Auditions

When Spike woke up the next morning, Julia was not lying next to him. He propped himself up and looked around the room. Her stuff was gone and a look at his clock told him it was time to get up. Putting on some black sweatpants and a white wifebeater that showed off his muscular biceps, he ran his hand through his hair then stepped out of the room. He walked down the hall, his feet growing fairly numb from the cold metal floor by the time he reached the kitchen.

Jet was there making pancakes and did they smell good! Jet turned at that moment. He grinned and said, "Welcome to the real world, Sleeping Beauty. Hungry?" Spike's stomach grumbled just then and Jet grinned even wider and handed Spike a plate piled with pancakes. "Eat up. You got a big day ahead of you."

Spike scowled, grabbed the plate and walked out to the couch with the plate in one hand and a bottle of syrup in the other. He sat down and poured out syrup on the pancakes and started eating moodily. But that didn't last long for who could but upset while eating pancakes?. He was dreading the auditions that would take place very soon. In other words when he got his lazy ass down to the station where the auditions where taking place. Of course Jet and Ed would be there, too but it just wouldn't be the same without Vicious.

Spike slammed his fist into the couch. 'That bastard!' Not only did he quit at the worst time they'd had several concerts lined up which had to be cancelled, he was organizing his own band. 'Backstabber!' was another thought. He shook his head than decided to work it off. He headed to his private room where he could put himself through his paces without any interruptions. There, he loosened up then spun around and stuck his leg out at eye level. Then spun it around and brought it down slowly. He bounced slightly on his toes then lashed out with calculated punches at his imaginary opponent. After several more minutes of this he felt his anger slowly flying away. Soon he was free again and left to find Jet and Ed. It was time to go.

"Sorry, you're not what we're looking for," said a very bored Spike. The auditions had sunk to a low even he couldn't imagine. He, Jet, and Ed were being bored out of their minds. Spike felt a little sorry for the people auditioning for the sarcastic comments weren't doing anything for their emotional state. Spike now turned his attention to the door which in walked a guy with electric blue spiked hair and a guitar. Spike lifted an eyebrow to Jet who shrugged. Spike nodded to the guy who struck a chord then began to sing. Spike's hands went immediately to his ears and he wondered why all hell didn't break loose.

"STOP! STOP! STOP!" he shouted trying to be heard over the noise. The guy obviously heard because he abruptly stopped. Spike removed his hands from his ears and sighed in relief. Jet was shaking with uncontrollable laughter that he was unsuccessfully trying to hold back. Ed was hiding under the table. "What makes you think you can sing?" Spike asked, addressing the guy.

The guy blinked then stared defiantly at Spike. "I can sing," he answered.

"No you can't. It was awful. I actually thought I was going to die."

The guy now looked for sympathy from Jet who was shaking his head. "It was bad; really, really bad."

The guy turned to Spike who raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to ask Ed's opinion?"

The poor guy turned his head to Ed whose eyes were shining from under the table. "No singy!" she cried.

Spike smiled grimly and nodded his approval. "Good advice Ed," he agreed. He looked at the guy. "Never sing again; that's our advice." The guy, who was almost in tears, turned and fled from the room.

Spike put his head in his arms on the table. "This is a nightmare," he said into his arms. "Are we done yet?"

Jet shrugged. "I'll ask the next person."

Spike got his wish, almost.

There was one person left and when she entered, everyone in the room sat up. There was something about her that made everyone seem to hold their breath. Maybe it was the way she was dressed: low cut beige hip-huggers, big black boots, simple white shirt, black jacket, and dark sunglasses. Maybe it was her looks: deep violet hair loosely pulled back, porcelain skin, rose red lips, amazing curves, and large breasts. Or maybe that moment or breathlessness came after she took off her glasses and stared at them with piercing jade eyes.

She seemed to notice their state and smirked. "Shall we begin?" she asked.

Spike regained his speech first. "Name?" he asked.

"Faye Valentine," she answered.

"What will you be playing for us?"

"Anything you want," she answered grinning devilishly.

Spike lifted his eyebrows then answered, "Black Dog by Led Zeppelin." He chose this song to make sure she was as good as she was cocky and because he had no time for people with no talent.

Faye grinned. "Piece of cake," she said lifting her guitar strap over her head.

Spike was impressed by the guitar. It was extremely rare, an actual antique from the turn of the century. There looked like there was something handwritten on the body, an autograph no less.

Faye struck a chord then began to sing.

