The Leading Man (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 15 - Livin' For The Minute

Vince's P.O.V

"Dude, they loved you!" Monroe called out to me, as she headed to the backstage area.
We're on in five minutes.
I smiled, slowly making my way there.

Marie isn't here, my parents aren't here, my sisters aren't here, my brothers aren't here.
"Kid." Gov caught up to me, putting his arm over my shoulders. "You alright?" He asked me.
"Yeah, I'm OK." I lied. That was a total lie.
"Good. Now, don't lie to me. I can see right through you!" He stopped us walking, as we reached the back of the stage. This was the biggest stage Janie's Gun have ever played on. I'm terrified.

"What if I mess up?" I asked, almost crying.
"You can't. You're Vince Morgan. We never had you down to audition. You just showed up and did that yourself. You got yourself into this mess." Gov teased, a smirk playing at his lips.
I let a smile, and nodded, my nerves still present.
"Listen to me. There are two large buckets, in either wing. You shouldn't need them, but to be safe! James will be watching you at all times, so if you need anything! A towel, water, a second to cool off, he's got you covered! Dylan and Eddie will be interacting with the crowd the most, don't talk over them, but have fun. Join in the stage antics. Be honest, but most of all... Be yourself. You're not Todd Ericson. You're Vinnie Morgan." Gov held my shoulders, looking me in the eyes, as he spoke.
"Yeah... I can do this." I nodded at him.
"I'm right here for you!" He promised me.
He doubled checked my earpieces, also checking that I was plugged in and fully working. 

I nodded, he pet my back, I turned to the stage.
The five of us were going to walk up a large staircase, like Mötley Crüe in The Dirt movie, at the end.
I took a deep breath, James handed me my microphone.
I held a strong grip on it and started the walk.

Purple converse? Check.
White skinny jeans? Check.
Purple tank top? Check.
Brown leather jacket? Check.
Thin pink scarf? Check.
Big puffy hair? Check.

I stood in the middle. Monroe, holding her iconic pink guitar, getting her red bowler hat to the right angle, with her odd coloured converse looking snazzy as always, standing on my left, on the end. She wore her white skinny jeans, with a blue tank top, that had Janie's Gun written on it, in the bands font, along with black and red arm warmers. She also had a head worn microphone, which was new, as she used to use a mic and stand. Though, she does like to move around a lot, on the stage...
Stevie was next to her, standing between us. His hair was looking very '80s. He wore his leather pants, with black silver buckled boots, along with his sleeveless denim jacket, and no shirt. His drumsticks held in a cross, in his right hand.
Eddie was on my right, with his leather pants, boots, and grey tank top, holding his green jazz bass, making up for the lack of colour on his body. His hair was also at max volume.
Then, Dylan was on his right, cradling his yellow custom Jazzmaster. He opted for a red and black outfit. Black leather pants, with red boots, a red tank top, with a black pilot hat, that had a red linings.

We didn't dare to look at each other. None of us.
"You guys ready?" Alec asked us, he and Ollie walking down the stairs we were about to go up.
I closed my eyes, no one said anything, but I assume someone nodded, as Alec didn't speak again.

"In 5..." My heart started racing.
"4..." The gov was counting us down.
"3..."
"For the record... I love you guys." Monroe spoke up.
"2..."
We all looked at her, as she stared at the ground.
"1..."
"I'm glad I got to meet you all. It's been an honour." Eddie then spoke up.
"Show time!" Gov called out.
"Janie's Gun! You're up!" A roadie called us out.

"Janie's Gun! Janie's Gun! Janie's Gun!" The crowd chanted.
I took a deep breath and we all climbed the staircase. I saw red lights, that turned to blue, back to red, back to blue. There were five spot lights, all on us.

We reached the top. Thousands, upon thousands of people were here to see us.
Stevie held up his sticks, Dylan and Eddie held up there right fists, and Monroe...
"ROCK AND ROLL!" She screamed, pyros exploding around us.
The crowd screaming with her.
I smiled, holding up my right fist, with the boys.
"We've got you, man..." Eddie spoke to me, before we ran down the steps, Stevie to his drumkit.
He slammed some drums, and Monroe jumped into 'Look What The Cat Dragged In'.

. . .

"Ladies and gentleman!" Dylan called into his mic.
I stood at the drumkit, having just finished 'Talk Dirty To Me'.
The crowd screamed.
"STEVIE! I LOVE YOU!" We heard a girl screaming her lungs out.
"I luv ya too!" Stevie smiled into his mic, catching his breath.
He took a sip from his water bottle and blew a kiss to the girl, down at the front. She was pretty...

I smiled, looking back at Stevie, who shrugged, with a smile, back to me.
"You may or may not have noticed this guy over here!" Dylan pointed at me, my spotlight right on cue.
I smiled, holding up my mic, the crowd screaming.
"This guy right here showed up to our studio, one day, and said he wanted to audition for us." Dylan started. "That took some real fucking balls, man!" Dylan smiled, looking right at me.
"Thank you!" I nodded at him, beaming.
Monroe ran up the steps and wrapped her right arm over my shoulders, standing on my right.

I'm really one of these guys...

"We gave him his shot and he blew us away!" Dylan smiled, the crowd screaming.
That was my cue to say something, Dylan giving me the nod.
Do I go classic? Or do I go cheesy?

I smiled, taking a second to breath.
"Y'know, I was sat at home one day, with nothing to do... My life was laid out for me." I started. "I switched on the TV, and that one little action changed my life! 'Talk Dirty To Me' was playing on the music channel, and that was it for me. I got the posters, I bought the album, I bought the t-shirt!" I walked downstage. "I was the kid that wouldn't shut up about these four rock stars!" I pointed at the four of them, taking a second to look back at them.
"I took a chance..." I turned back to the crowd.
"Swear if he says, 'and now I'm one of them...'." I heard Dylan snicker, talking to Eddie.
"AND NOW I'M ONE OF THEM!" I went for it.
"Fuck you!" Dylan shouted, away from his mic, laughing.

The crowd cheered and it was time for the moment the world has been waiting for. New material...
"This next song is a new one. One we've been writing for our next album!" I smiled.
Monroe ran down the stairs and over to stage left, jumping up onto her little podium.
"This song is called..." I started. "Fallen Angel!" Monroe and I cheered in sync.