Waters Ablaze

“No, man you cant come in here and just say ‘hi’ to Oynix. She’s in her zone.” I may have had my iPod on, but the music was not turned up, I had it paused. I was currently lying on a black leather couch, half way on it, with my legs over an arm rest with my eyes closed.

“Well get her out of her ‘zone’ so I can say hello and to wish you all good luck later.” Who ever that was had a deep voice, and sounded persistent.

“Nope, she always gets like this before we go on. You all can hang here for a bit till she come back to earth.” That was Wesley, he was our drummer and my best friend. Has been since I was 14. The rest of the band was probably running around the venue causing trouble.

Peeking open one eye I was able to see that the voice came from the members that we crashed sound check earlier. Seeing Jimmy glance over at me, I winked, and closed my eye again. Forcing my smirk away.

I still do not know who was talking to Wes, it could have been Shadows, he seemed like the one to talk for all of them.

Deciding to play along with me charade, I played my iPod and sank into the beautiful voices of Night Ranger, “Sister Christian” was taking me away. I could not contain myself, and they did not know that I knew they were here. So I may as well give them a show.

“Motoring. What's your price for flight You've got him in your sight. And driving through the night.”

Keeping my eyes closed, I lifted up my arms, for air drumming, and kept singing.

” Babe you know. You're growing up so fast. And mama's worrying. That you won't last
To say let's play, Sister Christian. There's so much in life Don't you give it up. Before your time is due. It's true.” Holding that last note, I dragged it out. But before I could finish my song I was interrupted by a deep voice.

“YEAH!!” Acting shock I turned to my peeping tom’s, acting embarrassed, I saw Shadows smirking at me.

“That was damn good.”

“Thanks. I think.” I smirked and played bashful.

“Nix, these guys just came by to wish us good luck.” Wes did not look happy, maybe it was because Shadows was staring at me like a piece of meat. Ew.

“Well then hello. If you don’t know, I am Oynix. It’s a stage name, no you will not learn my real name. This sexy beast is Wes, our drummer. The other guys are.” But I got interrupted, again.

“RUN!”

“WE DIDN’T DO IT!”

“YOU NEVER SAW US!”

The rest of our band came running in the room, barley missing poor Synster Gates, and
hiding in various places.

“I do not wanna know.”

Looking at my boys, something seemed off about them. Not that Aron had a lamp shade on his head, or that Sean put o a wig, sunglasses, and my purse, while standing next to me, or that Vince plopped on the couch pulling his hat over his eyes pretending to be asleep.
Wait, there it was. The problem. Aron was holding his wrist protectively to his chest, his red swollen wrist. Damn. Our set was due to start in about 30 minutes.

“Aron, what did you do?” The venom was dripping from my mouth, Jimmy took a giant step away from me.

“Oh nothing that cannot be fixed, Doll-face.” Lifting his lamp shade up he winked at me and let it fall back in place.

Almost instantly the door to our green room had burst open, again barley missing the other band, poor guys, and there stood our manager,Greg, in all of his glory. Covered with what I could hope was pie filling.

“Boys! This is the last straw!” Walking over to Vince he grabbed his hat of his ‘sleeping’ form. Yanked the wig and sunglasses off of Sean. And finally went to Aron and grabbed the swollen wrist.

“OW!” a loud yelp of pain emitted from underneath the lamp shade.

“I think he may be hurt.” Jimmy took his spot next to me again, looking back to his band to apologize I noticed that only Shadows, Jimmy and Gates were the only ones in here.

“Sorry you guys had to meet my guys like this. I normally have them on their best behavior.
But I feel like I'm raising puberty ridden teenage boys.”

“Hey, we already went through that.” Sean spoke from his couch.

“So tell me, yout in charge of these boys?” Shadows was at my side, casualy laying his arm over my shoulder, I glanced at Wes who was sitting at a vanity watching in the reflection.
That small move made him mad.

“More like, we all take care of each other. Like one big family. Sean, Aron and Vince are like my brothers.” I explained to hm casualty.

