The next morning, Elwood stirred and awoke from his slumbers, shades slightly askew and his hair a bit messy. He glanced at Maria who was still alseep in his sore arms.
She makes my soreness worth it
He wanted to get up, but he didn't want to disturb her sleep, so he played around with her hair a little bit more until he saw she was awakening.
"Morning" he greeted quietly
She smiled, yawned, stretched her arms "Good morning"
Elwood leaned to kiss her, but she stopped him "I dont know if you'd want to kiss me" she warned him "I had bad breath in the mornings"
"I don't care" he replied.
He kissed her and she kissed back, enjoying how soft his lips were and how much of a good kisser he was.
"Should we go down to breakfast?" Elwood asked once he stopped it
"Yes. Let's"
After they got breakfast, the couple noticed Jake coming towards them, Looking very proud of himself.
"Mornin' Sunshine" Maria told him sarcastically "How did you and that girl sleep?"
"I didn't sleep with her" jake replied "As a matter of fact, I was up all night!" he added with a laugh
Elwood and Maria rolled their eyes, a bit grossed out.
"You should've given me a heads up so I won't feel like I got kicked out." Elwood told him irritated
"But you shouldv'e known already" Jake replied innocently "Just like that song says 'If the house is a rockin' don't come a knockin'"
Maria laughed a bit at the quote. She recognized it, but he misintturpreted that completely!
"Jake, have you even heard the rest of that song?"
He shook his head "No, but I saw it as we passed by The Hard Rock."
"The song is about having a good time...not like that!" she added once jake had a smug smile "I mean, it means that If you wanna rock on and party, then do so. It's nothing like that!"
"It sounds it" jake replied
"It's not!" Maria argued
"Hey, you're the one to talk" Jake argued
"What do you mean?" she asked him
"Since I was getting some action, I assume Elwood was at your room?" he asked as he glanced at Elwood and back at Maria
"Yeah so?" she asked with a shrug
"Did you guys..you know...put that room to use and...roll in those bedsheets?"
Elwood and Maria blushed and began getting uncomfortable.
"No" Elwood replied
Jake noticed Elwood and Maria embarrassed and laughed "You did, didn't you!"
"No we didn't" Maria said seriously
"Don't bullshit you two; I know how these things play out." Jake told them. He then began talking as if explaining a story to them "A young couple is alone in their honeymoon suite in Las Vegas. They have nothing to do but to explore each others feelings of love and lust..."
"Can we change the subject?" Elwood inturrupted irritated and embarrassed as he noticed people eavesdropping.
"Look guys" Maria added quickly "What are we gonna do today? We cant spend every single day here partying and then do that gig."
"Why not?" Jake asked
"Because we're not here to party!" she exclaimed "We're here for that gig and for that 5 grand! Don't loose sight on what our common goal is."
"We haven't lost sight, Maria." Elwood told her
"Well, I know you haven't, but what about your brother?" she argued
"Why are you blaming me now?" Jake wondered irritated
"Because lately, you've been all 'Hey lets do this or that'"
"You were partying yesterday too!" Jake argued
"I know, but I didn't get drunk and sleep with a stranger!" she replied angrily
"I know you didnt." Jake said to her "because you slept with my brother"
Maria stood up and banged her fist on the table.
"Calm down." Elwood told her. "Relax"
She sighed as she looked at him and calmed down.
"Why are you so pissy today?" Jake asked her
"You know I'm always cranky in the mornings" she replied calmly
"No shit" jake agreed as he ate his scrambled eggs
"I guess I'm just worried about this gig. I mean, it's our biggest one yet!" she explained "and it's approaching so quickly!"
"Yeah, I don't blame you for being worried" Elwood told her "But you gotta trust and beleive in not only us but in yourself was well."
Maria nodded her head, showing she understood and smiled a bit at him "Thanks Elwood. You always know how to calm me down."
"There you are!"
The trio turned their heads and found Maury Sline walking towards them with a buffet tray in his hand.
"Hey Maury" Jake greeted
"I've been looking all over Las Vegas for you guys! Where's the rest of the band?" he asked the trio
"Um..I think they went off somwhere for breakfast" Elwood replied "I haven't seen them yet"
"Well, I need to talk to you guys." Maury told him "May I sit down?"
jake scooted to the left and Maury sat next to him at the booth.
"Today, you guys are gonna meet my sister and her fiancee so you guys can get to know them and so they can see who I hired as their music for the wedding reception."
"Ok" Maria replied. "That makes sence. It would be weird if we were performing and we didn't know who hired us."
"Meet me by The Riva poolside at The Venician at 3pm." Maury told them "And bring your instruments"
"Dinner near poolside, full of babes in bikinis? Count me in." Jake exclaimed with a smug smile.
Maury was about to leave but he turned to face them "Oh I almost forgot. I think you three should be prepared to sing at least 2 songs for them."
"Why?" Maria asked curiously
"I guess it's sorta like...your audition" he replied
"But why do have have to 'audition' if we already have the gig?" Maria asked
"It's just to prove that you guys are good enough to perform at their wedding reception."
yeah right Maria thought to herself If it wasn't for me, I wouldve been able to convince Maury that the guys were good enough
"I'll tell the band once they return" Maria told the guys
"Nah, let them have thier fun" Jake replied "This is Blues Brothers stuff...oh and you Maria." he added once she gave him a look
At 2:45 pm that day, Maria held up a map of the city to find where the Riva Poolside was at The Venitician.
"Ok we're right here" she told the guys as she pointed to the Venician entrance. "So I think we need to go through the casino"
"Clam down jake" Elwood told Jake as he noticed Jake's smug smile
"And the Poolside should be on the other side of the building" she finsihed. "Alrighty then lets go"
The trio walked through the casino as jake eyed the whole atmophere. Maria walked in front of the Brothers and Elwood noticed her outfit for the day. She had a white blouse, a long flowing black skirt and black leather knee high boots and her flowing hair and pale skin went together with the outfit beautifully.
