Rockstar Redux

Episode 3:

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BE—

WHACK, THUD

"Uggg," I moaned. I heard my brother open my door.

"Dani are you ok?"

"Fine," I moaned from my spot on the floor. He laughed.

"Why is your alarm set anyway? It's Saturday," he reminded me.

"I've gotta go pick up Ally and then we're going to go see Jace," I mumbled. He nodded and closed my door again. I untangled my legs from the sheets that had been dragged down to the floor with me when I fell and pulled myself up. I grabbed my stereo remote and turned on a radio station as I got ready. By the time I was ready to leave. I had about 10 minutes to be at Ally's house. I wandered down the stairs and out to my truck. I pulled up to Ally's house about 7 minutes later (yes exactly, we timed it once). I honked my horn twice and waited for her to come out.

My best friend came out wearing a pair of black baggy pants and a black Pantera t-shirt. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head secured with a clip. She opened the door and hopped in.

"Hey buddy. What's goin on?" she asked as I started driving away from her house.

"Not too much."

"So where are we going for lunch?" I grinned.

"Well we're going to go meet some people and then hang out with them this afternoon." She looked at me out the corner of her eye.

"What people?" I just smiled and shook my head.

"I actually am not entirely sure. All I can tell you is that you'll be pleasantly surprised with one of them." She just stared at me as I continued smiling. Following the directions Jason had given me yesterday we pulled up outside of a little rundown-looking warehouse just on the outskirts of the city.

"And what exactly are we doing here?" Ally asked. We exchanged confused glances.

"I really hope this is the right place," I muttered. There was a small door to the right. We stepped up and I knocked three times. A big man with tattoos up and down his arms opened the door. Ally and I both took a step backward. He looked at both of us.

"Uh yeah, hi. I'm Danielle Fombre and I was supposed to meet—"

"Right this way," the big man said, stepping back and opening the door wider. We stepped inside, noticing plush couches lining the walls.

"Go straight through those doors. They're just about finished I think," the man directed us. We made our way through the double doors he motioned to. As soon as we were through we both let our jaws drop at the spectacle. There was a sound board in front of a soundproof glass window. There was a drum set, two guitars and a bass on a cradle in the room.

"The B-flat chord doesn't sound right here in the third refrain. I think it should be an A." Ally and I looked to the other side of the room to see three guys and an older-looking man gathered around a table.

"I still don't think you're right. The B-flat fits. Go listen to it again." There was Jason's voice arguing back.

"Fine I will," one of the guys said, standing up. He turned and was about to go to the sound board when he spotted us.

"Who are you?" The others turned around when they heard this. Jason grinned. Dani, Ally, I'm glad you guys could come."

"No problem," I assured him. I glanced at Ally and gave her a nudge when she wouldn't stop staring.

"Jason," she said in surprise. "Wha- what are you doing here? When did you get back?"

"I've been back for a couple days, trying to get everything in order." Jason shifted nervously. "I'm actually back for good." Ally leapt at Jason. His arms went about her waist and hers went around his neck. He swung her around laughing a little bit.

"I can't believe you're back," she said quietly but loud enough that I could hear her. They took a step away from each other and didn't move for several minutes. I was grinning ear-to-ear I'm sure, when one of the guys cleared his throat. Jason and Ally let go of each other and stepped away. Jason rubbed the back of his neck and gave me a lop-sided grin.

"I'm glad you guys could make it," he said, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"I told you we would." I gave him a look that clearly said 'nice try' before turning to the rest of the room. My eyes met stunning blue ones and I smiled.

"Hey Tre," I said. His eyes widened slightly as he glanced at Jason out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey," his deep voice rumbled. I felt a nudge in my ribs and my head turned to look at Ally who was openly staring.

"And how do you know that delicious piece of manliness?" she asked me low enough that I was the only one who heard. I giggled.

"'Delicious piece of manliness?'" I asked through my giggles. She just grinned at me.

"Jace brought him to the race last night," I told her. Jason cleared his throat and we both turned to look at him. He was frowning slightly, no doubt having caught Ally's blatant staring.

