"Since I was born, they couldn't hold me down
Another misfit kid, another burned-out town
I never played by the rules and I never really cared
My nasty reputation takes me everywhere
Well, I look and see it's not only me
So many others have stood where I stand
We are the young (Hey), so raise your hands"
-Skid Row: Youth Gone Wild-
Chapter 1: We Are the Youth Gone Wild
Kick Rocks
"I've had enough!" Beca's mom yelled when she walked into her daughter's bedroom. She wasn't alone, there was a girl and another man in her bed.
"W-what! Oh shit! Wait, mom!" Beca sat up on the bed, looking around, her two new friends were still in her bed. She slapped her forehead. The idiots were supposed to sneak out through the window but they were still buzzed from the after party the night before.
"I don't want to hear it Beca Anna Mitchell, pack your shit! You are staying with your dad!"
"But wait, mom! Dad? Really come on!" She begged and she started to shake the other people awake. "Get up you idiots! Get out, come on!"
Beca got to her feet and quickly pulled up a pair of jeans, not caring who they belonged to, and followed her mom to the living room.
"I'm sick of this Beca, you wanna be a loser like your dad then you go live with him."
"But mom come on that's on the other side of the country! I don't wanna go to the East Coast!"
"I don't care pack up your shit, I'm calling your dad."
"Mom come on! My band just killed it at the Battle of the Bands last night! We are so close to getting signed! Come on."
"I don't care Beca, you have disrespected me in my house for the last time." Her mother yelled back.
"Oh yeah? Well, what if I don't go? What if I go stay with my band." Beca stood her ground. It was a half-hearted attempt and they both knew it.
"Do whatever you want Beca, but if you do just know you are not taking the car, it's in my name and I'm the one that bought it, also you are not taking Lucille or my tube amp and you are cut off from using the credit card."
"Y-you are taking my car? And the card? That's not fair Mom!"
"No, you know what isn't fair Beca? It's that ever since you turned 16 you've been staying out late, drinking, and bringing people to fuck under my roof! You have no respect for me! So you are out. Now you can leave with the clothes on your back, or you can move out with your stuff and stay with your dad."
Beca thought about it, she knew that most of her bandmates lived with their parents and the one who didn't was the drummer, her ex and he was a disgusting man-whore who lived in a dump. She distinctly remembered finding a slice of pizza in the toilet when they dated, never again. She liked the rock-and-roll lifestyle, but she did not like living in squalor at all. She did for a bit when her mother kicked her out at 16, and she's not going back to the streets if she can avoid it.
"Wait, can we at least talk about this?"
At that moment her two new friends appeared in the living room looking dazed and confused. One of them was a young blonde, lanky skinny man without a shirt and covered in tattoos. The other was an equally young and very attractive, half-dressed blonde woman. The woman was the first to speak up, "Hey umm, could we have some water?"
"Get the hell out!" Beca and her mom yelled at the pair. They recoiled and covered their ears still nursing hangovers, they nodded and made themselves scarce. Once they were out the door Beca turned back to her mom embarrassed.
"So, moving in with Dad you say?" She asked with a small embarrassed smile.
Her mother just glared at her and nodded.
Not so Bittersweet Goodbyes
Saying goodbye to the rag-tag band of misfits she called her band had been easier than she thought. She found them in her ex's house, scattered in the living room, in various states of altered consciousness due to the substances they consumed the night before. Beca rolled her eyes, she knew they'd be lost without her, she kept them sober by forbidding drugs during practice or at the shows. She also wrote the original songs and literally taught the idiots all their parts. She was especially glad to say goodbye to her ex. The idiot that provided them with said substances was just if not more as high as the rest of them. When Beca found him, sleeping on the bathroom floor, he didn't even remember her name. Saying goodbye hadn't been all that hard after all.
Without saying another word, and without looking back, Beca Mitchell made her way east.
In a Bar Like This
Beca drove from LA to Georgia, the back of the red with black stripes El Camino stuffed with her luggage but the Gibson 70s Flying V was nestled comfortably on the passenger seat. The baby had to be pampered, after all. She drove for 24 hours without a break, stopping only for fuel, fast food, and Monster Energy drinks, but when the exhaustion was making her steer into oncoming traffic she begrudgingly admitted that she needed to sleep.
She stopped at a small motel somewhere just outside of Nashville. She was annoyed that she had to stop when she was just 10 hours from her destination. After getting checked in and stowing her guitar case in the closet of the crappy motel, she noticed an empty bar just across the street. She was tired but something about its warm light lured her. Maybe a nightcap wasn't the worst idea.
It was an old country bar, and almost comically stereotypical. The bartender looked like an old cowboy with a shady past and a snarl on his weary face. The place was relatively empty, and the patrons left were scattered between the bar stools and the few tables, and they were all either dead asleep or drunk and passive. Beca was still underage and she had a fake ID with her but she hated using it. She shot her shot and walked over to the old cowboy.
"What can I get you, little lady?"
Beca had done this before; all she had to do was walk the walk. "Shot and a beer back, cheapest you got," she said confidently and turned her back to the man. Her eyes landed on the redhead setting up an acoustic guitar on a stool by the corner.
"Whoa!" Beca whispered, and the old cowboy placed the shot and the beer on the bar. "Who's she?"
"Red? Says her name is C.B Winters. She usually comes in on Fridays around this time, plays a song or two, and goes home."
"She any good?" Beca asked without turning around.
"Stick around and find out, kid. That'll be six bucks."
"Thanks, keep the change," Beca said, dropping a ten-dollar bill. She downed her shot, grabbed her beer, and walked over to sit closer to the redhead.
A Song, A Kiss, and A Fight
Beca took off her leather jacket and placed it on the empty chair next to her. She studied the redhead, who wore a pair of tight cut-off faded jeans and a faded KISS T-shirt ripped in half, leaving her midriff and bellybutton ring exposed. The neck was stretched out enough to bare her right shoulder, and she wore a pair of light brown cowboy boots that completed the outfit.
