Electric Pixie

"EELL," Max said it like it was two syllables.

Eleven frowned. "Do I have to Max?"

"You have to tell him everything."

"Uh, something else I'm not going to like?"

"It's El that doesn't like, tell him El." Max said.

"Groupies."

"Groupies?"

"You know what those are? Right?"

"Yeah, those are the ones that throw themselves at you, want to sleep at you, flash their… oh. I see what you getting at."

"I was kind of hoping mine were the first ones you'd see. I can only think of one way to make that happen." Eleven said her face hot with embarrassment.

"Um, no. No way you are doing that, and I wouldn't even ask. Not at this point in our relationship." Mike said. He was adamant.

Eleven turned to Max, she could not keep the grin off her face.

"I told you Max. I told you he wouldn't let me."

Max rolled her eyes and gave an loud overly exaggerated and exasperated sigh. She stood up, pulled some bills out of her pocket. "Eleven dollars. Remind me not to bet against Mike again."

She went over to hug Mike and whispered into his ear, "thanks for proving me wrong. I knew you would."

"I won't look El."

"Mike they will be on the front row almost to the stage doing it. They are going to be hard to miss."

"Um, what if you have the lighting guy shine a light on me? I won't be able to see anything past the monitor."

Eleven was thinking, "that could work. I'm just being jealous. I'm sure you've seen some already."

She could see him turning red. "I don't need the details Mike, I assume magazines?"

"I was peeking over Steve Harrington's shoulder, so I have an idea what the fuss is all about."

Max burst out laughing, "it's only really a fuss with guys. Girls live with them everyday."

"I can't believe we just had a meeting about boobs," Dustin said. "I love the music business."

"The reason, Dustin," Max put on a very condescending voice, "is that Mike has respect for El, and cares about what she thinks of him. And El… sorry El… El is not very confident in her looks. You can't tell that in front of a camera or onstage. But I see it."

Eleven felt her face burning hotly. She couldn't look at Mike.

He came over and kissed her forehead, he said quietly, "you have nothing to worry about Eleven. You are beautiful. Outside and inside."

She was a little bewildered. She felt… more than lucky. She didn't have the words and that made her giggle inwardly. How did she end up with this guy again?

"One more thing, El." Max said. This time her voice was serious.

Mike looked at Eleven. "Eleven?"

"Drugs."

"I don't smoke."

"You are going to be offered a lot more than joints. Our security has my personal permission and our lawyers's to beat the shit out of anybody dealing drugs. But that's not quite what I mean."

"Okaaay, I'm not quite following you, Eleven."

"Personal rule of mine. Anybody around me that's high, in my life, on stage, in the studio... anywhere. Is out of the band. Permanently, no second chances. And out of my life. Permanently. No second chances."

She looked at Mike. There was no smile on her face. A little bit of worry and panic showed, but no smile. She could see the tense look on Max's and Dustin's face too.

"I promise you guys, but I promise you Eleven. I don't care who offers me what, I don't want to lose you."

Eleven breathed a huge sigh of relief, "Stress and this business in general can do weird things to people. I wanted you to know you weren't just risking your physical or mental health, you were risking me. I need to be more important to you than a quick high on stage."

"Eleven… I promise."

"That's all I needed to hear Mike."

"Ok, what's the next step?" He asked.

"Ok we rehearse in a month, I have things I need to do during the day, but I'll come over for a few hours at night?" Mike nodded.

"You start thinking about what you'd like to do, or are comfortable doing for a stage show. We are going to be ramping it up a bit for this tour."

"You aren't going to tell me what you are up to during the day… are you?" Mike's smile was hard to resist, but she needed to.

"It's a secret… and a surprise, you will know all in a few weeks."

Mike looked at Max and Dustin, "What's not a secret guys, is how much we are going to be kissing every night."

Max made gagging sounds, "that's going to be working its way into one of my nightmares."

Eleven felt her smile fading… "remember Mike, we aren't a couple as soon as I step outside the door."

"That is going to be a major drag." Mike said with an unhappy sigh.

"I'll make it up to you." Eleven said.

"I'M IN THE ROOM." Max said loudly. That got the rest of them laughing.

XXXXX

Rumours of a 4th album for 11, following the tour are making their way around the entertainment trades. RMM will be following up on all of them.

- Rock Music Magazine

XXXXX

Mike had been spoiled with the amount of time he'd gotten to spend with Eleven. Not seeing her for the entire day was making him restless. He couldn't concentrate in school. He missed his girlfriend. He had a girlfriend so he counted himself lucky and forced himself to wait until she came over later on.

While he waited at home, he worked on what he was going to do for the stage show. The idea he had, he was sure hadn't been done on stage before. At least not by anybody his age. He would run it by the group on the first rehearsal to see what they thought.

