"Wake up you two, we're here. C'mon you gits wake up!"

Ember awoke groggily to find Lex right in her face. This caused her to jump, which in turn caused Johnny to wake up.

"What the hell?"

Ember turned to look at him… Johnny was kind of cute when he was sleepy. She shook her head slightly to get the thoughts out, and being they had just woken up, no one suspected anything other than trying to become fully awake.

Maverick looked back at the two. "So what happened while we were asleep?"

Both blushed furiously, and eagerly dismissed the thoughts running through their band mate's heads.

Lex shrugged. "Whatever. We're here now, so get dressed into your best outfits: we're auditioning for opening for Poison."

Ember smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Everyone else remained unmoved.

"I guess that's okay," began Johnny, "but I'd rather do something for AC/DC or Skid Row. You know, something like that."

The guitarist just scoffed and turned to get dressed in the back of their van. Now, you may picture some sort of RV or something, but this wasn't one. This was an actual van. One of the old 'hippie' vans, you know.

She pulled the blanket-curtain and began to get dressed. She emerged, to the guys hours later, dressed in a sleeveless red t-shirt, blue denim shorts, and a black short sleeved leather trench coat. She wore small mesh gloves and fishnet tights under her red Chuck Taylors.

"What d'ya think?"

"You look stunning love," said Lex in awe. His face lightened almost to the point of blinding.

Ember took no heed at the tone of his voice. "Thanks. What about you Johnny? What do you think?"

Johnny smiled and looked her over. And over, and over. "Pretty good Em. Not bad at all."

Maverick took out a black eyeliner pencil. He lined her eyes and put a stripe at the bottom of each eye. "Now your perfect.

Lex chuckled. "Are we ready now?"

The quartet entered a large studio. After finding their way through the maze of corridors, they finally found the room they were to play in.

Sitting at a table were five judges.

One was an African American man, sitting left of the center. He was slightly older, his hair beginning to gray and wrinkles beginning to show. He had a short beard below his smiling lips.

Next to him, on the very left, was a gruffy old Caucasian male. Long silver hair placed in a pony tail and a short, scruffy beard. He was very muscular for his age, so think Willie Nelson on steroids.

Opposite of him, the far right of the table, was a young Asian American woman, she was short, and somewhat pudgy, but not a day over twenty one. She had a gothic touch to her, as she wore nothing but black and gray. Despite this, she seemed to have a very cheery nature.

To her left, or center right, was yet another male. Very clean cut looking, if not for the half-tucked in tank that sported various stains, and his grunge pants. He even had a hole in the tip of his right shoe. Other than that, he looked like a perfect gentleman. Short brown hair, and even glasses.

In the very center was a menacing woman. Her countenance gave her the appearance of forty, but she was only as old as the Asian woman, perhaps younger. A shame when ones youth disappears early.

"Good morning," she said coldly, looking at her watch, "or rather, good afternoon. You're late."

Maverick stepped forward. "Yeah, but not by terribly much. We got lost in-"

"I don't want to here it."

He stuttered a little, then shut his mouth. Something told him there was no point in arguing.

The ice queen rose from her seat. She inspected each one of them, her own little comments on each of them.

First was Johnny. "I see," she began, "grungy looking… good, good. Hmmm."

Then Lex. "I see you died you hair black? Original color… blonde?" He nodded hesitantly. "Elvis did the same thing you know."

Lex smiled broadly. "Finally someone knows! Bloody hell, it's like every one thinks it's naturally black!"

The woman nodded. "It was brown when he died it. Not blonde. It darkened naturally from blonde to brown."

He stuttered. "I know. But mine didn't."

Everyone in the room was surprised to see her laugh… well, almost laugh, more like a cold chuckle.

She quickly looked over Ember, not really looking. "At least I know she's not gay," Ember thought. It's not that she disapproved homosexuality, it's just that she didn't want a lesbian checking her out or something like that. It was just uncomfortable with her.

Finally, it was Maverick. She took an extra long time with him. She seemed awed by every curve, every line that was his. Despite this she kept her comment short. "Good." Over compensating.

"I'm Natalie Benette. Call me Ms., not Natalie," she then introduced the others, in the order of appearance and pointing to each of them, "Mr. Emmer, Mr. Redd, Mrs. Yokura…"

"That's Mrs. Leung now Ms. Bennette," corrected the asian.

"That's right," ms. Bennete stated apathetically, "you got married recently. And this is Sherman Madison."

Lex couldn't hold it in. He burst out laughing. "Sherman? Oh boy, that's great. Sherman!"

Ember punched Lex in the shoulder. "Ow love! That actually hurt… a little."

She glared at him. "You shut up… Lexington."

Lex blushed as he narrowed his eyes in half-fake, half genuine anger. "I hate you."

At this, Ember laughed. And so Lex laughed; he never could stay mad at her for long.

"Cut the chatter people. You have to audition for us yet, do you not?"

Everyone looked at Ms. Bennette. What a bitch!

"Yeah yeah, keep your shirt on Ms. Unless you really don't want to," joked Johhny, taking his spot at the drums that were set out for him. As everyone else got there instruments, Ember stepped up to the microphone. She hesitated.

Ms. Bennette tapped her foot impatiently. "Well?"

Ember looked back as Johnny whispered something. "What about the song you wrote a couple weeks ago?"

Lex nodded. "That was a good one. You ready love?"

Ember took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes."

The music began to play. As she got into the beat, Ember also gained her confidence. The words began to roll of her tongue.

Yeah! Ohh-ooohhh!
It was, it was September,
Wind blows, the dead leaves fall,
To you, I did surrender,
Two weeks, you didn't call...

Your life goes on without me,
My life, a losing game,
But you should, you should not doubt me,
You will remember my name...

Oh, Ember, you will remember!
Ember, one thing remains!
Oh, Ember, so warm and tender!
You will remember my name!

Your heart, your heart abandoned,
Your wall, now perishing,
Like bad dreams in cold December,
Nothing, but ashes remain...

Oh, Ember, you will remember!
Ember, one thing remains!
Ember, so warm and tender!
You will remember my name!

Oh-woo-oh-woo, Ember!
You will remember!
Ember, one thing remains!
Ember, so warm and tender!
You will remember my name!
Yeah! You will remember my name!

As the last note faded, a slow clapping was heard. The band looked up to see Sherman's applause. "You wrote that your self?"

Ember nodded, and Sherman smiled. "Pretty fine stuff."

Ms. Bennette nodded. "Yes yes, all fine and good. Well, your done for now. We'll call you with the results."

Lex smiled sheepishly. "We don't have a phone."

"Well, what hotel are you staying at?"

"We aren't."

"You mean to tell us," began Mr. Emmers, "That you don't have a hotel? Do you have a home near here, or apartment?"

The group simultaneously nodded.

"You have no home? What d'ya do? Sleep in a van?" All the judges laughed, at least until there was no response from any of the band. "Oh."

"Well," said Mr. Red. "My daughter owns a motel just a couple blocks down. The Flare Motel. I can make an arrangement for you."

Every one in the band smiled. "That would be wonderful!" shouted Ember.

Mr. Red smiled. "All right, by the time you get there, it should be ready. What do you want it under?"

"What do we want what under?"

He laughed. "The reservation! Whose name?"

Before anyone could say anything, Lex spoke. "Ember McLean."