What caught Beca's attention most of all were her pale blue eyes and how they shimmered in the bar's crappy light. She could see a hint of nervousness, but it was overwhelmed by drive and bravery. Beca had seen and been with her fair share of beautiful women in LA. But for the life of her, she couldn't remember anyone more beautiful than the woman settling the black steel-string guitar on her lap.
"Good evening everyone, I'm C.B Winters, umm it's nice to be here and sing for you," the redhead paused to gauge the audience, and as always, no one was watching her. She deflated. How many times had she done this? How many little bars in the middle of nowhere would she have to play for someone to notice her? For a second she hesitated and thought about putting her guitar in the case and going home.
"Woo!" Beca shouted and clapped lightly.
The redhead's eyes widened with surprise when she found the source. There was one person sitting at a table just off to the side. The brunette with deep dark blue eyes was looking straight at her. When their eyes met, the woman gave her a small, almost invisible wave. Chloe's eyes lit up with unspoken emotion, and her smile widened as she caught Beca's gaze. She considered looking away but found herself drawn back to the brunette's intense stare.
She felt giddy with excitement but tried her best to keep her cool. Someone was watching, someone was actually waiting to listen to her. She strummed the guitar and sang the very first song she ever wrote. It was a song about finding love in the most unusual places. Her playing was flawless, and her voice was beautiful and melodic. Beca put aside her initial thoughts of judgment as a guitarist and decided to let herself become hypnotized by her. She signaled the bartender for another beer. Beca leaned forward in her seat and watched the woman sing her heart out.
Chloe sang just for her. Their eyes connected, their smiles meant only for each other. Without knowing anything about each other, just a love for music, they became inexplicably attracted to each other.
When she finished her song, Beca clapped slowly but sincerely. Chloe's smile grew even bigger and more adorable, and for a second she considered looking away from the brunette, but she just couldn't help herself.
Unfortunately, a drunk skinny man wearing a cowboy hat caught sight of Chloe too. He drunkenly started to hassle her with rude, lewd comments and threw her kisses.
Chloe felt flustered and almost missed a note. This sometimes happened, and it always irritated her, but she knew she had to ignore it. She looked towards the door and the one lonely bartender was playing on his phone, not paying attention. She frowned as she tried to stay focused on her fingers, but her beautiful voice faltered with uncertainty and fear.
Beca got off her chair and, without missing a beat, punched the man across his face, instantly knocking him out cold. Chloe gasped as the man tumbled against a nearby table, glasses breaking loudly and falling inches from her feet.
The noise caught the bouncer's attention, and it didn't take long for him to drag the skinny and petite brunette out of the bar. But Beca's eyes remained fixed on Chloe, and her lips curled into a satisfied, cocky smile.
Chloe, angry, packed up her guitar and ran after her but not before shoving the bouncer and giving him a piece of her mind.
Who Needs Words Anyway?
Chloe ran out the door and immediately looked around, and quickly found her, Beca leaning against the old El Camino, her arms crossed around her chest, quietly waiting for her.
Chloe ran towards her, and before Beca could say anything, Chloe, overcome with emotion and relief that she'd been waiting for her, kissed her. The brunette had watched, listened, smiled, and even clapped. Now all Chloe wanted was to kiss her.
They didn't even know each other's names.
All they knew was that right now, somewhere outside of Nashville, by the front door of a crappy bar, they were the only people that mattered.
Without a word, Beca gestured towards the motel, and Chloe nodded excitedly, grabbed her by the hand, and pulled her towards the room, the guitar case swinging in her free hand.
Beca fumbled with the motel room's keys, her heartbeat still racing from how she'd just punched a stranger in a bar fight. Again.
I can't believe I did that again, she thought. Couldn't just keep my head down for one night, could I?
She felt Chloe's hand on her shoulder, a gentle pressure that steadied her nerves. Beca glanced back at her. Even beneath the dim parking lot lights, Chloe's eyes shone with that same electric intensity she had onstage, only now it was focused entirely on Beca.
The motel door opened with a click, and before Beca could say a word, Chloe's lips were on hers. Hurried, and almost shameless. Chloe didn't even know the girl's name, but she knew she wanted this night to be memorable. She wanted her to see how grateful she was.
So she hurriedly slammed the door behind them.
Chloe broke the kiss for just a second to carefully lean her guitar against the wall.
This gave Beca just enough time to catch her breath and take in the crummy bland cream colored and faded wallpaper of the cheap motel. She sat on the corner of the bed. She watched the redhead placing the guitar with a vehemence that seemed drastically different from her passionate kisses.
Who are you? Beca wondered. And why am I so drawn to you?
Once the guitar was carefully set Chloe turned back to Beca and walked toward her, her stride confident and purposeful. In one swift move, she lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it aside.
Ah, that's why. Beca thought but the reality was much more, much deeper and thanks to the haze of lust and the rush of adrenaline, it was incomprehensible.
Beca was happy to see that the beautiful stranger was not wearing a bra. It was both fortunate and unfortunate that she only managed to catch a brief glimpse of her breasts because the woman jumped on top of Beca, pushed her down onto the bed, and kissed her passionately.
Beca let this mysterious goddess sweep her away, She may have pulled over for a beer and a place to crash but if this redhead wanted something else, then Beca sure as hell wasn't saying no.
Chloe moved her lips to devour her neck. These were not subtle pecks, the woman was rough, and she sucked and bit her hard. She clearly wanted to leave her mark and Beca loved it.
They made love all throughout the night and fell asleep in each other's arms.
When morning came, Beca slid out of bed, careful not to wake the naked goddess next to her. But before she left, she noticed the guitar case and the letters C.B.W spray-painted on the side.
