Please Don't Turn Me On
It's getting late I know I should be gone.
CASSY: Mr. Baker?
ZACKY: (His head is still over his guitar.) Yeah?
CASSY: I’m sorry I’m so late. My flight was cancelled. I had to catch two instead of one.
ZACKY: (He looks up at her.) Huh?
CASSY: I’m Cassy. Your new guitar tech?
ZACKY: Oh yeah! Don’t worry, we didn’t even think you’d get here tonight. Hey, you still have your bags. Did you come straight here?
CASSY: Yes. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.
ZACKY: Really, it’s okay. I’ve had to set up and pack up before. You should have gone to the hotel, everyone’s already there, apart from me and the rest of the tech guys. I bet you’re tired?
CASSY: Uhm, a little, but not really. My flight was supposed to depart at 6am, but I didn’t actually get to take off until 5pm.
ZACKY: Damn.
CASSY: I’ll pack up for you. I’m sure you want to get back to the hotel?
ZACKY: Nah, it’s okay. I think you have to be shown everything first anyway.
CASSY: At least let me help you.
ZACKY: Yeah, okay. Come on up.
I dump my holdall next to my suitcase and head for the steps attached to the stage.
(The clean-up crew is trying to get the venue ready for the next day, while Avenged Sevenfold’s crew has already finished.)
VOICE OFF STAGE: Come on Zack! We haven’t got all night!
A man says jokingly. I know full well it’s Matt Berry, but I keep my mouth shut tight. I don’t want to see like some crazed fangirl already!
ZACKY: Sorry. I had a tune in my head, just needed to hear it out loud. I won’t be long now. I’ve got myself a helper!
(He nods in Cassy’s direction as she reaches the top step onto the stage. )
MATT B: (Walking onto the stage.) Hi. I’m Matt.
CASSY: Cassy.
MATT B: Oh, you’re Zacky’s new tech. Bad flight, huh?
CASSY: (She smiles sweetly.) Not the best I’ve had.
MATT B: Well, get him all packed up, because I need sleep!
ZACKY: Dude! You’re not going to bed. I heard The Rev and Gates talking; you’re getting wasted with them tonight.
MATT B: (He laughs as he makes his way backstage towards the exit.) I don’t think so.
(Zacky laughs. )
Oh my God! I’m actually standing next to Zacky fucking Vengeance! Shit!
He’s sitting on his amp, his guitar on his knee, with a massive grin on his face from Matt’s last words. He’s sitting less than two feet away from me, and like a complete and utter idiot I just stand there playing with the ends of my jacket sleeves because I don’t know what to do with my hands.
ZACKY: Sorry. I’ve got to stop playing, or we’ll never get outta here!
I watch him stand and place his guitar in its case, a sparkle of sweat still on his skin and down the back of his shirt. He takes his hat off to scratch his head, and I nearly giggle. A few days before, my best friend in the world, Nic and I were laughing at his new hair, or do I mean lack of?
ZACKY: I’m growing it back. It was a drunken bet and I lost. Anyway, Gates would have never have shaved his head!
CASSY: Sorry.
ZACKY: It’s okay, really. I’ve been getting that kinda reaction a lot! Do you know how to pack cables? (She nods.) Okay, cool. I’ve done most of it, just unplug them from my amp and start rolling them. I’ve just gotta disconnect the main power from the PA.
I watch him run backstage, as I bend down to unplug the cables and I start to wrap up the main, and longest cable around my hand and my elbow. A few seconds later Zacky comes back with the other end of the cable in his hand and drops it at my feet, so I don’t have to keep pulling it.
It was nearly silent, the cleaning crew of the venue hardly said a word to each other, and the A7X crew was finished and waiting for us. I supposed they believed in ‘too many cooks’, so they just left Zacky and I to it.
ZACKY: So… how long have you been playing?
CASSY: Oh, not too long. But it’s my passion.
ZACKY: Oh, cool. I wanted someone who loved to play. I don’t really care about experience, just someone who always wants it, and is always willing. That makes for a better player in my book. I’ve been playing since I was about thirteen.
I know. You went to a music store, with your parents, and played a right hand guitar upside down.
ZACKY: Funny story, actually. How I got into it. It was nearly my birthday, and I went to the music store with my parents. And I started to play a right-handed guitar, upside down! Everyone in the store laughed at me. I didn’t realize there were right handed and left handed ones.
I forced a laugh, though I was impressed with how natural it sounded. I’d heard that story more than a million times.
His cable was shorter and thinner than mine, so by the time I was finished rolling my cable, he’d done two more.
ZACKY: Do you know how to knot them up?
CASSY: Erm, yeah.
