between my legs n' ease the seat back
She's runnin', I'm flyin'
Right behind in the rearview mirror now
Got the fearin', power steerin'
Pistons poppin', ain't no stoppin' now
Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Panama, Panama
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Panama!
The crowd was electrified and ready for more after the energetic performance of only the first song. As Ash was getting his keyboard prepared Gary got the mic.
"Alright so while our lead singer gets ready for this next song we want you all to do exactly what the chorus says it's pretty easy it goes a little like this:"
Ash began playing the keys leading into the next song "Jump"
The crowd roared with excitement loving this performance so far
I get up and nothin' gets me down
You got it tough, I've seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You got to roll with the punches and get to what's real
Ah, can't you see me standin' here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Ah, can't you see what I mean?
Ah, might as well jump (jump)
Might as well jump
Go ahead and jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Ow, oh, hey, you
Who said that?
Baby, how you been?
You say you don't know
You won't know until you begin
So can't ya see me standing here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Ah, can't you see what I mean?
Ah, might as well jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Might as well jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Jump
As Ash repeated the chorus he sprang into the air before combining Garys epic solo with a keyboard solo of his own.
Might as well jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Get it in, jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Jump
Jump
Jump
Jump
Before the crowd could even cheer the band broke out into the next song: "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love"
I heard the news baby
All about your disease
Yeah, you may have all you want baby
But I got somethin' you need, oh yeah
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Just like I told you before, yeah before
You know you're semi-good lookin'
And on the streets again
Oh yeah, you think you're really cookin' baby
You better find yourself a friend, my friend
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't gonna talk about love
Just like I told you before, before
Before, before, before
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Babe, it's rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' bout love
Just like I told you before, before
I been to the edge
And there I stood and looked down
You know I lost a lot of friends there baby
I got no time to mess around
So if you want it, got to bleed for it baby
Yeah, got to, got to bleed, baby
Mmm you got to, got to bleed, baby
Hey, got to, got to bleed baby
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Just like I told you before, before, before
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Don't wanna talk about love
Don't need to talk about love
Ain't gonna talk about love
No more, no more
"Alright repeat after us everybody!" Ash screamed
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
"Alright we got time for two more songs and this one especially is our tribute to one of the greatest guitar players to ever walk this earth so I'm gonna let Brock and Gary take over on this one" - Ash said
As Brock began drumming the intro Gary started shredding "Eruption". The crowd was on fire and so were the three girls who had front row seats and were chanting for the bands epic performance. After the legendary solo our favorite guitar player also began playing the follow up song "You Really Got Me".
"This song goes out to a very special girl". Ash said before singing
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Please, don't ever let me be
I only wanna be by your side
Please, don't ever let me be
I only wanna be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh no, no, ah
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Ah girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh Oh Oh
"Thank you Pallet Town High! We appreciate the opportunity to play in front of each and everyone of you! We also wanna thank principle Flores for allowing us to be here and lastly a big thank you to all of you as well, goodnight!" As Ash thanked the crowd the entire band gathered together and took a bow before leaving the stage.
As the guys left Dawn immediately ran up to May and shouted "OMG he sang a song about you!"
May was shocked and couldn't believe her ears. Although she didn't want to get her hopes up there was no way Ash could possibly have a thing for her but even if he did one question was on her mind. Why her?
A/N: I know it's been awhile but I am back! Enjoy my tribute to the greatest guitar player in my opinion! Also if you guys want to reach out to me with ideas reach me on twitter: E13Flores
I DO NOT own any songs mentioned all rights go to Van Halen! Rock on!