The Leading Man (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 8 - The Band Line Up

Vince's P.O.V

Eddie came into the room and smiled at me. It was getting late, so I'm assuming he's going to bed.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked me.
"Yeah..." I frowned.
"Home sick?" He asked me.
"A little... Eddie, can I ask you something?" I sat up some, looking at him, as he sat on the bed, taking his socks off.
"Go ahead." He nodded at me.
"Is Monroe upset with me?" I asked.
"Why would she be upset with you?" Eddie looked at me confused.
"'Cause Stevie and I are getting along..." I lay back on the hammock, feeling miserable.

"No way, Vinnie. She's just clingy to Stevie. Monroe's great! She may be hard at times, but she's got a heart of gold!" Eddie told me. "Her and Stevie are just... They're really close. Stevie is the only other person, apart from herself, who actually met her dad, Frank. They're family. They're just really close. She doesn't hate you, or dislike you. She just doesn't really like sharing, and the fact that you understood what Stevie was on about before... Well..." Eddie laughed.
I smiled, nodding. "So, I'm still in the band?" I looked over at him.
"Of course. As soon as the phone rang and we were told some dude was here to audition... That was the moment your fate with us was sealed. That took real guts to just walk up in here and say you wanted to audition." Eddie smiled at me.
I nodded at him. "It wasn't even my idea..."
"Your girlfriend?" Eddie asked.
"Yeah. She just came over to my house and said we were going to Boston..." I started to smile.

"Y'know... When I first met Monroe, it was after Red Runaway finished a gig. She and Stevie were sat at a table, and she called me out. She had the lady balls to tell me I was great, but it was a shame about the rest of my band... At that moment, as pissed off as I was, a part of me wanted her to be in my life. I have never before or since, met anyone with the guts to do that." Eddie told me.
"What was going through your mind, as she did that?" I sat up, looking over at Eddie, as he stood to get ready for bed.
"I was irritated with her. I said somethings I wish I hadn't, and walked away. As soon as I reached the bar, I started considering what it was she was saying to me. She and her cousin were starting a band and they needed a bassist... There weren't any 'ifs' or 'buts', the words she used were that we were going to make it. There was no way we couldn't." Eddie smiled thinking back on it.

"So, it's true that you didn't know Dylan and Monroe were in the same band?" I asked next.
"Oh, yeah! That's true! I rang Dylan's number and he invited me over to his motel room, to meet his drummer and guitarist. I agreed to go, and when I showed up, Monroe and Stevie were sat on the bed, both smiling at me. I couldn't help but laugh. Two incredible offers, turning out to be all one?! I'm sold!" Eddie beamed.
"Oh, man! That is awesome! Y'know, I caught the show where Todd quit the band. You guys broke my heart that night! As soon as the 'Talk Dirty To Me' video came out, I was hooked! You guys are honestly my favourite band. There are no other bands like this, these days. I begged and begged my folks to get me tickets, but they couldn't afford them, until my dad came home one day and handed me an envelope. I thought it was to do with the docks, as he works there, and it was kinda a thing that I was going to as well, but when I opened it and read it, seeing that I was holding two tickets to see you guys opening for AC/DC, holy shit, man!!!" I smiled. "That night was the best and worst of my life, as soon as that guy said your set was ending there, I left the venue, I didn't care for AC/DC... I actually saw you guys leaving the venue. I ran over and stood up on a wall, just wanting to see you guys... You and I actually made eye contact, before your car drove off... I was devastated..." I frowned.
"Didn't you say 'rock and roll' to me?" Eddie asked me, sitting on his bed, looking over at me.
"You remember?" I looked at him.

"We finished the tour, me doing the lead vocals, centre stage. Every night I would see that look on your face and hear you say those words to me. It's because of you doing that, that I agreed to sing for the remaining dates. Vinnie, you are literally the reason we're still a band." Eddie stunned me.
"No way..." I whispered out, staring at him.
"I kid you not, man." Eddie crossed his heart.
I was stunned. I'm the reason my favourite band are still together.

. . .

~ 07:47 AM ~

I was rocking. Slowly rocking. I was on a boat... Wasn't I at Monroe's house?

I opened my eyes seeing Stevie standing over me, rocking the hammock gently. He had an unlit blunt hanging from his lips, holding the hammock, threatening to flip it.
"Gooh, man! Geh up! We gotta go." He looked at me.
"Huh?" I ran a hand over my face. "What time is it?"
"I's early, buh we gotta geh t' the studio..." He told me. "C'mon."
I looked over at the door as Dylan hurried in. "NOW!" He yelled.
He grabbed the hammock, flipping it over, having me crash down at his and Stevie's feet.
"I'M UP!" I called out, as Stevie and Dylan were laughing, walking out the room.

They're just fucking with me...
I started to laugh and followed after them.

. . .

"STOP!" Monroe shouted out, as we were on our way into the studio.
Stevie pulled over the van. Dylan, who was following behind us, pulled over in front of us, on the Hollywood Taxi.
Monroe climbed out the van, walking round the back, with Dylan calling out to her.
"Have I missed something?" I asked, sat in the back seats, with Eddie on my left.
"I don't know... I don't even know what's going on right now..." Eddie spoke up, watching Monroe out the window.
"We're goin' t' be late." Stevie mumbled, as Monroe crossed the street, walking into a graveyard.
"What's going on?" Eddie asked us, not anyone having a clue.