Love is Strong, and Mines All Gone

Chapter 16- First Live Show

Eddie's Point of View

Tonight we were gonna perform our whole EP as Temple of the Dog. I'd be lying if I wasnt scared shitless.

"Hey, hey calm down okay? Itll be great! You'll love it!" Chris kept telling me, over and over.

"I know, I know. I just- havnt performed in so long. And I've definitely never performed in front if this big of a crowd." I explained.

Jeff came bursting into our little waiting room. "Guys we gotta go!" He said, a big excited smile, plastered on his face.

Chris excitedly jumped up and down. "Come on babe!" He grabbed my hand, and led me out to the stage.

Chris grabbed a microphone. "Hello everybody!" The crowd went crazy. I was so excited. He went from right to left, introducing each of us. "This is Jeff ament, on Bass. Mike Mccready, on guitar. Matt Cameron on Drums, Stone Gossard, also on guitar, and I'm Chris Cornell on vocals." Chris smiled at me, and playfully picked me up. "And this is Eddie Vedder also on Vocals!"

The crowd went absolutely insane. The louder they cheered, the more adrenaline got pumped into my veins- and the less shy I was.

Chris set me down, and shushed the crowd. "I want to talk a bit about our amazing friend Andrew Wood. As you know, this is our tribute band to Andy. You guys may know him from the band Mother Love Bone, or Malfunkshun." Again, the crowd roared.

I realized we all had the same motive: we were all here because we loved, and missed Andy.

"He passed away earlier this year from a horrible, horrible overdose." Chris took some more time to talk about Andy, then he told the crowd; "This first song is called: 'Say Hello To Heaven'." Then he looked up to the sky. "This ones for you Andy." He whispered. I stood over by Stone, and watched him play as Chris sang the song he dedicated to his late friend.

Once he finished, he pulled me over. "Again, this is Eddie Vedder, and hes gonna help me sing a song we wrote called 'Hunger Strike'. You guys have never heard him sing, but trust me, he sounds amazing."

A blushed at Chris' words, as the other boys began playing the song. I closed my eyes as I sung my part. The crowd must've liked me, cause there was non-stop cheering. I forgot how much I loved doing this.

I watched Chris as he sung his part. Chris turned to me and waved me over.

Playfully, I ran and jumped on Chris. I climed on his back, as he held me in place. I moved to his shoulders, as I wrapped myself around him. He swung me around as everyone cheered at our playfulness. Chris dropped me softly on the ground, then I pulled him down with me.

I could hear Matt, Stone, Mccready, and Jeff laughing at us- casually messing up their parts since we were distracting them. Chris got up, helped me up, and wrapped his arm around me as we finished the song.

I stepped back again and watched Chris as he finished the set. Once it was over, we said "thank you" and "goodnight" to the crowd, then left.

"That was fucking amazing!" Jeff exclaimed.

"Hell yea it was!" Stone said.

"My favorite part was watching Chris and Eddie fuck around." Matt told us.

"Yea! Didnt know Eddie could climb on people like a damn monkey." Mccready said, as we all laughed.

I shrugged. "Gotta have a little fun here and there."

Chris brought us all in for a group hug. "Andy wouldve been proud. I love you guys."

"I love you too." We all told Chris, in Unision.

"Now, you guys wanna go get your extra instruments out of my damn house?" Chris asked the boys.

We all laughed, and got in Our cars, and drove back to me and Chris' apartment.

"Eddie get that side from your boyfriend, since he doesnt know how to carry things." Matt told me, as him and Chris carried Matt's drums outside.

"I know how to carry things!" Chris exclaimed.

I stepped up to Chris, and took the side of the drums he was helping carry. "Step out of the way. Let me show you how its done."

Chris held his hands up in a defensive mode. "Alright, alright. Go ahead Vedder." I picked up the drums, and helped Matt carry them the rest of the way.

"Damn Ed, look at them muscles!" Chris exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Oh shut up!"

Jeff came out and walked backwards besides Matt. "Woah ladies, we gotta appreciate Matt's muscles too." Jeff joked.

"Why thank you Jeff." Matt said in a girly voice, as he kissed Jeff on the cheek.

"Go get a room." Stone added.

We all laughed, finished packing up, then said our goodbyes.

As I crawled in bed with Chris, he kissed my cheek and said, "Thanks for coming up on stage with me."

I kissed his lips softly. "You're welcome. I had fun."

"Did you?"

"Mhm. It wasnt as bad as I thought. I wasnt as shy."

"That's good. By the way- Stone, Jeff, and Mccready wanna talk to you about something tomorrow." Chris told me.

"They do?" I asked.

"Yea. But I cant tell you."

"Ugh. Why not?"

"Cause they told me not to. But they'll tell you tomorrow ok?"

"Okay."

"Alright. Goodnight Eddie." He told me.

I snuggled into his chest, and wrapped my arms around him. "Goodnight Chris."