Finn
The bar is crowded. It is a Saturday night after all. It’s impossible to make my way through the throng without bumping up against random bodies. Finally I make it to the bar. Several harried looking bartenders rush to fill orders shouted at them from out of the crowd. I don’t drink much anymore, I prefer to be in control of my actions, but tonight, in order for my plan to work, I need to loosen the reins.
Wes has no idea what I’m planning, but it’s the only way I can think of for the paparazzi to leave Autumn the hell alone. I haven’t told him because I know he’d try and talk me out of it. Although Autumn will probably hate me after tonight, at least she’ll be able to return to her life, free from all my drama.
I see the exact moment when the girl behind the bar recognizes me. The widening of the eyes, followed by the seductive smile. She’s pretty, in a overly made up kind of way and if she wasn’t working she’d probably be as good as anyone for my purpose. She gives me my double bourbon and I knock it back putting my glass back on the bar and indicating I want another. She’s ignoring the other customers as she gets my drink. She deliberately lets her fingers brush against mine as she hands me the drink. Ignoring her silent flirting, I finished my second drink and order a third. This time, I pay for my drinks and carrying my glass, I push back into the crowd.
Feeling more relaxed, I make my way to a quiet corner and sit at a just-vacated table. Almost instantly, I feel eyes on me. Three blondes make their way over to where I’m sitting, but I wave them away. Whoever I choose, she can’t be a blonde, it’s hard enough sitting here thinking about her, without long blonde hair that reminds me of the soft silky locks of my angel.
When two brunettes approach my table I smile at them. Actually, it’s more of a grimace, but they don’t seem to notice. They sidle up to me, one on the left and the other on the right.
“Is it really you?”
I glance at the speaker, her over-plump red lips look ridiculous. “I’m Finn, and you are?”
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it. It really is you! I’m Jacinta.” She pouts in what I can only assume she thinks is a seductive manner. “I love your music, your voice is so sexy.”
Finally, I look at her eyes, they’re a hazel color and I look away, turning my attention to the other girl.
“I’m Racquel,” she purrs, placing her fingers over my hand that’s resting on the table. The bright red nails are long enough to ensure any kind of practical task must be almost impossible.
Her eyes are a dull muddy brown. Perfect. “And are you a fan Racquel?”
“Absafrickinlutely! Maybe you can sing to me later…much later.”
I struggle to hide the shudder that passes through me, but neither girl seems to notice.
Jacinta puts her hand on the arm that holds my drink. “Are any other members of the band here?”
“Is there someone in particular you were hoping to see?”
“Well, you’re crazy sexy of course,” she purrs as if she thinks I need the affirmation. “But the way Adam beats those drums – I wouldn’t say no to a piece of that.”
I don’t think I can handle much more of this, so I lie just to get rid of her. “He was here, he just went to the bar to order another drink. Maybe if you ask nicely, he might get you something.”
“Thanks.” I watch as she expertly squeezes her way through the press of bodies in search of my non-existent bandmate.
“Maybe we can continue this party somewhere a bit more…private?” Racquel runs her fingers down the side of my face and along my jaw.
I struggle not to pull away from her. I’m glad she’s suggested we leave already, I’m not sure I can go through with this if I have to sit here much longer. I finish off my drink in one quick swallow and stand up. We head through the mass of bodies and I know the paparazzi will be waiting outside. I know, because I’m the one that tipped them off. Chances are someone else has told them I’m here by now, but for this to work I need to be sure.
Racquel has my hand in a death grip, as if she thinks I might try and get away. It’s the one smart thing she’s done all night. If I could get away, I still might. I need to keep my head in the game, it’s not like I haven’t done this before after all. But all that’s in my past now, the adulation, the groupies, the alcohol. Never drugs, even if that’s what they’re saying about me, that’s one boundary I’ve never crossed and I don’t intend to.
Finally, we make it to the door and we step out into the cool night air. Racquel must be freezing in her red mini dress but I don’t really care that much. She chose to come out in that ridiculous outfit. If she didn’t want to freeze, she should have brought a jacket.
And like clockwork it starts. “Finn, Finn over here. Who’s the new girl?”
“Finn, does this mean you’ve forgotten about Autumn?”
“Finn, just one picture.”
“Finn is it true you’re heartbroken?”
How dare they mention her name? They are the scum of the earth and they don’t get to mention her name, not now, not ever. I throw my arm around Racquel, determined to make them forget Autumn ever existed.
