Fundamentally Loathsome

11. The Virus Of Life

* DISCLAIMER: Contains explicit language, drug use, violent references, sexual content.

1 Year Later

Frankie has spent the past year piecing together some music since she'd started heavily writing. She didn't have an official band - it was just her with a few random people - but she was starting to play gigs all over Iowa. Frankie was quickly making a name for herself and she was pretty close to putting out an album of her own. All of the guys from Slipknot were helping her and giving her tips about the music industry.

"Jack from Roadrunner Records is gonna be watching your show tonight. No pressure, but I think he wants to sign you," Joey told her as he gave her a high five and a small hug. Slipknot was actually about to go on tour again for their new album, Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses.

Frankie and Corey had been back together for about four months when he proved that some things never change and he's still a cheater. It took her a long time to make herself be okay yet again. Luckily, she was still close with all of the guys of Slipknot and they helped her get through it with the power of music.

As they pulled away from each other, Frankie got ready to play her set in the local Hookah Lounge tonight. She had written 18 songs and she played about six through every show she played. She had told herself that she'd only put the ones that everyone reacted so well to on her album.

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[ FRANKIE'S P.O.V ]

"I play the cards I was given. I survive for a living. I get you high for a living. I watch you die for a living - Believe that!"

As my intro blared through the speakers I walked on stage with my guitar strapped to me, threw devil horns to my friends; and one enemy, in the front, and played into the opening song called Blood Money.

"Sixteen years of poisoned souls don't mean shit to me. Sixteen years of pain I've sold never meant shit to me. Death, drugs, guns, sluts. God damn all of us. Sex, drugs, blood, lust. God damn all of us. [Please, please, I'll do whatever you want.] Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Spoon fed hate and countless scars. No regrets for me. The American states of blackened hearts. Got much respect for me. Death, drugs, guns, sluts. God damn all of us. Sex, drugs, blood, lust. God damn all of us. [Please, please, I'll do whatever you want.] Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. I play the cards I was given. I survive for a living. Get you high for a living. I WATCH YOU DIE FOR A LIVING! I never gave a fuck. And I'm not gonna start with you. Death, drugs, guns, sluts. God damn all of us. Sex, drugs, blood, lust. God damn all of us. [Please, please, I'll do whatever you want.] Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. Blood, blood, blood, blood money. I play the cards I was given. [I play the cards I was given] I survive for a living. [I survive for a living] I get you high for a living. [I get you high for a living] I watch you die, watch you die for a living! No empathy - Not me. Everything's blood money. No sympathy - Not me. Everything's blood money! I'm not just talking about about my life, I can't seem to get that through to you. I'm talking about God, the Devil, Hell, Heaven... do you understand!? FINALLY!?"

"This one is called 'Shoulda Known Better'!" I screamed into the mic, smiling over the small crowd that gathered around the small stage.

"I shoulda known better - I shoulda known better. I'll never love you again. I shoulda known better - I shoulda known better. I'll never trust you again. It's a sticky situation and it's full of complication again. I shoulda - I shoulda known better. Forever and ever! I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again - I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again! You shoulda known better - you shoulda known better. I'll never touch you again. You shoulda known better - you shoulda known better. I'll never fuck you again. It's a sticky situation and it's full of complication again. You shoulda - you shoulda known better. Forever and ever! I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again - I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again! I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again. Cause I believed we would last forever. I still believed when I said so long, and I was so wrong. And I believed we would stay together, together. Now I can see that nothing lasts forever. I shoulda known better, I shoulda known better. I'll never love you again. You shoulda known better, you shoulda known better. I'll never trust you again. It's a sticky situation and it's full of complication again We shoulda - we shoulda known better. Forever and ever! I'll never love you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again. I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again, I'll never love you again. I'll never trust you again."