False Starts || Dave Grohl

Chapter 22

"I'm So Tired I Can't Sleep. I'm A Liar And A Thief"

Present

"Ricky what's up?" The metal door to my small studio slammed behind me as I clipped my car keys to one of my belt loops. "You sounded like you were- Holy shit..."

I was left speechless as six men, along with my assistant, pause their conversation to look up at me. "You said to only interrupt your week off if it was important..." Ricky's gelled hair was messier than usual, telling me just how nerve wracked he was to have such a large band in the studio with him. "This seemed pretty important."

"You would be correct." My praise was enough to set the younger man at ease. He was still new, trying to learn the ins and outs of working with me. It's understandable that he would be nervous to contact his boss when she specifically instructed him not to. "What are you boys in need of?"

The lead singer, whom I easily recognized, stepped forward to shake my hand. "Rick Rubin recommended we work with you. Apparently, you've made quite the impression on the him."

"You don't say..." I couldn't help but snicker at the memory of me out drinking the older man with the Chili Peppers in 2005 after spending the whole day perfecting Dani California. "Glad to know I don't have to make a trip down to LA anytime soon."

Throughout the early 2000's I was an intern turned co-producer for him before finally splitting off to start my own studio. His trust and guidance have given me numerous opportunities to get my name out there, while also working with so many talented artists.

"I'm-"

I couldn't help but cut him off, "Chester Bennington. I'm Rosemary Pierce, big fan of Meteora."

"We were wondering if you could squeeze us in for a session while we're in town?" The brunette man shot me a kind smile as Ricky continued talking with the rest of Linkin Park.

"For you guys, always."

---

After spending god only knows how many hours locked away in my studio, we completed the track. The guys giving thanks for all of my help while I promised to get the final mixes of Burn It Down back to them by the end of the month.

I was ready for a warm meal and a shower, but life apparently had more important things in store for my evening. "It fucking took you long enough!" Casey's voice was panicked as she jumped over the back of my couch, a magazine clutched tightly in her hands. "We've been waiting here for hours."

"Sorry an important guest came in and needed my assistance for a track," I nonchalantly hang my keys on a rack near the door before dropping my purse on the table under it. "We lost track of time while recording."

Nothing more was said from the blonde girl in front of me, instead she chose to shove the newspaper into my hands. Her eyes displaying worry and sorrow, causing a wave of confusion to wash over me until I caught sight of the headliner.

'The Nirvana Scandal No One Knew' was printed in bold across the top of the US Weekly article along with several photographs from throughout the years.

No... oh god no...

The first photograph that caught my attention is obviously a screen shot from the Smells Like Teen Spirit music video, an arrow pointing at where I stood in the ridiculous uniform next to one of the strippers. How they knew it was me, I have no clue.

I wonder if Frances has seen this yet...

The last two visible photographs were aged from years of wear and tear, scanned on a printer in order to be used. A blurry picture of Dave and I walking next to one another in '97 and a group photograph from Halloween in '93. "With the recent discovery of Rosemary Pierce's love triangle within Nirvana, our sources have done some digging into the woman who quite possibly ruined the band... I didn't fucking ruin Nirvana asshole."