C.B. Winters huh? Hell of a stage name. Beca thought, letting her gaze drift to the bed. A narrow shaft of morning light slipped through the curtains, illuminating the woman's pale skin. Beca followed the gentle curve of her waist and calf, lingering on the mass of wavy red hair that partly hid the satisfied smile on her face. She remembered how pale her blue eyes looked as she looked up to her from between her legs.
For a split second, she thought about leaving a note. But what would she even say? 'Thanks for the wild night—call me? No, that's dumb. Too normy.' Beca thought with a small frown.
But worst of all, it was too attached.
She shivered and shook her head, and without looking back she slipped out the door.
All in all, it hadn't been a bad drive. She smiled the entire ten hours left of the drive. Her body was still sensitive to the memory of the redhead's touch, lips, and tongue.
She blasted metal and sang until she was hoarse. She thought about the East Coast; it wasn't LA, not by a long shot, but there were venues there, right? And maybe there'd be other redheads there.
Welcome to Atlanta, Kid
When she made it to her father's house, he was sitting on the steps of the house waiting for her, looking very much like his professional, tweed jacket and everything.
"Hey kiddo,"
"Professor, where's the pipe?" She replied curtly as she opened the passenger door to get her baby out.
"Funny, I actually have quite the collection. Wait, damn, your mom let you take Lucy?"
"Yeah, she threatened to take her away if I didn't come."
"That explains why you agreed to come then. Alright come on let's get you settled," He said as he grabbed two of her suitcases and made his way inside.
She stared at the retreating figure of her father and said softly. "Thanks".
The house was a beautiful two floors colonial and it was tastefully decorated. Its décor was classic with a modern twist.
"Damn, this place looks like Crate and Barrel threw up all over it," Beca remarked.
"You can thank your step-mother- sorry ex-step-mother for that one."
"I probably won't, I have no intention of ever speaking to the step-monster," Beca scoffed, she had never liked Linda and wasn't surprised when she left her father. In fact, she almost reveled in it, felt like it was karma for how he had left them when she was younger.
"Fair enough, come on, I have something more your speed set up."
He led her down to the basement. The basement was massive, and the walls were covered with his vintage posters of classic hard rock bands from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. They ranged from the classics like Black Sabbath, AC/DC, KISS, and Guns & Roses to more niche and obscure bands like Rainbow, and DIO. The space was large and had its own private shower. She remembered fondly listening to these old bands with her father before he left. The memory was bittersweet.
"Wow!"
"You like it? This was my spot, my escape from you know," He shrugged his shoulders and pointed upstairs.
"Right, well it'll do— wait!"
She paused, taking notice of the candy apple red Pearl double-petal drum set in the corner. "Is that?" she asked excitedly.
"My drum set, yeah, I figured you could use it to practice when you start a new band or whatever."
Beca turned around to face her father, her eyes full of suspicion, "Why?"
The man noticed the look on her daughter's face and his shoulders slumped a little, "Look kiddo—sorry Beca, I uh I know I wasn't the best dad around and I especially regret how things ended with us, so I don't know think of this as reparations? I don't know I'm not really good at this."
Beca just stared at her father with wide eyes, this was not what she was expecting. The man had the emotional bandwidth of a mollusk, like her. A part of her would always be mad at him but it was hard to ignore the effort her father was putting into repairing their bond.
"I uh thanks," Beca said softly and looked away.
"It's cool, I know we don't do hugs and stuff so hopefully this will do. Oh and um don't worry about the noise, I had the basement soundproofed. Anyway, I'll leave you to it. Oh, and as per the agreement me and your mother made, I went ahead and enrolled you in my college. You start next week"
"Do I really have to go?"
"That's the deal, but it won't be so bad, it's free at least plus they have a really great music program here and it's a great place to make connections. Anyway, I left you the course catalog on the desk there." He turned and started to head upstairs.
"Hey, Dad?"
He quickly ran back downstairs and asked "Yeah?"
"Thanks, um for you know being cool and like not judging me and stuff. Mom told you right?"
"Oh, yeah she did but— I uh don't worry about it, maybe one of these days I'll tell you about Woodstock."
"Please don't," She responded with a sincere smile.
Beca looked around her new domain. This didn't feel like a punishment at all if anything this was an upgrade from her room back at her mom's in LA. It still wasn't LA at all but she couldn't deny how comfortable this was. She couldn't believe how big the basement was, and she knew just how to christen her new place.
The hum of the Marshall JCM800 amplifier sprang to life, its pitch reverberating against the soundproof walls. It was a warning, a whistle in the fog, heralding the metal to come. Lucille AKA Lucy, the vintage Gibson pearl White Flying V, would lead the charge. Lucille was older than Beca and it would likely outlive her. Lucille had so much life left in her, so much to give, and if soulmates existed this guitar would be Beca's.
"Let's start with something chill and mellow," Beca joked as she started with Angel of Death by Slayer. She head-banged in beat expertly. As she mouthed the iconic falsetto. She reached the break and her body paused. She could feel the beat in her soul though she wished her dumb-ass ex was in the drums right now. The idiot was only good for two things, right now she just needed him on the double pedals, though. She resumed playing, never once missing the beat.
Then the solo came in, and Beca let herself be swept away by the fury of its aggression, Kerry King would be proud of her aggressive and raw rendition. Beca's facial muscles contorted with each sweep and bend. After the song was done she laid down on the bed, exhausted and satisfied. And yet looking around the empty basement, Beca couldn't help but feel bored.
Diamonds in a Piss Reeking Bar
Beca had been on top of the world a week ago, and her band killed it at the battle of the bands. She just knew that their big break was on the horizon, and now here she was in fucking Atlanta, Georgia.
It was hot, and muggy for a Thursday afternoon—too muggy for her leather jacket. She took it off and carried it in her arms and her Slayer tank top clung to her back. And her thick leather boots were starting to feel heavy. She walked through the downtown area, it was interesting, eclectic, little historical buildings smack dab in the middle of ginormous new-looking skyscrapers. People from all walks of life hustled and bustled, students, businessmen, and tourists alike. Everyone carrying on with their little lives to do whatever the hell it was that they needed to do.
