I smirk as Sera narrows her eyes. Xander grins knowing he laid down a challenge.
"I thought so. Let's see how much stamina you've got. Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold."
"Oh boy," Lucy tells me with raised eyebrows. I just shrug. "I can't really sing this one with you. Ethan's better for this one."
"That's why you're not backing me up. You're singing it with me. I've heard your rasp."
"Whatever, I can't sing like a dude," she tells me. No, she can't, but she can sing like Lucy and that's pretty fucking awesome.
"Let's do this," I say.
Sera whips her long brown hair up into a messy bun and takes a seat, adjusting for the height difference. She looks up and counts it off on her sticks and we're rocking.
Fuck yeah, is my first thought, watching Sera beating the fuck out of those drums. Christ, that's hot.
I close my eyes, singing from deep down, feeling it flow out from my soul and when I hear Lucy join in, I grin. She's incredible. I don't sound a whole lot like M. Shadows, but I make it my own. That's what sets apart wannabes from the real thing.
Lucy gives it her all and as the song ends, I open my eyes and wink at her. Her smile steals my breath.
"Fucking killer," Ethan shouts and fist bumps Jace. The two bass players were having a good time it seems.
Xander nods at Sera, his grin wide. She hands him his sticks. "You kicked ass. How do you feel?"
"Like I could keep going."
"Could you keep going for two hours solid? Maybe with a couple small breaks."
She tilts her head to the side and wiggles her eyebrows. He grins again. "I was talking about drums, darlin', but if you're heading in that direction we can always find out together."
She laughs. "I could keep playing for two hours. Maybe not at that pace the entire time, but I could do two hours."
He nods. "There's always a few less heavy songs mixed in the albums so if you wanted drums, you'd be great."
"Thanks. That means a lot coming from you."
Xander just nods.
"The question is," I say, "do you want to be back there or would you rather be up here?"
"First, let's see what she's got for the chords," Ben says.
Lucy smirks and I raise my brows. I have a feeling we're in for a big surprise.
"Just watch," Lucy whispers and heads over to grab rhythm guitar.
"Whatcha got going on here?" Kennedy asks as she picks up one of his guitars.
"Relax, oh silent and sexy one. I won't wreck your precious. I just know what she's got in mind and I need to do rhythm for her. Well, I don't need to, I want to because this is going to be epic."
"What's she got in mind?" Ethan asks.
"The same thing she always has in mind whenever someone challenges her on guitar," Jace says with a grin. "The only question is which song."
"My new favorite," she announces and Lucy raises her eyebrow, her mouth forming a small o.
Luce hops up on a stool and tells me, "You're gonna have to sing this one solo, hot stuff."
I nod, grabbing the mic and stool, and plop right next to her. "What is it?"
"You'll know it as soon as the first note is played."
I nod again, ready for whatever they've got for us.
"Ready?" she asks.
Sera nods and Jace winks.
Sera strums the first chord of Hail To The King by Avenged Sevenfold and all brows go up and grins appear. Sera jumps in to sing her part as do Jace and Xander. Kennedy matches Lucy, Ethan matches Jace, and I sing like a motherfucker.
Ben stands in front of Sera and watches her while his fingers work the fret, grinning. She's not even paying attention. Her eyes are closed and she's in the zone. That's fucking impressive.
When the last chord is struck, the studio is completely silent. Sera's head comes up and she grins at Lucy.
Ben shakes his head. "Fucking Hail To The King."
She shrugs. "I do so love a challenge and I'm glomming on A7X right now."
"Obviously you've been playing some if you know that song."
"Well, yeah. I'm a musician. I have to play even if I'm not in a band. Lucy and I have jam sessions."
"Good. It seems you get to choose what you want to do because you're fantastic at both," Ben says.
She grins at him. "Thanks, Ben."
He nods. "I mean it. That was incredible."
"It's up to you. If you do drums, you'll be in the back and likely someone else will have to sing backup. If you choose lead, you get the spotlight. If you choose rhythm, you get a lot of spotlight but not as bright," I tell her.