"Your outfit suits you beautifully, maria" Elwood commented kindly.
She grinned and winked at him "Thank you" and continued walking in front of them, with her guitar case in her hand
My exes never complimented what I wore
They arrived outside of the casino at the poolside.
"Good. Here it is." Elwood said as they walked to the elegant looking restaraunt.
The trio sat down and waited for Maury and the engaged couple for a few minutes until they heard
"Oh wow, you're actually early"
The tiro looked up and saw Maury and another familiar couple
Christy the manager and her fiancee, Dave from their gig at GardenLand.
Christy began laughing as they all shook hands with each other "I remember you guys."
"Yeah I dont think anyone can forget us in Bee costumes." jake mumbled.
"Is it only you three in the band?" Dave asked them
"No" Elwood replied, secretly wanting to laugh at the stupid question "We're just the leaders."
Im not a leader Maria thought to herself but i shouldnt say anything
"I know you guys are good, but are you truly professionals?" Christy asked them
"My brother Elwood and I are pro singers and Maria is a pro guitar player so I think the leaders of this band are Pros indeed" Jake told not only her but Dave as well.
"Hmmm?" Dave wondered outloud "Do you mind if we ask you to sing a song for us? We would like to see if Maury did a good job at booking you guys."
The trio shrugged a bit "Sure"
They had prepared throughout the day two songs to play for them so they felt confedent in themselves. Maria got out her guitar and mini amp as Elwood got out his harmonica.
"Alright" jake told them "This one is called 'She Caught The Katy' from Taj Mahal"
Normally, the horns wouldve started with the intro, but Elwood and Maria made up something on their instruments before Jake began singing
She caught the katy and Left me a mule to ride She caught the katy and Left me a mule to ride Well my baby caught the katy and Left me amule to ride The train pulled out, I walked on behind Crazy bout her That hard-headed woman of mine
Man, my baby long. Great gosh almight my baby tall You know, my baby long Great gosh almighty my baby tall Well, my baby she long. My baby she tall She sleep with her head in the kitchen And her feet out in the hall Crazy bout her Hard-headed woman of mine
Well I love my baby, She's so fine Wish she'd come and see me sometime She don't believe in a lover Look what a hole I'm in She don't believe what I'm saying Look at the shape I'm in
Elwood began his awesome harmonica solo as Maria watched him, while playing her guitar.
This song really makes him stand out and brings out the best in him on the harmonica Maria thought to herself
She caught the katy and Left me a mule to ride She caught the katy and Left me a mule to ride Well my baby caught the katy and Left me amule to ride The train pulled out, I walked on behind Crazy bout her;That hard-headed woman Hard-headed woman of mine
After they were done with the song, Christy and Dave began their applause and Jake bowed a bit, showing his courtesy.
"You guys are pros" Christy commented "I like your vocals Jake. Elwood, your harmonica sounds awesome."
"Thank you" he said
"Maria..uh..." she trailed off, unsure of what to say to her.
"We need to hear more guitar from you" Dave inturrupted.
Maria smiled smugly. She knew a song that would impress them and the brothers greatly.
"Alright" she said quietly "This one is a favorite of mine. Its called Texas Flood"
She played an elaborate bluesy-rock guitar intro that even made Jake impressed as she began singing.
Well it's floodin' down in Texas...All of the telephone lines are down Well it's floodin' down in Texas...All of the telephone lines are down And I've been tryin' to call my baby...Lord and I can't get a single sound
Well dark clouds are rollin' in...Man I'm standin' out in the rain Well dark clouds are rollin' in...Man I'm standin' out in the rain Yeah flood water keep a rollin'...Man it's about to drive poor me insane
A beautiful woman singing and playing blues guitar... Elwood thought to himself That's so sexy...
She began playing the long solo, but Jake stopped her playfully "Okay we get it. You're good! Stop making us look bad!"
Dave and Christy sat there in silence.
"Is that enough guitar for you?" Maria asked them smugly as she opened her beer bottle and began drinking it.
"Yeah" Dave said in monotone.
"So I hope you're satisfied with us?" Maria asked them
"Yeah" Christy said "We 1000% want you guys to perform at our wedding"
"Good" Jake said to them. "Now can we order dinner?"
After a good fullhearted dinner, Elwood, Jake and Maria began walking to their hotel rooms chatting happily
"That song was pretty good." Elwood told her "The one you performed for Christy and Dave"
"Oh" she replied humbly "Yeah thats just something I learned 5 years ago."
"How on earth did you learn how to play like that anyway?" Jake asked her "If I didnt see it for myself, I would've thought you were faking it"
"Well" she began "Back at the orphanage, a music instructor would gather all the girls around and we had music lessons of any instrument of our choise. I remember my dad played guitar and sang for me and my mom, so I got a guitar and I could never put it down. When the instructor left, I snuck off from the orphanage to buy more guitar books so I can learn more about how to play not only rock but blues and punk."
"Wow" Jake said, impressed with her story
"That's impressive" Elwood complimented "Especially since that guitar playing was really sexy"
She wiggled her eyebrows at him, playfully and giggled
"Whoah, calm down you two, I'm right here!" Jake told them, alarmed
"We're not like you Jake" Maria told him as she rolled her eyes.
"Deep down, I know you are" Jake told her
"Bullshit" she told him "I'm no pervert like you"
Maria and Jake began playfully bickering and arguing even more as Elwood watched with a smile on his face.
At least they're getting along
AN: I do not Own these songs or the Bros. She caught the katy belongs to Blues brothers and Taj mahal while TX flood belongs to Stevie Ray Vaughan.