Hell To Pay

We Got Him

"Are you kidding? The frickin Pat Smear?" Chris is cleaning up his fret when he hears Taylor screaming out about that. "Yeah, we fuckin got him on tour." Since he came to this band after Pat, it kinda intimidated him a little bit. "You already told him?" He can feel Taylor is toning down his voice when he says that to Dave, indicating that he realized Chris presence and maybe feel guilty about it. "I don't know man, should we tell him like now?"
"He's here anyway. I bet he heard my scream earlier."

They both walk to where Chris is sitting on. "Hey Chris. Can we talk?"
"Sure." He put a smile and keep a positive vibe on him. "Umm. You must be heard about Pat." Dave start to jump into the point, carefully so he will not feel left out or something. "I did. Taylor said it out loud. Haha."
"Are you... Okay with that, I mean if you feel like not...." Before Taylor can finish that, Chris smiles and nods. "That's okay. He's a great guy I bet. It's not like you kicked me out or something. Right?" He looks at them both and Dave smiles s little bit. "Of course not. Pat is just going on tour with us. You stuck with us as long as I can imagine. You're not going anywhere."
"That's what I'm thinking about." Chris stands up and put his guitar to the case.

"So we're good?" Dave waits for Chris to close the conversation. "Totally."

••••••

Sam is having a lunch with Josh since the tour was over and now he took some times off. "Hell no! He said that??" She almost spill her juice when he told her about what John told him yesterday. "Unfortunately, yes. He said that. I mean, I was only a touring member, but your brother and his band treat me like their brother. So It's kinda sad to hear that. "Chad knows that?"
"I don't know Sam. Probably not. John told me he's looking for the right time to tell them so.... I hope you don't tell your brother anything. I'm just feeling bad and stuck in the middle, and I need to talk about it to someone. Since you're so nice to me the other day. It feels like I can trust you."
"You can count on me about it. Don't worry." She raises his glass of orange juice to Josh, which he welcomed with raising his glass of mineral water. "For our new friendship."
"Yeah, for our new friendship." He smiles on a shy tone before join her to finish what's left in their glass.

"Damn, we drink juice and mineral water like they're liquor." Sam giggles on how they're both put back the glass on the table with a hard stomp like they just did a shot. "I know right? I mean like, mine is only mineral water. What the hell..."
"Yeah and I took orange juice to another level." In the middle of conversation, Sam seems like thinking about something for awhile. Then she trows a ticket to Josh. "What's this?" He looks at it with confusion. "A small gig. My friend will play there."
"Friend?"
"I used to work for him and his band. He has this side project because he loves country and else. I think we should get there. I promised him I'll come."
"Sounds nice...." He reads the ticket carefully abd notices a name. "Chris Shiflett? Wait, Foo Fighters?"
"Yup. I befriended Chris when I worked for them. Come on, you'll like to talk to him. He'll like you too. You both smart people." She pays for both the juice and water before she grab his arms and bring him out to the bar where the gig being hold.

••••••

"I gotta go." Chris takes his beer and say a bye to the band. "Another gig?" Nate ask while throw him a bottle of water. "Yeah. Small gig at the bar."
"Alright then." He closes the door behind him and looks at his watch to make sure he's not that late to get to the bar. It was only 7 minutes away but he wants to arrive an hour before.

Soon after he get there, he goes to the bartender and ask for a beer. He usually spend more time before get on stage there to enjoy the venue and else. "Fuck! I hate him!" He hears someone who sounds familiar at the darker corner of the bar. He turns his face and find a woman that turns out to be Sam, along with a man that the face couldn't be seen from his spot. So he brings his glass and walks there. "Sam?"
"Uh?" She looks drunk and possibly doesn't really seeing Chris and then throw her forehead to the table. Making a big hit sound "Oh, shit." He muttered.

"Hey, umm. Chris, right?" Now he can see the man with a skinny appearance and shy attitude. "Yes, and you?"
"Umm.. Josh. Josh Klinghoffer I'm..." Soon as he hears that he burst a laugh. "Haha. Sorry, I heard your name before."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. You must be friend of Chad. Am I right?"
"Yes, kinda. I was their touring guitarist."
"Ah, I see. We will go along very well. Anyway, what's up with Sam?"
"Her? Umm, she brought me here to see your gig, but then she drink too much. I guess she's ranting about her ex or something..."
"Taylor."
"What?"
"Our drummer. He's her ex."
"Oh, well.. I'm sorry, I didn't know that." He's really timid and polite. Something that totally opposite of Taylor. "Hey, no need to. I know the whole story so... I get why she's ranting about it."
"Ah, okay then." He smiles and then offer Chris a seat on their table.

"So, you went here to see my gig?" Chris takes a sip of his beer while Josh is pretty much playing with his fingers on the table. Some kind of nervous or something. "Umm.. yes. I mean Sam asked me, but I know Foo Fighters and I love to see you playing outside it."
"Thanks. I appreciate that."
"Yeah.. you're welcome."

Another minutes passed by with Josh and Chris talking about guitar playing and music in general, as Chris said, they get along easily. But in the middle of conversation they hear it's raining outside and it starts to get cold inside the bar. Josh stands up and then put his jacket on Sam's shoulder. For Chris personally, it seems like Josh is a very sweet guy with a good intention. Josh might not knowing, but Chris can see that he can hit Sam's feeling spot if he wants. It would not surprising if they get together in the future. "Hey Josh, I need to go on stage like now, would you look after Sam while I'm not around?" He gets up and smile to him. "Yes, yes, sure. I'll right here when you're done."
"Oh, just in case you need to go or something, you can give me a cue. I'll take her."
"No, I'll absolutely here. I can't just walk away. We went here together after all." He giggles and then give a cue to Chris to get on stage.

"Alright. I'll see you again."