Rock Star by Adrian Chamberlain Read Free Book Online Page B

is standing right in front of me, flailing his head from side to side. He’s got this really long hair and a ZZ Top beard, so it looks pretty incredible. Sometimes I can feel his hair, which is wet and sweaty, slap across my right hand. Which is kind of disgusting.
    After three tunes, Grant comes over.
    “You’re playing good, Dunc,” he says. “Want some Jack?”
    He takes a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey from his back pocket. The drummer’s looking at me, smirking. So I grab the bottle and take a slug. It tastes horrible, like liquid fire. But Grant’s looking at me, grinning in an “I dare you” kind of way. So I take another big slug.
    “Rock and roll, my brother,” he says. “I always thought you were kind of a pussy.”
    Grant pats me on the back. Him calling me brother makes me feel good. There’s no time to think about this though, because right away we’re into another song. And then another. And then in no time, our set is done. I look at the crowd, expecting applause or something. The funny thing, no one even claps. Except for this hairy guy. He goes crazy, smacking his hands together and whooping, like he’s front row at a U2 concert. I make a mental note to avoid him, in case he’s a psycho.
    “We’ll be right back after a short break and a cold beer,” Grant mumbles into the microphone. He reaches behind the drum kit and starts handing out cans of beer to the band. The can is cold in my hand. This feels good, because my hand is sort of numb from hitting the strings so hard. But I don’t really want it.
    “No thanks,” I say. That whiskey is already hitting me. I feel light-headed. It’s really noisy in the room—the stereo’s back on, and someone in the corner is yelling. Something about the money some guy called Jack owes him. He sounds pissed.
    “Hey, McCann. I thought you weren’t a total weenie,” Grant says. “My mistake.”
    So I grab the stupid can of beer and take a long swig. It actually feels good going down my throat, it’s so hot in the room. Grant hands me the bottle of Jack again. I take a long pull, then drink some more beer.
    “That’s more like it, dude. Now you’re rocking,” says Grant.
    There’s a tap on my arm. It’s Jason and Jennifer.
    “Hey, stranger,” says Jennifer.
    “Hi. Where were you guys?”
    “We took a little walk outside. Some of those motorbike guys are making a bonfire in the front yard. In an oil drum,” says Jason.
    I look at Jennifer in her party dress. I get that sinking feeling again.
    “How’d you guys like our set?” says Grant, who’s staring at Jennifer in a way I don’t like.
    “Well, we were outside, but it sounded great. Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you something,” says Jason.
    Oh god. Don’t say it, Jason. Don’t say it. Please.
    “Yeah, I was wondering if we could use your music. Me and Dunc are making a movie. It could be, like, the soundtrack.”
    “What kind of movie?” says Grant.
    “It’s a remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark . We’ve been making it since we were twelve. It’s really cool.” Jason goes on to give Grant all the superdorky details, talking fast and breathlessly like he always does when he’s excited. I’m embarrassed, but at the same time, I’m getting this weird floating feeling from the booze.
    After Jason finishes explaining about the movie, no one speaks for a few seconds.
    “Oh, man, that’s so lame,” says Grant, finally. “You guys sound like a bunch of babies. What are you, in grade two?”
    Jason looks at Grant open-mouthed, like someone just punched him in the face. Then, without saying a word, he turns and walks out the front door. Jason has officially left the party.
    Meanwhile, Grant’s wandered off somewhere. I think maybe I should go after Jason, but my legs feel kinda wobbly. It’s like my body’s wrapped in cotton.
    “Duncan, maybe we should go home now,” says Jennifer.
    I’d forgotten she was still here. Maybe I’m drunk.
    “No…it’s cool.