#mfvera

V: ASSHOLES!!!!

I was screaming. I didn't care. It was late and I just went to the bathroom and those assholes left me! Fuck tonight and their stupid boy shit! Fuck my stupid girl bladder! Fuck Ty and his dumb boy time obsession! Fuck Syd! Fucking cockblock!

Ty was soooo convinced I wouldn't bail on him for Roman, the fucking prick thought he could ditch me. Alone. In the dark. High on whatever the fuck that was.

I was grumbling my way back to the tour buses, still seething. I'm so done with Ty. Stringing me along, ignoring me, and then getting in the way any time another man looked at me. Fuck him!

I didn't go back to my bus. Ty was wrong and I would prove it.

Roman was shirtless when he answered the door. Good. His band mates fell silent as soon as I walked in. Maybe they'd leave, I honestly didn't care. I stumbled a bit and then we were kissing.

I: Oh God.... Vera, are you alright?

I didn't care who was talking. Roman was warm and interested and I just kissed him harder.

M: Roman, stop. She's clearly not sober.

And then the room spun, someone was grabbing me by the arm and I was struggling to keep up.

V: Stop!

R: What the fuck?

Roman was very clearly pissed off but I wasn't really seeing anything anymore.

M: Come on.

I couldn't place the voice of the man pulling me along. He was keeping me upright but he was moving so fast. I whined for him to stop. He didn't and then I heard knocking. It all seemed so far away.

M: Sit down.

S: Vera, are you okay?

Sophie... Ugh.. No...

V: I don't want to make out with youuuu! Find another girl!

I fell back in the seat giggling a bit.

S: Should I take her to an emergency room?

M: Hmm, I don't think she's at the point of overdose. Do you want to though?

S: I... I don't know...

M: I think she just needs to sleep it off... And maybe never take whatever that was ever again.

S: I definitely agree with the second part.

V: You two would make a cute couple! Too bad Marcus has the wrong parts!

M: Vera, go to sleep!

V: So grumpy!

M: She just needs to sleep it off. Trust me. I've dealt with addicts before.

S: ...Okay... Thank you Marcus...

C: Some minor aesthetic improvements. Wardrobe changes. We want all three of you to appeal to as many men as possible... 

He got closer and the little alarm bells in my head kept ringing.

C: We’ve got the bombshell singer. I’m thinking blonde... The cutesy drummer. We’ll get you in some dresses and lose the boots.

The hell you will!

C: Milla, let’s make you more edgy. Shave half your head.

M: Are you sure that’s all? I could strip on stage!

Chris’s eyes lit up despite the thick layer of sarcasm.

Syd: Don’t give him any ideas...

T: Come on! This is our one chance! Can’t you guys see how great this will be?!

V: This will be good for us!

M: I didn’t come here to quit. Count me in.

Well shit... I looked to Syd. His eyes said we could say no if I really wanted to. But this was the dream and we could grind it out for twenty years and never even make enough to cover our rent. Thousands of bands never get discovered.

Milla was right, this was our chance. I wasn’t going to be the reason we didn’t take it. I nodded my head at Syd. As long as we had each other’s backs, we could rise above this.

Syd: We’re in...

Next>>

I was fiddling around a lot in the waiting room. I envied Milla’s ability to keep a cool head.

M: There’s going to be a catch.

S: What do you mean?

M: No way is my mom going to make this easy. She doesn’t want this so she’s going to do something to make me give up.

V: What exactly are you thinking?

M: I don’t know. But whatever happens, we are getting signed today. No backing down.

S: Almost to our floor...

T: Are you ready for this?

I’d had a bad feeling the second the doors opened. Chris Rouse gave me the creeps. I just wasn’t exactly sure why yet.

C: Everything is all squared away except one thing: I want to cover the look. Since there are three girls, we’ll want to lean into that.

Soph: Is that necessary?

Syd: Do you think we aren’t good enough to compete with the male fronted bands?

Syd’s voice helped calm my nerves. I could see Milla tense up too.

C: Why compete when you have this much sex appeal?

T: I’m good with it! 

V: It’s the best way to build our name.

I looked to Milla. No backing down...

Soph: What exactly are we agreeing to here?

Next>>

V: Are you always this charming?

T: I’m just getting warmed up.

M: You have got to be kidding me?

I left them alone for five minutes! This fucker couldn’t keep it in his pants to save his life. Vera, are you this dumb?!

V: Oh! Hi Milla! Are you all done with your mom?

T: You could’ve taken more time...

M: Do you both actually want to be in a band? Or is this just an excuse to get laid?

T: Don’t take it so seriously honey! We’re not even signed.

Honey?! Is he fucking serious?! I had just agreed to keep him in the band for three fucking years and he’s going to call me honey?

M: We could get signed! Maybe if we cut the dead weight!

T: You mean me? We don’t need two guitarists! Sorry to break it to you princess!

V: Guys! Please, let’s not argue!

M: We could find a better bassist than you.

I was seething but I managed to lower my voice. This was the LAST thing I wanted my mom to hear.

T: I’d like to see you try. But it’s Dave’s band. I’m not going anywhere.

V: Let’s all take a deep breath! I kissed Ty. He didn’t do anything, okay?

M (mumbling): Bullshit...

Syd: Everything okay?

M: It’s fine. Let’s just play something.

Fuck! I should’ve considered Ty before I agreed... So much for the cakewalk.

Familiar Taste of Poison - Halestorm