(She starts to knot the cable so it doesn’t become loose and get tangled with the others, when he stops her. )
ZACKY: No. We do it this way.
(He takes her hands and shows her how they tie the cables. )
CASSY: Oh, okay.
Oh Jesus! Zacky fucking Vengeance just touched my hands!
ZACKY: This way, you won’t damage the ends or the wire inside, and it keeps us from getting a loose connection.
CASSY: Okay, sorry.
ZACKY: Don’t be! I went through like a million and sixty of these until Gates got annoyed and wanted to see why mine always got fucked up, and showed me how to properly knot them. He got mad because he wanted beer and Val said I needed a new cable. Believe it or not, back then we couldn’t afford both.
I laugh again, more genuinely this time. I love to hear stories about the more intermittent details of Avenged, the ones fans never hear about.
ZACKY: Right, if you wanna roll up that last cable, I’ll take the amp to the tech bus and we’re outta here!
CASSY: Okay.
I know people think he’s the fat one, but woah! Those muscles when he picked up that amp! They could hold me any day!
I sit on the floor, as my legs are killing me, and I start to roll the cable. I mentally give myself a telling off. I work for Avenged Sevenfold now! I’m not a fan, so to speak, anymore. I’m an employee! I know full well Zacky has a long term girlfriend, and nothing will never happen, so I have to get over this!
ZACKY: Bad news! They decided they had to leave right away! But Matt B’s called us a cab, so it’s not too bad.
I just smiled. What else was I supposed to say? He closed his guitar case and sat next to me.
Oh fuck! Zacky V’s sitting – stop it Cassy!
ZACKY: You don’t say a lot, do you?
CASSY: Sorry. (She looks down, knotting the cable like he’d shown her.) I’m kinda shy.
(Her cheeks begin to flush with bright color. )
ZACKY: Oh, don’t be! I’m nice. The rest of the crew are shit, but I’m nice! )He notices her frowning and he quickly laughs.) No, we’re not really. We’re all a great bunch of people, and we don’t bite!
I just smiled my appreciation. For God’s sake Cassy! Just talk! He’s just another person!
ZACKY: (He puts his hand out for the cable.) All done?
CASSY: Yep.
(She hands him the cable, the sleeve of her jacket riding up a little. )
ZACKY: Oh cool. You’re inked!
CASSY: Oh yeah.
(They stand as Cassy pulls her jacket sleeve down even further. )
ZACKY: What is it?
CASSY: Just a lyric, nothing special.
ZACKY: I know what you mean. A lot of mine mean nothing at all. Some do, but most don’t. Sometimes I just get new ink for the fun of it. I know I shouldn’t but it’s all fun! I often think, ‘one day I’m probably going to regret this’, then just go and get a new one that doesn’t mean anything anyway.
I laugh. Actually, my tattoo means the world to me; it helps me to believe in myself. Never to take anything for granted. But also remind myself of the band that saved my life.
ZACKY: (He hands her his guitar case and smiles.) It’s lighter than the cables.
(He bends down to pick up the large cardboard box labelled Zack’s Crap. Cassy’s eyes wander to his ass, but she quickly looks upward, not wanting to be seen checking him out.)
ZACKY: Yeah, we need a lot of lights, huh? Surprised we’re not all blind!
I giggle. I really needed to start talking!
ZACKY: Come on then. I think we both need a bed!
I know it was meant innocently, but I couldn’t help thinking about seeing Zacky’s body over me, naked, pumping into me, feeling his…
Cassy! I internally scream to myself! This needs to stop! Right now!
(They start to leave the venue through the stage door. )
ZACKY: So can I see your ink?
CASSY: Erm…
I pull at my left sleeve. I know he’ll see it soon, but I don’t think I’m ready. We stood outside in the slightly warm air waiting for the cab.
ZACKY: What lyric is it? Surly it’s not from something by, oh I don’t know…Tina Turner!?
(We both laugh. )
I’m laughing with Zacky V! Okay. This is my chance. Make him smile Cassy!
CASSY: Oh yeah. ‘Simply the Best’, it was made for me!
Yes! I did it! He roared with laughter! I squeezed inside, so proud of myself for making Zacky laugh.
ZACKY: Really though. What is it?
CASSY: It’s uhm-
ZACKY: Oh shit! (Looking around their feet.) Your bags! Don’t worry, I’ll get them!
And with that he ran back inside, hopefully forgetting about my 18 month old Deathbat tattoo, with the lyric and song title ‘Seize the Day’ under it. To make things worse, I’d personalized the Deathbat to Zacky’s!
I think my jackets are about to play an even more important job than just keeping this cold blooded girl warm!