Beca didn't have that kind of purpose, not yet anyway, right now she was looking for something, anything that might catch her interest. She had to admit that this felt like a proper big city, not as glitzy as Hollywood but still city-esque, and while charming on its own it was a bit overwhelming.
She was about to start backtracking it to her car but the soothing sounds of metal caught her attention. And without even realizing it she was already on her way to its source. She was able to trace it into a little dive bar on a corner, named "Zeke's Pit". A neon sign reading "Zeke's Pit" flickered overhead, half the letters burned out.
"Looks promising," Beca muttered but she couldn't help but smile, this seemed like her kind of place. The bouncer studied her fake ID carefully, not buying it for a second, he looked up at her and she just gave him her best over-the-top smile but she knew it wasn't working.
"Man, I—uh..." he started, making her stomach drop. I swear to God if I don't get in…
"I don't care," he said at last, shrugging. "Go on."
"Oh." Beca blinked, then smirked, stepping past him and pushing open the double doors. Things are looking up.
The dive was exactly like the one she'd played in back in LA. It was tiny, dingy, barely lit, and smelled like piss, cheap booze and cigarettes. For a split second, her heart skipped with something like excitement. It's no LA venue, but it's definitely her vibe.
Their First Gig
Something caught her eye, in the corner, there was a group of girls setting up their instruments for their set. She was distant enough that she couldn't see their faces but decided it might be worth sticking around to hear them out but first, a refreshment was in order.
Beca walked over to the bar and smiled at the scraggly Iggy Bop-looking character.
"Whatchu want?" he asked, sounding less than thrilled.
"Beer?" she said, eyes flicking to the taps.
"Okay, which?" He gestured at the row of handles. Beca's spirits lifted. Is he really gonna serve me? This place is awesome.
"Um…this one," she said, pointing to the nearest tap.
The man shrugged and poured her a pint, the golden liquid made soothing promises. She grabbed it and with a thank you walked over to sit at a table near the girls setting up.
The girls setting up looked eclectic, to say the least. She could tell right away that this was their first gig, not only because of how clumsily they were setting up, but because they had not agreed on their aesthetic at all.
The redhead on the bass was wearing tight black leather pants. She also wore a loose KISS sleeveless top dropped casually over her torso, the iconic logo stretched across her chest, giving her a rock-and-roll edge. Her face was painted like Gene Simmons's "The Demon," the stark white base contrasting sharply with the bold black lines, giving her an air of fierce intensity. Her hair was done up in a style reminiscent of Simmons's, the vibrant red waves cascading over her shoulders and down her back, creating a stunning visual against the monochromatic face paint. Beca couldn't help but think she looked hot and exuded a raw, untamed energy.
As Beca watched her, she felt a faint, nagging impression lingered, a vague sense of having seen the redhead before. Almost like watching a Polaroid picture for a brief second a hundred years ago. Deciding not to dwell on it she shrugged and turned her attention to the drummer.
The drummer was quite possibly one of the most attractive women Beca had ever seen. Her bright pink hair was teased and styled into a voluminous mane that would make any member of Mötley Crüe proud. It framed her face in a wild, untamed halo, accentuating her playful expression. She was clad in skintight pink and black leopard print lycra that hugged every curve of her obvious dancer's body. Her eyes, lined with heavy loud pink and black eyeliner, that brought sparkled with a mischievous glint, and a confident smirk.
But to Beca, the most captivating of them all was the vocalist. The blonde was a pure expression of rock 'n' roll, she had a strange combination of Ozzy Osbourne with the captivating presence of Robert Plant. She wore a black short dress that wasn't overly tight but clung just enough to hint at her slender figure. The dress ended mid-thigh, revealing fishnet stockings that added a touch of rebellious edge to her look. Thick black platform boots completed the ensemble, giving her a commanding presence on stage. Beca found the woman bewitching; her long, golden hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, catching the stage lights with every movement. Her smile, though a little tense, was wide and disarmingly cute, and her eyes, a striking shade of blue, were framed by long, dark lashes. Her lips painted a deep, alluring shade of dark red, completing the look, and making her appear both fierce and irresistible.
Looking at the incredibly attractive trio, Beca started feeling parched she remembered the golden liquid in front of her and took a sip. It helped.
"Chloe I can't believe you put on that makeup!" Aubrey complained at the eager redhead.
"What's wrong with KISS? Everyone loves KISS"
"Yeah everyone loves KISS" Stacie chimed in from her drum set.
"Zip it, Twisted Sister!" Aubrey barked at Stacie, who gasped and crossed her arms annoyed "I'm talking to Miss Demon over here,"
"What?"
"Did you really have to go for Gene Simmons though, he's the worst one! "
"Wait why is he the worst one?"
"Don't you know? About all the sexual allegations against him?"
"What no!" Chloe protested, then looking at herself in the mirror, "I really wish you would have told me before I put on the makeup Aubrey! I can't just take this off right now!"
"It's fine, just we really need to have a band meeting after this, we need to get on the same page,"
"Now I really don't want to play painted like this Aubrey!" Chloe whined.
Aubrey sighed, she really shouldn't have said anything "Don't worry about it besides, it's the Demon, right? You're channeling the Demon persona, not the person," Aubrey tried to explain, Chloe was following her and nodded, pushing back tears.
"You're right, the Demon, I'm the Demon, I'm not Gene Simmons!"
"That's right, you're the sexy red Demon!" Stacie chimed in, trying her best to cheer up the redhead.
"Are you all right now?" Aubrey asked, worried her bassist would crumble, and they'd have to cancel their very first gig.
"Yeah I'm alright, I can do this! I can totes do this!"
Aubrey sighed in relief and looked around, "Guys, why hasn't Flo arrived?"
