Opening night. The tickets were sold out for Violet Eyes first tour for their album Pink Hearse. The tour would last about four months and would go all over the U.S. Fans were lining up outside. The Violet Eye group consisted of blue haired girls, dark teenagers, and the occasional Joan Jett fan. The Head Plate group was different, mohawked boys, leather clad college men, and the occasional curious Metallica, Ozzy, and Sex Pistols fans. Some of the braver boys approached the eyeliner wearing girls, and some new connections were made. Just what the managers wanted. Backstage strings were being replaced, voices being warmed up, and hair being styled. Pandora was putting on her first layer of eye makeup. She stopped and turned to Judy, "I hear Head Plate is throwing a party after this."

Casey was tying her hair up in her noose ponytail, "Midori, I bet you ten bucks if you go to that party that Izzy is gonna hit on you!"

"Well if you go Axel will hit on you."

"Axel and I were just having a conversation about Metallica, big deal."

"Big deal? Then why you have his number on your cell phone?"

Judy finished slipping on her red cut off shirt, the one that attracted 15 year old boys…unintentionally. She opened the door to go tune her guitar, but when she did she felt a thud. She looked down at the floor.

"Izzy, what the hell?!"

"Uhh…umm…I was just going to ask you girls if you were ready or not…" Judy marched off. Pervert…

She sat down on an old couch backstage and pulled out her custom Gibson explorer and started tuning. With ought looking up she heard Johnny Napalm stumbling out of the guys' dressing room. He had his hair in liberty spikes, he wore some old plaid jeans and he didn't wear a shirt. He set a beer down on the floor and pulled out his SG. He tuned and started playing. He played familiar punk rock tunes, Anarchy in the UK, and the like. He turned up to look at Judy. She was staring straight ahead. He listened to the tune she was playing.

"Halleluiah."

Judy looked up, "Huh?"

"Aren't you playing Halleluiah by Paramore."

Judy looked down at her guitar. "Yeah, it's a good song. I've met the band. How do you know who they are?"

"My ex used to listen to that song a lot." He shook his head back and fourth and took another swig of beer. "Even though she was nothing more than a common tart, the music she listened too really got in you head…the little prat."

Judy tuned the volume on her guitar down, "When was the last time you were in England? Just askin'."

Johnny strummed a few chords "about six months ago I was back in London, on tour…and getting my stuff back from that little minger….but that's another story."

Their conversation mingled for ten more minutes. Then got back to practicing and Johnny left to get more beer. Johnny grabbed a bottle from a nearby cooler (and there were plenty back stage) opened it up and started drinking. Judy had great taste in music, and was fun to talk to. But every time he looked at her smile, it gave him a bitter reminder of the girl he used to love.

The crowd was coming in. Beach balls were thrown around cell phones were sending final texts before the show and the lights were going down. One of the roadies was knocking on each dressing room saying '10 minutes opening act, 10 minutes.' The fact that a punk metal band, each member except Gunner had been touring for years had to open for a relatively new girl band was a hard it on their egos. Johnny went to the dressing room and got out the emergency bottle of vodka. Gunner turned to look at him. "Dude you are gonna be wasted before we even go on stage."

Johnny looked at him with his trademark scowl, "well isn't that the point?" silly little lad, he's still too green. He's never had to live on the street when quid was tight, loose fans and records to cheap pop bands, drinking yourself to sleep every night. You will learn… He hit the tip of the bottle on the wall, leaving a scratch and a sharp crack on the bottle, and he poured that down his throat.

Head Plate went in, and played a great opening show. Pandora and Casey were watching, while Judy was practicing on her solos and Midori was meditating.

"These guys rock, listen to that solo!"

"I know, but look how red in the face Napalm is…he's really drunk."

"Yeah but he plays pretty good for a drunk." The solo was finished, and so was the song. Johnny straightened up his back, lifted up his guitar and slammed it onto the stage, and almost falling over in the process. He flipped the double bird to the crowd while they cheered.

Casey laughed "wow he is drunk!"

"I bet he'll be at that party tonight. Are you goin'?"

"Sure, why not."

The set was soon over. And all of the rock stars came stumbling out, especially Johnny.

"Good luck girls, we'll be watching." Axel shouted toward them, he had too because the crowd was so wild!