Warlord Metal (25 page)

Sonny kept an eye on the banner as she listened to the now familiar lyrics. When the chorus was sung, she could hear Jordan's voice mixing with Atkins before the rest of Warlord joined in. She shivered, not liking the words of the song but realizing that the fans loved it. Hearing Jordan's voice calling out, "Rape me," wasn't pleasant. But, hey.... It probably helps her to write about this stuff. Get it out of her system in a constructive manner.

The area around the banner was converged upon by several yellow shirted security guards and the sign was pulled down, the people responsible herded towards the exits. Oblivious, the rest of the crowd continued cheering and singing along with their favorite song.

The second surprise awaited the band at the hotel. A guest service aide with a big smile met them at the door as they piled out of the limousine. She escorted the band through the lobby and to the elevators. "We've got everything set up for you. Your rooms are on the sixteenth floor, right near the elevators. If you need anything, just give the front desk a call."

Puzzled at her attentiveness, the band members thanked her with confused smiles. Atkins stopped long enough to ask for her phone number.

"C'mon, Lando!" Jordan called from the crowded elevator. She was surrounded by Warlord, her lover, and three security guards. "I wanna catch a shower before we go out tonight!"

The tall guitarist jumped into the cab with a grumble. "Alright, alright!" The doors closed and he glanced down at his diminutive partner. "She was a cutie, wasn't she?"

Jordan shook her head with a snicker and the rest of the occupants chuckled as well.

The remainder of the ride was in silence. They reached their destination and stepped out onto the sixteenth floor. A sign in front of them indicated the directions to different rooms and told them that the Concierge Lounge was located down the hall to their right. Directly across from the elevator was a set of double doors with their room number on it.

The teenager dug out the keys that Tramuto had given her earlier in the day. While the three guards wandered off to their own rooms on that floor, she handed out the room assignments. "Looks like they've got you, me and Max in this one," she said to Jordan, approaching the double doors, a puzzled look on her face. "Tom and Lando each have their own rooms."

Rolling emerald eyes, the redhead snorted. "So much for privacy."

Hampton used his keycard to unlock the door before him. "Never stopped you before," he murmured as he opened the door with a smile.

Sonny blushed scarlet.

The lights were already on in the room. There was a short hall with two doors off of it. The three stepped in, Hampton leading the way into the living area.

"Whoa!" he muttered.

There were two couches in the suite. On each table were assorted flowers. To the right of the living area was a large dining table that was covered with various foods. The television was set to MTV, popular music floating through the room. There were three other doors in the room. One on either side wall near the windows and a set of French doors.

Sonny poked her head into the room to the left off the hallway. "Wow!" she exclaimed as she turned on the light, her voice echoing. "This bathroom is huge!" She stood in the center of the room with amazement. "And it's got two toilets!" the teenager called out. Directly across from the door she'd entered was another doorway.

Just as the dark woman peered out of the bathroom, Jordan opened the French doors on the right, revealing a king sized bed. "Hot damn!" she said with a lecherous grin and a wink for her lover. She then looked over her shoulder at the bassist. "We got dibs on the bed!"

The teenager giggled as Jordan jumped onto the bed and splayed out on her back.

"Oh, yeah, I could dig some strawberries and whip cream right now," the guitarist said with a suggestive wink, waving the dark youth closer.

As Sonny joined her, the door in the far corner of the dining area opened and Middlestead looked in. "Hey! I knew I smelled food!" He looked around as he entered. "Damn, but this rocks! Wonder if they gave us the wrong rooms or something?"

As the drummer began filling a plate with food, Jordan called from the bed, "If they have, let's not tell 'em until tomorrow."

"You've got the right rooms," a new voice said.

"Lisa?" Hampton stared at his girlfriend. A grin broke out on his face and he rushed forward to envelop the blonde woman in his arms. "What are you doing here?"

"Surprising you," she responded with a happy smile. "Is it working?"

Atkins stepped into the room from the other connecting door. "I'll say! How ya doing, girlfriend?"

There were rounds of hugs and kisses between them as everyone sought to welcome Foley to their suite. And then food was dished up, a minibar was discovered and cracked open and everyone settled down to fill their bellies as they caught up.