"Well let me introduce you to everyone," he started. He pointed at Tre. "Tre this is Ally and you've already met Dani. This is Conner," he said as he pointed towards the couch where one of the guys had sprawled himself. Light brown hair fell into his face as he looked up and his dark brown eyes shown brightly

"Yo," he said, lifting a hand towards us. He was wearing a baggy pair of jeans and had a plain white shirt on over his well-muscled chest. Our attention was diverted when the third guy came up and grabbed both of our hands and kissed them lightly. His light brown hair was almost completely hidden by the flat-brimmed hat he wore but his clear green eyes were filled with mischief.

"Hello ladies. How rude to be introduced last," he said with a jokingly hurt look at Jason. His voice had a slight accent to it. "My name is Rafael but you may call me Leaf."

"Leaf?" Ally asked somewhat slowly.

"My sister invented the nickname because she couldn't pronounce my full name and it just sort of stuck. The last letters of my name spell leaf backwards so that's what I am called."

"Alright that's enough flirting for one day. I think Jason's going to have a hernia if you don't let got of them soon," the last man spoke. Leaf dropped our hands with a sheepish look in his direction.

"This is Alexander," Jason said, taking over introductions again. "He is our recording director." He held out his hand and shook mine and Ally's in turn.

"Nice to meet you," he said formally. He turned back to the guys. "Alright I think it's time for a break. Go have lunch but be back here in an hour so we can finish today before 4." The guys all filed out the door that Jason had propped open. He waited for us then went through.

"Which car should we take?" Conner asked. Tre just turned and walked to his Escalade and Conner rolled his eyes. "Way to take charge man." Tre didn't even acknowledge he spoke. Conner took the front seat and Leaf took one of the middle ones. I jumped in before Jason or Ally could and claimed the other middle seat so with blushing faces they both climbed in the back. I was extremely taken aback when I heard the band that was blasting through the speakers. I leaned forward as Tre pulled away from the studio.

"I'm pretty sure you're the first person I've met that likes this band!" I exclaimed. Conner groaned.

"Not you too. This is like all he listens to," he complained.

"Hey," I whined. "Ellegarden kicks ass!" I saw Tre's mouth twitch slightly. I sat back in my seat and started singing along.

Wake up, Stand up
I know but for what?
One thing I crave
weekends without computer games
Pull the trigger
and kill the zombies
Sorry, I'm done!

So many things i have let go, No doubt i want to do something else!
i need to find something before im bored of everything!
So many things i let undone, no doubt i want to be someone else!
I need to fimd something before i'm bored of everything!

before i'm bored of everything

Voicemail is full
i know she calls me at home
How much is my car
and how much is my gift
Pull the trigger
and kill the zombies
Sorry, I'm done!

So many things i have let go, No doubt i want to do something else!
i need to find something before im bored of everything!
So many things i let undone, no doubt i want to be someone else!
I need to fimd something before i'm bored of everything!

I still can't believe when you say its not true
i still can't believe when you say its not too late..
I still can't believe when you say its not real
i still can't believe when you say its not too late..

So many things i have let go, No doubt i want to do something else!
i need to find something before im bored of everything!
So many things i let undone, no doubt i want to be someone else!
I need to fimd something before i'm bored of everything!

Bored of Everything!

"Who is Ellegarden?" Jason asked when the song was over. I whipped around in my seat and gaped at him.

"Oh you've done it now," Ally murmured.

"Ellegarden is pretty much amazing I can't believe you've never heard of them." He just sat there looking confused.

"It sounds like Blink 182," he said, shrugging. I turned back around to face the front. I met Tre's eyes in the rear-view mirror and he smirked, probably having heard and explained it all before.

"Well they're like the Japanese version of Blink," I explained.

"There from Japan?" Jason asked, surprised. "They sing well in English."

"I know right!" Tre pulled up to Chili's (having made the decision where we were eating). We all piled out of the car and walked into the restaurant.

A/N

First order of business… I don't own Ellegarden or their lyrics. Second I know nothing really happened in this chapter but (almost) all the characters have been introduced now so things should speed up.

Thanks:

Chels, midnightbeauty, not. .brat, icequeen401, BookWorm22202, A Different Kind of Yellow, clair-a-net, LiL PiNk 9o