Page 36 of The Devil's Tattoo
“Don’t they do that with just their voices?” Chrisasked.
“Yeah,”Isaid.
“We could be a hybrid,” Frank said as drum sounds began to come out of hisphone.
“I know,” Simone exclaimed. “You could totally do that with Muse’s ‘Madness.’”
“Yes,” Dee almost shouted, clapping his hands together. “Let’s give it a go. Sing it, Zo. I’ll backyouup.”
I knew they weren’t going to back down, so I nodded. The idea actually sounded quiteawesome.
Frank worked out his drumbeat while Chris got out a guitar app with Dee and me were on vocals. It took us a few times to start because each time Frank started on his drumbeat, we would piss ourselves laughing at the way he tapped the screen with both index fingers. He looked like my Dad when he tried to type anything out on thecomputer.
“Shut up!” he yelled, trying to stifle his own laughter. “This is awesome. Don’t lookatme!”
The third time was a charm, and we got through the intro with straight faces, and it sounded really good once Chris got in with his guitar app. Dee and I were used to singing together, so the harmonies worked better than I thought for a song we hadn’t practicedbefore.
By the time we reached the second verse, we had a small group of people gathered around us, including some of the hotel staff. They were tapping their feet and getting into it, smiling and laughing along with our over-the-top actions. It was the most carefree and completely happy I’d felt since we started the band. I loved every secondofit.
When the song came to an end, we got a round of applause from the randoms who had stopped. Dee curtseyed for them and gave out some flyers he had stuffed in his back pocket—ever the slicksalesman.
It wasn’t until we were laughing at how clever we were that I realize we had some familiar audience members and a future virtual one. Simone had her iPhone out recording us, her face glowing. As she hit stop, she gushed, “That was gold! I’m souploadingthat.”
“Gimme!” Dee exclaimed, rushing overtoher.
Simone replayed it for him, and Frank ran over and tried to see between them. They were all glowing, and it made me feel warm inside. Happy. I was beginning to really like thisfeeling.
As I watched them with a stupid smile on my face, I felt someone stand just behind me. Turning, I glanced up into Will’s smoky gray eyes, and my expression slipped as my heart flip-flopped in mychest.
“You’re fucking beautiful,” he murmured in my ear and wandered off down the footpath, a paper bag underhisarm.
I watched him as he went into the hotel, trying to figure out what just happened, dragging my teeth against my bottom lip. At the last second, he looked back and saw me staring, and his lips curved into a lopsided grin.Dammit.
This whole ‘Stay away from Will thing’ wasn’t going according to plan. Not when he kept sneaking up behind me and stealing mybreath.
* * *
After dinner,the boys wanted to go out and sample some of Sydney’s alternative rock and Goth clubs. I couldn’t think of anything worse than being in a crowded room with loud music and copious amounts of drunk people without the safety of a stage, so I excused myself and went straight back to the hotel. Sleep sounded like a good idea to me, and there was the song that had been rolling around in my brain for far too long. That had to go down on paper before it rolledrightout.
Before I went upstairs, I slipped into the hotel bar and ordered myself a cocktail. It had been a long time since I’d had one, and it reminded me of Ted’s Shed and their cheap sugar-laden versions back in Melbourne. I had my phone out writing down some lyrics and relishing the peace and quiet when I felt someone approaching me. I didn’t look up, hoping they were just going to order a drink. If I didn’t look, then there would be no conversation. Right now, I was content with my bright red drink andnotebookapp.
“Hey.”
I didn’t have to look up to know it was Will. Remembering earlier that evening, I blushed a little. I was kind of surprised to see him here. Wouldn’t he be out with everyone else chasing girls? Wasn’t thathisMO?
“Why are you here on your own?” he asked,sittingdown.
“I didn’t feel like going out,” I replied, glancing over at him. He was wearing a black V-neck T-shirt with a light dusting of blond hair peeking out the top, and I noticed the edge of anothertattoo.
He nodded knowingly. “Seems like everyone had thesameidea.”
“Why aren’t you with them?” I asked, putting my phone back in mypocket.
“Didn’t feellikeit.”
We sat there awkwardly for a moment. I had to give him points for trying. He didn’t seem easily put off by all the shit I’d laid on him. I thought about what Dee had said that morning, about giving Will a chance, and I felt my willpower begin to crumble. Maybe I should, but I didn’t know what to say to him. There was more to these things than just physical attraction. I wanted more. I kinda craved it if I was entirelyhonest.
“What kind of music do you like?” he asked suddenly, as if he’d just blurted out the first thing that had cometomind.
