We Could Be Demolition Lovers

Franks pov.

Finally finally finally! This shit week seemed like it was going to last FOREVER, but it’s finally Friday! I’ve survived the first week virtually unscathed. I mean there was that whole thing with Gerard, but even that was pretty minor compared to shit I’ve dealt with in the past. I, Frank Iero, have actually managed to get through the first week of school without being beaten to a pulp or harassed by idiotic homophobes. Someone please get me a priest, because I need someone to thank for this miracle!

“Uh dude, you good?” Ray asks from his seat next to me, an amused and somewhat annoyed smile on his face. Wow, I was so caught up in my ridiculous rejoicing that I totally blanked out on him. Oh well.

“Shit yeah, sorry. Got a little lost in my thoughts… Anywho, what were you saying?” I reply.

“Typical… Okay so as I was saying before you so rudely zoned out on me, I think you should just come straight to my house after school so we have enough time to get the garage ready for the auditions or whatever.” He says.

“Sounds like a plan.” I say, giving him a thumbs up.

“Okay good. Hopefully some decent talent shows up. At this point I’m figuring the auditions are either going to be pretty rad or they’re going to majorly blow.” Ray says with a light laugh.

‘I’d like to majorly blow Gerard.’ I think to myself, smirking at what just crossed my mind. Wait, what the hell?! No, bad Frank, bad! Gerards an ass ‘with a really nice ass’, and I need to put him out of my mind. My band is what’s important now, that’s priority. Yes, focus on the auditions for now, that should be easy enough.
Just as I resolve to keep as focused as possible the final bell of the day sounds out, signifying the end of study hall and the start of the weekend.

“And so it begins.” Ray says to me as we get up and make our way out of the building.



Ray and I decided to walk to his house so by the time we get there it’s already 3:30.

“Alright man, auditions start at 5 so let’s get to work.” Ray says while heaving up his garage door. The garage is decent size, enough space to hold a “band” at least. We start by clearing out some boxes full of junk that Ray’s dad just can’t seem to let go of. Like seriously, who needs an old bowling trophy from the 70’s? No one, that’s who.
Once we have all the junk pushed aside Ray pulls a few big bins down off some shelves. The first two we open contain the parts to a kind of ragged but perfectly functional trap-set. Ray wanted to be a drummer when he was a kid so his parents bought the set for him, but after he got his hands on a guitar there was just no going back. Thankfully he didn’t have the heart to get rid of his trap-set, it’s definitely coming in handy now. For once hoarding seems to have a benefit!
After we get the trap-set set up we grab a few amps, some speakers, and a mic. with a makeshift stand that Ray and I threw together last minute. We may not have the highest quality of equipment, but hey at least it’s something.

Over an hour after starting on this little venture we’ve finally got everything out and in it’s place. It actually doesn’t look half bad, if I do say so myself, which I do, so...yeah.

“T-Minus 10 minutes until people should start showing up.” I say to Ray, making fake rocket noises afterward for effect, which earns me a laugh and an eyeroll from my fro’d best friend.

“Alright man, I’m going to run in the house real quick and grab my guitar. Back in a sec!” Ray says, sprinting out of the garage and into his house. While he’s inside I take the time to get my own instrument out. My beautiful Pansy. Yes, I named my guitar, and no, I don’t care if people think that’s weird.
Ray steps through the garage door just as I finish tuning Pansy.

“You good?” I ask.

“Am now.” He replies, holding his guitar out in front of him and nodding to it.

We both place our guitars on stands then grab a couple chairs so that we can sit in the driveway and wait for whoever might show.

At about 5:30 we have our first taker. A short and almost unhealthily thin boy walks up the driveway. He has dirty blonde hair and a nose that some might consider slightly too large for his face.
“Hey, I’m Duncan. You the guys holding the auditions?” He asks, holding his hand out to both Ray and I to shake.

“Yeah, that’d be us. What’s your specialty? I’m guessing drummer? or singer maybe? since you don’t seem to have a guitar of any kind with you.” Ray inquires.

“Ah man, yeah, I’m a singer.” Duncan replies.

“Rad. Okay so we’ve got the mic. set up right there if you wanna grab it and show us what you’ve got.” I say, motioning to the mic. that’s set up front and center in the garage.

“Sure thing.” Duncan replies as we all make our way into the garage.
Once he’s ready to go Ray and I step off to the side to watch. Duncan looks over and gives us one final nod before he begins.

“Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, And think of you!” ‘Okay, I guess he’s taking this full screamo’ I think to myself as I side-eye Ray who looks just as amused as I’m sure I do.
“Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new!” It’s not bad by any means, it’s just not exactly what I was envisioning really...
“Flashback, warm nights, Almost left behind. Suitcases of memories, Time after
Sometimes you picture me I'm walking TOO FAR AHEAD!!!” Oh wow, he honestly looks possessed at this point...
“You're calling to me, I can't hear what you've said!! Then you say, go slooooow!!
I fall behind! The second hand UNWIIIIINDS!!!” He can’t possibly scream louder than that...
“If you're lost you can look and you will find me,time after time!! If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting! TIME AFTER TIIIIIIIIIIIME!!!” He finishes, and...he just proved me wrong because I’m pretty sure that last line could be heard from space.
Duncan puts the mic. down and looks at Ray and I expectantly. I turn to Ray and give him a look that screams ‘you’ve got this one’.
“Wow man, nice set of pipes! Definitely wasn’t expecting that!” Ray exclaims.
“Thanks man. I’ve been practicing that particular song for a while now.” Duncan replies.
“Well the practice seems to have paid off. Umm, just wondering, you screamed basically the whole song, do you think we could hear just some straight up singing?” I ask, because I mean if this dude can’t sing then all the screaming in the world won’t be able to make him fit in our band.
“Ehh, about that, umm… I don’t really have the best singing voice. Sort of why I stuckk to screamo.” Duncan replies. Well son of a bitch, he was almost perfect...almost.
“Well do you want to give it a shot at least? Let us be the judge?” Ray asks.
“Uhh, sure. Why not.” Duncan answers.

------------time jump. 10 minutes later.-------------
What did I just listen to? I mean, like, what?? Duncan is now looking expectantly at us again and honestly I don’t think either Ray or I could speak even if we wanted to. Duncan just sang us the entirety of November Rain, and as much as I adore Guns N Roses, Duncan’s rendition was one of the worst things I have ever heard. I don’t want to turn this guy away but there is just no way he could ever completely pull off the sound we’re going for. I realize that Ray and I are still just staring back at Duncan so, to my surprise, I am the one who breaks the somewhat awkward silence.
“So, that was really...something.” I say, trying to be as vague as possible.
“Yeah...something.” Ray chimes in.
“Okay guys, look, I’m sorry, but I don’t really think you’re what I’m looking for. I know I haven’t heard the two of you play or anything but I can just tell our styles won’t go together. Don’t worry, it’s nothing you guys did. I’m just not feeling this. Sorry for wasting your time though and I do hope you find what you’re looking for.” Duncan says. Well that’s an unexpected turn of events.
“Oh, uh, okay man. Yeah we’re sorry it didn’t work out too. No hard feelings.” Ray says, extending a hand for Duncan to shake. Duncan gives Ray’s hand a shake and gives me a nod then exits the garage and takes off back the way he came. Ray and I just stare at him until he’s no longer in sight.
“Well on the bright side, at least we didn’t have to turn him away.” I say, causing Ray to break out into a fit of laughter.
“I honestly had no clue what to say to the dude.” Ray replies after his laughing ceases.
“Hopefully he finds a better fit for him, dude does have a rad screaming voice.” I say.
“Yeah.” Ray says.


--------------time jump. 1 ½ hours later.--------------

“None of them will work.” I grunt as I flop down in the chair next to Ray. It is now 7pm and we’ve had a handful of people show up to audition, but none of them were even close to what Ray and I are looking for. One of the female singers that showed up was wearing a skintight black leotard and did a full on dance routine to some Beyonce song, it was amusing but sure as hell wasn’t what we were looking for!, and a guy that showed up to play drums ended up breaking two of Ray’s three pairs of drum sticks and then told us that he wasn’t even really a drummer! For fucks sake!
“I know.” Ray responds after a while, in an agitated tone.
“Maybe we should just call it a night? We still have tomorrow for auditions. Maybe we’ll get lucky and someone halfway decent will show up then?” I say.
“Fuck it, okay. Yeah let’s just shut it down, call it a night. You wanna stay and chill for a bit? We could order pizza or something? Maybe play some games so we can rid ourselves of this stress filled shit fest of a day.” Ray says.
“Yeah man, sounds fucking perfect.” I reply.
Just as we are getting up to put our chairs back in the garage a car pulls up, and you’ll never guess who stepped out of it.

Notes

I'm so horrible! Please forgive me for taking so long to update. Hope you enjoy the chapter and ILY!♥♥ likes and ratings r AWE-SUM! Also I think it's totally rad when your lovely selves leave me some comments :)
Au Revoir!