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Sandy awoke around 8 a.m., a smile on her face. The sun peeked in through the lace curtains, and that always cheered her up. She got out of bed quietly, picked out clothes for the morning, and took them into the bathroom with her. Piling her long hair on top of her head, she started the shower, and quickly cleaned herself off. She then dried off, dressed, applied a little bit of mascara and lipstick, and returned to her bedroom long enough to stuff her old school uniform and matching Mary Janes into her duffle bag. Checking on her room mate, she noted that Annie still slumbered. Figuring sleeping in a little wouldn't hurt her, Sandy tiptoed out of the room without waking the little drummer.

As she passed Rory's room, she saw the door open, so she stopped in. Both Rory and Jamie lay sprawled on the bed, guitars still nearby, still fast asleep. Sandy smiled-- how long had they stayed up practising? Really, they both worried too much sometimes about the band's sound. She shut the door, and headed for the kitchen for some orange juice, a piece of toast, and an apple. She took the apple with her as she left the flat for a morning of modern dance class, a long-overdue visit to her Aunt Constance, and a bus ride over to her brother's flat to give him a hand in transporting the band's gear to the club.

Rory's alarm went off, jarring her out of a sound sleep. Hazily, she turned over and glanced at the time which read 9:15. The room was too bright, the birds were too loud and she felt as if she'd hardly slept at all. "Fucking hell, " she muttered, forcing herself into an upright position. Her eyes widened with surprised to see Jamie curled up on the other side of the bed, dead to the world and drooling on her pillow. Rory gave her a hard shove. "James! James!"

"Wha?" Jamie mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "Go 'way."

"Jamie, wake up."

"Why?" she groaned, trying to bury her head under the pillow.

"We've got a gig today, you stupid git. Besides, you're in my bed."

Jamie slowly peeled the pillow away from her face and squinted up at her friend. "I am?"

"Yeah, you are. I knew your brother was desperate to get into bed with me but I didn't think you were." Rory leered at her.

The brunette pulled a face. "Euuuuuu."

"Don't knock it till you've tried it, baby," Rory said lightly. "You want the loo first or shall I go?"

Jamie sniffled and rubbed her eyes sleepily. "You seem to be the more awake one, so you go first. I'll wait here and, erm, well, get a few more minutes' kip."

The tall guitarist yawned and struggled to her feet. "Fine. Be that way. I'm gonna let the other two sleep in a bit more as otherwise we'll be tripping over one another."

"Sounds like a brilliant plan," Jamie murmured, drifting off once again. Rory let her sleep, doing her best to collect her things quietly before heading off to the bathroom.

By the time Jamie finally woke up on her own, Rory was already out of the bath, dressed in her robe, and busily packing a rucksack. "Shit, what time is it?"

"Nearly 10. I'd suggest you get your arse into the bath before Annie needs it."

"She up yet?"

"Nope. Still out cold."

"Right-o. I'd best get to it then." Jamie rolled off the bed and on to her feet. "I won't be too long."

Rory nodded, her attention focused on a pile of assorted eye shadows. "I've saved you some time-- I ironed your uniform as well as mine. Figured since I was already doing it, I might as well keep going."

"Ah." Jamie tried to look pleased. Rory's domestic skills (or lack thereof) were notorious around the flat. "You didn't, erm, burn anything, now did you?"

"I only burn eggs, not pinafores. It's just fine," Rory responded huffily. "It's hanging up in your room. You can see it for yourself."

"Ta for doing it, anyroad." Jamie was afraid to see what kind of condition her school uniform would be in but at least Rory had meant well. "You're awfully chipper for someone who got nearly as little sleep as I did."

Rory grinned. "Behold the magical power of leapers."

"Ah. That explains everything. Got any to spare?"

"Of course." She dug into her rucksack and held up a small vial of blue pills. "Help yourself."

Jamie nodded in approval. "Let me see what condition I'm in after my bath. I might just need one or two." She was headed towards the door when Rory called after her.

"Oi, James!"

"Yeah?" Jamie stopped dead in her tracks.

"Any ideas as to where Sandy might be at this hour?"

Jamie turned around slowly. "What do you mean?"

Rory looked up from her makeup sorting, her brow creased with concern. "Well, I went to check on Annie after my bath and Sandy wasn't there. The bed's been made and her gear's gone so I'm assuming that means she's somewhere else. She certainly ain't here."

