That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 16 - Gotta Have Bass

Katie's P.O.V

I lay on the motel bed, staring up at the ceiling. Stevie was going through the TV channels, and Dylan was talking to some girl he met outside. They were right outside the window, for us to see them.
"He is gonna call, right?" I asked.
"Who?" Stevie asked me.
"Your mother. Eddie, you sock puppet!" I laughed.
Stevie laughed, sat at the foot of the bed. "He will..."
"I hope so..." I muttered, just as my phone started to ring.

I sat up, like Dracula, and looked at Stevie, who looked at me.
I jumped off the bed, and grabbed my phone, taking it off charge.
"It's him." I saw an unknown number. I slid the answer phone, holding my phone to my ear, Stevie switching the TV off, watching.

"Hello?" I asked.
"Hey, Monroe? It's Eddie." I heard him.
I nodded to Stevie, confirming it was him. "Hey, man. What's up?" I asked.
"I was wondering about your band. Where are you based?" He asked me.
"Where are we based?" I looked at Stevie. "West Chester, PA." I shrugged.
Stevie just shrugged and motioned for me to keep going with it. Dylan told us about what he said to Eddie, last night, so I know what to say and what not to say. This was Dylan's plan.
"OK... Kinda far..." Eddie hummed.
"We would relocate, but it's important to me, that we don't. It's my home. Where mum lies." I said, thinking of Boston.
"OK, well... Uh, what's your plan, then? To make it big?" Eddie asked me, sounds of someone whispering to him, in the background.
"We're gonna do some small gigs, work on any improvements, then we're gonna try some bigger venues, I know a few great places. These places, music producers, and others of the industry, come to shows looking for their next money machine. Either we're all in, or no deal, so you don't need to worry about anything." I smiled, with Stevie nodding.
"OK, great! Um, how old are you guys?" Eddie then asked me.
"I'm eighteen, Stevie is twenty one." I told him.
"Right, I'm seventeen. Is that an issue for you?" Eddie was unsure.
"Hell no, dude! You're a God!" I smiled.
He laughed. "OK... Well, how long are you in town for? I got another offer, I want to ask about, so..."
"We're leaving the day after tomorrow." I told him.
"OK... I'll ring you back, whatever the case, so thanks." Eddie smiled. He was so polite.
"No worries, mate. Talk soon." I smiled, before hanging up.

I opened the front door, finding Dylan with his tongue down the girls throat.
"Ew..." I whispered. "Hey, Dyl..." I spoked up.
He held a finger up, telling me 'one minute'.
"OK, just Eddie's gonna call you. I just got off the phone with him." I told him, Stevie holding the door open for me, watching them.
Dylan stepped away, as soon as I said Eddie's name. "Sorry, doll. Duty calls." He pushed me and Stevie back into our room.
The girl gasped and scoffed, before turning and walking away.

As soon as the door closed, Dylan's phone started to ring.
"Silence. Let's go..." Dylan warned us, answering the call.

. . .

"This is gonna be hilarious!" I cheered, lounging on the bed.
"He's here!" Stevie backed away from the window.
"OK, big smiles, Ohana!" Dylan teased, going for the front door, from sitting at the foot of the bed.
There was a knock and Dylan opened up.
"Eddie! Glad you made it. Come on in." Dylan smiled.

Stevie sat next to me on the bed and we both waved as Eddie saw us.
"You're in the same band?!" Eddie laughed, wearing the same clothes he had on yesterday, with a leather jacket.
"Yu-P. I'm Dylan, rhythm guitar." Dylan leaned back on the dingy closet.
"Monroe, lead guitar." I smiled to Eddie. "Nice ta meet cha!"
"I'm Stevie. I'm drummer!" Stevie held up his sticks. (That was not a metaphor).
"I'm Eddie. Eddie Riot." Eddie smiled, standing by the front door. "Wanna explain?"

"Well..." Dylan started just as I was about to.
"Dickhead." Stevie mumbled, having it go unnoticed.
"We're based in Boston. It's just us three. We don't have a name, yet, but we're looking to go all the way. Everything about our music and pay is true. We just lied about band names and where we're based." Dylan explained.
"OK..." Eddie nodded, tapping a finger to his chin. "You done gigs before?"
"Not together, we're literally just starting up, but I've done gigs with my last band, and Monroe has been around too. We've only just met a couple of weeks ago." Dylan nodded to Stevie and I.
"We're good, though! We all know 'ow t' play our inst'uments." Stevie added.
"Yeah!" I nodded.

"OK, I have a couple of things, though. Just hear me out..." Eddie started, before going on.
"So, my stepdad, isn't going to let me just run away, but my mom will be fine with this. I also have a girlfriend I'm very serious about. I'm not asking for her to come with us, but I'm assuming you guys are from Boston, she's gotta come down and see me, from time to time. She means a lot to me. Also, I may have a singer for us, but he's not gonna be in town until next week. If you guys really have to go, I can follow behind, with him, next week, or if you guys could stay? He's really good. He's called Todd Ericson. He's got some incredible vocal ranges!"
"OK..." Dylan nodded, looking to us.
"Dyl, can I talk to you?" I asked, nodded to go outside.
"Sure. Make yourself at home, Eddie. Just give us a couple of minutes." Dylan patted Eddie's shoulder, before heading outside, me following.
"How long you been playing for?" Stevie asked Eddie, as I walked out.

"Are you alright?" Dylan asked me, pulling out a smoke.
"I have to go home..." I told him straight forward.
He nodded, understanding. "OK... Let's see..." He leaning on the banister, as our room was on the second floor. "I'll see if he can come with us, have his boy follow next week... We need him. He's gonna get us far."
"I know... I really have to go home. I'm breaking so many promises, staying out here for this long." I told my best friend.
"I know. I'll get you home." Dylan held my shoulders, cigarette hanging from his lips, looking at me, with a promise in his eyes.
"OK." I nodded. "He's hooked... Let's reel him in."