Work Text:
One-shot: Our Lips are Sealed
Hollywood, summer 1980
Gina Schock was really not in the mood to talk to anyone right now as she burst into the dressing room/lounge area of LA’s Starwood venue. God, she could use a beer. She had just about had it with everything going on in her life. One second she was drumming for an awesome punk band like Edie & the Eggs, and now she was roped into letting the second punk band she joined—the Go-Gos—go pop all of a sudden. What’s so kickass about that? That wasn’t what rock & roll was about. She didn’t start taking up drums for pop music, no matter how much her bandmates Belinda Carlisle and Charlotte Caffey reminded her power pop was a legitimate thing in rock history. It also didn’t help that the chick Gina had been seeing for a while suddenly decided she was in love with her next door neighbor; and wasn’t interested in going out with the drummer anymore. So she couldn’t even fall back on her love life with her professional life all out of whack.
Gina threw her drumsticks into her town bag and carelessly tossed the bag on the ground with a big huff. She closed her eyes and ran a hand through her short, boyish hair while standing agitatedly in jeans and a white T-shirt with her own band’s logo. The sound of a giggle filled her ears as her eyes opened and noticed Go-Gos rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin walking toward the dressing room as the rest of the band left the stage following a local, weekend gig. Gina rolled her eyes on instinct since she currently found most things around her irrationally annoying. She didn’t have a problem with Jane when she was in a good mood. In fact, she probably got along with the songwriter the best out of everyone in the band’s line-up. That high-pitched, girly voice was adorable as was her present pixie cut and soft features. Jane had great taste in music, rad interests and was a blast on the town. Gina might go as far as to say she would have a thing for the perky LA native if the feeling was mutual. There was only one problem on that end…
“As if Terry would do something that pedestrian, Kathy,” Jane’s voice snorted animatedly as she spoke to Go-Gos bassist Kathy Valentine. Gina stood in place as the dark-haired ladies entered the room to grab their stuff. It was just her luck the cutest and coolest member of the Go-Gos was straight. Gina didn’t mind being the token lesbian in the band, but she already made the mistake of kissing a couple of straight girls in the past, and the disappointment wasn’t worth a repeat. Plus it sounded like Jane’s own dating history was kind of a mess anyway, what with her recent fling with Specials frontman Terry Hall. Not only did both bands just finish touring together, but Terry was clearly not available when he and Jane would fool around off stage. Gina didn’t think much of it at the time since she wasn’t single either and wasn’t exactly in a position to judge with her own choices.
“Whatever you say, Janie,” Kathy quipped lightly while grabbing her backpack then made her way out of the lounge. Jane shook her head while smiling and noticed Gina was still in the room.
“Hey, Gina,” Jane greeted simply and walked over in an ensemble of a soft pullover grey sweater and leather pants to the corner where her stuff.
“Hi,” she replied drolly and went to grab her bag off the ground.
“What’s got you down? I noticed you cut the drum breaks a bit short tonight,” Jane pointed out as she placed her messenger bag over her shoulder and gripped her guitar case she was already holding.
“Nothing,” Gina insisted plainly as Jane leaned her side against the wall once she was in front of the drummer. “I’m cool,” she added crossing her arms to try to appear more convincing.
Jane just cocked an eyebrow with a smirk disbelievingly. She set her case on the ground and propped herself more nonchalantly. When there was another beat between them without anything else said, Jane raised her hand and playfully nudged Gina’s arm. “Come on. Something’s bothering you,” she continued to press calmly.
Gina released a frustrated breath and gripped her arms tighter. “I’m not into pop music. This isn’t why I went into music,” she suddenly announced.
Jane blinked blankly, clearly not expecting the confession this far into the switch in melodic genres. “Uh, alright.”
“What happened to not giving a fuck and sticking it the man?” Gina carried on put out. “That’s not exactly in pop, you know.”
“But we sucked when we were doing punk songs,” Jane reminded.
Gina huffed. “Speak for yourself.”
Jane rolled her eyes and sighed at herself for speaking without thinking. “Alright, Belinda and I sucked when we were part of the punk scene. You’ve always been a great drummer. You know that, G,” she clarified gently.
The blonde tomboy wasn’t any more satisfied with the reassurance. “You all are really fine with losing credibility like this?”
Jane bit the side of her bottom lip and leaned off the wall to stand up straight while she considered how to respond. “I mean…punk’s kind of dying down anyway…and the demos we made back in spring weren’t terrible…”
Gina rubbed her temple while taking a deep breath. Though she was still a little ticked off for various reasons, hearing Jane’s sweet voice was also a little soothing currently.
“Would be nice to actually make some regular money too,” the brunette continued sheepishly which got Gina to open her eyes.
“Really?” She tossed back unimpressed.
Jane rolled her eyes back more irritated this time. “You know what I mean. It’s not just a lark now that I know how to actually play chords. Charlotte and I have been coming up with some pretty catchy hooks lately. Might as well make the most of it. New wave worked for Blondie.”
Gina continued to get more lost in thought as her bandmate tried to assure her. “Maybe I should have split when Margot did,” she let slip out after a few more moments, referring to the band’s original bassist, Margot Olavarria, who was even more reluctant to abandon punk than Gina.
Jane’s brow arched again. “Yeah, you could’ve. Maybe John can form another band for you,” she quipped sarcastically; seemingly trying to get a rise out of the drummer by referencing Edie & the Eggs being a side project from cult filmmaker John Waters. “Hey, I’ve got a little secret for you,” she revealed playfully and placed both hands on Gina’s shoulders gingerly.
“What…” The fellow musician lingered apprehensively.
Jane’s face got a couple inches closer to Gina’s and said in a soft tone: “You can still live like a rockstar while playing pop music.” A goofy, faux-shocked expression formed on Jane’s face after she made her statement in hopes to amuse her friend. Which seemed to work as Gina released a small chuckle and shook her head as she glanced at the floor.
“I guess you have a point,” Gina agreed idly.
“Of course, I do,” Jane insisted with squeezing Gina’s shoulders. “You think I’m going to give up sex and booze just because Charlotte can write a bubblegum tune?” She asked rhetorically with a reference to a new song the lead guitarist had recently shared with the group called ‘We Got the Beat.’
Gina looked up again with a genuine smile as she relaxed from Jane’s hands and words, even if the mention of sex was a reminder of her lack of passion lately. “I can’t say it’s easy to imagine you chaste,” she joked.
Jane just smiled back and raised a hand for her fingers to brush through Gina’s short hair. It felt so nice and comforting in the moment that Gina didn’t think of how more than friendly this behavior would be generally. She took another breath with her eyes closed as her mood drifted.
“There’s something else on your mind too, isn’t there?” She heard Jane ask calmly as she felt her hand land low on her neck.
Gina frowned and opened her eyes again. “I got dumped,” she replied lazily and truthfully.
Jane’s thumb ghosted along Gina’s collarbone and caused a short, shaky sigh to escape her mouth. “That’s too bad,” Jane consoled gently. “Fortunately our options seem to be growing every week,” she cracked humorously.
Gina barely reacted to the line besides something between a huff and a laugh. Her face leaned forward a couple of inches from her currently dazed state, with both hers and Jane’s mouths slightly parted. Did Jane actually think of her in this way too? When she thought their faces were close enough to feel each other’s breaths, Gina chose to let logic take over abruptly.
“I’m not a guinea pig for straight chicks,” she informed sternly remembering her own experience.
There was a long second of Jane seemingly confused and speechless. “Huh?”
“I’ve already been through this. So if you’re just ‘trying this out’ and going to decide this isn’t really your thing tomorrow or the next day, I’d rather just skip ahead to it,” she declared before moving aside for the exit door with her stuff.
Jane turned in Gina’s direction with amused bewilderment. “I don’t remember ever calling myself straight?” She rhetorically cheeked.
Gina stopped her destination and turned back with a snort. “Oh, does Terry secretly have a vagina we don’t know about?”
Jane shrugged passively. “I mean…it’s not like my choices are limited,” she claimed a bit flirtatiously.
