Chapter Four
Derrick and Ash sat in the living room going over a playlist of songs while they waited for the other two members of their bad. Derrick picked at his guitar, loosening up his fingers but was having serious doubts.
“Are you sure I should do this?”
“Do what? Sing? Hell yes, now decide what song you think we should open with.”
“No that’s not what I meant.”
“Let me guess…Regan?” He shouldn’t be still thinking about her when they had a lot of work to do to get ready but he couldn’t help it. He was nervous to see her. Ash said he’d call her and work it out so she would be there but the more he thought about it, the more nervous he got.
“Did you get ahold of her yet?”
“Don’t worry about it okay? I told you I’d take care of it. Now focus.” Ash pointed to the papers on the table in front of Derrick. The doorbell rang.
“Nope, you stay put, I’ll get the door.” Ash ran to let the guys in.
The three band members piled into Derrick’s living room carrying drums, guitars, and food.
“Hot damn Ollie, you’re a fucking life saver. DJ can’t shop for shit. It’s a wonder he hasn’t withered away from the lack of food in this house.”
“I have food, you guys are just junkies. I have the healthy stuff, you know, to keep me alive?”
“That’s rabbit food, and it tastes horrible. