London Harmony: Roctoberfest (13 page)

We weren't playing until later in the afternoon, which gave us plenty of chances to take in some of the competition.  Haunted Lullaby won their set, then we looked like someone had just pissed on our chips when we found we would be taking on Ratchet.

As we were setting up, Matt was taunting Caroline as he went through some complex runs on his guitar.  Mei hissed to us, “The wanker is so fucking smug.”  She looked mad so we didn't even think to tease her for the harsh words coming from our 'Asian flower'.  She almost glared at me but then gave me an angry peck on the lips.  “Back in a flash.”

We had a surprise artist and were handed sheet music.  They said they would have one in every once in a while during the competition.  Conrad Chase from America!  Okay, he was my male kryptonite and could get my motor running, the only man to do that for me.  I mean, before Mei, I wouldn't have kicked the guy out of bed.  His style was evolving from pop into a more hard rock country mix, he was a versatile singer and actor.

I looked around and couldn't see Mei anywhere as the bands were introduced and Conrad started singing with Ratchet.  Matt was really flamboyant with the guitar solo in the middle as he smirked at Caroline.  Our hearts sank, they really were good and well suited to Conrad's style.

When we were clapping with the crowd for them, Mei came running up onto stage, she looked terrified but had Robbie's guitar and she looked at us.  Car gave a nod and Mei plugged Maggie into the amp.  I shot a look of concern to Mei, who seemed to be almost hyperventilating, but she transformed when the music started.

She was a goddess on the stage and she had eyes only for me.  I tried to feed her strength and played for her and only her, I didn't care about anything else.  She was attempting to help us out by doing the one thing that terrified her most.  I loved her so much!

When the guitar solo came, she started shredding and the crowd exploded.  My jaw dropped as she banged her head with the rock riff, her hair flying in all directions.  Dear lord did I want her right then and right there.  Conrad was smiling and we all had a blast finishing the number, me playing to Mei and her to me.

The crowd went wild and Conrad Chase himself turned around and applauded us too.  Mei faded to the back and scooted over to stand behind me. I could feel her rapid breaths on my neck.  It took all of ten seconds for the judge and Conrad to agree.

He stepped to the center of the stage with his signature crooked boy toy grin that looked oh so good on him.  He said, “Let's hear it for Ratchet!”  And I slumped in my seat as the crowd cheered.  Then he continued as they started celebrating among themselves, “They did a phenomenal job, but not quite enough to outdo the Purple Horseshoes!”

I sat up tall and Mei's hand squeezed my shoulder as the crowd went wild as Conrad spoke over the cheering.  “The Horseshoes take it four point nine to four point seven.”  We all hugged then went over to shake the hands of Ratchet.

Surprisingly they were cool about it even though Matt was gritting his teeth.  Like the asshole he is, he stuck his right hand out toward Mei's empty sleeve then laughed.  I swear to God I almost jumped on him right there, to drive a drumstick through his skull.  Mei just stared at him impassively and flipped him off with her back to the crowd so they wouldn't see.

Then we went about moving our gear off the stage.  I was glad the Hammond's hadn't come behind the stage to celebrate this time because as we secured the equipment to the carts, Matt walked over from where his band was doing the same.  He pointed at Caroline.  I don't know why he had such a hate on for her.  “I don't know what that shit you just pulled was, but we're gunning for you.  Your slant-eyed gimp and your dyk...”

He was interrupted by the solid strike to his nose that Darin landed, which sent him tumbling back onto his ass.  Animal said in quite an assertive manner, “Shut the fuck up you bloody wanker.  Now sod off before I let Mick at ya.”

A security guard saw a bleeding Matt on the grass and came walking over.  Mick was quick to haul Matt up to his feet, slapping his back soundly.  “You gotta lay off the drinking mate.  You keep tripping and hurting yourself.   Now run along, your bandmates are looking for you.”    She pulled him past the security guard who was torn between believing her show and not.  He finally looked at us then turned and walked back to the barriers.  I guess since he didn't see the hit, he couldn't prove anything.

Mick returned and Mei fanned her face and fluttered her eyes cutely and said in a Texan accent her mum would be proud of, “Mah oh mah Animal.”

Mick looped her arm in Darin's and crinkled her nose at Mei. “You got your own arm candy.  Shoo.”  Mei made a show of looping her arm in mine then laid her head on my arm and I melted.  Both evil women laughed at my blush.

