That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 24 - Talents

Katie's P.O.V

"Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man, look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man, wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars..?"
Todd sung so beautifully.

We all clapped, once he finished. He knew he wasn't playing guitar in this band. He just found it easier to sing when he had some instrumental.

"So?" Eddie spoke quietly.
Stevie got up and stood in front of us. "He's good. He can sing."
"He can." I nodded. "Right voice?" I asked Dylan.
"Yeah. It's good. I like it." Dylan nodded, tapping his chin, as his arms were crossed and he was sat back on the couch.

Vikki walked into the venue, coming to join us at the couch.
For a laugh, Dylan grabbed her and had her sit on his lap. They really liked each other, talking a lot over the past week.

"New guy?" She asked us.
"Yeah. He's really good. " I nodded at her.
"Let him hear you guys, then we'll try him with one of our songs. Let him know how you guys all play." Eddie suggested.
"Yeah, buh you gott-ha go next. He your friend." Stevie nodded at Eddie.
"OK." Eddie agreed, getting up. "Thanks, Todd! Come grab a seat. We're each gonna play a song, so you can hear us, and how we play. Then, we'll try you with one of our songs."
"Great." Todd smiled, jumping off the stage.

He swapped places with Eddie, leaving his guitar leaning on the drum riser.
Eddie grabbed his bass, quickly tuning up, as Stevie sat next to Dylan, and Todd on the armrest.
"Hi, I'm Vikki." Vikki held her hand out to Todd. "Katie's best friend."
"Todd. Hi." He shook her hand, not noticing Dylan glaring at him.
I smiled at Dylan, him not noticing, before turning to Eddie.

"I'm singing this one!" Eddie smiled at us, as he decided what song to play.
We all, apart from Todd, sat up, ready for the show.
One killer bass line and I knew what this was...

"I'm a cold heartbreaker
Fit ta burn and I'll rip your heart in two
And I'll leave you lyin' on the bed
I'll be out the door before you wake
It's nuthin' new to you
'Cause I think we've seen that movie too

'Cause you could be mine
But you're way out of line
With your bitch slap rappin'
And your cocaine tongue
You get nuthin' done
I said you could be mine!"
Eddie was a natural on the stage, smiling brightly, never missing a note.

We cheered and jammed along, all the way to the final chorus, where we all sung it together, again... Minus Todd.

"You could be mine
But you're way out of line
With your bitch slap rappin'
And your cocaine tongue
You get nuthin' done
I said you could be
You should be
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine
You could be mine!"

"Yeah, Eddie! You rock!" Stevie shouted out.
"EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!" Me and Vikki chanted, as Dylan whistled.
"I nominate Dylan next!" Eddie called into the mic.
"Gonna have to move, darlin'." Dylan poked Vikki's waist, making her twist about, with a squeal.
I laughed, as she got up and Dylan switched places with Eddie.
Vikki sat next to me, with Stevie next to her, and Eddie next to him.

Dylan tuned up and smiled at us. "You guys hear me OK?" He checked the mic.
"Boooo!" Stevie laughed.
"Fuck you, hippie!" Dylan snickered. "Enjoy..." He looked over at Vikki.

Again. From the first notes I recognized the song immediately.
Rock You Like a Hurricane...

"It's early morning, the sun comes out
Last night was shaking and pretty loud
My cat is purring, it scratches my skin
So what is wrong with another sin?

The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell
So give her inches and feed her well
More days to come, new places to go
I've got to leave, it's time for a show

Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane!"
Dylan didn't take his eyes from Vikki.

"Tell me he's single..." She begged me.
"He's single." I nodded.
"Like a womanizer." Eddie looked at us.
"I come at a price. It's up to him, if he wishes take it." Vikki stood her ground.
"Good on you, lady!" I pet her back.

"He doesn't hold back, does he?" Todd asked us.
"No! He's a dickhead!" We all replied in unison.

"Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
(Come on, come on, come on, come on)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am!"
Dylan finished.

We cheered.

"King! Get yo ass up 'ere!" Dylan pointed to Stevie, motioning him over with his finger.
Stevie got up and ran over, as Dylan set up the mic, so it was over the drum kit.

"Does he do drugs, or drink a lot? He was slurring a bit..." Todd asked.
"Only marijuana. Anything harder, you're out the band." I told him.
"Ah, right. You two British?" He then asked me.
"Yeah. 'E's from Sheffield, I'm from Lancashire." I nodded.
"You related?" Todd asked me.
"Why?" I asked him.
"Just asking." He took it offensively, turning back to the stage.
"Sorry, man." I mumbled, unsure why he took offence.
Vikki shrugged at me, so we just turned to the stage.

Dylan came back down, sitting next to Vikki, and Stevie played a little warm up, before... can you guess?
T Rex? 20th Century Boy? You're right!

"Friends say it's fine, friends say it's good
Everybody say it's just like Robin Hood

I move like a cat, charge like a ram
Sting like a bee baby, I wanna be your man

Well, it's plain to see you were meant for me, yeah
And I'm your boy, your 20th century toy!"
We all sang the last line with him, as he bashed his drumkit, with his heart and soul.

By the end of the song, we were all singing with our hands up in the end.

"20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy!"

Stevie went on to sing the final words, which was on the fade out, making my heart clench and making me want to scream.
I loved Stevie so much!

He laughed, as we cheered, before he spoke into the mic.
"Katie! Y're up next!" He smiled at me.
"Shit." I took a deep breath.