𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖉 𝕸𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘

Chapter One

It was a little over a year later, after the death of Slipknot's bassist, and creator, Paul Grey, that they hired a replacement. They needed a new bassist to quickly move the band forward with its future creative projects. Slipknot was tired of being on hiatus.

They hired a young woman, barely 20, who, to them, played just as good as Paul. And they were right, she had talent and skill in every fiber, and tendon, within her fingers. She loved playing the bass guitar ever since she received her guitar at the age of 5. And to hear that the most famous Nu-Metal/Heavy Metal group in the world saw her poorly made videos, made her the happiest chic alive.

🥁🥁🥁

Janet Edwards had woken from her slumber.  She slept uncomfortably on a hotel couch, sharing the room with Shawn and Corey. The alarm clock flashed 8:00 in the morning, an hour before the others would get up. But, young Janet was still buzzing with excitement from yesterday, and she headed to the bathroom to get ready. After a nice hot shower, she dressed and hung over the sink, scrubbing away at her teeth. Afterward, Janet dried the rest of her hair and put them in simple pigtail braids, before returning to her position on the couch. It wasn't even a minute after, a bright idea lit up her mind. Janet excitedly called room service.

Sid was second to wake up. It smelled pleasant in his hotel room he shared with Craig and Jim, who awoke from their slumber at the warming aroma of breakfast. And in the bedroom beside theirs, Mick, Joey, and Chris too were greeted with breakfast at their door.

Janet understood the pain and heartache they felt over losing Paul. She too lost loved ones and close friends, but at a very young age. The sound of hearing someone pass made her cringe at the dead memories in her mind. But, unlike her childhood, it was something she could understand and something she knew she didn't have power over. The band was mourning, Corey was going through therapy along with getting sober with the others. It was tuff for them, but Janet didn't lose her smile, or passion, to cheer the group up.

Janet's smile grew as Corey and Shawn were the last to get up, "Hey sleepyheads, I got all of us breakfast!" she happily packed away her bass guitar.

Janet was packed up and ready to go. She only had a large backpack, her guitar case, and her amplifier. Not a girly girl, Janet liked to pack light and felt that it didn't put a strain on the band. After all, Janet is their first female member.

The alarm clock flashed 10, and all headed out their rooms with their luggage. Corey, Mick, Craig, and Joey, along with Janet, packed into one lift, and the other four corralled in the other. The hotel only had two elevators.

Stuck between the side of Mick, and pressed against Corey, a mad blush painted Janet's cheeks. She had a massive crush on Corey, but not just him, but pretty much all of Slipknot's members save for Sid, Shawn, and Craig. Shawn is married, Sid is crazy, and Craig means well, but his lack of speech can be frightening at times. Which contradicts itself when compared to Mick, who's looming presence is scary too, but Janet found it curiously attractive. But Mick was in a serious relationship. Corey was two years into his second marriage. Chris never really shared his love life with the band, but Janet was pretty sure he was with a lady. And Joey and Jim were seeing girls too. Her mind loomed on the thought of Joey dating someone.

It all was very confusing for Janet, even she realized as much.

"Hey!" Corey poked Janet's face. "Are you listening?"

Janet blinked rapidly, looking around. They were on the tour bus, buckled, and had been driving a few hours already. It was noon by now. "Sorry, I was thinking about stuff." Janet sheepishly smiled

"We're stopping for lunch. Thought I'd let you know."

Their conversation fell silent for a good 30 minutes before Corey turned to her with a little smirk, "Thinking 'bout what?"

Janet's gaze had shifted to the window, "Nothing in particular."

"Come on," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Janet sighed, "Seriously, it's nothing."

Corey looked at the band ahead of them, "You know," he gave that cheeky grin again, "Jim's got the real hots for you."

"He what?!" Janet whispered.

Corey laughed, "Ain't that right, Jim!" he called his name out, disrupting his conversation with Shawn.

"Huh? Oh, Yeah." he gave a thumbs-up before facing Shawn again.

Janet crossed her arms, an angry pout on her face. Corey could be funny at times, but Janet wasn't in the mood.

"Or is it..." Corey leaned in close, "Joey."

Janet shrunk more into herself, "He doesn't like me that way."

Corey smiled, "So it is Joey?"

Janet's face turned tomato red at what she had just admitted. Corey wasn't going to let Janet off that easily.

It had been a month since Janet had joined Slipknot. And from the start, Joey and Janet never saw eye to eye.

Janet sat beside Corey reliving dead thoughts of her run-ins with SlipKnot's drummer. Tears pricked her eyes.

"Are you sure we can't find a different Bass player?"

"She always messes up the tempo!"

"You'll never be like Paul."

Corey looked over, "You OK?"

Janet quickly wiped her eyes, "Yeah, I just," she sighed, "I'm pretty sure he hates me." She excused herself to her bunk.

Corey was a little surprised to have witnessed Janet nearly cry. She was always cheerful. Hell, she went out of her way to order breakfast for everyone that morning. And Joey wasn't complaining. He thought for a bit, then smiled to himself, and slowly, throughout the day, told the other six members of his ingenious plan.