Then Caroline got serious.  “Thank you, Mei, you pulled our collective asses out of the fire.  That was bloody brill what you did on stage.”

She nodded into my arm and said, “That was for Robbie.  I wasn't going to let them do the same to you.  Matt isn't 'that' good.”

Then Caroline cocked an eyebrow and asked tentatively with the same hopeful look on her face I was wearing, “Does this mean...?”

Mei sighed then smiled as she looked around to us all. “Fine, whatever, I'm a Horseshoe.”  Then she shook my arm.  “So long as I can keep this one.”

I blushed and Caroline said, “She's yours, I'll have the ownership papers in the mail today.”

My band cheered and stole hugs from my girlfriend as I whined, “Hey, I'm not a bargaining chip!”  Nobody listened and I crinkled my nose and asked, “I come with paperwork?”

Mick bumped my hip.  “Yes you are and yes you do.”   I scowled at her and she just grinned and pointed at her cheek.  I exhaled dramatically then smiled and kissed her cheek.  I love my odd little family.

So I looked down at my girl.  “Take me, I'm yours.”  This got a snort and giggle from her.  Then I looked around to the others and asked, “Celebrate?”

I got nods in response, and from Mei a, “Feed me.”

That night, after celebrating with the band, I showed Mei just how much I loved her for what she did for the Horseshoes, and just how much I loved her on general principal.  I made sure to call Becky myself and let her know I had kidnapped her daughter for the night and I didn't have any demands for her return so I might keep her.  Becky chuckled and said I was welcome to her, that I had got her to open up and do things out of her comfort zone more than she ever had since the accident.

I went to tease my girl about it, but Mei reminded me she had my paperwork so to just shut up and kiss her.  “Yes, ma'am.” 
Hey, I know when to follow orders.  Especially when they come from such a sexy package.

The next day we had Teri Blue again, and we decided then and there that Mei was even better than David had been. I'm pretty sure the band had adopted Mei as a little sister.  Little for size, not age. 
Don't you dare tell her I said that.

We made a day of it there instead of returning later for the results since we wanted to see Haunted Lullaby's set.  We did our groupie thing with the Hammonds when Lullaby took it by a tenth of a point.

We hung around for the next thirty minutes for the week four results.  We celebrated when Purple Horseshoes was announced somewhere in the middle of the pack.  We ran up to stage to take a bow and get the Half-J from Doctor McClellan.  Then we held back our boos and hisses after we returned to the Hammonds when Ratchet was announced a couple minutes after us.

We were all really tense when they were coming to the end of the list and Robbie's band still wasn't announced, knowing there were no more wildcard slots.  Then Marjorie McClellan finished with, “And the final band to move on to week five is...”  She looked at the paper and then up to the crowd. “Haunted Lullaby.”  We cheered for them like we were at a Tabby Cat concert.

I glurked when Mei's belt loop pulled me into motion.  She called back to the rest of the band, “Horseshoes, barbecue at the Hammond's!”  Oh yeah, I forgot she said they were celebrating each week Robbie's band won a round.

We wound up on Mei's bed sitting in front of each other cross-legged, just talking about our dreams when Becky stepped in.  “Thought you two might be in here.  Things are breaking up out there, people are looking for you.”

I nodded and we got up and Mei started packing some clothes into a shoulder bag.  She looked sheepish when her mother squinted at her.  “I need some clean clothes over at Kace's.”

I said under my breath wistfully, “You should just bring them all.”

I learned something about the Hammonds just then.  Even though they didn't share the same blood, they shared freakishly good hearing.  Mei's head snapped up toward me and Becky stood up straight with an unreadable look on her face.  I blushed and Mei said, “Don't tease, you know I would.”

I looked between mother and daughter and shrugged. “I'd take you in a heartbeat.  I like strays.  Even short ones.”

She looked at her mother who still had that unreadable look on her face.  Mei tilted her head and furrowed her brow.  He mum relaxed and just said, “Don't go lookin' at me baby girl.  Y’all do what makes you happy, I'm not your keeper.”

Mei just grinned and dragged me out of her room past her mother, “I love her, mum.  I'll come pack tomorrow.”

Becky broke into a grin then pulled her girl into a hug. “It's good you're getting back out in the world.  I love you Munchkin.”

Mei replied, “Love you too mum.”

Then I was yanked into a hug.  Rebekah said into my shoulder, “You take care of her, you're good for each other.  She's yours.”

