Your Bloody Fool

Oh, mum, why did you put this burden on my shoulders?

I dreaded each and every morning when I had to roll into the label to realize it’s a new day and absolutely nothing was looking up. Each evening I left Liberty Records I had this naive hope that maybe somehow, overnight, everything would change and I would be able to finally lead the American dream of a life with that white picket fence, daily coffee I wouldn’t have to shotgun in a hurry and overall a stress free life. Yea- sadly, that didn’t happen.

We were losing money. Loads of it. At this point only a miracle would save me from going bankrupt. Lately all we did were make the ultimest of bad choices choosing the bands we would take under our protective wings. I don’t know even... I guess I never was made for this... this bullshit handling. I was a producer, not the CEO of something.

„Riley motherfucking Clarke,” Saint barged in with the widest smile on her face. Why the hell was she this chipper this early in the morning? „I have some wonderful news for you.”

„If you don’t want to tell me that somehow you got my kids in Emma’s school and I don’t have to pay a single cent for it, then trust me, I won’t be as hyped as your particular self,” I sighed, returning to the pile of contracts I had to get through. Contracts of bands that wanted to ditch this sinking ship.

„What? No, of course not,” Her smile dropped as she frowned for a second, „It’s something way better.”

„Oh yeah? Then, please, amuse me,” I motioned for her to continue, not even bringing my eyes up from the papers.

„The band you so gracefully forgot about yesterday? Well, they’re here. Again. And they insisted to meet you.” She explained, but seeing how I wasn’t necessarily super psyched about going to another meeting with some crappy band, she decided to continue, „They equal zero’s in the bank, Vex.”

Hesitantly I raised my head to look her in the eye, „How many zero’s are we talking?”

„Enough zero’s to buy us both new mansions in Hollywood Hills.”

A frown took over my face. She lost me. Why did a band of such caliber would want to be associated with a dying label? „What’s their name again?”

„Beautiful Wasteland.” She said, resting her hand on the door handle. Beautiful Wasteland? I had heard the name, but sadly didn’t ring a particular bell. Couldn’t be that big if I couldn’t put at least a single face to the name. „Come on, leave those fucking papers and meet some fucking people for once.”

With a heavy sigh I pushed myself up from the comfy leather chair and walked towards her after I had thrown my leather vest around my shoulders. „Isn’t that your job? You meet the bands while I burry myself in endless piles of useless papers.”

„They asked specifically for you,” Saint explained as we both headed along the hall to the conference room.

My eyes narrowed on her, „...why?”

The corner of her mouth raised in a smirk, before she pushed the glass door open, „You’ll see.”

As I walked in, I noticed only two people in the room. My eyes instantly dropped on a girl who looked twenty five at best at first glance, but the longer I looked at her, the older she appeared. She had that vibe around her that screamed she wasn’t up for bullshit of any kind and only people after thirty were that fed up with this industry. It was obvious she’d had some work done, maybe some botox, some fillers... Hell, it wasn’t humanly possible to look so good in whatever age she was. Her shoulder length platinum hair were styled in messy waves, gently falling around her tanned face. She was talking with the guy sitting next to her. An extremely handsome specimen with the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He had that signature cocky smirk I’d seen on so many musicians. Seemed like trouble.

Their heads raised only at the moment when Saint closed the doors behind us.

„Guys, let me introduce you to Riley Vex,” Saint laid the spotlight on me. Man, I fucking hated when she did this.

„Oh hey, I’m Chris,” The guy instantly stood up to offer his hand for a shake, which I gladly took.

„Pleasure,” I said shortly, my eyes wandering to the girl, who’s lips formed in a smirk as she took off her shades.

She stood up, holding her hand out. „I’m Meg, also known as Raven McQueen.”

I froze mid-shake. Raven McQueen. The Raven McQueen?! You mean the Raven McQueen who’s also Brian’s ex? Now I remembered why the name Beautiful Wasteland seemed so familiar. Many years ago, when the one and only Synyster Gates was dating Raven McQueen, every little shady celebrity blog wrote a weekly column about the famous guitar gods, not ever letting them to leave the tabloids, of course not until they broke up two years into their relationship. If i’m not mistaken this happened when I was still in London.

„Brian’s ex...” I mused, staring in her cold silvers.

„That makes two of us,” She chuckled, before taking her seat.

„So...” I took a breath, before continuing, „You guys want to go under Liberty Records?”

„Not quite,” Raven replied, fishing out a pack of smokes, before pointing to the cigarette she picked out, „Do you mind?”

„Not at all,” I said and she quickly lit up her cigarette.