The other young woman just stood still as the guitarist casually confirmed she might be attracted to her. While Gina had wondered once in a while what it would be like to be with Jane privately, she didn’t actually think she had a chance; hence why she kept going on casual dates and hook-ups. Gina tilted her head and creased her brow not completely convinced. “Are you for real?”
Jane straightened her posture slightly with a very faint blush on her cheeks. “Last year when you dyed your hair black…that’s when I noticed how sexy you are…” She admitted somewhat breathlessly and her eyes dilating just subtly.
Gina heart flipped and her own cheeks flushed as sparks seemed to fly between them emotionally. She knew Jane wasn’t cruel enough to tease something like this, and her face did appear genuine. On instinct, Gina’s feet switched gears and moved back to Jane cautiously as the dark brunette gripped her bag handle almost anxiously. “Jane…” Gina breathed carefully while Jane subconsciously licked her bottom lip. “…Are you su—”
Before she could get a clarification on her bandmate’s feelings, Jane instantly leaned forward and pressed her lips to Gina’s. A surprised sound was heard from the blonde as she accepted the kiss and naturally closed her eyes. Bliss quickly took over both of them as they dropped their bags on the ground and wrapped their arms around each other. Jane sighed in relief, while Gina mewled at how good the passion felt. Their hands gradually roamed across their clothes covered backs and sides while they sporadically made out in the empty lounge. A little over a minute went by of Gina discovering Jane had popped a strawberry mint into her mouth after the show and Jane learning Gina was a fan of using plenty of tongue while Frenching. Jane moaned as Gina ran her hand over the curve of her ass, which got the former to trail her own hands up to Gina’s neck before landing through her short hair. The kissing ended when they had to catch their breaths then took some time gazing at each other in a lusty daze. As their breaths became steady and audible, the infatuation only grew stronger. Gina studied her friend’s face which looked extra beautiful with her cheeks a bit pink and her eyes starry. A gleeful smile spread across Jane’s face when the pair instinctively began leaning in for another kiss. But the moment was broken when they heard the clicking of a camera that made them pause and turn their heads.
Across from them on the other side of the room was fellow Go-Go Belinda Carlisle lowering a polaroid camera from her face with a smirk.
“Kathy, you owe me those $5 now!” She shouted toward the door smiling mischievously. Gina and Jane just stood still with their arms wrapped around each other as they processed the unexpected interruption. “Congrats, ladies.” Belinda snapped an extra shot of the pair’s surprised state before placing the instant photos and camera in her bag hanging off her shoulder and strolled out of the room amused.
Jane and Gina released their arms from each other and properly composed themselves while brought back to reality. “Should we kick her ass?” Jane kidded as she straightened her sweater.
Gina chuckled as she fixed her own clothes. “We need her vocals too much,” she joked back. Jane sighed with a happy smile and set her hand on Gina’s neck as she softly pulled her back for the additional passionate kiss that was just interrupted. Gina reciprocated genuinely as her own hand went to the back of Jane’s neck to feel her hair before moving her thumb to feel along her jawline and earlobe. The romance took over again, but only until their tongues touched when Jane parted from Gina’s mouth. She appeared peaceful as Gina was particularly giddy and incoherent for the first time in a long while.
“Do you want to hang out? I mean, grab a bite—I mean, a drink, or you kn—”
That adorable giggle from earlier returned as Jane raised her hand to cup Gina’s cheek and brush her thumb over her lips. “Why don’t we meet up with everyone at Frank’s and then take it from there?” She suggested lovingly after lowering her hand.
Gina sighed and nodded idly before she remembered something. “Wait. What about Terry?”
Jane paused to think for a moment and then shrugged. “He’s in England and we couldn’t actually be official anyway, so…”
The fellow musician exhaled in relief while Jane just continued smiling coyly, seemingly satisfied with the current events. The two picked up their bags and cases after the confirmation. “Come on, babe,” Jane requested sultry while offering her free hand to Gina, who gladly accepted it as they walked out of the venue. Gina wouldn’t have thought of this for the pick-me-up to end her bad mood, but she wasn’t complaining or questioning it. In fact she was more than welcoming to the new development if Jane really was game. There’s always room for friendships to grow…