"First, would you be content back there? People know who you are as a drummer, I mean, look at Xander. The women are nuts for him even back there," Lucy says.
"Probably not. I'd prefer to move around the stage a bit."
Lucy nods.
"That leaves lead and rhythm. Would you be content with rhythm or do you want to continually challenge yourself?"
I look at Lucy with a knowing smirk. I know what she's doing. Clever.
"I, of course, want the challenge," she says with a grin, her brown eyes, so much like Lucy's, flashing with humor and excitement.
"Then you're it, woman," Jace says with a grin.
"So we're looking for rhythm guitar and drums. You need anyone for boards?" I ask.
"Nope. I got that," Lucy tells me.
At that, I'm surprised and my brows go up. "No shit?"
"No shit. Why do you sound so surprised?"
I shrug, not sure why really.
"What, only Sera can be a musical prodigy?"
"I never said that."
"They must have missed our P!nk performance yesterday," Sera explains.
Lucy nods. "Must have. And now I feel like I have something to prove," she says, heading to the piano. She flexes her hands and fingers, cracking her knuckles. I take my mic with me and sit next to her on the bench. I like being close to her and, if she's honest, she likes it too.
She starts playing Your Song from Elton John and everyone joins in on their cue. I sing the first verse. Lucy joins in on the chorus and takes the second verse. I lean forward, catching her attention, and sing the last line of the second verse to her. Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen. That's no lie. They are. So expressive and kind.
Lucy smiles.
"Well done, Cupcake."
"Thank you, thank you," she says with a laugh.
Cage stands from his chair in front of the stage.
"You want my opinion?" he asks.
"Always," Lucy tells him.
"Sera, take lead. Luce, just sing, do acoustic when you want, during breaks or whatever. Piano if you need to. Focus on working the crowd, engage them. Jace is perfect." Cage shakes his head and laughs. "I knew you'd be sensational but I wasn't expecting this."
Lucy, Sera, and Jace light up at his praise, and it's high praise, indeed. It's not every day Cage Nichols hands out compliments like that.
"So we find rhythm and drums and get you set up in a studio. You've got songs, right?" he asks.
Lucy laughs. "Are you fucking with me right now?"
"Yep," he laughs in return. Hell, I can't remember a time when I've seen Cage smile so much.
Lucy throws a guitar pick at him, which doesn't go very far.
"Yeah, we've got songs. Books upon books of songs."
He nods. "You know I own a company that produces records."
"No, had no clue at all," she tells him, pointing at me and the guys.
He laughs. "I've got the company studio and a private one. You can use the private one any time you want, but in a couple weeks I want you in the company one recording your album."
"Holy fuck," Jace says. "You're that Cage Nichols."
He nods. "I am."
"Oh yeah," Sera says, walking up to him and jumping on his back. Piggy-back time. "We're going to be on sexy Cage's label." She leans forward and kisses his ear.
His arms reach back and cup her ass, holding her up. Well then.
I put my arm around Lucy. "I'll help you. Whatever you need."
"Thank you, all of you, for this." We all nod.
She turns to me, her expression one of complete sincerity so I give her my undivided attention. "Please know that I don't expect it from you, but I am grateful for every single thing you do."
"I know, Lucy. If I thought it was anything else, you wouldn't be mine."
She leans in and whispers, "I'm not yours, Jesse."
"You will be before the night is over."
She ignores me-or tries to-and stands up. "I've got to say, boys, I'm pretty surprised you knew that last song."
"What?" Kennedy asks. "If there's a musician out there that doesn't know that song, they are a disgrace."
"Agreed. I just figured you guys were too hardcore to know Elton John."
"Fuck no. It's a classic. Layla. Lola. Shit, they're the best," Ethan says.
"Truer words were never spoken," Jace replies.
"Well all right. We need to get Jace settled in at the penthouse-"
"Penthouse?" I ask, remembering the hotel comment from this morning.
She nods and blows out a breath. "Suites really."