"Well, they flew me in for the weekend," the blonde woman said as she sliced her steak into bite size chunks.

"So, why all the hoopla?" Sonny asked. "I mean, we've ridden a limo twice today and now a suite with connecting rooms...? What's going on?"

Foley grinned secretively. "Can't tell. It's a secret." She waved her eating utensils in the air at the sudden verbal attack from all sides. "I ain't saying!" she insisted. "Craig swore me to secrecy. He'll be here as soon as they've finished preparing everything for tomorrow."

"Are ya gonna be traveling with us, now?" the drummer asked, scooping up a mouthful of green beans.

"No," the woman said with a little shake and a sad smile. "I've still gotta work. Besides, who else is gonna watch the house while yer gallivanting all over the countryside?"

"Bummer," Sonny murmured.

Foley's face agreed with her as she looked at her lover with apologetic eyes. The bassist reached over and squeezed her thigh in understanding.

It wasn't long before Tramuto showed up at their door. Jordan answered the knock and followed him into the room.

"Well, I see y'all found the food," he drawled with a dimpled grin. A glance at Jordan and he added, "And the booze."

The redhead settled back down next to Sonny and tossed back her whiskey with a smug look.

"So, what's this all about, Craig?" Middlestead asked, setting his plate aside and eyeballing the covered item under the tour manager's arm. The rest of the group piped up in question as well.

Tramuto waved them to silence. Running his free hand through his curly hair, he said with his best Texas twang, "Well, kids, y'all done good. White Horse decided to give ya a bit of a surprise." He waved expansively around the suite. "Ya got this for the weekend. We'll do a show tomorrow at Super Toad and then y'all got the next day off."

"Not that I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth, no pun intended," Hampton said. "But what the hell for? Why now?"

The manager's face broke into a wide smile. He pulled the package out from under his arm and uncovered it with a flourish. "Because yer CD just went gold!" He held up a plaque with a gold record and a brass plate shining in the lamplight.

There was absolute silence.

A frown crossed Tramuto's face. "Well...? Say sumpin...!"

After a long pause, Foley said, "I think they're in shock."

Jun 9, 2002

This weekend has been absolutely incredible! Warlord has really hit the big time now! Their record went gold last week and it's been nothing but a party ever since!

Friday after the show, we finally got to the hotel room. Lisa was here! It was so good to see her! White Horse flew her in to surprise us. (And, boy, was Max surprised!!) And a huge suite! Catered meals! A limousine! Wow!

I don't remember much of Friday, though. Yesterday I spent a lot of time with the toilet. I'll never drink that much again! Yick! I don't see how Jordan can do it! She drinks and smokes and pops pills and stuff... She doesn't ever seem to suffer from hangovers, though I can usually tell when the drugs wear off.

She's been doing a lot of speed lately. Staying up late and partying, getting up early for interviews and photo shoots and the like. I'm beginning to get worried. Sometimes she's so wired, she can't even come to bed, can't sit still long enough for me to hold her. I think that's why she drinks the alcohol, trying to counteract the speed. And it doesn't work.

I just know that I'm starting to get a little worried. I don't ever see her 'straight' anymore. It's starting to get scary.

Speaking of scary, there are some people out there who definitely do not like the songs! I've seen people boycotting the concert! Waving signs and stuff!! There was even some of them at Super Toad on Friday night! (Super Toad! What a name for a nightclub!) It's that song - 'Face'. I haven't figured out if it's the point of view of the rapist or the victim's idea of what the rapist is thinking. In any case, a lot of people don't like it.

Small wonder. Even I don't like it. Maybe because I know about Jordan and her step-dad, what he did to her. Sometimes I wish I could just go back in time and stop him from hurting her like that. She must have been so scared and alone... It's no wonder she's turned to drugs and alcohol. I hope she'll finally realize that I'm here for her...

As Sonny awoke, she could feel sunlight warming her body where it filtered through the bus window. There were sounds out in the main area, people murmuring, the clinking of metal against plastic. The bus was running, the air conditioning keeping a tolerable temperature in the mid-August heat of New York City. She inhaled deeply, smelling coffee and the unfamiliar odor of bacon. Wow! Breakfast? That's a surprise!