I nodded then tried to break the heavy atmosphere. “Does she come with paperwork?”

Becky snorted as she released me then made an offhanded gesture and did a half shrug with one shoulder.  “I'll scribble something on the back of a napkin.”

I grinned. “Deal!”

Mei mimicked Caroline's voice, “Hello, I'm standing right here.”

I looked down at her. “Shush, were horse trading here...”  Then my grin went wicked as I finished, “Munchkin.”

She backhanded my gut a good one and threatened, “Don't you dare tell the band, especially Mick.”  Becky was shaking her head in amusement as she ushered us back outside to say goodbye to everyone as the crowd in the communal yard was thinning.

I looked aver at Michaela and said quickly, “Mick, I'm not supposed to tell you that Mei's nickname is Munchkin.”  It was followed by an “Oof” as I got a more forceful backhand.  Mick had the toothiest, wickedest grin I had ever seen on her face.

Mei gave me the stink eye and whispered as she stabbed at my breastbone with a finger, “You only get angry sex tonight.”

I smiled down at the raven-haired pixie and said, “That's like a kitten threatening to cuddle you to death.”

She tried to look mad, but her mouth quirked into a smile as she said, “I hate you.”

I replied for everyone to hear, “Well I love you.”

A chorus of, “Awww”s chimed out.  Then we all finished our goodbyes and we shared Mei's new address with the band.  This got some, “About time”s and happy watery eyes from Carol.  She's such a girl.  Well fine, that got my eyes watering too.

Then Mei gave me a coy look over her shoulder and cooed, “Let's go home, love.”  As I said, I'm smart enough to know when to take orders.  My heart was racing as we left to go not to my place, but to our place.  The evil Munchkin made me drive us back, like my heart wasn't already threatening to beat right out of my chest.

As my punishment for revealing her hated nickname, she wouldn't let me reciprocate that night, she brought me to climax twice.  Then called me a pillow princess because she knew how much I hated not being allowed to reciprocate.  I tried to have my way with her, but she just grinned wickedly and said, “Nope.  Just take your punishment like a woman.  I'm quite sure you enjoyed it if your little squeaks were any indication.”

As we cuddled in together for our first night living together, I said flatly, “You know I'll have my revenge.”

She grinned cutely and nodded.  “I'm counting on it.”  As I drifted off I smiled at the realization that she had been slowly moving in bit by bit anyway, I had just sped up the process.  Silly Munchkin.

I got my revenge the next morning by the way.  Bwah ha ha!

That week was busy, with practice sessions rehearsing covers of the known artists for the competition, and our regular gigs; which we were able to talk Mei into performing at after lots of pleading and feedings; we were exhausted by the time Saturday rolled around.  Weeks five and six were two days only.

I was busy braiding my girl's hair and saying, “Remember to thank your mum for joining us for lunch yesterday.  I'll not save you again if Becca goes all Texas on you again for forgetting your manners.”

She laughed then gave me a smirk. “Becca?”

I grinned. “It is something new I'm trying.  Doesn't fly?”  She squinted an eye and shook her head with a sour look on her face.  We both turned toward the door at a soft knocking and it opened a bit and a hand poked through holding a fast food bag.

Mei's eyes lit up.  “Oooo.  Mine.”  She stood and motored over to the door then grabbed the bag and started back toward me. She looked back and put the bag in her teeth and grabbed the hand and pulled a giggling Caroline into the studio behind her.

Romeo and Juliette followed her in. 
Mick looked so cute holding Darin's hand, but don't tell her I said that, I prefer my insides to remain on the inside.
  Everyone flopped into the places they have claimed over the past few days.  Mick and Darin sharing the one fluffy chair that Mei brought from her parent's place.  It was hard to tell who was in who's lap. Then Car flopped onto the futon with her legs up over Mei and my laps.

I played with Carol's shoe laces as Mei handed out the breakfast sandwiches and the little hash brown cakes.  Mick hopped up and went to the small fridge and pulled out some apple juices and handed them out.

We all looked at each other wordlessly then sort of group exhaled our nervousness for the weekend. I chuckled. “So, another weekend another battle.”  Everyone chuckled and we relaxed and started to talk as we ate.  I grinned as Mei took down a quarter of her sandwich on the first bite.  The sight still amazed me.

Mick said around a bite, “So what were you two up to when we arrived?  There was no squealing and the sounds of rapid dressing.”

