Voice of an Angel

Chapter 12- Grace Rocks Hard

"But I know what I like

I know I like dancing with you

And I know what you like

I know you like dancing with me

Yeah, yeah

Kiss me once

Kiss me twice

Come on, pretty baby, kiss me deadly"

Kiss Me Deadly, Lita Ford

Violetta POV

I was nervous, and f*****g Ash was enjoying it. I was beginning to think he was a sadist. Jeez! I could only hope that my mom and dad would catch on and follow my lead. I sucked in a breath as we entered the house. My parents just stared at me as Eli introduced me like a stranger. Mom had a funny little smile, and pretended just like I hoped she would. Dad seemed to be having a never-ending coughing fit. Ash smacked him hard on the back and asked if he was okay. Dad just nodded, and we moved to the studio. Okay, now I just had to worry about going home. Or, the illusion of it, anyway.

The studio took up a huge chunk of our massive backyard. There was still plenty of room for the pool, hot tub, massive deck with barbecue heaven, and a permanent fire pit with strangely comfortable stone benches around it. Thank God my dad had paved the path or my heels would have made me trip for sure. Our house was Tudor-style with a primarily brick body and wood-framed gables. It had six bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. The studio was built in the same style.

It had three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchenette, a lounge area, and a recording studioehearsal area. Only one of the bathrooms was an en-suite for the largest bedroom on the first floor. The other two bedrooms and one bathroom were on the second floor. I carried my purse and guitar case, setting them next to the dark brown leather sectional in the lounge. We all sat around the dark wood coffee table, setting our food out. Eli ran and got us beers from the fridge. Heineken, always.

I watched them eat and joke with each other. It felt weird to be included after all this time, but Jude especially seemed determined to make sure he pulled me into the conversation. I may be a fit girl, but I was really enjoying my food. I always get the Cluck Sandwich and Classic Tiny Tacos. If I had trouble with my weight at all, it would not be ideal, but I was one of the lucky ones with a great metabolism. I generally ate pretty healthy though, just because being thin doesn't mean you can't have a heart attack from high cholesterol. But here and there wasn't that bad.

Ash was grinning at Jude's antics and Eli seemed bemused as he looked between us, head tilted.

"Didn't think you were much of a beer drinker." Eli commented to me out of nowhere. I grinned.

"You'd be surprised by a lot of things, I'd bet." I replied. Jude huffed.

"Of course we don't know everything about her yet." He said, eyeing Eli as if he could not figure out what the dude was on about. I knew, because my brother was learning a s**t ton about his own sister that he never knew. At the age of twenty-one his own twin was an enigma. Had to burn him up inside. We had all finished up and were nursing our second brews. I stood suddenly.

"Speaking of which, show me this studio and let's play something!" I said excitedly. Eli raised a brow and Ash just kept right on grinning. Jude also stood.

"Yeah, absolutely. This way." He led me down the hallway. Of course I knew where everything was. Mom and Dad had planned it to be for both me and Eli. Things just got a little weird between us, so I stopped using it. I picked up an electric guitar that rested on a stand, plugged in. I strummed to check if it was in tune before sliding it over my shoulder. Ash and Eli entered, Eli picking up his bass and Ash sitting at his drum kit. Jude nabbed a second electric guitar that he had set up. Why they had two ready, I wasn't sure.

"What you wanna play, kiddo?" Ash asked. Ugh. We were the same damn age. I rolled my eyes, forgetting for a moment Jude didn't know who I was.

"Dude, you are only like a month older than me. Who the f**k you calling kiddo?" I exclaimed, then froze. Ash's eyes on mine darted to Jude, who looked intrigued. Eli was tense.

"Oh cool, your birthday is near Eli's then." He said. The three of us blew out a breath in relief. Then he paused. "But how'd you know Ash's birthday?" He asked curiously.

"Ah, well, it came up during our chat at the bar. You know, one of those things you ask a girl when you meet them." Ash laughed, sounding slightly nervous for the first time. Jude nodded, and seemed to accept the answer at face value. "Anyway, what were you thinking... Grace." Oh, My. God. This little s**t was going to give me away. I mean, he wasn't technically little at 6'1". But you get the idea. He was too busy amusing himself and was totally going to slip up.

"Let me think." I said, tapping my finger on my chin. "Got it. Let's see if you guys can keep up, hmm?"

I began to tap out the opening chords for Barracuda by Heart. The boys were quick to join in. Nice.

"So this ain't the end, I saw you again today

I had to turn my heart away

Smile like the sun, kisses for everyone

And tales, it never fails

You lying so low in the weeds

I bet you gonna ambush me

You'd have me down, down, down, down on my knees

Now wouldn't you, Barracuda? Oh

[Instrumental Bridge]

Back over time, we were all trying for free

You met the porpoise and me, uh-huh

No right, no wrong, selling a song, a name

Whisper game

And if the real thing don't do the trick

You better make up something quick

You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn to the wick

Ooh, Barracuda, oh, yeah

"Sell me, sell you," the porpoise said

Dive down deep now to save my head

You, I think that you got the blues, too

All that night and all the next

Swam without looking back

Made for the western pools, silly, silly fools

[Guitar Solo- played by Grace]

The real thing don't do the trick, no?

You better make up something quick

You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick

Oh, Barra-Barracuda, yeah"

I grinned as the guys just stared at me. How d'you like me now, bitches? Even Ash's mouth hung open. Guess I still had a few surprises up my sleeve. Ash turned to Eli. I set the electric guitar aside.

"Please tell me you recorded that shit." He said, and Eli pointed up to where the studio camera was solid green, meaning it was on record mode. They video'd everything on the off chance that they got famous and needed raw footage. "Nice." He turned to me. "You've got our permission to post it on your vlog, okay? Helps us with publicity, anyway." I just nodded.

"Grace, that was an awesome performance, seriously. How is it that you're not already in a group, or in the music program? I'd know if you were." Jude said. "I really feel like your talent should not go wasted on a different career."

"Well, you can't always sing, right? At some point, your vocal cords are just not quite the same, even with proper vocalization and training. I need a back-up plan." I laughed, slightly buzzed between the two beers and my Bay Breeze.

"Yeah, I am in agreement with Jude, actually. You are way too good for just karaoke and a vlog." Eli said. I could feel that he was upset that he had so little idea about his own sister. Not to mention, they could have used me in the band before now. They had struggled to fill out the sound they wanted. There was just something missing, and it was obvious that I fit with them.

"Anything you guys wanna test me on?" I asked.

"Well, we know you can sing Heart, Eurythmics, Stevie Nicks, Jessica Lee, and Roxette. Any male singers you wanna try and match?" I opened the case for my acoustic. I turned to Jude.

"I might have some ideas, but first, let's dispose of these beer bottles, hmm?" I picked them up and put them in the recycle. When I returned, I looked at Jude.

"You sure you wanna keep that mask on, even with us? Isn't it itchy and uncomfortable?" He asked. When I said nothing, he lifted his hands. "Sorry, I was just thinking if it were me I couldn't do it."

"I'm fine. Picked out a duet though. You ready?" I asked, picking up my acoustic and slid the strap over my shoulder, mask still firmly in place.