Arsenic Iris: The Origin

I needed something to entice my fans so I'm writing this extra special just for them. I hope you find this as entertaining as I do. I now give you Van at 18. Most likely I don't own anything brought up in this comic like bands and products so no suing me for using them because I am not making any cash off of this.

~Van….well technically Preston at this point~

Tonight was the talent show. I'd practiced a long time for this and finally decided what the hell? I had my voice warmed up and my guitar was perfectly tuned so I went out and stood in front of the mic. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the lighting.

"I'm Preston Sirgion and I'm here to play you a song!" I decided to play "Break" by Three Days Grace.

"If you can't stand the way this place is take yourself to higher places" That line always resonated with me. Vermont…well at least the part of it I lived in was main stream suburbia and lets get real, no teenager really wants to live in suburbia. Especially not a gay one who wants to be famous. I played the last chord and the said the last lyric before walking off stage. I patiently waited back stage until they brought everyone out to pick a winner. The principal walked onstage.

"Well that's the last of our performers. So its time to pick the winner!" Everyone walked back out including me. "We've had a machine backstage that has been measuring sound decibels and the winner is decided on how high the number was during the applause after their performance. Tonight's winner is…." There was a drum roll sound effect. "Lisa Sanders!" She was given a coupon for a free dinner with her family or something. I was kinda bummed I didn't win but hey she was pretty good on the piano. I took my defeat like a man and walked offstage to my parents.

"Don't be mad son you did a great job." My mom patted me on the back.

"And your brother got it all on camera!"

"We're totally puttin it on you tube." The rest of the night wasn't anything worth mentioning. We just put the video on you tube linked it to face book and then went to bed. The next morning my brother woke me up.

"/leadsinger!" I yawned and blinked.

"One more time Greg?"

"You have an audition for a band!" I was instantly awake.

"When?! Where?! Who?!" I asked jumping out of bed… almost falling flat on my face and put on pants.

"It's in a couple hours, I texted you the directions and I think they were called Arsenic Iris." I started getting ready.

"Arsenic Iris? Don't they play some of the clubs out in town?"

"All of them." I panicked. Why would they want me? I was just a high school kid! I threw something on then I turned my phone on. The text showed up. I read the directions and grabbed my guitar.

"Thanks bro" he tripped me when I walked out of my room. "The hell was that for?"

"been to nice today had to balance it out."

"When I get famous…your not getting any bitches." I said my eyes as narrow as slits.

"Not even the trashy ones?"

"No none. Not even sloppy seconds." I walked down the hallway and grabbed my keys.

"You're an ass!" He yelled at me down the hallway. I smirked and walked out the house. I read the directions and I think I could get there. I got in my car and drove away. I was as nervous as I was excited. When I parked just outside of the house I felt like throwing up. I grabbed my guitar and walked into the garage.

"And you said he wouldn't show up." Said one of them walking up to me. "So you're the little high school kid from the video?"

"I'm 18 dammit."

"Your first name is Preston…how can we take you seriously?" He laughed.

"Don't blame me for that name I didn't pick it. When I get in the band I'll change it."

"When? I think you mean if." He raised and eyebrow.

"Nope when." I slid my guitar on.

"Put your guitar where your mouth is." I started playing.

"We're a rock band pick it up a little!" I did just that. I played most intense song I could think of and the band stopped me.

"I think he fits the bill."

"Little short though." I glared.

"I'm 5' 6" what do you want from me?! So am I in or is there a height requirement?" The base player shook my hand.

"Alright you're in but for fuck's sake change your name." I smirked.

"So are we gonna keep talking or actually play?"

"Let's get the intros outta the way. I'm Kane the bassist, Vince is the drummer and Seth is rhythm guitar." After that we started a playing a few of their songs. It got late by the time we stopped. It was dark.

"Time for the little boy to run home." I glared again.

"18...no longer a minor…will fight you….MMA fighter…you will lose."

"MMA fighter?"

"Champion two different years." Kane nodded in respect.

"Alright I'll lay off of your age, but I'm still picking on your name."

"Go ahead. I'll be changing it soon." I smirked and drove home. I walked upstairs to put my guitar away when I smelled something. Greg was smoking pot again. I stepped in his room.

"Dumb ass, crack a window or something. If mom and dad find out their gonna be pissed." He looked over at me glassy eyed with his I'm high smirk.

"Don't care…too stoned to care…" I rolled my eyes and opened his window. "How did the thing go?"

"The audition?" He nodded.

"I'm in." He smiled….well sorta smiled.

"Kudos…take a hit to celebrate." He held up what was left of his joint.

"Alright this one time." I took a hit…and then another. And kept going until we were pretty damn stoned. "I'm so fucking hungry…"

"Are they coming back soon or are we gonna have to like go to White Castle or something?" Greg asked about our parents coming home.

"Dude no….we both know what happens when people go to White Castle stoned." He laughed and fell over. I laughed to.

"Damn now I want White Castle…"

"Lemme guess I gotta be Harold…?"

"You're the smart one."

"Wow…we're in deep shit…" We both laughed until we heard a car pull in the driveway.

"nope now we're in deep shit." He laughed. I got up and sprayed the whole place and us. Killed the smell a bit.

"Boys?" I heard mom calling down the stairs. She walked up the stairs and opened Greg's door. "oh there you are." I think she realized we were blazed. To our amazement she said. "If you two are gonna do that…stay in the house. Don't do anything stupid like drive. I don't need any of my boys getting into an accident." Then she left to go make dinner.

"She pretty much just said we can smoke pot." I was to busy staring at this trippy poster he had.

"Dude…That rainbow….is getting closer to me…" I felt sick. "It's making me dizzy." I threw up.

"Seriously? Ma!" He yelled down to her.

"Clean it yourselves." She yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"Damn you Pres." I just laughed.

~Brotherhood-cleaning up after the other one for the rest of your life~