"Shit," Jamie said between clenched teeth. "Just what we need-- Sandy to go missing on today of all days."

"She's got a fairly level head-- I'm hoping wherever it is, she'll at least remember to turn up at the club at the right time."

"I have no bloody idea where she could've gone off to-- she didn't leave a note?"

"Not a blessed word. Could she have gone out for brekke?"

"Without us? I doubt it."

"Michael's?"

"Whatever for?"

Rory shrugged. "I dunno. It's just a guess."

Jamie threw up her arms in frustration. "I don't know where the bloody hell she is-- I don't even know her class schedule. Maybe Annie would have a clue?"

"Doubtful," Rory said with a sigh. "I hardly think Sandy would've told her anything considering the state she was in and let's face it, the fucking Beatles could've played live in our living room last night and Annie would've slept through it."

"Bugger bugger bugger."

"Go take your bath. Maybe Sandy'll be back by the time you're...." She was cut off by a bloodcurdling shriek from Annie and Sandy's shared bedroom. "Oh Christ, I think Sleeping Beauty's awoken from her slumber. You get in the bath and I'll deal with the crisis, yeah?"

Jamie nodded. "Just remember you can't kill her. Especially if Sandy's disappeared. Half a crap rhythm section is still better than none at all!" She dashed towards her bedroom.

Rory met a groggy, sobbing Annie in the hall way half way between their respective rooms. "What the fuck are you making all the damned noise for?"

"It's 10 o'clock! I'm missing an exam! Why didn't my alarm go off?" Annie demanded, tears streaming down her face. "Why didn't anybody wake me?"

"We tried," Rory said smoothly, "but you wouldn't wake up. You obviously needed the sleep after your histrionics last night."

"But I've got class and Mummy said...."

"Oh, sod Mum. You don't have to tell her!"

"But I can't miss an exam!" she sniffled, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dress.

"We've been through all that, Annie. I'll write you a note. You can afford to sag off one bloody day without the world coming to an end."

"But...."

"Look, it's too fucking late to cry over spilt milk. Although you're obviously doing it anyway."

"Rory, that's not fair. It's not your future at stake!"

"It will be if you don't start getting ready to go to the gig soon."

"How did I manage to sleep so long?" Annie choked back another sob, not even taking in her sister's comment. "I don't even remember coming home last night."

"You mean you don't remember Michael putting you to bed?" Rory smirked as she took in her little sister's stunned expression.

"What?!" Annie was blushing to the roots of her fair hair.

"He carried you out of rehearsal and took you home in the van. Tucked you in and everything."

"Y-you're just taking the piss," the younger girl stammered. "Michael wouldn't...."

"Well, he did. And who knows what he got up to with you in that van?"

"Rory!" Annie burst into a fresh flood of tears.

"Oh for fuck's sake, will you calm down, you silly cow? Nothing happened. You're still in yesterday's fucking clothes!"

She glanced down at her wrinkled dress, as if realising this for the first time. "Oh."

"You might want to consider getting changed before we leave, you know. You'll also need to iron your pinnie as I didn't dare touch it. You've only got an hour, and if we're late, your beloved Michael will skin us alive. "

"He's not my beloved Michael and you're the one who is always late, not me," Annie said petulantly. "My pinnie's pressed anyway. I never hang up anything without making sure it's ironed first."

"I should have guessed." Rory rolled her eyes. "Well, get a move on, sunshine. We ain't got all fucking day."

Michael found Sandy leaning against his van, browsing through the latest issue of Rave. "G'morning, Sands-- what are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd give you a hand with the equipment."

"That wasn't necessary."

"I know." She tucked the magazine back in her duffle bag. "I didn't particularly relish the thought of going back to the flat, actually. You know how Rory gets right before an important gig."

"Indeed I do." He unlocked the van, helped his sister into the passenger seat, then handed her a small black bag. "Here, hold on to this."

"Is this your camera gear?"

"Yes. I thought it was time for some new snaps. Especially since The Honeybears are now a house band." He tossed Sandy's duffle in the back, then got in on the driver's side.

They drove in compatible silence for awhile. Finally, Sandy said, "I popped round to Aunt Constance's this morning. She wants you to stop by sometime and review several passages in her new book. Some sort of checking for proper vernacular or something."