“Does this look like I’m heartbroken?” I put my other arm against Racquel’s back and pull her towards me. She’s more than willing, pressing her body against mine and reaching up behind my head to pull my face down for a kiss.
It’s a bit like kissing a vacuum cleaner as she attempts to suck my tongue into her mouth. It’s all I can do not to shove her away. If there was any other way to do this thing. They must have enough pictures by now, so I place both hands on the side of her head to break the kiss. She pulls back reluctantly, then turns and smiles for the cameras.
“I’m Racquel. You can find me on lookatmeimtoohot.com.”
I don’t feel so guilty about using her, as I realize she’s using me to further her career. Putting an arm around her shoulders, I walk her to the taxi I’ve paid to wait for me. As soon as we’re in and we pull away from the swarming paparazzi, I move away from her to the other end of the seat.
“So where to? What’s your address?”
“Um, aren’t we going back to your place?”
“No.”
“Alright, I guess my place is fine, Jacinta won’t be home for a while yet anyway.”
I sit back and close my eyes as Racquel gives the driver her address. Thankfully, this is almost over. Hopefully it will be enough for the paparazzi to move on, I’m not sure if I can go through this again. How did I ever think this was fun?
“So Finnie Finn,” Racquel says sliding up against me, “Are you going to write a song about me after tonight?”
I bark out a laugh. “Maybe, I guess you’ll just have to wait for the next album to come out.” Somehow, I don’t think the sort of song she’s envisioning and the sort of song I might actually write about this experience, are going to be much alike.
“Did you know I’m a lingerie model? When we get back to my place, I’ll show you my portfolio.”
“Read any good books lately?” I say to put her off.
“Um, yeah, I read 50 Shades.” She giggles. “Or maybe I just saw the movie, I don’t remember.”
“How about politics? Do you vote Racquel?”
“Um, no. I don’t have time for that sort of stuff.” She slides her hand up my leg. I place my own on top of hers to stop it wandering. “You know, you’re nothing like I expected you to be.”
“Oh, and how did you think I’d be?”
“You know, I thought you’d be more fun. C’mon you’re a freaking rockstar. I’ve seen how you are on stage, I’ve been to your concerts.”
“That’s just an act Racquel,” I say gently. “That’s not the real me. Don’t you want to know the real me?”
“Not if you’re just going to ask boring questions all night.”
“Well, why don’t you ask me something instead? Isn’t there something about me you’ve always wanted to know.”
She smiles eagerly. “Is it true, that if you take heroin just to lose weight, you won’t become addicted?”
“Well, I can’t be one hundred percent sure about that Racquel because I’ve never actually used heroin, but let’s just say, I’m ninety nine point nine percent sure that that is the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard.” I look at her in disbelief as she pouts again.
“What about other stuff then? I’m sure I heard somewhere that there’s some drug you can take and it works like that.”
“Look Raquel, I don’t do drugs. But I’m sure you can find someone who’ll be more than happy to spin you the lies you’re hoping to hear. Taking drugs will not make you smarter, skinnier or prettier. Why don’t you just eat healthily and exercise? Who knows what added benefits you might discover?”
She playfully bats my arm. “Now you sound like my mother. I know you’re a bad boy Finn Holloway, please, won’t you let him come out and play?”
Thankfully the taxi pulls up at a block of flats and I’m spared from answering any more inane questions.
“Yay, we’re home.” Raquel climbs out of the car tottering on her ridiculous spiky red stilettos. “Come on Finn, hurry up it’s freezing out here.”
“Actually Raquel, I think I’m going to call it a night and head home. Do you need me to walk you to your door?”
“What do you mean? Aren’t you coming in?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“What? Was it something I did?”
“Look, I just don’t think we’re compatible. Trust me, you’ll agree with me one day.”
“But I’m a freaking lingerie model! Who doesn’t want that?”
“Look I’m sorry Raquel, but I’m sure having your photo in all of tomorrow’s papers will do wonders for your modeling career.”
“Yes, but–”
“Goodnight Raquel.”
She finally gets the hint and slams the door in my face. “Well screw you Finn Holloway, I never did like your music much anyway.”
I watch from the car, until I see her make it safely inside the building.
“Where to?” The taxi driver asks.
I give him my address and lean back against the seat, relieved the night is finally over.
“If you don’t mind me putting in my two cents worth Mr Holloway, I think you dodged a bullet with that one.”
I chuckle softly. “Indeed, and please, call me Finn.”