He went out and bought every teen magazine he could find. He read every single one of them. Including the ones that Eleven had brought over. Ninety percent of the articles were banal and he found himself rolling his eyes when he read the first sentence of each one.

He read so many articles for 11 that were mostly fluff. I guess that's what the fans want to read. They don't want to read anything bad out the band. He read how Eleven was "currently single but looking for that right someone".

"I hope that's me," Mike thought to himself. It seemed like she really cared about their relationship, even at this early stage. Mike was encouraged. He never imagined he'd feel like this for someone, and couldn't imagine feeling this way again.

After Mike had dinner with his family he went back down to the basement to continue his research into the pop music business. He heard light footsteps coming down the stairs.

Eleven looked at him, she looked completely wiped. She took one look at him and burst into tears. He went to her quickly to give her a hug. "Are you ok?"

She nodded against his shoulder, "just exhausted. I knew this first day would be tiring. I'm not sure I was prepared for the amount of work I would have to do… no, I'm not telling you what it is yet." She whispered a giggle.

"Is it ok if we don't listen to any music tonight… or talk? I really just want to cuddle with my boyfriend."

"It's fine, Eleven. Let's lay down on the sofa like we did on the bus."

Eleven lay her head on his chest, let out a breathy sigh. "Mmm, this is nice."

She never completed the last word, she was asleep and snoring lightly before she finished.

Mike smiled. He could stay like this forever, but he knew he'd have to send her home before it got too late.

XXXXX

Mike was startled awake. Nancy's face was no more than a foot away from his. Eleven was still sleeping, a beautiful smile on her face.

"iIke!" Nancy hissed.

"What is it Nance?" He saw Chief Hopper standing in the background.

"El's dad wants you to send her back home… in the morning."

Mike looked at Hopper and nodded. Hopper looked at his daughter sleeping, and then and Mike, smiled, tipped his hat and went back up the stairs.

Mike fell back to sleep as soon as Nancy left.

XXXXX

When Mike woke up, Eleven was gone. He got up and headed towards the basement bathroom rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

He walked in to see Eleven stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel.

He closed his eyes, whipped his head around to the door while turning around, "Oh geez, Eleven I'm really sorry. I thought you'd gone back home."

"I let you sleep, Well, I guess that takes care of yesterday's little problems doesn't it?"

"Eleven, I'm so sorry, I…"

"Mike, it's ok, look at me."

"No, Eleven."

"Mike, I have the towel wrapped around me."

He turned around slowly to see that she had. "Are you ok Mike, you're so red you're almost purple."

"I'm embarrassed, Eleven, for me and for you."

"You don't need to be." She came up to him, one hand holding her towel and with the other put her arm around Mike's neck. She reached up to give him a soft kiss.

"I'm glad it happened this way, gets all that awkwardness out of they way." Her voice got very small, "I hope… I hope you like what you saw, it's all I have."

"You are beautiful Eleven."

His face was still burning. "I'm supposed to send you home first thing in the morning."

"Yes, I ran into Nancy, she there were plumbers at my place and she said I could shower here."

He stepped back, sighed, "Eleven… what are you doing with me. You could have any guy you wanted."

"You are right. I could. Everyone one of those 'any guy's' would tell me I'm pretty, or beautiful… they'd tell me anything to get into my pants. But you Mike, you told me I was pretty on the inside… because that was important to you. You didn't know how important it was to me to hear something like that. The fact that we are physically attracted to each other is just icing on the cake."

Eleven shrugged… "I don't know what else to tell you. It's the way I feel about you. And I feel like you can call me El now if you want. It feels right. It didn't before."

"El." Mike said slowly, seeing how it sounded to himself. He smiled.

"El it is. Hey, I read in Pop Music Magazine that you were single and looking for 'that right someone' and I'd like to apply for the job."

El rolled her eyes. "Can you believe that trash? That's the kind of thing we were talking about yesterday. We won't have to do that when they lose interest in us because of the new sound."

"So anyway, the job is yours." She grinned at him.

XXXXX

RMM has found out that the Not So Pretty tour is going to end earlier than intended so that 11 can get back into the studio. Spokesperson for the band said they were excited with the new project but it was going to take quite a bit of time to record. We are told that we've 'never heard arrangements like this from the band, or from any band for that matter'. RMM will keep you posted.

- Rock Music Magazine

XXXXX

Rehearsal for the tour was going to start in a few days. El told him yesterday that she had accomplished what she set out to do, and wanted to show him the results. Mike was nervous and excited at the same time. He could tell that this was very important for El and he wanted to keep an open mind about what it might be.

He heard some commotion at the front door and saw that Nancy was holding the door open for El, she was carrying two guitar cases. He rushed to ease her struggle. One of the guitar cases looked taller than she did.

