Free Fully Automatic (Bullet) by Jade C. Jamison Page A

asked, “Are you serious, though?  Do you really like our sound?”
    She had a twinkle in her eye, but Brad could tell she was being sincere.  “Of course, I do.  You guys will go so far if you keep playing like that.  And you can play for me anytime.”
    Brad couldn’t help letting out a howl.  “Good.  I told my mom and dad someone would like our stuff.  My dad asked what mom said and before I could even answer, he said it was a sound even a mother couldn’t love.  Thanks for proving him wrong, Val.”
    Zane had already picked up his instrument again and played a mean bassline. “ We like it, and that’s all that counts.”  He grinned and put it down again, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
    Brad was inspired.  He knew a way to not only endear himself to this beautiful young woman, but he wanted to have some fun with her, and no one would be the wiser.  He couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face when he said, “Hey, Valerie.  I saw you mouthing the words to all the covers.  Would you like to sing one?”
    The look on her face said it all.  Part of her wanted to say no, but Brad could tell she was tempted to say yes.  Still, she laughed, waving her hands in front of herself.  “No, that’s okay.”
    She simply needed a little encouragement.  “I’m serious.  You could give our vocal cords a rest.”
    Ethan got a huge grin on his face, draping an arm around her.  “Besides, you said you’d always fantasized about being on stage.”
    She looked like she was starting to cave, but she continued to protest.  “Well, I don’t know.  Both your voices are a lot better than mine.”
    And that’s when Brad knew she was full of shit.  He knew he and Ethan both needed work in the vocal department.  Sure, they didn’t suck, but the only way this girl could have a worse voice was if she was tone deaf.  He doubted it.  People who were tone deaf usually figured it out and stuck to singing out loud only when in a car by themselves.  So he wanted to urge her one more time.  He could tell she wanted to.  “No excuse, Val.  Come on.”   He was getting ready to get Nick and Zane on board too, but he couldn’t stop looking at Val.  She took them all in, though, as if to make sure everyone was okay with it.
    It was simple, though.  “Okay.”  Brad and Ethan high fived as though they’d won a championship game.  Val added quickly, “But only one song.”
    He was cool with that.  “Of course.”
    Zane leaned forward.  He knew Val probably as well as Ethan, so it was good to have him on board.  He asked, “What do you want us to play?”
    She stood in thought for a few seconds and finally said, “No idea.”
    Brad didn’t want to lose her now, just because she couldn’t think of anything to sing.  He slid his guitar strap over his head and asked, “How do you feel about Korn?”
    “I like ‘em.”
    “Name anything you could sing off one of their first four CDs.”  Ethan gave him a look.  “What?  I can play any one of ‘em.”
    Ethan was staring him down.  “ I can’t.”  He turned to Val, and she gave him all her attention.  “Know ‘Moon Baby’ by Godsmack?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Would you feel comfortable singing it?”
    “I think so.”
    “You know the words?”
    “Yep.”
    “You heard the woman.”
    It had happened so fast, Brad didn’t realize what was going on until it was too late.  Ethan had slid his guitar strap over his head, so Zane followed suit with his bass and Nick trotted the few steps back to his drum kit.  Of all the songs they knew, Ethan knew damned good and well “Moon Baby” only needed one guitar.  Sure, Brad could be a lame ass and echo, but no way.  He knew Ethan liked to mix songs up and change them, and no way was Brad going to look like an amateur next to his friend.  So he instead slid the mike out of the stand and offered it to Valerie like a present.  Once she took it, he propped his guitar against