Michael nodded. "Perhaps I can get over there tomorrow." He paused a moment, glancing at his sister out of the corner of his eye. "You're not nervous, are you?"

"Nervous?" She shook her head. "Not really. I don't get stage fright, as a rule. The only thing I'm worried about is Rory. You know what kind of mood she can get in, sometimes."

"Indeed I do." Her brother looked thoughtful for a minute. "How's Annie?"

"She was asleep when I left-- hopefully she'll be all right today. Thanks again for helping out with her last night."

"It was my pleasure. I do hope she can manage today-- it amazes me that she can work herself up into such a state.. But I'm sure everything will work out all right in the end."

"So am I." She adjusted the camera bag on her lap, then reached over to see what she could find on the radio.

Rory slammed the receiver down hard, rattling the small table the phone sat upon. "Fuck!"

"What?" Jamie asked, looking up from tucking her school uniform into a wardrobe bag.

"No fuckin' answer! Where the fuck can that arsehole be?"

"H-h-he's probably already left to get our gear," Annie squeaked, flinching when her sister turned her angry gaze on her. "It's after 11, after all." She closed her eyes and swallowed hard, the breakfast of toast and tea that Rory had forced her to eat threatening to come up on her.

Rory gave the table a swift kick for good measure. "He'd better fuckin' be there when we get there, or I'll have his balls as earrings."

"He might like that, you know." Jamie commented.

"Aw, shut the fuck up, James." Rory glared again at her sister. "And you're certain you have no fucking idea where Sandy is?"

Annie blanched and shook her head.. "N-n-no. She has a class at 9--"

"She has?" Jamie said in surprise.

"Y-yes, didn't you know that that?"

Jamie grimaced. "No. I had no bloody idea. At least we have some clue as to where she went this morning."

"Well, not fuckin' enough," Rory argued. "She ought to have been back by now."

"I-I have no idea here she would go after that." Annie said quietly.

"Well, fuck it." Rory grabbed her bag, her purse, and her car keys, and yanked the flat door open. "Either she'll be there or she won't. Let's get this fuckin' show on the road, yeah?"

They made it to Chez Vrai in record time, with Rory shouting and bestowing two-finger salutes on drivers right and left as she swerved around them. She skidded the old Ford into a parking place half a block from the club and killed the engine. "Fuckin' hell." She reached for her stuff in the back seat.

Jamie slid out of the car, bag in hand. "Hey, Rora, better start watching the mouth. We're about to enter a no-fun zone."

The raven-haired guitarist sighed heavily. "The fuckin' sacrifices I make sometimes!" Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Annie, who was cowering in the back. "Come on, Annie, we ain't got all bleedin' day."

"Language!" Jamie admonished.

Rory flashed her an "up-yours" before leading the way into the club.

Michael was tuning Sandy's bass when they entered. He gave them a brief wave and continued to work. Rory started toward him-- and found her way blocked by Gribben. "Ah, ladies, welcome to your new home. You have about 7 minutes to get ready before sound check. Let me show you to your dressing room." He took Rory firmly by the elbow, leading her and the others to a door a bit down the service corridor. "Here you go. I expect you on the floor at 11:30 sharp."

Rory opened her mouth but was stopped by Jamie stomping on her foot gently in warning. She grimaced as Nigel ducked back down the corridor, finally sticking her tongue out at his retreating back. Wanting to get out of the fray, Annie decided to enter the dressing room and pushed open the door.

Sandy, already inside and mostly dressed in her old school uniform, jumped as the door swung open. "You could at least knock."

"It's not like you were undressed," Jamie commented, pushing past Annie into the room. She tossed her garment bag over a chair and started stripping off her street clothes while Annie found a corner to change in as well. "Not that anyone would care, anyroad."

Rory stomped up to the petite bassist and stared down at her, her violet eyes raging as bad as any windstorm. "Where the fuck were you?"

Unfazed, Sandy replied, "I had class this morning."

"And afterwards?"

The younger girl shrugged. "I visited an aunt."

"Why didn't you leave a fuckin' note?" Rory crossed her arms over her chest in frustration.

"I didn't think it was necessary. I'm always out of the flat on Wednesday mornings. You know that."

