Drum's heartbeat

Roll out

Storm looks thoughtful.

“So who taught you how to play?” he asks me as he re-joins us in the bus out of nowhere as if he’s been thinking of that question for a while.

“My dad. He was the drummer for Shotgun back in the 80s.”

Storm gasps loudly looking surprised.

“Holy cow, you are Kevin Kilmer’s daughter? I didn’t even know he had a daughter!” He says loudly catching the attention of the other bandmates and they all look at me in shock.

“Uh, yeah, Kevin is my dad. I used to watch him play the drums for hours as a kid, wanting so badly to learn, and so he taught me.”

Storm walks up to me and gives me a pair of drumsticks. I shake my head at him.

“Come on, Zoe. You can’t just tell us that you are the daughter of a drumming legend and not play something for us. I don’t like to be teased.” He says with a sexy grin that I’m sure many people don’t say no to.

I sigh as I look at the sticks then back up at him before reluctantly grabbing them. His grin grows while I hide a smile of my own.

“With no drum?” I ask him and he shrugs.

“Can’t really fit a drum set in here, you’ll just have to get creative. Drum on whatever you want.”

I look at all of my soundings think of things that I can drum on and that would sound decent. I grab a nearby textbook about music theory, that I plan to use as a tom drum, a mug that will make a cowbell kind of sound, I pull out my container of pills that sound like a snare drum, and for the base, I’ll simply beat on the mattress.

“This isn’t going to sound great without a drum, but you asked for it,” I say as I daringly grab the earbuds that Storm has wrapped around his shoulders and as I get near him he looks down at my lips then back into my eyes with amusement. He said I could use anything right?

I put the earbuds in and connect them to my phone. I pull up an old Paramore song and begin to beat against my makeshift drum set losing myself in the music I almost forget that the band is watching me like an enema under a microscope with slacked jaws.

“s**t! She’s good!” Jax, the pianist says walking closer to me.

I look up at Storm’s eyes as he watches me in amazement. As the song starts to get more hype, my curls bounce around my face as I headbang to my favorite part and beat away.

Then the song ends and I look around nervously. Did I really just play on some damn pills in front of my favorite band?

“You’re hired.” Storm says is a way that tells me not to argue with him.

“No way. I’m not doing this band thing, and your lusty eyes won’t convince me.” I tell him and my eyes go wide as I realize what I just said. I bite my lip as I think of a way to re-word that. He smirks and he takes in my flushed face.

“My Lusty eyes huh? We’ll see about that.” Storm says with a wink that instantly makes my panties damp.

“Ignore him. We won’t make you do anything you don’t want to, but I must admit, you’re f*****g talented.” Steel says beside me and I have to pinch myself because I must be dreaming.

“Thanks, Steel,” I say almost shyly and he nods with a warm smile.

A few minutes later, Grayson, the guitarist climbs into the bus and waves at me. His long brown hair is pulled up into a glorious man bun with a glorious beard to match.

“You must be Zoe. Storm just sent me a message to come to meet you. I’m...”

“Grayson, of course, I know who you are,” I say as I shake his hand and he smiles politely.

“Right. Well, we’re about to ride to the airport soon. Did you pick out a bunk yet?” He asks and I shake my head.

“I can share mine.” Storm says wasting no time and Grayson rolls his eyes at him.

“You can have any of these on the right side.” He says pointing to them and I nod as I hop off of Storms’ bunk and storm frowns at me.

“But I liked her on my bunk. She was keeping it warm for me.” Storm says with a pout that melts my heart even if it’s just a joking pout.

“Keep dreaming Storm, she’s off-limits, right Steel?” Grayson says and Steel nods.

“That’s right.” He says to Storm who looks like he has a storm of his own going on in his head.

No, no, don’t forbid him from me. That will only make me want him more.

“Damn it, Grayson, stop snitching.” Storm says throwing a pillow at Grayson, but Grayson seems to sense it and catches it before it hit his head, and he chuckles evilly.

“You seem to be in a great mood for someone who just found out his brother quit the band.” Storm says curiously and Grayson nods.

“Damn right I am. I love my brother and all despite his temper, but I can’t stand to work with his ass.” He admits to only my surprise. I hadn’t released Grayson and Keal were not getting along.

“Finally, someone who agrees with me.” Storm says as the bus intercom comes on.

“Is everyone on the bus?” The driver asks and steel walks over to the sliding door and tells him Yes.

“Good. Were on our way to the airport. We should arrive in one hour.”

“Finally,” Steel says as he slumps down onto his bunk and I lay comfortably in mine, actually feeling excited. It’s so cool to be working for my favorite band. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this dream any minute.

But as I think that, I feel my eyes start to drift close. It wasn’t until everyone got comfortable and quietly playing on their phones that I began to fall into rem sleep.

Good ol’ rem.