What It Takes

Outta Your Head

I slid my heels back on, changed into a cute dress, and walked carefully to the floor seating. A million things rushed through my head, but it wasn't the time to contemplate them.

Jade was sitting on the chair at Joey's drum kit, pounding out some beat. Steven was tuning Joe's guitar with his harmonica, but Tom and Brad were missing. I took a seat on the corner of the stage. 

Steven chuckled. "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost or something." 

I waved the idea away. "I'm fine, just tired is all." I smiled, and he smiled back.

"What song are you guys opening with tonight? I've been out of the loop awhile, you know." I smirked.

"Joe was thinking Draw the Line, but It's a little hard to light right into. Maybe Rats? Or Toys? We haven't decided yet." he continued to tune Joe's guitar.

"How about Let the Music Do the Talking? That's a good one." I picked at my cuticles.

"Yeah but the crowd doesn't even know it. We gotta jam it between some songs they already love." Joe answered.

"Oooh! Oooh! I know!" Jade jumped from her seat. "Back in the Saddle!"

Steven thought a second. "We could do Back in the Saddle. Everyone knows that. It's high energy." Steven looked to Joe now, who was nodding his head in agreement. 

"That's a good one blue." Steven said approvingly.

Eventually, Tom and Brad showed up and the sound check got under way. For once, the sound crew got everything right in a reasonable amount of time. The guys were finishing up checking Reefer Head Woman, so I went to the dressing room to order dinner. It was getting close to show time already. By the time I was done ordering, Steven and Jade were back in the dressing room. 

"Good check, huh blue?" Steven asked her.

"Yeah dad, it was pretty good." she answered, with her eyes locked on a AC/DC song book.

I watched Steven shuffle around the room, continuing to get stuff ready. His costume, his make-up, his jewelry. 

"Hey dad, do you think Uncle Joe will teach me how to play this double hit in T.N.T?" Jade asked him.

"I'm sure he would, if you ask him." Steven said.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I opened it, knowing it could only be a select few people.

"Hey Jade! Wanna come play tag with us?" asked Jesse, Joey's son. Jade rolled her eyes.

"Sure." she said plainly. I watched Adrian chase Zach down the hallway, full speed.

I thought back to the 70's when the only thing running down these halls were drugs and booze. Never in a million years would I have pictured five little kids running the hallways playing tag. The thought then probably would have scared me half to death. The band has came a long way since then, and so have we.

I pushed a lock of hair out of my eyes and sat back down on the sofa. I looked up at the ceiling.

"What are you thinking about Janie?" I heard Steven ask from behind me. He was picking at his scarves on his microphone stand.

I was melting inside. Should I tell him? I could do it right now. "Nothing. Nothing at all." I answered confidently.

"Come on Janie, I know you better then that. Something is stirring in that pretty little head of yours and you and I both know it. You can't fool me, baby." he flirted, squeezing himself in between my legs.

"There's nothing wrong with me." I attempted to hide my smirk, failing miserably.

"You lie." he whispered in my ear, running his hand up my dress and pulling at the front of my underwear. His fingers found my sweet spot, and I let out a whimper.