High Voltage

„Shit, Ian, I can’t get this Summertime Sadness cover out of my head,” I threw the empty CD case I was tapping against my leg across the recording room as an exasperated sigh left my insides. This couldn’t fucking be, Miley Cyrus haunting my thoughts never was a good thing. Fine, she had a good, raspy voice, I get it, now get out of my fucking head!

„Where did you hear it?” Ian questioned whilst mixing Chris’s track in to the mix with the drums.

„Nina...” I sighed, tilting my head back as I leaned deeper in the chair and rested my jean covered legs on the mixing board. „Yesterday, for the whole evening she sang along the Miley Cyrus cover ‘till Brian came home and took the iPad away from her.”

„Not a fan of the twerk queen?” Ian sneered, rolling himself to the other end of the mixing board.

„Brian? God no,” I hooked my hands behind my head, „He’s too deeply in love with Duran Duran to cheat on them.”

„So she’s into singing?” He questioned, taking a marker and labeling a CD. Nina? Damn well seemed like it. Brian tried to get her into guitars and shit, which hadn’t turned out so well. She wouldn’t even as much as look at them, instead she sang along every song our speakers blasted. Starting from some Iggi Azalea’s ending with Slayer. Until Summertime Sadness, her absolute favorite was Lenny Kravitz’s Fly Away. To think about it, Summertime Sadness was the first song she liked that wasn’t at least a bit rock ‘n’ roll. So I guess, there is a little rockstar in her after all. Warms my heart.

„More like screamo,” I chuckled, remembering her trying to sing along Lamb of God the other day, „But she’s getting there,”

„Hills, how’s that solo coming out?” Paul’s deep voice rang somewhere from behind me. I turned my head to see him leaning against the door isle.

„It’s coming,” I agreed. Probably more than going, meaning going away from me, but it was indeed going somewhere, so I didn’t completely lie to the guy. „What was the name of the song?”

„Homecoming Queen,” He replied simply, with a small smirk gracing his lips. I on the other hand puckered my eyebrows together, getting extremely confused.

„Homecoming Queen?” Oh please, don’t tell me he has a new victim to throw around his bed sheets.

„Homecoming Queen.” He approved.

„Can you sing a line or two?”

„The lyrics are in front of you,” He said simply and just turned around and left. What? Did he really think I’m gonna read? They didn’t pay me enough for me to also read something. God... Okay. Which song? This song? Okay...

It's been five years since I’ve seen her face
She's the holy ghost lost without a trace
And now were left with the what ifs
It's been five years since she left for LA
She's an angel with a dirty face
A chick from LA? „Hey, Ian, you know who’s Leroy’s new girl?”

He raised his head up from his Mac book. „Some kinda Alice. Was here the other day. Blond, big tits. The usual.” He shrugged, getting back to the mixing.

A blond chick with big boobs from LA... Okay, focus, Meg! Jesus Christ, stop thinking about Leroy’s fuck buddies and get to the fucking recording. We’re slacking off for what, four, five hours? This has to stop! Let’s get some fucking work done!

„Chris? Meg! Guys, I think I need your help...” Or not... It took me less than a second to jump up from my seat and walk out of the room towards the fiery redhead in the hallway.

„What’s up, ‘Lex?” I stuffed my hands in the back pockets of my jeans as I stopped to notice a box of quite impressive size by her feet.

„I bought this drum kit for Owen since he’s been whining about it for over a month,” She pointed out to the box.

„Owen? He’s stepping into Jimmy’s shoes?” I smiled, leaning against the wall, thinking about the little chipmunk kicking the absolute shit out of the drum kit. Bailey could probably teach him a magic trick or two, but then again Bailey doesn’t like kids that much, not speaking about Matt’s. Right then Chris came around the corner, devouring a hot dog. He saluted.

„I hope not. Can you imagine what it would be like with a goddamn drummer to keep you awake at night and wake you up in the morning?” She brushed her freshly manicured fingers through her freshly done hair. Where had she been? Wasn’t this her day with Matt or am I mistaking something?

„Thank god I can’t,” I chuckled, my mind instantly jumping to Nina and her smiling face. I wonder how she’s doing... correction, how’s Brian holding up with his hangover from hell and the little roadrunner.

„Oh, you just wait, Twinks. My niece is gonna kick so much ass, she’s gonna be the best guitar player ever!” Chris proclaimed ecstatically. Yeah, I wouldn’t be so sure, but, hey, good luck, man.

„Sure,” I sneered, before turning to face Alexis, „But hey, you said you needed some help with something?”

„Yeah, the drum kit... I think the guy who I bought this from, ripped me off...”

„Guy you bought this from?” That already sounded wrong.

„Yea, Craigslist...”

„You’re not serious,” My eyebrows shot up.

„Yea, yea, I know where you stand when it comes to Craigslist, but could you just please... check it out? Here’s the manual...”

„Yea, sure thing,” Chris replied, getting a cocked eyebrow from me. We both know, out of all musical instruments the worst relationship he had was with drums. Yea, yea, knowing he’s the rhythm guitarist, their relationship should go hand in hand, right? Well, not with Chris. He’s the guy, who can only play with certain drummers. Like Bailey. They have this odd connection... Basically Chris knows what kinda beat Bailey’s gonna lay down even before she does it. How? Beats me. Pun absolutely intended.

„Maybe we should ask Bailey for help? You know, she’s a drummer and all,” I shrugged. Alex looked at me with a bit of uneasiness to her features. Oh come on, just because Bailey was Matt’s ex, didn’t mean she despised Alex and wouldn’t help her out. To be dead honest, I don’t even think Bailey knew who Alex was till the time when I came back to the studio. She had been travelling the world so the fact that Matt had become a father of two, had somehow slipped her by. And I should probably add that she’s dating Jared Leto who, I believe, is an immortal vampire, but that’s beside the fact and none of my business.