"I've got it El. you can let go of the long one."

Once they had settled in the basement, Mike could see that she could hardly keep the grin off her face.

"You look happy El." Her grin was infectious and he couldn't help grinning back at her.

"You did everything you wanted to do the last four weeks?"

"I did, and I got to kiss my boyfriend every night, and fall asleep with him a few of those nights. I'm a happy and very lucky girl Mike."

"Ok, first." El pulled an album out of the bag she was carrying.

Mike immediately recognized the cardboard gatefold outer sleeve that was made to look like a newspaper.

"That's Jethro Tull's 'Thick as a Brick'.

"Have you heard this album?" She asked.

Mike went over to his record rack and pulled out his copy to show her. It was a little worn from being frequently pulled out of the rack. He played this one a lot.

"It was the best selling album of 1972. On tour they do the whole album. From beginning to end."

"It's a concept album," El said.

"Sort of," Mike said.

She frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Ian Anderson wanted to do a parody of the kind of concept albums that are being record by progressive rock groups. So while yes, it's a concept album, but it's a concept album making fun of concept albums. It's one song split over two sides."

"You know just enough about this kind of music to take the fun out of it." She was kidding but Mike apologized immediately.

"Sorry, El. It's still great album."

"It's ok Mike, it shows your musical knowledge. That alone is going to be a great asset to us. I want our fourth album to be something like this."

"Not sound like it, but a concept album?"

"Yes."

"Ok, we haven't even started the tour yet, or rehearsed for it. Isn't it a little early to be talking about the next album?"

"Yes and no. Too early to be in the recording studio, but every tour that's not a nostalgia tour it's almost expected you tease a new song or two from an upcoming album."

"Is that what you were doing these last few weeks?"

"Yes, preparing for our rehearsal, and what I'd like to do for the next album." El pulled out a bass guitar from one of the guitar cases,

"That's a Fender Precision. Natural wood grain. Nice bass… geez, but those aren't cheap El."

El smirked, "I can afford it, but in this case, Fender gave it to me when I told them what I wanted to do with it."

"Really?"

"Really. Guitar companies don't do that a lot, they know that successful bands can afford their own equipment, but in this case they were intrigued. Endorsement from a popular band is free advertising for them. Giving me a bass is a whole lot cheaper than an ad campaign in the music magazines."

"Plug me in? Oh, you probably don't have a bass amp do you?"

"Actually I do, a bass amp is actually perfect for an acoustic guitar with a pickup, really helps the bottom end. Let's get you plugged in."

"I've wanted to show you this for two weeks now."

She started to play a bass line. Closed her eyes, she was really getting into the groove.

"That's the bass line to Herbie Mann's 'Memphis Underground' Used to see that when he did it on variety shows five or six years ago. You aren't thinking of going a jazz route are you?"

"Not really, I've been listening to a lot of jazz and progressive music the last four weeks, there are similarities between them. That was just a teaser what I wanted to play you was this."

Mike's eyes got wide, "That's Chris Squire's bass line for Yes's 'Your's Is No Disgrace'

El continued playing, The so called easy parts, and the more complex parts.

"Um. Wow… uh... wow."

"It's one of the things I've been doing. I read an interview with Chris Squire, who said he took some time off just before Yes, to really learn what he wanted to do on the bass."

"You talked to Chris Squire?"

"On the phone, briefly. And to Stanley Clarke, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, Steve Currie., Jaco Pastorius, he teaches at the University of Miami. They all knew who I was. I wanted to talk to John Entwhistle but it was hinted that he was too coked up to tell me anything useful."

"He drank a lot of coke?"

"Ok, I"m assigning you two bodyguards Mike. You are too naive to be let out there on your own." She wasn't smiling when she said it.

He looked down, "sorry El, I don't know what you mean."

"That's what I love about you." She leaned over and kissed him over her bass. Max, Dustin, and I had a long conversation about you and what you'd be exposed to in this industry. We have good people around us, but it helps to be a bit savvy about the seedier side of things."

"Oh, I know what you mean now El. Sorry."

"It's ok Mike. It tears me apart to have you see this side of something that's supposed to be fun for the band and fun and entertaining for the fans. Pushers are assholes. Hoyt Axton was right when he said 'Goddamn the pusher' "

"Ah, that was what the drug speech was for last month?"

"And I was deadly serious Mike. Don't do it. I guarantee you will lose me."

Mike looked down again. He didn't say anything for a full minute.

"Mike?"

His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "I really don't want to lose you El. I promise I won't touch them."

El put her hand on his shoulder. "It's a sore spot for me Mike, I had a family member force fed drugs… and I was too. Long story for later, but I won't tolerate it." Mike nodded.