The teenager stretched out her lanky form, luxuriating with feline grace. Pale blue eyes opened. And widened in surprise as she abruptly sat up.

Sonny was surrounded by a riot of metallic color. The little alcove she shared with her lover had been filled with a huge bouquet of helium balloons of all shapes and sizes. With a delighted smile, she pulled an unusually large mylar heart towards her, turning it to read the writing. 'Happy Birthday!' read the cheery letters.

"Oh, wow!" she breathed. "They remembered!" Stealthily, the partition inched open and the teenager turned to watch with a curious smile.

An emerald eye peered in. The brow lowered in a scowl and Jordan turned to the rest of the bus' occupants. "She's awake already. You guys are making too much noise." Grumbling over their denials, the redhead used a booted foot to slide the partition the rest of the way open and stepped into the tiny room, carrying a tray laden with a large breakfast.

"This is fantastic," Sonny smiled, shifting in the bed and pushing balloons to one side. "Thank you!"

Jordan turned a little red and shrugged. She settled the tray on the teenager's lap and bent forward for a kiss. "Well, we aren't in a hotel, so I couldn't very well order room service."

The dark teenager looked over her food, finally grabbing her silverware and napkin. "Who's idea was this?" she asked, reaching for a slice of toast.

"Hers!" a voice from just outside the doorway answered. "You decent, sis?"

"Hold on!" Jordan scooped up a t-shirt from the foot of their bed and the youth tossed it on, almost losing her tray in the process. She giggled as her lover juggled the food until it was stable once more. "C'mon in, Tom."

The dark man, wearing only jeans leaned smugly against the doorway, arms crossed. "Don't let Jordan fool ya," he said, dark blue eyes sparkling. "Deep inside that bitchy exterior beats a heart of gold."

"Bite me," the guitarist grumbled, looking out the window.

Middlestead held up a thumb and forefinger about a centimeter apart. "A little one."

Sonny chuckled and picked up one of the two mugs of coffee. A quick sip and she grimaced, handing it to her lover. "Yick! This one's yours."

Jordan rolled her eyes and rescued her mug. "Sorry. Mine has less sugar and more alcohol."

Smacking her lips in distaste, the dark woman eyed her lover. "Way more alcohol.... Is there any coffee in there?" She'd meant it as a teasing remark, but immediately after the words slipped from her mouth, Sonny wished for them back.

Emerald eyes flashed in anger. Jordan peered into her mug, teeth grinding on her immediate response. "Well, you know how us musicians get," she said with a feigned grin. "Gotta have something to write about in our obituaries." Seeing Sonny flinch, she felt both furious at herself and bitterly happy she'd scored a point of damage.

"Well, that's a pleasant way to start your day," Middlestead said, trying to lighten the mood. Turning, he called over his shoulder, "Hey, guys! Get in here!"

The rest of the people on the bus crowded around the doorway and sang an enthusiastic rendition of 'Happy Birthday.' Oblivious, Sonny reached out to take her lover's hand only to have the redhead shift until she was inaccessible. While it appeared natural, the separation was not lost on the teenager. Swell. If this is how my birthday starts....

Jordan's day was rapidly going from bad to worse.

First the near mob scene when she had gone into that Mom and Pop grocery store for a half dozen eggs. Some teenage punk with dreadlocks, tattoos and piercings had recognized her. Before the redhead knew what was happening, she was surrounded by a handful of skaters demanding autographs.

And then that shit with Sonny, she grumbled to herself. Jordan glanced across the limousine at her lover who was being dragged into a conversation with Tramuto regarding potential photographs from an overhead crane during the next concert. She was just teasing. You're being too sensitive, a quiet voice whispered from her depths. "Whatever," the guitarist growled.

"You say something?" Atkins asked from beside her.

The redhead shook her head no and slumped further into her seat. She glared out the window at passing scenery, ruminating over her bad day.

To top off the morning, she'd found that she had used the last of her uppers the night before. And her connections among the roadies hadn't been able to score since they'd hit New York State. She could already feel the depression setting in. The alcohol wasn't helping her mood any and Jordan knew better than to take downers when she was feeling this way. Dammit! I need a booster!