“What about the other one?” Jimmy spoke up this time. Nodding his head to Wes, who still bore hatred to a one M. shadows.

“That’s because he is my best friend. I trust him with my life.” Smiling at Wes, and throwing a wink in, he mocked my gesture.

“How could you do this!?” The angry voice pulled me out of my trance. Snapping my head over to see what Greg had declared today.

“I didn’t think this would happen, It was only a prank.” Aron sounded, well not like his normal happy self, he sounded sad. Oh no.

“What happened?” Wes stood up and walked over to him. Why his shirt was still off I did not know. But his back tattoo piece stood out on his skin.

“Well, his wrist is sprained.”

“What?” Moving away Shadows and Jimmy, I looked at his wrist. Sure enough it was almost three times the size of his other wrist. Oh shit.

“Well, guess were not playing tonight.” Sean was quick to say, he just wanted to go drink.

“If I can find you all a replacement in the next 10 minutes, you will go on.” Without another word, Greg left.

Walking over to our mini fridge I grabbed some Ice and wrapped it into a towel, to put on his wrist. I did feel like a mom to these guys.

“Nix, I am so sorry. I know you wanted to sing tonight.” He pleaded with me, trying to get my forgiveness. There were a lot of big name bands playing tonight, and our goal was to have one of them ask us to open for them on their next tour.

“I could do it for you guys.” Well Gates hadn't said anything at all until now. We were shocked as his band mates were.

“Um, man we know your good, but do you know our songs?” Wes said as he sat on the couch.

“If you have them on an iPod, let me listen to the songs your gonna play, and I'm sure I can nail it. I do know some of your music.” He said.

“Fine. “ Agreeing with him, I walked to the couch to take a seat next to Wes. Leaning forward with my face in my hands, I felt arms wrap around my waist, pulling me into his lap, Wes started to hum a song to me.

“Is she okay?” Shadows took a seat next to us, grabbing my legs he put them in his lap.

“Ya man she’ll be okay, once we go onstage.” Looking up at the now sunglasses free face of Shadows, I saw a look of concern. Feeling Wes’s eyes burning a hole inn my head as I had a staring contest with the other singer, made me feel empty. Like he was trying to take my soul out of me. Wes, not Shadows.

“Sweet, I think I got it down.” Gates looked up at us from his spot next to Jimmy who had taken the lamp shade, and Sean and Vince as they went over the music. Our set list only consisted of four song. We had to leave room for the other popular bands.

“Well then I guess were up in a few minutes.” Detaching myself from Wes’s grasp I looked at the mirror one more time. Not looking at my image, or my style, but to calm my nerves down.

“Just breathe. You will do great.” Shadows walked up next to me, leaning down to glance at me in the reflection, he put his hand on my waist.

Within a few minutes we all were side stage ready to take out places, Wes as always by my side. The guys of Avenged were with Gates. The lights dimmed, and one by one they all walked out except me. I walked over to the giant stair case that would descend me right behind the drum set.

As I waked about three steps up, the Avenged guys wished me good luck. Only Shadows held the hug longer. Odd one he is.
My opening cords started for “I Get Off” as I hit the top stair. Feeling the lights hit me to reflect my shadow, I started to descend the stairs to the stage.

“You don't know that I know you watch me every night
And I just can't resist the urge to stand here in the light
You're greedy eyes upon me and then I come undone
And I could close the curtains but this too much fun

I get off on you getting off on me
I give you what you want but nothing is for free
It's a give and take kinda life we make
When your line is crossed I get off, I get off

So much left unspoken between the two of us
It's so much more exciting to look when you can touch
You could say I am different and maybe I'm afraid”

I was now on the stage, walking out the catwalk to the crowd, as Gates followed me with the perfect guitar notes he followed. I hope he knew that this song was wrote for Aron, so I had to sing as I was singing to him. I did see a blush.
“I get off on you getting off on me
I give you what you want but nothing is for free
It's a give and take kinda life we make
When your line is crossed I get off, I get off

