That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 7 - Make It

Katie's P.O.V

Four hours and thirty-seven minutes. That was how long the drive from Iowa to Chicago was. Stevie pulled into a motel and Dylan got us a room. As we waited for him, Stevie and I started talking.

"Think he's genuine?" Stevie asked me.
"Dylan?" I asked.
Stevie nodded, sat in the drivers seat.
"Yeah. He is. I can just tell. Listen, I'm gonna have a one on one with him, see if he'll loosen up and talk to us more, so we're not dealing with a complete stranger. You do whatever. How are you for drugs?" I asked him, as I sat in the back.
"I'm good for two days!" Stevie grinned, looking back at me.
"Jesus Christ..." I snickered, seeing Dylan walking back to us holding a key.

He opened the side door, letting me out, handing me the key.
"Upstairs. Room 4.C." He pointed to the wooden staircase.
"Sweet." I smiled, grabbing my over night bag.
"So, one night here, we'll scope the music venue scene tonight, then we'll go to Ohio tomorrow. I don't want to stay here too long." Dylan told us.
"OK." I nodded, as Stevie climbed over the front seats and out the side door.
"Stevie, take our bags up. Me and Dylan will take a walk down the street, find any venues." I suggested.
Dylan looked at me for a second, as Stevie started grabbing our bags. "Alright, then." He nodded.
I pet Stevie's shoulder, handing him the key, before Dylan and I walked out the car park.

"So, uh... How long you been playing guitar for?" I asked him.
"Since I was nine. You?" He asked.
"Got my first guitar when I was twelve, but didn't really start playing until I was thirteen." I replied. "What was-"
"Did Stevie plan this?" Dylan cut me off. "Or did you?"
"What?" I stopped walking.
Dylan stopped a step ahead of me. "Get me alone, so I'll talk. Who planned it?"
"Look, mate! You're so mysterious and we're starting a band with you. We just want to get to know you, but you don't really talk much." I explained.
"I don't have anything to say-"
"Sure you do! I'm Katie Louise Monroe. My parents divorced when I was five, dad died when I was six, we moved to Boston, mum remarried when I was eight, she died a week before I turned ten, Joe adopted me on his and mums wedding day. I had the choice to either live with my grandparents or stay with Joe, and I decided to stay with Joe. He's always known how close I was to my dad, so on Christmas day, when I was twelve, he bought me my first guitar. He taught me everything I know. I don't think I'm really that good, but music is my whole life! I've always been different. 'The outcast' if you want. I wear odd coloured converse, because I like standing out. I always wear a hat of some kind, but this red bowler hat is my favourite! This key necklace, my best friend, Kirk, bought it for me, with one rule to it. 'Never take it off'. I love '80s and '70s music, cause it's all my parents ever played. I will never call Joe my dad, but he's my family. My biggest supporter. He's very trusting and supportive, and I made him swear to let me do this band thing on my own. He's in the music business, but I don't want his help." I spilt my heart out, pointing to my shoes and hat, as I spoke.

Dylan looked at me, before he walked on a bit, walking up a couple of steps and walking into an open alley, between the motel and a shop.
I followed him, seeing him sat with his back against the shop wall. I walked over and sat next to him.

"I'm nice. I swear. I don't know a lot and I can't drive, but I'm dedicated. I'll try everything, at least once. I just want to get to know you, because you seem really epic and passionate, but you're so reserved." I spoke softly.
"My parents don't believe in me." He looked down at the ground. "They think my dreams are stupid. Dad keeps saying I should 'be a better man, grow up and get a real job'." He used air quotes. "They're not really supportive... I have two younger brothers. Curtis and Leighton... I'm six years older than Curtis, and eight years older than Leighton. I had to share a room with Curtis and he was a proper dickhead! Telling mum I did this and that, when I was most probably asleep. He wanted attention and he got it. I didn't get shit!" He made a fist, before taking a deep breath. "I'm Dylan Jeffery Chaser. It's nice to meet you Katie Louise Monroe. I'm sorry to hear about your parents, but I'm glad you have Joe. I ran away from home, at seventeen, crashing at friends houses, until I could get a place of my own. The night we met, I had just got kicked out of the band I had formed. They've got a record deal, which is something I'm after. I want to be heard, because I was never heard at home. No one listened. It's hard for me to let people in." He ran a hand through his hair. "I love the '80s fashion, but I'm a cowboy at heart. Some country routes, but that's not really my music taste. Long hair, leather pants and jackets, rock and roll all the way..." He gave a small smile. "My favourite colour is yellow. My favourite food is chicken noodles. I'd rather be rhythm, so I can focus on my song writing, and don't underestimate yourself, because the second you went into 'Kitty', or what is now 'Look What The Cat Dragged In', you blew my fucking mind. I was very quick to judge you, when I first saw you. I just wanted to go home, thinking my dad was right. I'm being childish, but then I heard Aerosmith, coming from Stevie's van... Do you remember what song was playing?" He asked me.
"Not really, mate." I shrugged.
"It was 'Make It'. My first Aerosmith song. It changed my life. I was seven years old, when I first heard that song. I was on my way home, sat in the car with my uncle, when the song came on the radio. I screamed for my uncle to shut up and turn up the radio. It changed my life. I knew, then and there, I wanted to do that! Music is my life too. I don't just want to make it for the money. I'm out to prove that I can 'Make It'. I just have too." He sighed.
"My favourite colour is red and Stevie's is emerald green. I love pizza and I'm vegetarian. Have been since I was fourteen. Stevie loves cheese burgers. He's a multi instrumentalist, playing drums, guitar, bass, piano, and even the trumpet. He also owns a harmonica, but it's unknown if he can play it. I, however, own three guitars, but one I don't play, and a bass guitar, that I don't know how to play. I can't understand the tuning thing of the guitar, so I have Stevie do it for me. I just can't hear the difference... That's where I need help." I told him.
"I'll help. I'm not a bad person. I just like shit done in a certain way." He smiled at me.

"Hi. I'm Katie Monroe, but you can just call me Monroe." I held my hand out for him.
"Hey. I'm Dylan Chaser. There's nothing short for it, but it's nice to meet you." He shook my hand. "Thank you for letting me in."
"I'm your friend, Dylan... I'm sassy, a little stupid. I know nothing about the real world and I am in love with about five guys." I laughed.
Dylan laughed. "Who?!"
"In order! Duff McKagan, Roger Taylor, Joe Elliott, Vince Neil, and Lars Ulrich." I smiled.
"Jesus Christ... You don't, like, write fan fictions do you?" Dylan chuckled.
"Nah! but I do read 'em!" I admitted.
"OK!" Dylan shook his head, laughing. "Let's find some venues."