ZACKY: (His head is still over his guitar.) Yeah?
CASSY: I’m sorry I’m so late. My flight was cancelled. I had to catch two instead of one.
ZACKY: (He looks up at her.) Huh?
CASSY: I’m Cassy. Your new guitar tech?
ZACKY: Oh yeah! Don’t worry, we didn’t even think you’d get here tonight. Hey, you still have your bags. Did you come straight here?
CASSY: Yes. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.
ZACKY: Really, it’s okay. I’ve had to set up and pack up before. You should have gone to the hotel, everyone’s already there, apart from me and the rest of the tech guys. I bet you’re tired?
CASSY: Uhm, a little, but not really. My flight was supposed to depart at 6am, but I didn’t actually get to take off until 5pm.
ZACKY: Damn.
CASSY: I’ll pack up for you. I’m sure you want to get back to the hotel?
ZACKY: Nah, it’s okay. I think you have to be shown everything first anyway.
CASSY: At least let me help you.
ZACKY: Yeah, okay. Come on up.
I dump my holdall next to my suitcase and head for the steps attached to the stage.
(The clean-up crew is trying to get the venue ready for the next day, while Avenged Sevenfold’s crew has already finished.)
VOICE OFF STAGE: Come on Zack! We haven’t got all night!
A man says jokingly. I know full well it’s Matt Berry, but I keep my mouth shut tight. I don’t want to see like some crazed fangirl already!
ZACKY: Sorry. I had a tune in my head, just needed to hear it out loud. I won’t be long now. I’ve got myself a helper!
(He nods in Cassy’s direction as she reaches the top step onto the stage. )
MATT B: (Walking onto the stage.) Hi. I’m Matt.
CASSY: Cassy.
MATT B: Oh, you’re Zacky’s new tech. Bad flight, huh?
CASSY: (She smiles sweetly.) Not the best I’ve had.
MATT B: Well, get him all packed up, because I need sleep!
ZACKY: Dude! You’re not going to bed. I heard The Rev and Gates talking; you’re getting wasted with them tonight.
MATT B: (He laughs as he makes his way backstage towards the exit.) I don’t think so.
(Zacky laughs. )
Oh my God! I’m actually standing next to Zacky fucking Vengeance! Shit!
He’s sitting on his amp, his guitar on his knee, with a massive grin on his face from Matt’s last words. He’s sitting less than two feet away from me, and like a complete and utter idiot I just stand there playing with the ends of my jacket sleeves because I don’t know what to do with my hands.
ZACKY: Sorry. I’ve got to stop playing, or we’ll never get outta here!
I watch him stand and place his guitar in its case, a sparkle of sweat still on his skin and down the back of his shirt. He takes his hat off to scratch his head, and I nearly giggle. A few days before, my best friend in the world, Nic and I were laughing at his new hair, or do I mean lack of?
ZACKY: I’m growing it back. It was a drunken bet and I lost. Anyway, Gates would have never have shaved his head!
CASSY: Sorry.
ZACKY: It’s okay, really. I’ve been getting that kinda reaction a lot! Do you know how to pack cables? (She nods.) Okay, cool. I’ve done most of it, just unplug them from my amp and start rolling them. I’ve just gotta disconnect the main power from the PA.
I watch him run backstage, as I bend down to unplug the cables and I start to wrap up the main, and longest cable around my hand and my elbow. A few seconds later Zacky comes back with the other end of the cable in his hand and drops it at my feet, so I don’t have to keep pulling it.
It was nearly silent, the cleaning crew of the venue hardly said a word to each other, and the A7X crew was finished and waiting for us. I supposed they believed in ‘too many cooks’, so they just left Zacky and I to it.
ZACKY: So… how long have you been playing?
CASSY: Oh, not too long. But it’s my passion.
ZACKY: Oh, cool. I wanted someone who loved to play. I don’t really care about experience, just someone who always wants it, and is always willing. That makes for a better player in my book. I’ve been playing since I was about thirteen.
I know. You went to a music store, with your parents, and played a right hand guitar upside down.
ZACKY: Funny story, actually. How I got into it. It was nearly my birthday, and I went to the music store with my parents. And I started to play a right-handed guitar, upside down! Everyone in the store laughed at me. I didn’t realize there were right handed and left handed ones.
I forced a laugh, though I was impressed with how natural it sounded. I’d heard that story more than a million times.
His cable was shorter and thinner than mine, so by the time I was finished rolling my cable, he’d done two more.
ZACKY: Do you know how to knot them up?
CASSY: Erm, yeah.
