That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 39 - Boston, Harley, Studio Time

Katie's P.O.V

Day Three in LA - Gov and I met up for coffee, he told me all about the struggles I might go through, being female, eighteen, the only woman in the band, but he's gonna get me through.
Dylan bought himself a motorbike, that's being shipped to Boston, and from there he's gonna have a custom paint job done to it.
Day Four in LA - Monica took us all shopping. We bought brighter colours, more accessories, and even just some random shit, like records, posters, magazines.
Eddie taught me how to play Black Jack.
Day Five in LA - Dylan took me to the Whiskey A Go Go. After spending twenty minutes stood outside it, me looking up at it hypnotized, we went inside and caught an amazing show. We even saw Tommy Lee from Mötley fucking Crüe! We were star stuck, but he didn't notice us. It was deffo him, though! He was stood facing our direction, talking to someone.
Day Six in LA - Gov took us all up to the Hollywood Sign. We spent the whole day up there, with acoustic guitars, a portable stereo, that Eddie bought, loads of snacks and drinks. We told stories, played games, took in the view.
It was like we owned the city.
Day Seven in LA - We packed up, said bye to everyone, made sure Monica caught her flight, and flew back to Boston.

The cab pulled up onto the drive of my house.
Vikki was there, straddling a Harley, ready waiting for us.

We climbed out the cab, all looking at her.
"Whoa." It was a nice bike.
"Dylan?" Eddie looked at our cowboy.
"I really can't say what's more beautiful." Dylan took off his cowboy hat, ditched his bags with us, and walked up to the bike and Vikki.
She climbed off the bike, hugged him, and they traded words, Vikki then laughing at whatever Dylan said.
"We can afford to send her to LA..." Eddie walked round the cab and up to me and Stevie, who was stood on my right, just behind me.

"She's here!" Billie walked out the house.
"Yeah... Stevie, do the Maths. How much would be left for us to spend?" I asked him, before running up to Billie. "We got signed!" I beamed, crashing into her.
"We knew you would!" She hugged me tight.

. . .

"We'll be broke..." Stevie told us, lighting a blunt, as we all sat in the garden.
We'd been home for two hours now, Todd went to his cousin's house, Billie and Joe made cocktails for everyone and we were celebrating our success.
We were all sat around the garden table, like the day I told Vikki I had to go.

"What's left?" Dylan asked, lighting a cigarette, sat on Stevie's right.
"In the hundreds, buh we nee' more for our record..." Stevie ran hand down his face.
"I forget you're great at Maths." Eddie smiled, sat between me and Joe.
"I know I said I'd keep out, but if you need me to pitch in..." Joe offered.
"No. Not an option..." I shook my head.
"It's OK! Now isn't my time." Vikki spoke up.
"Waih!" Stevie held a hand up, the table falling quiet. He was working something out in his head, tapping his fingers on the table, as he counted. "...All of Katie's, Dylan's and my money has gone to Vikki to geh her there... Wi'h a place t' stay, plus food. You neeh furniture, moneh fur rent, and moneh t' geh you by... We can' afford thah, righ' now, buh this record coul' pay fur it, with profits... I'm noh saying we'll hav' Appetite Fur Destruction, buh i' is possible we geh good profits. Sum for us, sum for Vikki, sum for Janie." Stevie explained.
"Aim for that then." I suggested.
"Nice." Dylan nodded.

The back door could be heard opening, so we all looked over.
"Kirk!" I got up, running over to him.
"Hey!" He hugged me. "How was LA? I'm sorry I couldn't see you off."
"No, it's fine! I understand! LA was magnificent, and guess what..." I smiled at him, standing at arms lenth.
"You got signed, didn't you?" He asked me.
I nodded. "Mhmm."
"Dude!" Kirk hugged me. "That's awesome!"
"Rock and Roll!" I screamed.

. . .

"So, we're all going to stay living here, until things become more clearer. We'll record the album, do the photoshoot, saving as much money as we can, but we do need to spend some. It's out of our pockets, remember!" Eddie spoke up, sat on the sofa, me and the band in the living room, minus Todd.
Dylan was sat next to him, munching on some cookies. "Sounds good to me. You don't mind, do you Monroe?" He looked up at me.
"Nah. I'm happy. I like having everyone here. All sorts of shit happens!" I smiled, sat on the arm rest, playing my guitar, with Kirk sat on the sofa next to me.
Dylan dusted off his hands and silently asked for my guitar.

I handed it to him, hearing Stevie start up on the piano.
"You're out of tune." Dylan explained.
"Oh, I still don't get it." I shrugged.
"Stevie, play an E!" Dylan requested.
"This is good. You can learn from this!" Eddie smiled, as Stevie played an E note.
"Again and again." Dylan asked, tuning my guitar.
They kept going until the notes sounded somewhat alike.
"Next one!" Dylan called out.
Stevie played the next note and the same again.

"The piano is the easiest way to get it. You always just asked me, but you're in a band now." Kirk smiled, looking up at me.
I smiled back at him. "Shame I won't have you with me."
"I'll come see ya." He promised.

"You try it now. Stevie, play the next one." Dylan handed me my guitar, having me sit next to him, on his left.
I took it and listened.
D... D... D... D... Stevie played.
I plucked the string and listened to it.
"You want to tune it up a bit." Dylan hinted. "Take it towards Stevie."
I did as I was told.
"Slowly!" Eddie warned me nicely.
"Play the string as you go..." Dylan nodded for me to go.
I nodded at them and played the string like Stevie kept hitting the note.

My guitar was plugged into the dingy amp I had down here, behind the sofa. It worked for us, when we were just hanging around like this.
I kept going until I had it.
"There you go! Easy, right?" Dylan smiled.
"What happens when I need a different tuning thing, and there's no piano?" I then asked.
"You have to make it complicated, don't you?" Dylan asked, as Kirk snickered.