"Um, I'll call her!" Stacie offered as she pulled out her phone, and called their first guitar. Aubrey started to pace around the stage, she was worried but thankfully they brought Flo's guitar and Chloe set it up for her just in case something like this happened.
"Um guys, we have a problem-" Stacie started,
"Please God no," Aubrey started.
"What happened?" Chloe asked, fearing the worst.
"She's stuck at work, and won't make it,"
Aubrey and Chloe groaned but were relieved that it wasn't something much worse. Aubrey pressed her hands against her face, this however meant that they would have to cancel the gig.
Who The Fuck Is This Chick?
Beca had been close enough to listen to the entire conversation and was chuckling to herself. She had no idea who these women were, but they were out of their depth and it was painfully obvious. Beca almost felt bad for them and being a softie at heart decided to help them. She raised her right hand and said, "Excuse me, ladies?"
Aubrey and Chloe turned together to the small voice sitting on the table in front of the stage.
Chloe recognized her immediately.
"Everyone stay calm! Be cool! We have an audience!" Aubrey whispered back trying her best not to squeal with excitement.
"Why is the cutie in the front raising her hand?" Stacie asked, she had gotten off her stool and walked over towards Chloe and Aubrey.
"Um hi!" Chloe yelled back with a big smile and gestured to her. Beca downing the rest of her beer walked over.
"What are you doing, Chloe!" Aubrey asked in a whisper.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you asking her to come over?"
"I uh—" In that brief second, Chloe considered telling Aubrey, but it didn't seem like the best time for that, so instead she said, "It seemed like the polite thing to do?"
"Um, are you guys all right?" Beca asked the woman on the stage.
"Yeah we're totally fine–" Aubrey answered slightly annoyed by the petite brunette's interference.
Chloe looked at her expectantly, but the brunette did not recognize her, and she frowned.
"No, we're not!" Stacie interrupted her. "Our guitarist is missing in action, and without her, we can't play!"
"It'll be fine! I'm sure Flo is on her way!" Aubrey protested.
"She's not! I literally just called her!" Stacie argued back.
"So you guys need a guitarist?" Beca asked with a raised eyebrow, this could be fun.
"Wait, can you play?" Stacie asked excitedly.
Aubrey pulled Stacie away and whispered. "What are you doing?"
"We need a guitarist, don't we? Back me up here Chlo," Stacie nudged at Chloe.
Chloe who was still staring at the brunette and hadn't been paying attention said "Huh?"
"We need a guitarist right?" Stacie reiterated.
"I uh- yeah I guess," Chloe said quietly.
"But how do you even know if she's any good?" Aubrey asked.
"Um guys I'm standing right here, and I can still hear you," Beca said, both amused and annoyed.
Aubrey sighed and turned back to Beca, "We're not looking for a guitarist right now. I'm sure our friend is on her way right now,"
"I just told you she's not! Are you deaf?" Stacie argued again.
Chloe was barely listening, her eyes were still fixed on the brunette. She was seeing her naked, and beneath her, moaning loudly.
"You all right there Gene?" Beca asked breaking her out of her trance.
"Um? What? Gene?"
"The make-up," Beca asked, pointing at her face.
"Oh!" Chloe finally understood, the woman didn't recognize her because she was wearing the stupid KISS makeup.
Aubrey closed her eyes and exhaled, she was starting to feel nauseous. This was a nightmare, their first gig and their guitarist were already missing. It took months to even get the owner to agree to let them play, even if it was the humiliating 2 pm shift. Now they would have to bail and who knew when they'd get a chance to play again.
"So you guys don't need a guitarist then?" Beca asked with a tilt of her head and a cocky smile. Aubrey shook her head once more and Chloe groaned in frustration.
"No, like I said we're not looking to pick up just any person on the street who claims they can play to join our band,"
"All right, sorry I said anything, good luck on your set, you'll need it," Beca said with a scoff and turned around and headed back to her seat very slowly. Stacie was staring daggers at Aubrey. And she was one of the few people on the planet who could make the fierce Aubrey Posen feel small with a glare. At that moment the man behind the bar yelled out.
"What's the hold-up Metal Bellas?"
The three women on stage jumped at his shout. The man was a legend in their world and it would be a big deal if they disappoint him. Aubrey starting to panic shouted.
Aubrey exhaled defeated and said, "Wait,"
Heaven Sent? Or Sent From Hell?
Beca slowly whirled around with a smile on her face, "Yes?"
"Can you really play? I mean, really play?" Aubrey asked, confused and terrified but a whisper of hope beneath it all.
"I guess you're about to find out," Beca grinned took off her leather jacket, and dumped it on the table. Then she unbuttoned her red and black plaid shirt and tied it around her waist. She wore lightly loose ripped black jeans, and a pair of scuffed black combat boots that added a rugged nonsense touch to her look. Beca had an almost complete full-sleeve colorful tattoo on her right arm, it had the names of metal several bands and famous guitar players, among them Tommy Iommi, Kerry King, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci. Her left arm was bare. Her Slayer shirt was faded, loose, and slightly ripped. Aubrey and Stacie looked at the petite woman and exchanged knowing glances, the woman was radiating passion for metal.
"Oh Flo's going to be pissed," Stacie remarked with a grin. Looking at the brunette's tattoos she just knew that the woman was just about to wow them.
Stacie grabbed Flo's satin black American series Jackson guitar from the stand and presented it to Beca. Beca grabbed it with vehemence, whoever this Flo was had excellent taste. Beca slung the guitar and turned around, immediately working on the tuning she wanted. The trio looked at themselves, confused by what the woman was doing, when she turned around they realized she was dropping the tuning.
"You're not using standard tuning? But you don't even know what we're playing." Aubrey asked confused.
"We're doing covers right?"
"Uh Yes! We are doing all the classics, we've been practicing for months!" Chloe said, she was starting to snap out of her surprise and decided to just go along that the brunette she'd made orgasm with her tongue, didn't recognize her. And she ignored the feeling of disappointment sitting in the pit of her stomach.