"Hey, hey mama said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove."

Faye sang with clear notes that sounded a bit like Robert Plant. The guitar work, though, was the truly amazing part. It was like she had the soul of Jimmy Page inside of her.

Spike was blown away and looking at Jet and Ed, he could tell they were, too. He kept his face straight and stopped her a little further into the song. "Okay," he said. "Let's hear you on a slow song: Evanescence, My Immortal."

Faye nodded and placed her guitar in its case, then stepped over to the keyboard in the corner.

"No," Spike said. "Let Jet play it. He is after all, the pianist in the band." Faye nodded and stood. She closed her eyes then nodded for Jet to start. Her eyes remained closed through the intro, then when she began to sing, they snapped open and Spike felt his breath catch in his throat.

"I'm so tired being here. Suppressed by all my childish fears. And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave. Your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone." Her voice grew stronger. "These wounds won't seem to heal; this pain is just too real. There's just too much that time cannot erase. When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears, when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. And I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me."

Spike held up a hand for her to stop. "Can we hear more of your guitar work? You don't have to sing if you don't want to. Pick any song you want."

Faye nodded and stepped over to where her guitar was and lifted it once again onto her shoulder. After several seconds a smile came onto her face and she began to play. Spike was impressed, yet again. She'd chosen a Jimi Hendrix song: "All along the Watchtower". It was a very hard piece to play, but she seemed to be playing it effortlessly. This time he let her play the whole song.

Spike allowed himself a small smile. "You're very good," he told her and was surprised to see her blush slightly. "I think there's one thing left to do. Let's see how we all sound together on something easy. Hmm, let's see, how about Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones?"

Everyone else nodded. Ed stepped over to the drum set, Jet went back to the keyboard, Faye tuned her guitar, and even Spike picked up an acoustic. At a nod from everyone, Spike began to play. Jet and Faye joined in and then Spike began to sing.

Faye jumped slightly and looked at him. Her eyes were wide with shock but she continued to play.

"Wild Horses, couldn't drag me away. Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday," he sang.

They continued, and then on the last verse Faye felt a tear drop from her eye and travel down her cheek. They finished the song and Spike noticed her wiping her cheek and eye and walked over to her. Putting a hand on her arm, he asked "Are you okay?"

She completely ignored his question. "How do you do it?" she asked.

"Do what?" he asked, confused.

Faye turned her head and looked him straight in the eye. "You sound exactly like him. How is it possible?"

Spike scratched his head, still confused. "Like who?"

"Mick."

"Mick..." he thought for a second then asked, "Jagger?"

"Your voice is his. It's amazing."

Spike shrugged. "I guess I just have a capable voice."

Faye raised an eyebrow. "How many voices you got in there?" she joked. Spike grinned then broke out with 'Dazed and Confused' by Led Zeppelin.

"Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true. One little woman never bargained for you. Lots of people talking; few of them know: soul of a woman was created below."

He stopped and winked at her. "Is that true?"

Faye gave a sly smile. "Depends," she answered.

Spike shook his head. "I can sing with almost every male voice."

His eyes now drifted to her guitar. He wanted to hold it, inspect it, and play it.

Faye saw his gaze and laughed. "You've been staring at my guitar the whole time. Here, take a look at it. It won't break."

Spike took it very gently and ran his fingers over the body, strummed a few notes, then remembered the autograph. He held the guitar up. What he read made him almost drop the guitar. His head snapped up so he could look up at Faye. "I don't believe it." He looked at Jet who was giving him a weird look. "It's a Jimmy Page," Spike told him.

Jet's jaw dropped and he stepped forward to look at it, too. While they were drooling over the guitar, they had totally forgotten Ed until Jet felt a sudden weight on his back. Without looking he knew it was Ed.

"Ed wants to see!" she cried. Spike held up the guitar for her to see. "Oooh, it's just a lame, game, same, name." She sang in a sing-song voice. She jumped off and began somersaulting around the room.

Spike glanced at Faye and was amused by the smile that was threatening to grace her lips. "Where did you get this?" he asked her.

"My father got it for me," she answered.

"You're going to be a valuable member of this group, Faye," Jet told her.

"Yes," Spike agreed. "You're guitar playing is simply amazing."

Faye's eyes twinkled. "Oh, so you guys didn't pick me for my incredibly good looks." She winked at them and Spike was amused to see Jet blush.

Spike smirked at her. "In your dreams Faye."

She smiled back. "But that's what life is, isn't it; one big dream."