That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 46 - Hell Hound

Katie's P.O.V

"So, you just started a band?" Alec asked me, sat with me on a couch in the dressing room.
He and his band had a room, me and my band had a room. AC/DC... Each member got their own dressing room. I would love to be at that stage of career.
"Yeah. I had nothing going for me, so I just left." I shrugged.
"Man, that's crazy!" Alec laughed, looking at me. "What did your parents say?"
"I want to think they'd support it, but they're no longer here. I live with my step dad, who adopted me, when he married my mum, and my step dad's wife, who's more like... an aunt? She's great, though. I love her to bits, but I could never call her my mum." I explained.
"Yeah, I can understand. My dad died, when I was nine. Mum remarried. The guy isn't my dad, but we're real close. I was so angry when my dad died, Derek taught me to take it all out on the guitar. I saw Guns N' Roses, on their reunion tour." I nodded at him. "And Duff blew my fucking mind! I had to play bass! I don't really want to be on the stage, though... I just want to be around the music, y'know?" Alec shrugged.
"I can understand. My best mate, Kirk, is just like that. He wants to be backstage, not on stage. I'm sorry about your dad, by the way. It's really hard, I know. I was six, when I lost my dad." I smiled at Alec. He was a really sweet guy.
"It's tough, but yeah... They are proud of us." He looked at me, with a sad smile.
I nodded. "Yeah. They are."

"Hey, is Alec in here?" A guy came to the door.
"Hey, Joey." Alec nodded to him.
'Joey' was tall, with long dark brown hair. Looks like he belongs in Skid Row.
Todd passed by him, coming into our dressing room, as he spoke. "We're wanted on stage, for soundcheck."
I nodded to Todd, who nodded to me. "See ya later, Alec." I smiled.
"See ya. Later, guys!" Alec waved to my band.
"See ya!" Eddie and Stevie waved to him, both standing by the mirror we had.

The Hell Hounds walked away, closing the door behind them.
We were due for soundcheck after them, so I knew none of us were going to disappear far.
Dylan was playing his acoustic guitar, sat on a table holding some bottles of water.
Eddie and Stevie were fixing their hair and make up - Stevie making his eyes dark and lips really pale.
"Who was he?" Todd asked us, nodding to the door.
"Alec Spencer. He's the bassist of Hell Hounds. He's a nice guy." Eddie told him.
"Oh, right. Mixing with the competition, 'eh?" Todd joked, making us all snicker, except Dylan.

I nodded to him, as he looked over at me.
"I don't like him." He nodded at Todd, speaking quietly.
I just nodded, having nothing to add to that. I knew where he was coming from.
I stood up and stretched. "I'm gonna watch Hell Hounds. Maybe shit talk them, when Alec's close enough." I smiled.
"Oh, can I come?!" Stevie looked at me, spinning around.
"Yeah, sure!" I shrugged.
He dropped his pencil and grabbing his sticks, following me out the room.
We walked to the stage left, where I saw mine and Eddie's guitars lined up.

"Hey..." I walked over, grabbing Kirk's contemporary active jazzmaster. The pink one!
"You looh so awesum, w'th thah thin'." Stevie smiled, lighting up a blunt.
I smiled, putting the strap over my shoulder. "Bet it sounds shit..." I played all six strings.
We could hardly hear it, so we shrugged at each other, looking out to the stage.

Alec was on stage left, and that Joey was in the middle, behind the lead singer. They were all males, looking very alike. Long hair, ripped clothes, some leather. It's like the '80s were coming back!
Stevie was nodding along to the song they were playing. It was like... Warrant meeting Queen. Very interesting and intriguing. I liked it.
"'ey!" Alec nodded to us, as greeting.
"Hey, man!" We waved to him.
"He's nice. We shoul' hang w'th 'im." Stevie looked at me.
"Yeah." I nodded. Not nice like Kirk, but a decent human being.

. . .

The guys started coming off the stage and I knew just what to say.
"Man, Stevie. I thought he said he could play bass... Alec! Hey. Good job out there!" I smiled at him, when he was in ear shot.
"You little liar!" He laughed, pointing at me.
I laughed, taking a step back. I high fived him, as he set his bass down, and he slapped Stevie's shoulder, in that 'bro' way.
"Janie's Gun to the stage!" We heard an announcement.
"Your turn!" Alec smiled at us.
"What do we do? Just play?" I asked.
"First tour?" He asked.
I nodded.
"It's cool. Explore the stage, move around. Do your tricks and what not. If you get cut off, just keep going. That's what soundcheck is all about. Try, try again." Alec placed a hand on my shoulder, as Dylan, Eddie, and Todd came to view.
I nodded. "OK. I can do that..."
"You'll be fine. Just explore and have fun!" Alec smiled, pet my shoulder once for encouragement.
I nodded and waited for Eddie to grab his bass.

The gov walked round from behind the stage, with one of Dylan's guitars.
"Play whatever songs you want." Gov smiled, giving the guitar to Dylan, like he was being meddled.
We all looked at each other.
"I Want Action?" Todd asked.
"Tal' Dirty T' Meh!" Stevie smiled.
"Talk Dirty To Me." Dylan nodded at Stevie, before nudging passed Todd, walking onto the stage.
"Random Q..." I looked at the gov.
"Monroe?" He asked.
"You ever worked with Kiss?" I asked him.
"Yeah. No albums, but managed them once." He told me.
"I hate Kiss..." I walked onto the stage.
Stevie laughed, maniacally, and ran to the drums.

"Random indeed!" The gov laughed.
I smiled back at him and plugged in my guitar.
Eddie walked by, patting my shoulder, taking his place.
"One. Two." We all took two steps forward.
"Get them all mics! Give Stevie a headset! Eddie's co lead, so give him some lights." Gov called some shots.
Some guys started rushing around, following the orders.
"On you, Monroe..." Eddie nodded to me.
I looked at Dylan, ready and waiting.
I looked at Todd, tapping his foot at me.
I looked at Stevie, smiling brightly, nodding at me.
Brian stood next to the gov, Alec by my guitars.
"One, two, three..." I whispered, going into 'Talk Dirty To Me'.

. . .

By the second chorus, I felt a bit better.
I looked to Eddie, who looked at me, nodding, with a shrug.
Dylan grinned at us, so we did the tornado.

Oh, boy! The rush and energy... It was priceless.

We did our stuff, singing into each others mics, crashing into each other, even going as far as me and Dylan singing into Todd's mic, which he didn't appreciate.
The song came to an end and I'm convinced a lot of people had no idea what the hell was going on.

We smiled to each other and looked to the gov.
He was smiling, nodding at us. His approval was all we needed.