"No, we didn't," Jamie spoke up, struggling to smooth down her skirt.

Sandy gave her sister a blank stare. "Well, it's not my fault if you can't ever remember anyone's schedules."

"It'll be all your fault, if we bomb, you little twat," Rory countered, wagging a finger at her.

Sandy ignored the outburst. "If that's what you want to think... hadn't you better change?"

Rory huffed off to a clear space and quickly changed clothes. She hoped neither Nigel nor Michael noticed that her school uniform was definitely a few inches shorter than it ought to be-- she'd obviously grown taller since she'd last worn it 4 years ago. As she slipped into a pair of black flats, she assessed her band mates. They all looked presentable and rather innocent in their crisp white shirts and navy blue pinafores, with hair neatly combed and just enough make-up to-- "Sandy-- how about some eye shadow, yeah? And a little liner?"

"If we're supposed to be school girls--"

"We're not supposed to be fuckin' school girls! We're just wearing school girl uniforms! There's a fuckin' difference!" Rory grabbed her make-up bag as a knock sounded on the door and Michael's voice reminded them it was time for sound-check. With a frustrated sigh, she threw the bag aside and ushered the other girls out onto the club floor.

Taking up their instruments, they tried out the sound by playing a bit of "You Really Got Me," stopping every so often to adjust the amps or to check tuning while Michael took pictures of the girls in action from the back of the club. Nigel interrupted him from his task by touching his elbow. "They clean up rather nicely, Ludlow."

"I told you they would, sir."

"I'm glad to see you're true to your word. Now, let's hope they're actually able to bring in a crowd." He clapped his hands together several times as he stepped forward, causing the band to break off. "Lovely, ladies, just lovely. If you'll retire to your dressing room, we'll open the doors and start letting people in. You'll go on in--" he glanced at his watch-- "13 minutes."

Rory filled the time by making sure Sandy had enough make-up on-- and then by readjusting Annie's, Jamie's and her own. Jamie kept herself occupied by pulling out a sketch pad and doodling while her sister hummed nonsense tunes and did stretching exercises. Meanwhile, Annie sat in the corner, crunched up in a ball, hoping she wouldn't lose the contents of her meager breakfast before they went on.

Michael circulated through the club, stopping to chat with several people he knew while Gribben stood near the door, looking more and more pleased as the club filled up. Finally, he gave a five-minutes signal to Michael, who nodded and went down the service corridor to get his charges.

Knocking on the dressing room door, he called out, "Five minutes, girls."

Rory opened the door, and herded the others out. "Who's out there?" she asked.

"Your friend Syb and several of her mates-- I almost didn't recognise them at first! About half of my football team. Couple others from other gigs. The rest of the place, I don't know."

"How filled is it?"

"Pretty well. You've got a nice turnout for the first time." They met up the other girls at the mouth of the service corridor. "Wait here until Mr. Gribben introduces you. I'll be in the audience taking photos." Michael said, trying to disguise his own nerves with an overly cheery countenance. "Good luck, girls."

"Cheers," Rory gave him a rare smile as he went to his seat.

"Well here we go," Sandy commented with a nervous smile.

"Do we have to?" Annie wondered, her voice quavering.

"You'll be fine, love, really-- once you start playing, it will be just like all the other gigs we've done." Sandy patted her friend's hand in reassurance.

"And if you're not, we'll just kill ya," Rory added with a smirk.

Jamie started singing quietly, to the tune of "We Love You Conrad." "We are the Honeybears, oh yes we are... we are the Honeybears and we'll go far...."

Annie and Sandy joined in, first hesitantly but voices growing stronger as they went. "We know that someday soon we'll be stars... we are the Honeybears, oh yes we are!"

Rory snorted, twisting her face into a disapproving expression. "For fuck's sake! Do you always have to do that?"

"It's gotten us where we are today," Jamie commented with a smirk.

"Which isn't very--"

"Shh!" Sandy said. "Mr. Gribben is going on to the stage."

They watched as the club owner spoke into Rory's microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Chez Vrai. I hope you'll have a pleasant time at our fair establishment. And today, for your lunchtime entertainment, may I present to you The Honeybears!"

He gestured toward the service corridor as the audience burst into polite applause. Rory nodded at her fellow band members and then led the way to the small stage.

End of Chapter 1

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