Chapter Text
Sometimes people wakes up with a smile on their faces when they are going to have a special day, others don’t like to idealize that day and their expectations so they just treat it like a normal day but I do something quite different: I don’t sleep before a special event which always worked for exams, trips to some uncle’s house that I never heard of or my first concert at the auditorium but I guess it doesn’t work with an audition to the super indie band “Space Failure” is a weird band name but if you say it with a British accent maybe it sounds better. They are somewhat famous since some celebrities praised their latest album and they’re playing it at Lollapalooza in a few months so of course they want someone new and more professional than their last drummer, who just happen to stole their car, and my drumming skills are basically what a piano kid who just got into Nirvana can do so I decided to audition (spoiler… it didn’t go well).
■☆■☆■
I see how the sun starts to get out with a tropical monster on my hands, ready for my first class of the day in such a renowned school: Juilliard, yeah I’m studying piano there. Which it really took a turn the second I got here since my taste in music got all alternative and playing piano doesn’t sound as exciting anymore but my mom is so proud of me being here that the stupid pressure makes me stay, I run through the city just to get to the school because living alone was a good idea at first but living at the other side of the city where your school is supposed to be that brings it down, it really was a normal day and I’m not telling you all that cause no one wants to hear how I failed to play a Mozart piece, which was already a sign of what it would come.
Here comes the funny part, a mysterious alarm sounds at 6pm, a very odd time for me since I’m just getting out of classes in the worst mood ever and that’s when it hits me… THE BAND AUDITION! I really don’t want to take it seriously since it’s going to be something to try my drumming skills because I’m no “Whiplash” fan or something like that to be auditioning seriously I’m just a girl with a dream of being in a band, silly and childish maybe but I was already late and I really wanted to do it so it’s time to run. I got to my apartment as fast as I can, small as a dog’s house, since it’s New York most apartments are small as fuck but at least I’m glad I have somewhere to live, grab the first band t-shirt I found being the typical Pink Floyd shirt, some baggy pants which didn’t fit the style of the shirt but it was something, get on some checkered Vans grab my drumming sticks, some hair pins and I was ready to take a cab to wherever this band is doing their auditions.
I hand the direction to the taxi driver and I start to make my hair a little bit nicer to fit in the alternative scene or at least I tried, trying to look calm, cool and some way professional which I regretted immediately as we arrived, I see this three guys a little older than me sitting in front of a garage where apparently one of them lived since he didn’t stop to go in and out of the front porch with food, all looking like losers (in a Weezer way) looking at a guy playing the drums very artistically and besides them a long line of people with really cool outfits playing drums in the air, having their headphones on or really just on their phone I look at them amazed since all the kids I tend to see at Julliard are not like this; I get next to a messy hair guy, he has a little of a beard which it looks like it wasn’t shaved a few weeks and with a shirt of a band… I guess it says Loded Diper so I just assumed it’s a real band.
“Hey” I said softly only to catch his attention which worked and after looking at me up and down he took his headphones off and looked at me with strangeness in his face.
“What up?”
“Is this the line for the drummer audition?”
“Yep, it is, if not I would not be in this boring neighborhood and I’ll be rehearsing for my band”
“You have a band… that’s cool, what’s the name?”
“Loded Diper, misspelled on purpose, you can find us on youtube we're pretty popular in our town. I’m Rodrick; hope you don’t get the drummer thing”
“Emily, hope you too” I smile awkwardly at him and go back to my phone searching for a song to play from the ones that I already kinda practiced at home, he overlooks my phone and giggles at the playlist with some songs.
“Better don’t be playing any Nirvana, I’ve been here 20 minutes and I already heard it 5 times”
“Nope not at all, I’m not as good as Dave, I’m not risking it. I was thinking about some Toto or Fleetwood Mac”
“Classic bands, safe option, you really aren’t risking it”
“What are you doing?” I ask curious as he takes his phone and searches a video on his youtube channel a song from his band called “Party Pictures” then he handles me his headphones making me listen to his drumming skills, I get surprised by them being actually so good that my eyes reflect that, it almost sounds like Dave's drumming.
“You're good, I like it, not quite Impressive as I expected but overall good.” I say with an unimpressive face, faking how I really felt, being the last ones in line really gave us some time to chat and really get to know us. He took his headphones from my hand, touching it slightly, making both of us blush a little; while turning around waving at me, he started to play drums in the air as we moved forward on the line instead of 10 people in front of us just being 2.
The sun was setting and the street lights started to appear, and one person was left on the line before Rodrick who just started to chat on the phone instead of practicing, when I saw how Rodrick left I knew I was in trouble, he was giving it all, enjoying the audition and smiling at the one or two mistakes he made, I started to think that maybe I should've take this less seriously and more like a experiment on my music career. As he finished he looked at me and winked which made me look red as a tomato. As I walked towards the guys I saw him waiting with the rest of the awesome drummers on the patio until the band makes a decision.
“Well, you're the last one, can he have your name or your nickname? also tell me what are you playing” it was Alex, the lead singer of the band.
“I'm Emily and I'm gonna play Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac”
“Go on, in 3, 2, 1!” says Gab, the bassist of the band with a lot of enthusiasm.
My hands move deftly over the drumsticks, the wood vibrating beneath my fingertips as I launch into the iconic opening beat of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way." The drums seem to come alive beneath my touch, the bass drum pulsing like a heartbeat as I settle into the rhythm.
As I play, I feel myself becoming one with the music, my worries and cares disappearing with each crash of the cymbals and thump of the bass drum. I close my eyes, letting the rhythm carry me, and begin to sing softly under my breath to guide me.
When I reach the chorus, my playing grows more insistent, the drums pounding out an emotional, primal beat that seems to match the rhythm of my own heart. I feel alive, free and completely in the moment.
The music rises, the drums pounding out a triumphant finale as I open my eyes and smile in embarrassment.
“I liked the song, is a classic but isn't quite how Mick would played” Alex said making my chances of winning low “But with the guys thought that is a very fresh way of making it, new and more what we look for”
“We're gonna deliberate now so if you can wait a little” I nod as I sit on the house stairs looking at everyone specially at Rodrick who's on the phone texting all the time with someone.
■☆■☆■
After half an hour or so they got out of the garage telling the typical thing that it was so hard to get a result since everyone was the best drummer they've seen but after all the chat they just selected three people for the final reveal and I WAS ONE OF THEM?
I get closer to Rodrick, who was also selected. I look at everything beside me in disbelief thinking of the endless possibilities after this, especially quitting college for this would totally change my life. I was nervous, feeling goosebumps at this point.
“The three of you were the type of drummer we're looking for, you have the style of the band all over you but sadly only one of you can be the selected one”says Louis the guitarist of the band
“This drummer did something that any other would do, showing how they feel about this audition” says Gab.
“Congratulations Rodrick, you won this audition… welcome to the band” says Alex welcoming Rodrick to the band with open arms.
“oh, I'm so telling Dani about this”he says with a grin as he texts quickly on his phone as he gets closer with the guys of the band, chatting a little and starting to practice right away with him.
I was crushed, humiliated for some reason. A sense of failure washed over me,, and wondering if I had been over delusional to think that I could make it.
My eyes narrowed as I watched Rodrick take my spot. At first I didn't want it but the sense of failing makes me want it even more. I know that begging for it would be stupid but the burning sense of resentment and anger ignited within me. I get next to him with my eyes locked in a fierce stare-down.
"You think you're better than me?"
"I know I am," Rodrick would smirk.
The tension between us was palpable, and it seemed like things were about to get even uglier.