Free Bird -a Guns N' Roses Fanfic

Audition

Steven's POV

  "It's hot in here," I said as I accidentally tumbled onto Slash.

  "Fucking get off me you fucking fucker!" He yelled.

  "S-sorry, turbulence." I said as Axl almost fell out of his seat. I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back up.

  "Thanks," he mumbled.

  "Gahhh I'm drenched!" Duff said as a reaction to spilling his snuck-in vodka all over his shirt.

  "Alright, the turbulence should be over in a few minutes. Sorry about that." The co-pilot said through the intercoms.

  The plane started to settle.

  "I can't fucking wait to get home! I'm gonna snuggle with my doggies—" I was cut off by the black-haired introvert that hadn't spoken the whole trip.

  "Steven, we are all excited to get home. Chill." He said in an impatient tone.

  "Fine, I'll shut up." I picked up my drumsticks and started tapping the back of Axl's seat. Bad move.

  "STEVEN I AM GOING TO THROW YOU OFF THIS FUCKING PLANE!" He yelled. I sunk into my seat and put my drumsticks back in my bag.

  Everyone on the plane looked over at us, but then went back to whatever they were doing.

MEANWHILE...

  "Baz! Are you coming?! We've gotta get to your audition!" I heard my best friend, Olivia, Oliv for short, yell.

  "COMING!" I said, picking up my guitar and grabbing my bag of picks, strings, tuners, capos and a whole bunch of other stuff. I swiftly jumped in the car, making sure not to hit the amp, and we rushed off. We were running late for the thing that could get my entire career started.

———

  "And THAT'S how you tune a drum kit."

  "I still don't think it's possible." Oliv responded.

  "Believe what you want to believe, you can tune a snare." I said, glaring at her with an 'I told you so' look.

  We pulled up to the small building and walked backstage. I had very ripped black jeans on and a oversized "Skid Row" tee. I popped on my baseball cap and walked out on stage soon after. If I win this and I get the label, I can quit my current job. Selling drugs. This could be life changing. I looked to the side of the stage to check that everything was set up. Oliv gave me a thumbs up and I nodded at the record producers in front of me. If they thought I had enough talent, they would give me a callback and I might get a label. If they think I'm REALLY good, they might just tell me right there. We'll see after this, I guess.

  "Izabelle 'Baz' Garcia- give it your best shot." The man in the middle said, with his leather jacket and cool gray hair, slicked back. He gave me a wink as I strummed my guitar.

  "Well, I've been afraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too"

  I plucked each note perfectly as I even forgot I was on stage. I lost myself in the music. It felt like I was on a different planet. I totally disregarded the fact that all of the other contestants were watching. When I was done, the judges looked starstruck. I gave it a shrug, a wave, and then I started to walk off stage. All the sudden, the room erupted with clapping and cheers from all around. I blushed and walked off. I was pushed to the next round.

  I walked on, now with more confidence in my step. I licked my painted red lips and ran my hand through my hair.

  "But everybody wants some
I want some too, whoa yeah-ah
Everybody wants some
How about you
Ohh yeah
Ooh yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah"

  I shredded my guitar with a Van Halen song. One of the younger producers, a young woman, dressed like a rockstar, was banging her head. The guy to my left was leaning his face against his fist and staring blissfully. The guy in the center just gaped. I giggled a little during the solo because of this.

  I went backstage as everyone cheered and my bestie cleaned up the makeup that I loathed wearing. I was ok with doing my own, but I just didn't like her style. Too girly. I let her do it anyway though, because I needed to wow the judges and I didn't feel like getting in an argument.

Next up I was going to play a song that was pretty personal to me. I can't wait!

AT THE AIRPORT...

"I can't find my bags!"
"Where's Izzy?"
"Everyone grab your stuff so we can get out of here please!!!"
"I'm right here, dummy."
We finally all got situated and grabbed our bags. We piled in the car and drove back home. Everyone was so excited to be home. We had been out of LA for two months.

Of course, since we were all tired of each other, we all just went into our separate rooms.

I practiced my drums and listened to some music. I was pretty bored, so after a while I fell asleep. I wonder what'll happen tomorrow...

AT THE AUDITION...

I was back on stage in a few minutes. It was getting kind of late, but it didn't matter. I'm pretty confident in myself at this point, and I have hope that I'll win!

Time to go on stage. I felt the lights on me and I could feel my sweat, but I wasn't worried. I lifted up my guitar. Here we go again...

"Bye-bye, baby, it's been sweet love, yeah, yeah
Though this feelin' I can't change
Please don't take it so badly
'Cause Lord knows, I'm to blame,"

To me, this song was about my first and only boyfriend. I was moving to LA, and he refused to come. But I was set on my decision and I had to leave. I had to be a rockstar. That was the only thing that was out there for me. The only thing I cared about more than him was my music, and he couldn't bring himself to follow me.

I'm a rocker, and I don't need a boy. It just hurt me to see him hurt. He was like my best friend.

I started the solo and I completely forgot I was onstage. I fell to my knees shredding the guitar. I leaned back and fell into the music. I felt a tear drip down my face, but it wasn't bad. It was the pure enjoyment. That's when I knew I had to be a rockstar. My adrenaline was rushing as I finished the solo, and I jolted up, slung my guitar around my back, and put my hands in the air.

The judges all walked up on the stage, and I was wondering if something was wrong. The guy with the cool hair held my hand.

"Kid, you're going somewhere," he said. I heard Oliv scream in delight, but I just stood in shock. After a few minutes of him trying to get my attention, I just absentmindedly gave him the biggest hug ever.

———

Oliv and I walked out to the car, while I was holding all my gear. Suddenly a man with big black curls walked up.

"Here, let me help you with that," he said. He grabbed the amp and lugged it back to the car along with some cords.

"Thanks," I tried to be polite. Most guys only did this because they wanted to hook up.

"I heard you in there, you were REALLY good." He mentioned.

"Oh, yeah, thanks," I said as I put the case in the car.

"I'm sorry, my friend dropped me off and I would really appreciate it if you could drive me back... is that ok?" He asked. "Oh, and by the way, my name is Slash."

I looked over at Oliv, using telepathic language. I made a face of disgust but my decision was overridden.

"My name's Baz. Hop in." I said as I jumped into the passenger seat.

"So, Slash, you play guitar?" I asked.

"Yep."