Fall, 2003

I looked at the address in my hand and glanced ahead. Yep, I’ve come to the right place but this doesn’t look like a studio. It was more of a rented house, with a really shabby looking garage on the side. Wow. Now that I’ve realized, these cocky guys started humble too, just like us. They were once a garage band, battling their way through Chain Reaction and collecting fan base, just like Halestorm are doing now.

“What are you waiting for sis? You’re here to lend them your scream right? Go on.”

RJ pushed me from behind and I hissed at him. We approached the front door and RJ rang the bell. Soon the door opened – a girl with dark bleached hair stood before us, a bottle of beer in her hand.

“Yes, can I help you?”

“Um, I’m Lzz-”

“Lzzy! Heey! You found us!” Johnny walked up towards us and nodded curtly at the girl. “S’okay, Chelle. They’re friends.”

The girl smiled at us and I think me and RJ might have showed our teeth together. Talk about sibling moment.

“Come on in, Lzzy. They’re playing at the back.”

“I hope you don’t mind me bringing my brother. He’s a big fan of your drummer-”

“His name is The Rev, sis.”

“- yeah okay. He’s a big fan of him so he wanted to tag along.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s okay. Jimmy is excited to meet you too. He’s practically jumping while playing the drums.”

“He’s totally my guy.” RJ chuckled and went forward past Johnny. So if Johnny was here, who was playing the bass?

“So, here is the living room, as you can see we’re having a small gathering with friends and girlfriends.” Johnny stared blankly at the group of girls who was playing stripped beer pong game whilst being watched by a bunch of muscular tatted guy around them.

“One of them is yours, Johnny?”

“Huh what? Oh no. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Poor guy. I patted his back and wished I have some girl friends to introduce to him. But sadly, I don’t.
“Don’t worry man. You’ll find one soon. You’re a great guy.”

He laughed nervously. “Yeah why don’t we date each other right? I mean, like..we should totally..like..what..” he stuttered awkwardly and I blinked at him. So did RJ. Seconds later he cleared his throat and motioned for us to move on.

Soon we arrived at the backyard, but more of a closed space backyard – a loud sound of drum thumping and shredding solos blared through a room. I’m guessing they tried to soundproof the room by pasting over egg cartons on the walls. Which was convenient but not working so much.

“So, here’s our private little studio. We’re writing some stuff so you can just throw in your opinion and such.” Johnny explained. Are you kidding me? If I throw in anything I’m sure Matt will choke me up with his evil glare.

Johnny turned the doorknob and opened it. A gush of metal music wind went past me and RJ, as Matt’s voice singing through the microphone and fast kicking of double pedal conquered the ambient. I saw Matt’s broad back was facing us as he sat on a stool, with mic in his right hand and a paper in his left. Those two guitarists were sitting next to each other on their amplifiers with playful expression on their faces. I’m gonna have to guess that they were fucking high on weed…by the looks of it.

“Play your game and walk away, your integrity don’t mean shit! Huaahh! Crawl on me you fucking parasite and I’m gonna burn you down!”

Matt sang, and then stopped abruptly to turn and look at the drummer.

“Jimmy I think the last part is a bit off. Burn you down? Not really feeling the impact, you know?”

“Then change it to – hey Lzzy!”

All of them turned to us and we waved at them. Matt gave us a wide grin, and his dimples greeted us as he went over and I offered a handshake.

“Handshake? Come on, we’re cool right?” he pulled me into a tight hug that I swear he was doing it on purpose to let my breasts pressed on his hard abs.

“Woah, yeah. Can’t breathe here Matt.”

“Thanks for coming Lzzy.”

“Yeah, I hope you don’t mind me bringing my bro-”

I looked around, RJ was no longer standing behind me. He was already beside Jimmy, grinning as they hugged and gave each other a long secret handshake. I rolled my eyes. Since when did they become this close?

“So, make yourself comfortable. We’re just going through some old lyrics and Gates here has some new improv on his solo.”

I looked over to their long haired guitarist. He raised his palm and tilted his head up a bit.

“Yo.” He said.

“Cool.” I found a couch to sit on and I just realized that there was a girl already sitting on it. The girl we met at the front door earlier. What was her name?

“Hi, I’m Michelle. That is my boyfriend.” She pointed proudly to Gates. I smiled and nodded, not really having a care but whatever.

“I’m Lzzy. Don’t have a boy-”

“Lizard!! You’re gonna scream? Really?”

I was just about to settle myself on the couch when Jimmy hastily made his way to me and spoke right in front of my face. RJ was already sitting behind his drumkits and tried on the double pedal.

“Uh…I guess. Is this going to be in your new album?”

“We don’t know yet, Lizard. We have tons of songs right now. I don’t know which is which anymore.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s because you’re high Jimmy.”

I glanced at the rhythm guitarist who spoke casually. He raised his eyebrows at me and said his name. “Zacky.”

“Hi Zacky.”

Okay now that I know each of their names, then what? Are we going to be friends now?

~*.*~

“Wow, Lzzy. That gives me fucking goosebumps. It’s like you’re about to be raped or something.”

I put down the headphone and turned to look at Gates, who had introduced himself as Brian later. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.”

“I think it’s perfect. What do you think, Shads?”

Matt was staring at me, with his palm rested on his mouth and elbow on the couch handle. His eyes narrowed at me.

“You..don’t like it?”

He leaned over and sighed heavily. What? What’s wrong with my scream?

“Jesus, Lzzy. How can your pitch reach that high?”

“I have a high range of register.”

“You’ve been taking classes?”

“Nope. But I once told by a great vocalist from this band, called Evanescence. They’re new too. But they’re awesome. We’ve been in a gig together.”

“Yeah I remember Amy.” RJ cut in and stood beside me.

“Hmm.. to tell you the truth, Matt isn’t going to scream anymore. It fucked up his vocal chords so in this new album we thought we’re gonna cut down the screaming and focus more on singing.”

Matt glared at Zacky. “Thank you Zacky, for the explanation. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. We’re trying a new approach this time. More singing and less screaming. What do you think?”

I staggered at the question and exchanged glances with RJ. “Me? Does my opinion matters?”

“Yes.” Matt gazed sternly at me.

“W-Well, I think you sound better when you sing. Your voice is naturally hoarse to begin with so when you reach high pitch it won’t sound like you’re choking on horse shit or something. But for a guy, your range is quite high.”

He smiled at me. Oh God that panty-dropping dimples.

“Thank you, Lzzy.”

“Ohhhkay now that it’s settled, the screams are being recorded, I think it’s time to hit Johnny’s.” Jimmy got up from the couch and pushed the rim of his glasses.

“Whoa, wait what? You’re gonna hit Johnny? But why?” RJ asked. I was surprised too, at how easily they talked about beating people up. Moreover, this is their friend, their bandmate!

They looked at each other then burst out into loud laughter. Even Johnny was laughing. RJ nudged me and I shrugged. What the hell is wrong with these guys?

“Yeah we’re gonna beat up this short shit! Because he’s too fucking short! Come on! Gates, you’re driving right?”

“Yes sir.”

They scurried over to the front door with Johnny in their arms and laughing hysterically while making their way out. RJ and I can’t help but follow them. We don’t want anybody to get hurt.

As we walked on the hallway to the living room, I saw that the party or gathering scene had turned to a drunken massacre and there were naked girls everywhere, lying on top of random men. RJ can’t keep his eyes off them.

“Whoa sis, life of rock stars sure is wild isn’t it?”

“And we’re NOT going to be like that.”

Yep, I decided.

Notes

A/N: woooh! They were writing Trashed and Scattered at this time XD comments!!! :)