But you don't know but you can't see
It's what you forgive out here for me

I get off on you getting off on me
I give you what you want, yeah

I get off on you getting off on me
I give you what you want but nothing is for free
It's a give and take, kinda life we make
When your line is crossed I get off
I get off, I get off, I get off”

The ending cords, shook the speakers and the crowd went wild. Now to show my vocal skills. Time for us to shine.
“I'm in love with somebody
Found someone who completes me
I'm in love with somebody,Oh yeah
And it's not you”

“HOW YOU ALL DOING TONIGHT!!” As Wes banged on his drums I spoke to get the crowd rowed up. They replied with an uproar of surprise and excitement. I glanced next to the stage as I ran back to My guys, this song was me singing around them. Poor Gates didn’t know what hit him. But there, side stage, stood M. Shadows. Maybe just watching out for his friend. I felt alive with the rush of the music in my body.

Read my finger whatcha gonna do?
See these lips are all done talkin' to you
I don't mean to bruise your ego
But I've had you nailed down for so long
And I don't see your name on my tattoo
Hope you understand
It's been a long time coming
It's for the best
No offence
I'm in love with somebody
Found someone who completes me
I'm in love with somebody, Oh yeah
And it's not you
I know who you think you are
Sorry I've turned you on but I'm kissing you off
Your lines are whiskey and cigarettes
They're not enough to make me forget
I've got someone who has raised the bar
I've heard it all before
Stop spinning your wheels
I'll show you the door
No hard feelings
I'm in love with somebody
Found someone who completes me
I'm in love with somebody, Oh yeah
And it's not you

You've probably never been shot down before
I'll try and make it easier
I'm in love with somebody
Found someone who completes me
I'm in love with somebody, oh yeah
And it's not you

It's not you”

After our two other songs, we were done and I was pumped up to do more. Saying our good buys to the crowd, I hopped on Wes’s back as we left the stage.

“Ew, your all sweaty.” But I just held onto him.

“Well Doll face, what do you expect?” Laughing to me, he looked up to Gates who was walking out with us.

“Man you were awesome.”

“I didn’t scare you to much with the song did I?” I hope I didn’t scare him away form the band.

“Nah, you were pretty awesome. I have ever seen bother person do that with their band on stage.”

“Dude, she only danced with you.” Shadows appeared out of no where.

“So were you watching us?” Wes replied as we stopped at a table full of drinks. I slid off his back so he could replenish his fluids.

“I was making sure my buddy here didn’t embarrass you all.” He smirked as he grabbed Gates in a headlock.

Wrapping his arms around his waist he lifted him off the ground, his legs went out, and his heavy Doc. Martin boot clipped right under my chin. Why must I be surrounded by clumsy boys?

“Oh FUCK!”

Watching the boys rough house, I felt my chin, still intact. My boys made sure I was okay as well. Jimmy still had the lamp shade on as he walked by us, but with eye holes cut out.

“Well guys. A band would like to have you tour with them. The tour starts in a few days. This was a preview for their tour.” Greg walked over.

I jumped with joy so high I did not realize that I had jumped into the arms of Sean.

“When do we leave?”

“What band?”

“Where can I get a beer?”

We all had questions. Well the last one was Jimmy joining us.

“You will have to go home now and pack. The first show is in five days. It will take a day to get there. We start in New York. The band wanted to remain anonymous until you all left. With you will be sharing a bus with them for half of the tour. Until we can get a second one.” I was so excited, we were going on tour. Giving Sean a kiss on his cheek, he put me down and I jumped on my best friend. He, gladly, was prepared and caught me or we both would have gone down.

Giving him a kiss on his cheek, I hadn't notice the the wrestlers had stopped to hear the news, and that Shadows was watching me as I kissed Wes and Sean. Then Aron and Vince.

“Oh shit. I have to pack. Guys we gotta go. Grab gear lets roll.” Trying to escape was hard, as Wes pulled me back to him.

“Ill meat you back at the hotel, Nix. I want to say good buy to Avenged.”

“OK, since your last to leave, you grab liquor.”

Saying good buy to the other band, and The lampshade with eyes, Me and the guys left the arena.

Notes