Metal Storm

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BEEEEEEP

I groaned, rolling into my side to turn off the hellish noise that was my school alarm.
Wake up. Get dressed. Brush your teeth. Brush your hair. Grab something to drown your hunger. Get your ass to school.
My list for the average Friday morning.
I tiptoed downstairs, not wanting to disturb my parents and quickly snatched a cookie from the cookie jar on the table before opening the door and heading out into the cool breeze of a typical Swedish morning.
As I walked, the poster once again came to my mind. The audition was tomorrow evening. My parents did support my interest and passion in music but they had made it fairly clear to me that they believed that a career in the field of English or science was what would bring me success in an adult life.
It doesn't necessarily have to be my career, it could still just remain a side hobby for me. I can go to university and play in a band at the same time
    Soon enough, the drab, brick building that was my school came into view.
    A few kids around my age were loitering around on the bleachers.
     The "bad" metalhead kids. There was about seven of them. Two girls and five boys. All either dressed in total black or faded denim. One of the guys snickered as I walked by, his glacier blue eyes showing with contempt.
    I ignored him.
    Although him and I may have shared the same taste in music, he and his friend group weren't that big on me as I was considered to be the "smartass" and the teachers pet and I happened to be exactly the type of person that they all fucking resented.
    Their loss anyway. At least that's how I saw it.
Goddamnit,, I'm late...
    Picking up the pace, I clutched my books and speedwalked to my math class, nearly knocking down a few students along the way.
    Once in class, I could hardly pay attention to whatever algebraic formula that Mr. Johansen was explaining. My mind was on tonight's meeting with the band members. Who were they? What are they gonna be like? were some of the questions that ran through my mind. What if they think I'm just a dumb bimbo wanting to get into the scene to sleep with the guys-
"Marlene, ten in the morning is a bit too early to be falling asleep!"
I snapped my head up quickly, forcing myself to take my notes and pay attention in the rest of class.
During lunch, I ran to meet Astrid and we both headed into our regular haunt which was, yep, you guessed it, the library.
"I know that you're probably going to turn me into a horror movie poster but I've decided to audition for that band whose poster we saw yesterday." I told her as we sat down away from all the chattering students.
Astrid sighed and shook her head.
"You know my honest thoughts about this, but you know what, you're my best friend and friends support each other, so good luck. Don't get sacrificed or something though. I still need my book buddy."
I laughed.
Typical Astrid.
    The rest of the school day went by pretty fast and before I knew it, me and Astrid were once again walking home. This time, as we walked by the telephone pole, I reached up and tore the poster off.
    "Marlene, come on. You don't even know who these people are. They could be creeps or something worse." Astrid muttered disapprovingly.
    "Aw, loosen up. If they are creeps, I'll just turn tail and never come back." I said, although I must admit that she did have a point.
    Astrid was a great friend, she was very overprotective though but she had been like that since we had first met in fifth grade and her overprotective nature wasn't something that I minded. Other people felt differently and it was hard for her to make friends because of it.
    She only sighed. "Look, please be careful"
    I told her that I would and that was the end of the subject.
    When the stone steps of my house came into view, I waved goodbye to my friend and practically ran up to the door, anxious to give whoever had posted the advertisement a call.
    My parents were at home, in their usual positions. Mom reading the newspaper and dad watching hockey on our TV.
"If you're hungry, theres some toast Skagen in the fridge," mom said, smiling as I walked into the living room.
"Thanks but I think I'm fine for now."
Here goes nothing.
Taking out the poster from my backpack, I smoothed it out a bit and it to mom.
She frowned, her blue eyes squinting as she read the chicken scratch for letters on the paper. "What's that, Marlene?"
"I want to try out for this band," I said, "I know what you're probably going to say but music is something that's close to my heart and I've always wanted to connect with people who share my love for it."
"I understand that but you have school to focus on. This is your last year before university too!"
"I can do both," I replied, "and if it's too much for me, I can easily just quit the band. They might not even accept me anyways"
Mom rubbed her eyes. She always did that when she was thinking over something.
"Let her try out for that band," Dad piped in, looking over from his seat on the sofa, "might as well put her guitar skills to good use instead of pissing off the neighborhood."
"Okay, fine," mom said with a sigh, "I don't know what's going to come out out of this but if that's where your love for music leads you to and if it's something that's productive, go for it. "
A small burst of happiness and triumph welled up in my heart. They'd actually agreed to letting me do this! I was now one step closer.
"Thank you so much," I gasped, going over and pulling both of my parents into one of my signature big bear hugs.
    "Good luck with the audition tomorrow, little rockstar," dad said, "play like your life depends on it."
"You bet I fucking will," I laughed as I headed over to the phone and began to dial in the number on the poster.
"Language, Marlene!" mom snapped while dad merely rolled his eyes in amusement.
My heart began to beat faster and my hands felt sweaty, gripping the hard plastic of the phone as I waited for someone- anybody to answer and I think I nearly dropped it in horror when a low voice growled on the other end:
"If you're a poser, fuck off or we'll rip out your intestines and use them as guitar strings"
"Uhhhh...uh"
For fucks sakes, Marlene girl, spit it out!
"My name's Marlene. I saw your advertisement yesterday, I can play the guitar and have been playing for about four years now and I was wondering if I could come to audition tonight?"
My voice came out weaker than I had hoped for but oh well.
There was a few seconds of silence from the other end before the guy finally cleared his throat.
"Listen Marlene, I don't know who you are and I assume that you're new to the scene and usually we'd say no to the newbies but luckily for you, the demos that we've received so far have all been fucking garbage so yeah, come over tonight and show us what you got. And it better brutal as hell cause we're pretty damn close to booking our first show and we can't do that if we don't have rhythm guitarist."
I winced a little as a bang sounded from the other end signalling the end of our conversation.
Well, at least he didn't outright tell me to fuck off and keep dreaming.
"How did that go?" Mom asked, looking up from her newspaper.
I grinned. "I think I'm auditioning tonight."
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A/N:

Toast Skagen: a traditional Swedish lunch consisting of a piece of toast usually eaten with a prawn salad smeared on top.