Mei took a sip of her drink and shrugged with an evil grin. “That was earlier.  Kacy just finished braiding my hair.  I was going to brush hers out so she could do a high ponytail for the competition.”

Mick nodded. “She looks sexy with a tail.”  I blushed and she asked, “What?  You do.”  Darin, who was busy eating around the outside of his sandwich before he ate the middle just nodded as he worked to accomplish his task.

I said, “Shut up.  That's enough of let's tease Kacy.  Let's move on the important stuff.”  I wiggled Carol's feet.  “Caroline, a little bird told me that you may or may not have asked out Ian finally.”

She sat up a bit and looked at Mick. “Oh I hate you so much right now you manky bint, that was in confidence.”  Mick just grinned into her meal.  Then she sighed and grinned at us and defended with,  “Well, not for anything serious, just a little fun.”  She wiggled her eyebrows.  “I don't think I'm ready for anything beyond that, especially with this bloody competition.”

Mei prompted, “And he said...”

Our blonde leader grinned slyly.  “He said yes.  Friday after next, after all this Roctoberfest business, is over.”

Mick said as she threw her crumpled up sandwich wrapper from where she sat, neatly into the empty bag on the coffee table, “He'd be a git not to.  There's a reason you are our front woman.  I mean, daymn.”

Car looked at us with a humorously confused look on her face.  “Why is it Mick can always say sexually loaded things to me and I take it as a compliment.”

I shrugged. “Because you thought she had a nice arse?”

She squinted at me.  “I hate you too.”  Then she looked at Mei and said playfully, “You're my new best friend now Mei.  The others are mean.”

Mei fist pumped the air and said comically, “Yesss!” I rubbed Caroline's legs in recompense.   She preened under the attention and we all shared a laugh with her.

Then Mei cocked her head, looked around and said wistfully, “If you would have told me a month ago, that I'd be hanging out with a group of strangers become best friends, I would have called you crazy.  But somehow Kacy makes me feel secure outside my little world.  I love you guys.”

Everyone murmured warm replies then she straightened up.  “Now let's go rock out and kick some arse!”  We all stood with grins on our faces.  Fist bumps were passed around and Mick got her sugar from her 'harem' then the evil wenches attacked my hair before we left.  One ponytail later and us girls were following Mick's truck, which Darin was driving to all of our shock.

Caroline shared with us the terror that would be this weekend.  From twenty-four bands, we would be whittled down to six, in two consecutive single-elimination matches.  One per day.  Only twelve bands would advance Saturday, then only six would survive Sunday.  There was only one stage set up now and the crowds seemed impossibly larger in the Gardens.

The lawn behind the stage was so crowded with bands.  I sighed realizing that it wouldn't be that way by the end of the day, and we may very well be one of the ones going home.  Caroline called out comically once we had the equipment stowed behind the stage on the lawn, “Horseshoes assemble!”  Then she chuckled as we gathered around her.  “I've always wanted to say that.”  I crinkled my nose at her.

She took a serious tone as she looked around us.  “I know I don't say it often enough, but I love you guys.  You're my mates, my band, my family.  No matter what happens this round I just want you all to know how much I appreciate having you in my life and that I am proud of each and every one of you.”

I wiped tears from my face and so did Mei and Mick.  I said, “Bloody hell woman.  We'll look a sight on stage if you keep that up.  We love you too.” Then I looked around.  “You all really are my family.  The past ten years.”  Then I scrunched up my face and grinned at Mei.  “Some a little less time though it feels like forever.”

A group hug followed and we wiped our eyes and Caroline said, “We have to draw today, so let's go see which band we get to obliterate today!”  We grinned as she smushed her lips over to one side of her face and added, “Or be obliterated by.”

Mick asked as we followed our fearful fearless leader.  “Does there have to be obliterating?  Or can it just be strongly worded letters and hand gestures?” You know, sometimes that lady can be pretty damn funny.  And scary.  Did I mention scary?

We saw two judges at the table today.  Marjorie McClellan and Edward Canter.  We showed our badges and she checked to see if our name had been drawn by a band yet.  Then Doctor McClellan held out a blackened fishbowl and Carol stuck her tongue off to the side and dug in.  A moment later she pulled out a J-Card, on the back was Jackhammer.  On damn, they're really good.  Well, I guess all the rest are really good or they wouldn't be here today.

Marjorie smiled and marked it down on the register and said, “You are slated to perform at one.”  I noted Bear was digging our card out of the bowl as we moved on to let the next band draw.