"So nothing from this century got it." Beca scoffed.
"These are time-honored classics you bitch," Aubrey said defensively, she picked out the set list herself.
"No, hey! I'm not complaining, they're classics for a reason, right? I'm here for it," Beca apologized but was still smirking cockily. Aubrey found her smirk irritating. Beca looked at the old Line 6 Helix Effect Processor approvingly.
"Oh, sweet," she got on her knees and started to tweak it.
Chloe grimaced at the sight of the petite brunette tweaking the processor, got close to Aubrey, and whispered in her ear.
"Is she messing with Flo's settings?" Chloe asked.
"Yes, she is," Aubrey said bewildered.
"Flo is really going to be so pissed," Chloe added.
"Yeah, most definitely is," Aubrey nodded.
"Metal Bellas either shit or get off the pot!" The man behind the bar yelled at them.
Aubrey and Chloe jumped a little while Beca looked up from where she was kneeling and yelled back "Hey shut the fuck up! We're working on it! The five losers day drinking in this dump can wait for another five fucking minutes!" Aubrey stared with a mixture of both awe and horror, while Stacie laughed out loud. Chloe was seeing the brunette differently, she saw the same fierceness from that night when she punched the man in front of her.
The man was taken aback by the short woman's intensity, no one in his bar had ever dared to talk to him like that. As the woman stared deep into his soul, daring him to say another thing, smirked and yelled. "Fine, you have five more fucking minutes then, or you're out on your ass!"
Beca scoffed and went back to getting the settings to her preference. Aubrey leaned into the microphone and apologized, "Thanks, Zeke! We'll be ready,"
Then Aubrey turned back to Beca and begged, "Please tell me you're ready,"
"Oh I was ready 30 seconds ago, I just wanted to piss him off," Beca gave the blonde a mischievous smile.
Aubrey studied that smile and knew she meant trouble. And she liked it, the soft and conservative side of her was annoyingly attracted to her rebellious nature. Aubrey had always been intrigued by anything that went against the norm, it's how she ended up loving Metal in the first place. She shook her head and rolled her eyes as she tried her hardest not to smile.
Jesus just who is this chick?
Aubrey cleared her throat and said, "I'd say mission accomplished. Now can we please get started?"
"Lead the way blondie," Beca replied as she stood back up and adjusted the guitar strap.
"Just don't be nervous, and do what you can," Aubrey said to Beca still unconvinced, and gave her a nod. Then she looked over at Chloe who still looked spaced out, and yelled, "Hey! Chlo!"
"Hmm?" Chloe looked at Aubrey, her eyes still unfocused. Aubrey gave her the nod and Chloe finally understanding returned it, slightly unsure.
Then Aubrey turned to Stacie who nodded too and started to count down banging her sticks, and started a simple beat. Aubrey sighed and put on her best smile and turning to the microphone said.
"Good um Afternoon Zeke's Pit! We're The Metal Bellas, and we're here to look hot and rock!" Beca laughed at that, earning her a glare from Aubrey.
Oh, Gods of metal, please help us, Aubrey thought as she looked up. "OK Guys War Pigs, just like we practice, and Beca, I hope you know what you're doing,"
Beca just smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Stacie counted them down and Beca slammed on the pedal and started them with a perfectly executed deep dive bomb that caught them all by surprise, then she complemented it with some quick trills and resumed the original version. The few people in the bar turned towards Beca. The man named Zeke at the bar smirked.
Aubrey stared wide eye and mouthed what the fuck to Chloe. Chloe was staring, her mouth wide open, she couldn't believe this was the same woman from last night. Stacie nodded excitedly and really got into it. Beca would improvise a little in each riff, making it sharper and adding just a bit more extra vibrato. But when the pause began she placed a hand on the guitar, quitting, and bent forward, counting along with Stacie as she struck the high hats.
"Generals gather in their masses
Just like witches in black masses"
Aubrey sang, her soprano a much higher pitch than Ozzy's and yet it was melodic and clear and when she let that last note ring, she added power and vibrato that shook them. Beca could feel the hairs in her arms raise, she was impressed, she never thought that voice would work for this song, she was so impressed that she almost missed her cue but recovered it quickly enough, though Aubrey noticed.
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerer of Death Construction
In the fields, the bodies burning
As the war machines keep turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds,
Oh, Lord! Yeah!
Beca shivered, impressed by Aubrey's rendition, the sheer power the blonde woman emitted with her voice. She grabbed the mike and swayed her head from side to side as she bounced to the beat of the ball of her feet. Beca understood what Aubrey was trying to do with this song, she was proving something, and she was into it. All right, Blondie, let them fucking hear you! Beca thought.
What few patrons were lounging in the bar had committed their complete attention to the girls. Chloe decided to push down all of her confusion and let herself be consumed by the music. She loved this song, and she wanted to commit to it. She spun on her feet, and let herself become excited by the vibrant performance.
One of the patrons started recording them with their phone. Getting close to each of the band members, Chloe enjoyed it and added her own flair to the piece with her bass. Stacie stuck out her tongue playfully and gave the guy recording a wink. He recorded Aubrey who ignored it but was still beaming.
Then when it was the solo's part, Beca layered on more reverb and delay, adding a more haunting echo to the solo. She didn't add any extra notes to it; she always had a soft spot for this solo and played it as Tommy Iommi would play it himself, letting the notes speak for themselves. The man got close to Beca to record her with his phone. She closed her eyes and frowned, she took a deep breath trying to calm her anger. But when he got so close to the guitar, she snapped and kicked the phone off his hand, leaving the man to cuss and run after it. Beca absolutely hated having phones shoved in her face, especially during her solo. Aubrey rolled her eyes slightly annoyed but amused. Chloe laughed, if there was ever a shred of doubt that this was the same woman from last night, it had evaporated.
When the song was over, Aubrey was breathing a little harder than she had in practice, she was feeding off the energy of the rest of her bandmates.
