That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 29 - Janie's Got a Gun

Katie's P.O.V - One Week Later

"We're gonna die out there..." Stevie looked at the crowd.
"Did those kids spread words of us?" Dylan asked, standing behind Stevie, looking around.
I leaned against the wall, next to the door, controlling my nerves.
I adjusted my guitar strap, and listened to Eddie singing, as he stretched out.

We were all gathered in one of the back rooms, a dressing room. There were six all together, down a corridor to the stage left, all had graffiti over the walls, a stained couch, with room for three on a squeeze, a mirror, and a clothes rack.
Todd was sat on the couch, texting someone, Eddie was looking in the mirror, fixing his hair, singing some Skid Row, Dylan and Stevie were peeking out the door, and I was in the corner.
"OK, this is our first gig. Def Leppard's - one of their amps weren't working, Steve Clark had no sound, so his opening note... Cringe!" Eddie tried to help.
"We're gonna be fine!" Dylan walked away from the door.
"I don' know anyone 'ere!" Stevie turned to me. "You OK?"
"Fine. Just nervous..." I glanced at him, having trouble looking away from the floor.

I was wearing my red bowler hat, black Def Leppard top, with my red and black striped jeans, along with odd coloured converse, one yellow, one cyan, with my red and black arm warmers.
Dylan wore a black Jack Daniels top, with ripped blue jeans, a red bandana, and black boots.
Eddie wore a white ripped tank, with black leather pants, that belonged to Stevie, with black pirate like boots, and bracelets on his arms.
Stevie didn't wear a shirt, just a sleeveless denim jacket, with black skinny jeans, and his black converse. His hair was very '80s.
Todd wore all black. We've talked a lot about being a colourful band, but we were not ready for all this so soon, so we haven't been shopping. Vikki had some ideas though...

Dylan placed a hand on my left shoulder. "I'm right here besides you."
"I know." I looked up at him, glad I wasn't alone.
"Oh, Vikki is here. And Krik! Down front, Katie's side!" Stevie told us. "Oh, and Maria! Eddie your girlfriend is here!"
"Vikki's hot." Dylan walked over to the mirror.
"You gonna talk to her?" Eddie asked him, heading to the door to take a look.
"She wants to go to LA... She's wants to model. I can't get in the way of that. I just told her, I'd help her get there in any way I can." Dylan replied, checking himself over.
"I told her the same... We should save up our gig money and get her there." I suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Eddie looked over to me in my corner.
"Oh, we goh the green light!" Stevie told us, looking out the door.
"OK. Whatever happens. This is only the beginning. We're at the bottom of the bottle, and when you're all the way down there, there is only one way to go. Up. We're Janie's Gun. We're in this together. No pain, no gain. No worries. We all cover each other. Let's Rock and Roll." Dylan gathered us into a circle.
"Rock and Roll." Eddie, Stevie and I nodded, before Stevie grabbed his sticks and ran out.

The crowd cheered and we quickly followed behind him, Todd coming out last, as he was our singer.
Stevie took a sip of water and spat it out, upwards, like Lars Ulrich, giving off the pyro effect. The lights were down, everyone only really seeing our silhouettes, apart from Stevie, as he was up a level.
Dylan and Eddie both pet my back, as they walked passed me, for good luck. Taking there places and plugging their guitars in.
I looked out at the crowd. It was a full house. How did this happen? Mötley Crüe didn't have this...

"Katie!" I heard Vikki and Kirk cheering.
I looked over and my nerves melted away. I felt a lump at my throat, seeing my two best friends, down at the front, cheering for me. Todd ran out, sticking down two set lists. One on my side of the stage, stage left, and the other down on Dylan's. Stevie had one already prepared for himself.
"Boston! How you guys doing tonight?!" Todd called into his mic.
The crowd cheered.
"We're Janie's Gun, and this song is called 'Look What The Cat Dragged In'!" He smiled.
I looked at Dylan and he looked at me.
"Here we go..." I whispered.

I took a deep breath and played an open note, only finding I had no sound.
I burst out laughing and looked at the guys, the room erupted into laughter.
"That's a one in a million chance!" Eddie laughed with me.
Kirk climbed up on the stage, smiling, and messed with my amp. "Try now!" He called over the laughter and boos.
"Thank you!" I laughed, as he jumped off the stage.
I tried again.

Nailed it.

. . .

"THANK YOU!" Eddie called into his mic, a massive smile on his face.
Stevie did the pyro effect again, and Dylan came over to me, stepping forward, in front of my mic, taking a bow with me.

"That opening note, though!" Dylan smiled at me.
I laughed, thinking about to it. "Best ever!"
Stevie jumped down, and Todd walked off the stage, shoving passed Stevie, as he did.
Stevie pushed him off the stage and came to take a bow, with me and the boys.
The crowd cheered for us and Vikki threw some confetti at us, making us all laugh.
I smiled, seeing everyone cheering. This was the best moment of my life...

"ROCK AND ROLL!" I screamed out, feeling myself flying, with my feet on the ground. I was on cloud nine! Everything was so perfect. So beautiful!

We walked off stage, once we were all unplugged, and ran into the dressing room. Todd was gone.
"What the- ?" I asked.
"Leave 'im!" Stevie scoffed, taking a seat on the couch. He was sweating, out of breath, cradling a water.
"I need a smoke." Dylan packed his guitar into it's case.
"We did it!" Eddie cheered, drumming his hands on the wall by the mirror.
I sat on the arm rest and smiled at Stevie.

He smiled back, offering me his water.
I took it and gulped some, as the door opened and Maria and Vikki came in.
"HEY!" Vikki squealed.
I jumped up and hugged her tight, knocking over my guitar, which leaned against the couch.
Eddie and Maria hugged, and the girls told us they had just met, when Vikki saw Eddie blowing a kiss at Maria, when we finished.
"Where's Kirk?!" I asked Vikki.
"There was a rush for you guys, so he's getting the van. We need to pull a Beatles and run!" Vikki told us.
Dylan came over. "How did this happen?" He asked.
"You guys killed it! Your flyers were everywhere. Someone said something good about you guys." She told us.

Eddie packed up my guitar and packed up his. "Let's make a move!" He told us.
"C'mon!" Stevie lit up a blunt, holding his sticks.
We grabbed our stuff and we all ran out the room, going out the back door.
The last thing we heard was "Janie's Gun! Janie's Gun! Janie's Gun!"