„Somebody called my name?” Bailey appeared around the corner, with a Red Bull in her hand.

„N—„

„Yeah,” I cut Alex off with a look that said – I’ve got this, „Do you think you can take a look?”

„No, Bails, go away, I’m handling the situation,” Chris shooed her off, his eyes glued to the manual, while still holding the hot-dog with the other. „Wait, no...” He frowned emptying his mouth, before swallowing hard, „wait... what?”

„Then you need my help or not?” She took a mouthful, before shifting her attention from Alex to me.

„What the hell? This shit doesn’t piece together in my mind,” Chris scratched his nape with the hot-dog armed hand, his eyes shifting from the manual to the box and then again back to the manual. Maybe ‘cause he was looking over the side of the box, instead of actually reading the manual?

„Well read the fuckin’ manual, then... God...” Alex rolled her eyes.

„It’s in fucking Chinese.” He replied, „You wanna take a go?”

„Give me that,” Bailey snatched it from his hands, „Chinese? Here’s fucking english, you moron, see... Manual... that obviously means english. Okay... yada, yada, yada... turn it on... wait for the green light... yada, yada... okay, here, wait two fucking minutes for it to heat up. There you go. Wait for two fucking minutes, Chris!” Bailey smashed Chris on the head with the manual.

„Wait for what to heat up?” Chris frowned, yanking the manual back from Bailey after rubbing his head where she’d hit him, „We’re talking about a kid drum-kit here.”

„We’re ... what?” Finally Bailey looked down on the big box by Alexis feet. „Wait you’re for real?”

„What’s wrong?” Alex questioned after all our faces turned into very deep and confused frowns.

„Where did you get the manual if the box is sealed shut?” I raised an eyebrow, pointing out to the sheet of paper Chris was holding.

„The man gave it to me” Alex replied.

Before we knew it, Bailey dropped to her knees in front of the box and ripped it open. „Just as I thought... Bunch of kitchen crap in a drum-kit box...” Bailey pulled out, what it seemed to be a toaster from the 1950’s along with a juicer which was good only for waking the dead up. „Where did you buy this?”

„Craigslist,” I replied on her behalf. I swear, Bailey was a second away from shaking her head in disapproval.

„And how much did you pay?”

„Two hundred,”

„Two hundred what?” Bailey’s eyebrow shot up, before her jaw hung open, „Two hundred bucks?”

Alex managed to get out a weak nod. Either she was really intimidated by Bailey; she realized this is one of those legendary ‘I told you so moments’ or all together.

„You know where to find this guy?”

„Yea, I drove to his house to get what I thought was a used drum kit.” She sighed, pointing out to the box.

„Good,” Bailey knelt down and picked up the unlucky purchase, „Take your bag, dollface, we’re going rip-off artist hunting!”

„N-no, Ba—„

„Get your ass out of the studio, Red!” Bailey shouted back once she was already out of these cool walls, carrying the ripped box to, probably, her Mercedes. Didn’t know, couldn’t see, but was pretty sure she wasn’t gonna ride in Alex’s mini van. She had a reputation to hold after all, couldn’t be seen in a family type car. Stupid Bailey.

„Meg...” Alex looked almost desperate, with that pleading look on her face. Well what the hell did she want from me? Was it me who bought a drum kit not even checking if it’s a drum kit I’m buying? Fuck no.

„Relax, she’s not going on a real hunt. She doesn’t even have a gun, thank god for that.”

„Megan, please, what if she... you know?” She dragged her thumb across her neck.

„Whoa, girlfriend, relax. I’ve told you she doesn’t care who you’re married to, in fact I think she doesn’t even remember who you are, right Chris?”

„Hmm? Oh, yea, yea... right.” He replied, thoughtfully glancing over my notebook. Notebook? Where the hell did he get that? „Hey, is this an A minor scale?” He pointed out to something in my notes. Seriously? Is he fucking serious? Noticed my cocked eyebrow, he frowned. „What? Is it or is it not?”

„Come on, Red! I don’t have all day!” Bailey shouted from outside.

„Go, Alex. It’s gonna be okay,” I assured her with a smile. I probably was lying, since I knew the guy who sold this crap to Alex wouldn’t get out of it without a black eye, but hey, that falls under the category of ‘being okay’, doesn’t it? „Just call me, if she pulls a knife on the guy,” Alex’s face just dropped, „Holy hell, Lex, I’m joking. Now go, before she’s really gotten mad.” I shooed her away.

„Fine, I’m going. But if anything happens, like anything at all, I’m calling you and you’re by my side in a heartbeat, right?” She glanced at me over her shoulder as I pushed her out the door.

„I cross my heart and hope to die,” I replied sarcastically.

„Okay, see you in a bit?”

„Sure.”

And just like that, I watched Alex get into the car of someone she considered her greatest enemy. Why? Beats me. Bailey was one of the sweetest people I knew. Sure, she was edgy, and rough and kinda scared the shit out of me for most of the time, but she was really sweet... Kinda.

Shit. Alex’s probably gonna die.

„Chris, do you think Johnny's open by now?”

"It's 2 PM." He scoffed. "What do you think?"

I think we should get fucking wasted and forget that I have a kid back at home... and an album to finish, but that's just me. If he has something else in mind, I'm all ears. But with one condition - his plan has to include strippers and loads of booze.

To think about it...

"Chris, take your shit, we're leaving."

"Should I know where we're going?"

"Probably."

"Will I?"

"Not yet."

Notes