"I didn't want this to be a sad thing, we got off topic. Now you know that I will be able to handle the more complicated arrangements that you and Max right. Remember, I'm not classically trained like you two are. It will make Max and Dustin happy, I know they've been waiting for me to get out of the pop phase. That wasn't the surprise."

Mike smiled at her, "ok, hit me with it."

El put away her bass, and pulled out a sunburst Les Paul Gibson. "I guess I don't need to tell you why I picked this one up."

"Faster fretboard. " Mike said, "You can't get that fast on a Fender neck unless you scallop the frets."

"Very astute Mike."

Mike realized for the very first time that El's vocabulary was really very good for a fifteen year old. She didn't use 'like' every second word, or any of the Valley Girl slang that was coming into vogue out west. She had a story, and he admitted to himself that he wanted to know everything about this girl.

"You aren't telling me that you learned to play guitar over the last four weeks?"

"No, I mean I could play open chords and barre chords, but my arpeggios and scales were slow. Because I play bass, I have good stretch, and of course, my hammer-ons and pull-offs benefit from strengthened fingers. So I want to show you this."

El played him a pentatonic scale. Fast enough for him to open up his eyes wider. Her sweeping technique was so smooth Mike felt a little envious.

"That was the hardest thing I've ever had to learn musically."

"El, I think it's faster than how I play it."

"It's not. It just looks fast because I don't think you've seen anybody play scales closeup like that."

"You could be right. This is perfect El. I have something to show you when we start rehearsals."

XXXXX

"Ok Lucas? Mike has some ideas about the mix before we start the next song."

"Yeah, Lucas, nudge up the track El's bass is on. And can you double it?"

"Good idea, Mike." Lucas said over the loudspeaker.

They liked the sound enough to continue with it for a few songs.

"Ok, we've run into a problem." El said.

"Even if we do the whole album, we aren't going to be on stage long enough. I don't really want to do a lot of songs from the first two albums. I'm not really feeling them anymore. I mean, I know we have to do some of the hits, but that's still not going to keep us on stage very long."

"How long do you want to be onstage?" Mike asked.

"There's this guy making a name for himself out east in Jersey, Bruce Springsteen, he plays the bar circuit and is on stage for almost four hours. I don't know how he does it. We'd be dead in a year if we kept up that kind of space. So we… compromise."

"We give give the fans a longer show they they might expect, but we don't have the material, doing the old hits, and one or two new ones, or even adding some covers."

"Solo's" Mike said.

"I can't do solo's Mike. I don't know where to go with them."

"Max? Dustin? I'm assuming you can do a solo of any length?"

"We are good Mike." Dustin said. "It's just El who's not… let's call it confident, she doesn't think she can "

"El, do me favour, remember that arpeggio you showed me on the guitar? Play that on the bass, make the key changes as necessary, but use a pick and play it as fast as you can."

El breezed through Mike's instructions.

"Holy Shit, El." Lucas said through the loudspeaker.

"If you put a little phase on that..."

"Just what I was thinking, Lucas." Mike said smiling.

El stepped on her pedal. And played it again. This time she was all over the bass fretboard, holding some pull-offs, double-hammering on notes, bending others.

"Max, can you play that bass line on the b3? When she does that last quarter? El, when Max plays the whole bar, you stop."

The transition was smooth, the bass coming through the Leslie speakers, worked perfectly. Mike whispered to El. She picked up a guitar, and started playing the same notes on the Les Paul.

Mike placed a weird looking guitar stand in front of him.

"Ok keep the sweep going El, I'll take over your fretboard, El did that, Mike was playing overhand while El kept the arpeggio going with her smooth sweep technique.

"Ok, stop the sweep."

Mike kept the same sound going but hammered on the notes. He was hammering on the notes with his own guitar, El saw where he was going, she held the body of the guitar and slowly lowered it to the weird guitar stand. She unstrapped Mike's other guitar while he was still playing the fretboard, then lowered it to the weird stand also. Mike was playing both necks of the guitar at the same time, moving up and down with his solo, keeping the frets an octave apart through some parts and doubling with the others.

He stoppled suddenly. "Ok, that's what I'm going to do with the solo."

Max had stopped playing when Mike had started. Both her and Dustin's eyes had gone wide.

"That is going to blow their socks off. When they see a fifteen year old girl play that. Everyone is going to lose their shit." Dustin said.

"When they see a pretty fifteen year old girl play that. They definitely will." Mike said.

"When they see the cutest guy on earth playing guitar like that, I'm going to have to pull them off you," El looked at Mike in wonder.

"That was unbelievable."

"It starts with your bass playing El, that's what's important. Nobody is going to be expecting that. Not that kind of talent."

Max laughed at Mike, "they are never going see the Electric Pixie coming before she bowls them over."

El smiled. "Electric Pixie. I like that."