„Here’s the thing, we dropped Paul – our front man – and we’re willing to try something different.” Raven explained tugging us all in the transparent cloud of smoke.

„What exactly do you have in mind?” I rested my forearms on the dark glass table. „’Cause I don’t quite understand how I can help you guys if you don’t have vocals.”

Raven smirked, before shaking the excess ash in the tray in the middle of the table, „We’re looking for our vocals. Chris?”

„Right.” Chris spoke, leaning closer, „We want you as our front... ermm, lady if you will. The band stands as it is, Beautiful Wasteland won’t slip under the radar, ‘cause we still have four of our band mates, including us both—„ he pointed between himself and the blond to his right, „—Frank, who’s the bass magician and Bailey who’s our kickass rhythm. So if you’re up for a little adventure, we’ll be happy to take you in.”

Wait... what? They want me to sing for them? That would break their concept completely. What happens when their fans demand for songs which only a guy lead can lay down? Also... an adventure? I have two kids, I’m kinda tied down to this place. How on earth would this work? It would demand for major scheduling of mine and Brian’s time, that is if he agrees to take care of the kids when I’m on tour with these guys, which, if you ask me, I really doubt.

„Wh-why me?” I couldn’t bare but swallow thickly. Shocked was not a word right now.

„’Cause you have some serious mutant lunges,” Chris winked as he leaned back in his chair, „On your Lethal Injection record which wasn’t that bad by the way, you sound very similar to what we tried to do with Rave’s singing, too bad she can’t sing for shit and we can’t kinda autotune her shitiness out of those live shows.”

„Gee, thanks,” Raven rolled her eyes as she put the cigarette out against the side of the ashtray.

„Look, you’re a guitar goddess... let’s just stick to that, okay? Singing’s not your field of expertise.”

„I’m not leaving this label, guys...” I frowned. They probably were under another label like Warner Bro’s or Capitol Records, I really doubt they would give them up just so I would be in their band.

„And we’re not asking you to,” Raven spoke up, „Look, we want you in our band so you set the rules. Whatever you want, you’ll get and that’s a promise.”

„Okay, I’ll think about it.” I agreed.

„That’s at least something,” Chris said as he and Raven both stood up.

„But on one condition. You both have to come over to dinner tonight.”

„Dinner?” Raven cocked her neatly shaped eyebrow.

„Yeah. Matt and Saint here will also come,” I looked up at Saint, who was looking back at me with a big question-mark in her blues. Yes, Saint, I’m not doing this all alone, „and so will Brian.”

„Brian?” A surprised laughter fell over her lips, „Hell, count me in. I haven’t seen that bastard in way too long. How’s that son of a bitch doing? I heard he’s a father now?”

„Yeah, has a daughter and a son. Rosie and Ralph, although that doesn’t bother him whoring around,” I rolled my eyes.

„That asshole hasn’t really changed, has he...” She chuckled, shaking her head, „Honey, trust me when I say this – you deserve so much better. Look, Chris here is freshly single and even tho I’m not super psyched for band-mates fucking around, but hey, we’ll make an exception.”

„Hey, you’re pimping me out? Already?” Chris’ eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Raven turned to look at Chris, „I really want this nice lady as our vocal ninja, comprende?”

Chris sighed heavily, „The things I do for this band...”

„You mean slack off and sit on your ass all day? Yeah... ‘the things you do’...” She said, before she turned her full attention to me and Saint, „So when and where do we have to be?”

„I’ll send you the address,” Saint smiled at her.

„Okay, then till later.”

„Bye,” Me and saint both called after them in unison as they walked out the door.

My face dropped instantly when the door closed and I turned to look at Saint. I couldn’t hide how annoyed I was even if I tried, but she... hell, it seemed like she was rather proud of herself. „What?” She questioned when she realized how displeased I was with the whole situation.

„Brian’s ex? Bloody hell, Saint...” With a shake of my head I turned to walk out of the conference room.

„Hey, fuck that, Vex!” She exclaimed as she jogged up to me, „It’s a chance to finally be in a band where you’re appreciated. You already fucked up once, don’t turn this away just because you and McQueen have shagged the same guy.”

„Ughh...” I grunted, „You know what this means?”

„That your creative juices will be flowing and you’re gonna make some great music once again?”

„No!” I exclaimed, „It means I really have to cook tonight!”

Notes

For those who are familiar with Danger Line and High Voltage, you probably know who is Raven and Chris. For those who don't - even better I don't have to explain shit too much. So, in the Beautiful Wasteland universe Raven eventually got married to Brian, let's skip that part. I just wanted to put her in this story, 'cause she and her badass nature felt fitting... I actually don't even know what I'm doing at this point, but let me know what you think. :)