No Holding Back Read Online Free PDF Page B

writing songs,” Joe explained, somewhat upset that Chris wasn’t quick to catch onto his oddball humor. “Alright!” Joe said, clapping his hands and rubbing them together. “Let’s do this!”

Chapter 4
     
     
    For the next six and a half hours, Chris watched and listened with mind-numbing despair at the goofy kid in front of her that was Joe Bedden. She did her best to pay attention to him but mostly, she stared at him in angst wondering how the hell he ever got into Heretic in the first place. Of course every die-hard fan knew Heretic got their start in Wade’s basement - that was a given. 
    Joe was a few years older than Chris and on more than one occasion, she had to stop from laughing as he went on tangents several times. She did her best to ignore the bouncing blonde dreads that banged into his face and remain serious about the situation, but it wasn’t easy. Sure, she had been to some of their concerts, listened to their music, but one-on-one was something else entirely. Now she knew why Wade was the only one that did interviews for Heretic. She had to stop herself from asking him if he was on drugs.
    But despite her first impression , Joe taught Chris everything there was to know about being a guy - things she practically already knew; crotch rubbings, belching and other forms of noxious gases, reading dirty magazines, watching porn, how to stand, how to pee, how to eat, how to sit, how to sleep. But after a while, Chris was sure Joe was making up some of it and inwardly remarked that his absurdity knew no bounds. She tried insisting that she knew what to do but Joe was on a roll.
    In stead, he went on to tell her how to look at other girls from now on - especially at concerts, but Chris became disgusted and flat out refused. Shortly after, she begged for a reprieve but only after she had ran out of things to throw at him.
    Thankful that the ordeal was over for now, Chris leaned her head back onto the couch and exhaled for ages. After their lengthy lesson, she was certain that if any other girl would have been in her shoes, they would have up and left hours ago regardless of who she was with. But despite her angst at what they wanted her to do, she would have done it, no questions asked. 
    Because Chris had only one thi ng in her heart and on her mind. And she squeezed them so tightly in her hands, they nearly hurt. 
    Her drumsticks. 
    Hell, she would have shaved her head if they asked her to, but she was secretly hoping they wouldn’t. But what they asked of her hardly came as a surprise. She was more than willing to do it, or anything else for that matter, just to do something that came naturally to her.
    She couldn ’t help but reminisce her first night in the band bus. The whole ordeal gave her goose bumps and she still couldn’t shake the butterflies from her stomach. She remembered listening to the three of them snore in their rooms as Pete drove the bus like a veteran truck driver. 
    She studied the plush living area in which they all sat, and couldn ’t get over the luxury of it all. At least it was luxury to her; the microfiber couches and chairs, the self-sustaining bathroom complete with a full shower, a vanity, and a sink with more buttons than any TV remote she had ever seen. The kitchen was smaller to accommodate their home on wheels, but it boasted a fridge full of food and cabinets packed with every road snack imaginable. When Chris was sure everyone was asleep, she swiped a stick of beef jerky like a thief in the night and practically inhaled it.
    The 30 inch flat screen TV that loomed above them constantly aired Metal Madness, MTV, or some other show that played music videos, interviews, concerts, etc. But Chris was quick to pick up on something right away; whenever news about Heretic came on, no one said anything - not even Wade. She thought for sure they would delight in any news that expressed how popular they were, but no one stirred. Instead, Chris found it odd that Wade