"Well, that wasn't half bad!" Aubrey said holding back.
Beca raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, you didn't suck either." Earning her a glare from the blonde.
"Oh my God, you guys! We were awesome!" Chloe said excitedly, looking at Aubrey and then at Beca. "You're amazing!" Chloe told the brunette, with a soft and adoring tone.
"Thanks, Gene," Beca smiled and then turned back to the blonde, "So, what's next?"
"Enter The Sandman," Aubrey replied.
Beca tried her hardest not to roll her eyes and said "Fine,"
Aubrey ignoring Beca looked over at Chloe who was once again spacing out, her eyes going back towards the brunette's back, "Are you ready Chloe?"
"Hm?" Chloe shook her head and said, "Um yes! Yes! Born ready!" Chloe responded with an eager smile, trying her hardest not to look at Beca.
The song began, and the women let the intro build tensely. Beca got in a wide stance and swayed her head low and side to side, her hair a dramatic pendulum. Then Stacie's break was loud and demanding. The music was inspiring, and Chloe once again decided to just let herself be consumed by it. She'll figure out this mess later, right now she needed to be her old self, and she took a deep breath and felt the energy almost bouncing off the walls. When Aubrey began the first verse.
"Say your prayers, little one,
don't forget my son to include everyone."
Aubrey's clear high pitch had a bite at the end of each note. Beca threw her head back still swaying to the beat and smiled at the vocalist, once again she was skeptical about this one but Aubrey kept impressing her. But then Chloe picked up the next part of the first verse.
"I tuck you in, warm within,
keep you free from sin,
Till the Sandman, he comes."
Chloe's voice was warm and she added a snarl at the end of each note, it was seductive and captivating, and her eyes kept going back to Beca. Beca could almost swear she'd heard that voice somewhere before, but it wasn't this sultry and aggressive. Meanwhile, Aubrey was swinging her head side to side to the beat, her long blonde hair seemingly alive and glowing. Then both women joined together.
"Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light, what is it? (Enter night)
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land"
Chloe started the second verse by herself, she quickly slung the bass to her back grabbed the microphone with attitude, and started.
"Something's wrong, shut the light, heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of Snow White"
Then Aubrey chimed in their voice complementing each other perfectly.
"Dreams of war, dreams of liars, dreams of dragons' fire
And of things that will bite, yeah!"
Then after they performed the chorus it was Beca's turn.
Fuck it, they're going all out, might as well go all out! Beca kept the main melody of the solo but at every turn, she added speed, the licks were faster, the bends were deeper more metal less blues, as Beca made the E minor pentatonic scale her bitch. And as her fingers made the guitar cry she threw her head back and clenched her teeth.
The audience was in awe of the brutality the petite brunette brought to the solo. And when the solo was over everyone could only muster enough energy to stare in shock. Beca panted as she looked at the stunned audience, for a brief second everyone went quiet. But then the drum resumed the beat with more zest and the drummer Stacie sang the bridge. Her alto was harmonious, and she dropped it low into a slither-like seductive tone. Meanwhile, Chloe complimented her.
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
Pray the lord my soul to keep,
If I die before I wake,
Pray the lord my soul to take"
Beca looked over at the woman with the pink hair in the drums who immediately caught her and while she gave her a wink she stuck out her tongue and overly seductive licked her lips. Beca blushed but smirked, yeah that's definitely the hottest drummer she'd ever seen, and she couldn't wait to see her standing up.
When the song was done, the women beamed radiantly. And they looked in shock at their audience. People had walked into the dive and were starting to crowd in front of the stage. Zeke by the bar ignored the customers and had his arms crossed, just staring at them with a smile. Aubrey and Chloe couldn't believe what was happening. Chloe looked over at the brunette who was slightly breathing hard with excitement and knew that she was the reason behind it all.
Aw, Bless Your Heart
Beca sauntered over to Aubrey and said "Still think it wasn't half bad,"
"You were almost good," Aubrey teased as she bit her tongue teasingly.
Beca shook her head, smiling at the blonde, "Whatever! What's next?"
"Trooper!" Stacie exclaimed excitedly from the drum set, this was one of her favorite songs.
Aubrey nodded and said, "Have you got this?"
"The Trooper? With just one guitar?" Beca asked incredulously, the original song had two guitarists Adrian Smith as lead guitar and Dave Murray.
"You can't do it?" Aubrey asked with an evil glint in her eye.
Oh! You bitch! Beca thought as she glared at the blonde.
Chloe shot Aubrey a glare gently placed a hand on Beca's shoulder and said, "It's totes cool, we can skip this one,"
Beca while slightly touched at the redhead's kindness snarked, "Thanks Gene, but I never said I couldn't do it," Beca turned back to the blonde and glared, "All right you Lita Ford wanna-be, you want the Trooper, you got the fucking Trooper!" Beca scoffed and walked over to the Line 6 on the floor and started fiddling with it.
"What's she doing?" Aubrey asked Chloe, staring at Beca's behind as she knelt down to work on the pedal effect processor. Chloe didn't answer, she just walked quietly towards her spot on the stage.
"Whatever," Aubrey shrugged and turned over to Stacie and yelled, "Stacie you ready?"
"Hell yeah!" Stacie yelled back, as she adjusted the microphone. Beca was too busy to notice. As Stacie counted them down, Beca slammed on the pedal, using a more hollow British special effect. It wasn't perfect, and it didn't match the unique sound of the band, but it was close enough for a dive bar at 2 pm. Judging by the few gasps and wide eyes, she guessed it still impressed them. They played the intro twice and then hit another button on the pedal, and the intro looped in on itself. Then she added the second part nailing it precisely then layered that on top of the first part.
Aubrey and Chloe stared wild-eyed, as Beca then added the third guitar arrangement.
Chloe's eyes widened with surprise, and asked, "She's looping? Did you know that thing had a looper effect?"
