Bette could remember a time when all of this was a dream.  She looked at herself in the dressing room mirror.  60 seconds to show time.

“Bette, ya ready?” Alice asked.

“Let’s do it.”

She followed the girls out the door and into an elevator that lifted all four of them to the stage.  Alice, Bette, and Dana strapped on their guitars and Shane pulled the drumsticks from her back pocket.

Bette walked up to the middle microphone.

“Heeeeellllllooooo, Los Angeles!  It’s so good to be home!  Let’s have some fun tonight!”

2 Years Ago…

Bette cracked the door to her apartment after hearing loud noises.  It was only 8 AM and the hangover that she was experiencing would not subside when people insisted on banging doors.  When she should have been sleep, perhaps writing a song or two, or at the very least preparing for the weeks classes at the very beginning of her final year of her undergraduate college experience at CU, she was going to curse her apparent new neighbor.

Rubbing her stomach, she moved out of the door.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you?” The soft British voice, came from the side of her, “I know I’m a bit noisy, and I do truly apologize.”

Bette ran her fingers through her bed head, deciding to change her tune and not yell obscenities at this gorgeous woman.

“Uh…it’s okay.” Bette walked towards the woman who had just sat her box down, “I’m Bette.  I, uh, live across the hall.”

“Obviously.  I’m Helena.”

“Do you need any help?”

“Oh, no, that’s okay.  I can tell you might have had a very interesting night.”  She looked her up and down and Bette followed her eyes.  She did look a mess.  Last night’s party was pretty extreme—so much so, she wasn’t quite sure when or how she got home.

She looked embarrassed at herself, wearing an old t-shirt that she wasn’t sure was her own and a pair of tight shorts from her days of running track.

Helena noticed this, “No need to be embarrassed.  It’s college.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Bette smiled.  Helena was gorgeous and, though she looked terrible, she was trying to find a way she could talk to her again, “Well, welcome to the building.  Don’t hesitate to stop by if you need anything.”

“Thanks.”

As Bette escaped into the apartment, Helena shook her head watching her walk completely into the apartment for going back to her box.

**

Her things unpacked, Helena relaxed against her bed.  It didn’t take long for her to hear the soft sounds of an electric guitar playing something jazzy.  It wasn’t too loud, but loud enough for her to hear.  She wondered if it annoyed her neighbors because she enjoyed it.  There was something extremely sexy about an electric guitar.

She stepped out of her apartment, trying to figure out where this noise was coming from.  She placed her ear against the door next to her—Bette’s door.  She knocked hard, hoping she’d hear her.

Bette showed at the door, the Les Paul guitar still in her hands.

“Sorry, was I too loud?” Bette looked apologetic.

And freshened up from earlier.  She was gorgeous, but Helena thought her hangover look was pretty sexy too.

“No, not at all.  You sounded great.”

“Thanks.”

“May I come in?”

“Please.” Bette stepped aside to let her in.

“Is that a Les Paul?”

“Yes, it is actually.” Bette held on to it—her sixteenth birthday gift.

Helena noticed the flyer on the table for Howard’s Club, advertising a band called Jane’s Brawn playing there a week from that day.

“I’ve never been to Howard’s before.  Always wanted to.”

“Oh, my band’s playing next week.”  Bette handed the flyer to Helena, “You should come check us out.”

Hmm, Helena thought, A girl with a guitar, in a band, she’s hot, and my neighbor.  Can I get any luckier?