Drum's heartbeat

Crazy idea

Back on the road, Pete asks to have everyone’s attention. I was already awake but trying to wake up Zoe was going to be difficult. Everyone groans deeply as they get up from their bunks.

“Zoe,” I say as I whisper her name as she sleeps soundly beside me.

“Humm.” She moans and covers her face with her blanket.

“Wake up for a few seconds and I’ll make it up to you?”

“With food?” She asks mumbled by the blanket and I chuckle.

“Yes.”

She sits up and stretches. And Pete clasps his hands.

“Grate, now that everyone is awake, I can tell you all my plan.” He says looking at each of us.

“What’s this plan of yours, Pete?” I ask him impatiently.

“Bohemian Rhapsody.” He says with a grin.

“No f*****g way,” I tell him with a warning finger aimed his way as everyone else gasps loudly.

“Why not? It’s one of the greatest songs to have ever been written.” Pete says defensively.

“Believe me, Pete, Bohemian rhapsody is my favorite f*****g song, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for the band to cover it,” I tell him and he sighs.

“Why the f**k not then?” He asks annoyed.

“Because that can very well be the song that makes or breaks us, Pete. That song could end our careers if we don’t play it the way people believe is the ‘perfect’ way, and you know my voice can’t get that high.”

He nods, knowing damn well I have a point but the stubborn ass won’t quit it.

“What if we got you a vocal coach to teach you how to get your voice high? You said it yourself Storm, this could end your careers, or it could set the bar way f*****g higher.” He says in an encouraging way and the band seems to agree with him. I look at them like they have no idea what’s in store for them.

“Yeah, Storm, It would a lot of fun!” Zoe says and I swear under my breath. No. Not her too.

“Come on bro, you know you want to.” Grayson says with a smirk.” Poor Grayson doesn’t realize bohemian rhapsody has about 50 guitar chords in it.

“Fine,” I say with clenched teeth and the whole band does a victory dance.

“Sorry about this Freddie mercury. Please don’t hate us.” I say to the writer of the song that has passed away, under my breath as I look down at my shoes. Steel hears me and slings an arm over my shoulder.

“We’re going to make Freddie proud and do Queen’s song justice. You’ll see.” He says Patting my back. I hope he’s right because this is a lot of f*****g pressure. Ha! Under pressure. Nice one Storm.

***

On our way to our next location, we listen to bohemian rhapsody over and over to study its sounds as we sit in the bus booth. Then Grayson mentions he was going to look up the guitar chords to it online. Joy. I can’t wait to see this.

“Mother fucker! That looks like the entire f*****g chord chart in one song!” He says and I laugh under my breath as he proceeds to count it.

“53 f*****g chords!?” I laugh hysterically at his outburst.

Most rock songs have anywhere from 5 to 12 chords but bohemian rhapsody is not like most rock songs.

“And don’t forget that complicated ass tab, that sounds orgasmic but God damn...” Jax puts salt to his wound and I sigh.

“All jokes aside Grayson. I know you can accomplish this with enough effort. You are a great guitarist.” I tell him because at this point if they don’t believe they can do it, they won’t.

He nods with a confident smile.

“You’re right Storm. I’m going to f*****g kill it.”

“That’s it, player,” I say fist-bumping him, with a grin.

“But Freddy plays his own piano, does that mean I don’t have to play it at all?” Jax asks almost relieved but I shake my head.

“You will play backup keys, for the part of the song that I have to stand up for. It should only be a few seconds.” I explain to him and he sighs in relief.

“Lucky bastard,” Grayson says to him and I chuckle.

“Are you all finally understanding how big of a deal this is?” I ask them and they nod.

“Not impossible though,” Zoe says tapping her finger on the table to the drum part of the song.

***

We arrive in Texas 6 hours later and everyone is knocked out on the bus. Pete got us a pretty nice hotel suite here in Austin where we can set up our equipment and practice in the suite. Noise complaints be damned.

Our second show is in three days from now so we have two days of practice and rest.

Once we all get checked into the room everyone picks out their rooms and quickly gets to bed.

I had to carry Zoe’s deep sleeping cute ass to the room and instead of putting her in her own room, I gently put her on my bed where she belongs. She immediately hugs one of the soft pillows and snores lightly.

I take off her boots and set them down but the bed, before taking off mine, followed by my t-shirt and jeans. I’ve been needing to get comfortable for a while. There is no one else I’d rather get comfortable with.

As I lay down next to her she releases the pillow to hug me instead and my heart warms up like a comforting mug of hot chocolate.

I have to admit that she makes me want to love again. After Milo died. I didn’t think that I would, but here I am falling in love again, and she doesn’t even know the effect she has on my heart.

She mumbles something as she dreams and I sling my arm around her and kiss her forehead.

“Sleep tight, Zoe.”

“Good night, Gavin.” She mumbles my real name and I like it more than I care to admit. It’s not often I hear someone saying my real name.