Aubrey shook her head, they'd never seen Flo using this effect before. Aubrey was in absolute awe of this random girl. The woman kept impressing her at every turn. When Stacie began singing, it was Beca's turn to have her jaw drop.
"You'll take my life, but I'll take yours too
You'll fire your musket, but I'll run you through
So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand, there's no turning back"
Beca was beyond impressed, she'd never seen a drummer sing this song and maintain a perfect, energetic beat. The woman with the loud pink hair on the drum set was versatile, her alto was dynamic, and she switched seamlessly between barking aggression to melodic.
"The bugle sounds, the charge begins
But on this battlefield, no one wins
The smell of acrid smoke and horse's breath
As I plunge on into certain death"
Then the refrain began and all the girls joined in, creating a perfect power metal harmony. They exuded energy and the crowd was feeling it. Beca could see multiple phones recording them. Even though she wasn't playing as well as she liked right now, handling a guitar that wasn't hers, using equipment she was mostly acquainted with, she had to admit that they sounded good. At last, she was glad to be here. Maybe Atlanta wouldn't be so bad after all.
When it was time for the solo Beca stepped up and executed flawlessly, each sweep, bend, and trill perfectly timed.
Aubrey looked at her admiringly. She'd seen Flo kill this solo before but this was something else, she was not only using a different amp setting that added a similar iconic tone but, her energy was transcendent.
Aubrey looked over at Chloe who was once again her normal self, all smiles and consumed by the music. Aubrey and Chloe exchanged knowing glances and Aubrey gave her a nod. Go on Chloe show her how the Metal Bellas do it!
Chloe looked over at the brunette, she didn't know her name, but she knew that she wanted to impress her. In the small stage Chloe suddenly power slid next to Beca and with her Bass she started playing the second solo. Beca stared at her in awe, but without missing a single note.
Remember me?
Chloe returned her stare with a smile as her fingers matched Beca's speed. Beca wasn't breaking a sweat with the solo, to her this was relatively easy. And Chloe was matching her speed on a 4-string bass. Chloe's fingers flew through the fret like it was nothing.
Beca frowned, and for a second the redhead, wearing the KISS makeup, became more familiar.
Both women played the solo together, Beca's electric guitar and Chloe's bass matched notes, though obviously distinct, creating an electric duel that sent shivers down everyone in the audience's spine.
In the back, the man named Zeke raised an eyebrow, "Been a while since I've seen that."
A customer waved his hand in front of the man and said, "Hey man can I get a beer?"
"Fuck off!" Zeke barked and turned his attention back to the women on the stage.
They are fucking loud! He thought with a smirk.
Beca was in awe of the woman she played with. Each one had their own unique talent with their instruments and they complemented each other perfectly. The vixen with the pink hair on the drums had flawless rhythm and she could tell that if she gave her a double pedal she'd be an amazing death metal drummer. And to top that the woman could sing and match Bruce Dickinson's notes while she drummed. That was impressive.
Then there was the stunningly beautiful and confusingly nostalgic redhead at the bass. The woman was inventive, and almost as fast as her. She knew the woman was an iceberg of talent, and she wanted to see what hid beneath those dark waters. She could easily tell that the redhead was by far the best bassist she'd ever met. Too bad she was wearing the makeup, she really wanted to see what she looked like without it.
Beneath the Limelight
Then there was the vocalist, the blonde woman on the microphone who had taken her breath away. She took these songs and made them her own, she gave them so much power and depth. Her voice was an impressive mixture of feminine and rawness that captivated her. She could see that this was her first gig and her nerves were obvious, but she faced them head-on. But the more the blonde woman sang, the more confident she became, and it was amazing to watch her evolution. Her voice grew more powerful with each bar. And Beca always had a thing for tall blondes.
As the Trooper was wrapping up, Beca noticed a commotion by the entrance of the dive bar. "Shit!" Beca whispered when she noticed the cops talking to the guy with the phone pointing at her. Beca looked behind their stage and back at the blonde.
The rest of the girls were too entranced by their own performance To notice anything awry.
In a whirl, Beca unplugged the black electric guitar, the feedback of the naked plug on the floor jarring everyone.
"Here Gene!" Beca said as she tossed the guitar quickly to a perplexed redhead, who caught it with ease and stared at it blankly.
Then Beca turned to the blonde and whirled her around, catching her off guard. "What—" was all Aubrey had time to say. Standing on her toes, Beca pressed her lips against Aubrey's. Aubrey's eyes widened as she realized the cute metalhead brunette had abruptly interrupted their song to kiss her.
The kiss was hurried and hard. Beca could taste Aubrey's lipstick mixed with the saltiness of her sweat. There was no finesse, she just wanted their lips to meet. Aubrey, taken completely off guard, initially tensed, both hands held high to her sides. Beca decided to take a chance and wrapped her hands around Aubrey's waist pulling her closer. She deepened the kiss, seeking entry, and Aubrey instinctively responded. As Beca pressed against her, Aubrey forgot to breathe and with closed eyes, she surrendered to the unexpected kiss.
Stacie stared in complete shock at the pair randomly kissing. Then she playfully whistled with appreciation.
But Chloe's heart broke.
Beca broke the kiss and looked at the blonde. Aubrey still had her eyes closed and her lips puckered expectantly. She wanted more, she'd never been kissed like this, and she didn't even care that everyone was looking at them.
Beca smiled with pride at the cute blonde's expression, she knew she had just rocked her world with just one kiss. Beca whispered "Let's do this again sometime hot stuff." Then she turned to the rest of the girls and said with a playful smirk "Bye losers!"
Beca jumped off-stage and flipped over a table, creating an obstacle for the cops, and dashed through the emergency exit. The cops and the guy chased after her.
Aubrey's face was flushed red and stared confused as their mysterious new friend ran from the cops.
"Did—did anyone catch her name?" Aubrey mumbled, the taste of her lips still lingering.
To be continued.