(She starts to knot the cable so it doesn’t become loose and get tangled with the others, when he stops her. )
ZACKY: No. We do it this way.
(He takes her hands and shows her how they tie the cables. )
CASSY: Oh, okay.
Oh Jesus! Zacky fucking Vengeance just touched my hands!
ZACKY: This way, you won’t damage the ends or the wire inside, and it keeps us from getting a loose connection.
CASSY: Okay, sorry.
ZACKY: Don’t be! I went through like a million and sixty of these until Gates got annoyed and wanted to see why mine always got fucked up, and showed me how to properly knot them. He got mad because he wanted beer and Val said I needed a new cable. Believe it or not, back then we couldn’t afford both.
I laugh again, more genuinely this time. I love to hear stories about the more intermittent details of Avenged, the ones fans never hear about.
ZACKY: Right, if you wanna roll up that last cable, I’ll take the amp to the tech bus and we’re outta here!
CASSY: Okay.
I know people think he’s the fat one, but woah! Those muscles when he picked up that amp! They could hold me any day!
I sit on the floor, as my legs are killing me, and I start to roll the cable. I mentally give myself a telling off. I work for Avenged Sevenfold now! I’m not a fan, so to speak, anymore. I’m an employee! I know full well Zacky has a long term girlfriend, and nothing will never happen, so I have to get over this!
ZACKY: Bad news! They decided they had to leave right away! But Matt B’s called us a cab, so it’s not too bad.
I just smiled. What else was I supposed to say? He closed his guitar case and sat next to me.
Oh fuck! Zacky V’s sitting – stop it Cassy!
ZACKY: You don’t say a lot, do you?
CASSY: Sorry. (She looks down, knotting the cable like he’d shown her.) I’m kinda shy.
(Her cheeks begin to flush with bright color. )
ZACKY: Oh, don’t be! I’m nice. The rest of the crew are shit, but I’m nice! )He notices her frowning and he quickly laughs.) No, we’re not really. We’re all a great bunch of people, and we don’t bite!
I just smiled my appreciation. For God’s sake Cassy! Just talk! He’s just another person!
ZACKY: (He puts his hand out for the cable.) All done?
CASSY: Yep.
(She hands him the cable, the sleeve of her jacket riding up a little. )
ZACKY: Oh cool. You’re inked!
CASSY: Oh yeah.
(They stand as Cassy pulls her jacket sleeve down even further. )
ZACKY: What is it?
CASSY: Just a lyric, nothing special.
ZACKY: I know what you mean. A lot of mine mean nothing at all. Some do, but most don’t. Sometimes I just get new ink for the fun of it. I know I shouldn’t but it’s all fun! I often think, ‘one day I’m probably going to regret this’, then just go and get a new one that doesn’t mean anything anyway.
I laugh. Actually, my tattoo means the world to me; it helps me to believe in myself. Never to take anything for granted. But also remind myself of the band that saved my life.
ZACKY: (He hands her his guitar case and smiles.) It’s lighter than the cables.
(He bends down to pick up the large cardboard box labelled Zack’s Crap. Cassy’s eyes wander to his ass, but she quickly looks upward, not wanting to be seen checking him out.)
ZACKY: Yeah, we need a lot of lights, huh? Surprised we’re not all blind!
I giggle. I really needed to start talking!
ZACKY: Come on then. I think we both need a bed!
I know it was meant innocently, but I couldn’t help thinking about seeing Zacky’s body over me, naked, pumping into me, feeling his…
Cassy! I internally scream to myself! This needs to stop! Right now!
(They start to leave the venue through the stage door. )
ZACKY: So can I see your ink?
CASSY: Erm…
I pull at my left sleeve. I know he’ll see it soon, but I don’t think I’m ready. We stood outside in the slightly warm air waiting for the cab.
ZACKY: What lyric is it? Surly it’s not from something by, oh I don’t know…Tina Turner!?
(We both laugh. )
I’m laughing with Zacky V! Okay. This is my chance. Make him smile Cassy!
CASSY: Oh yeah. ‘Simply the Best’, it was made for me!
Yes! I did it! He roared with laughter! I squeezed inside, so proud of myself for making Zacky laugh.
ZACKY: Really though. What is it?
CASSY: It’s uhm-
ZACKY: Oh shit! (Looking around their feet.) Your bags! Don’t worry, I’ll get them!
And with that he ran back inside, hopefully forgetting about my 18 month old Deathbat tattoo, with the lyric and song title ‘Seize the Day’ under it. To make things worse, I’d personalized the Deathbat to Zacky’s!
I think my jackets are about to play an even more important job than just keeping this cold blooded girl warm!
Please update i love this story
9/8/13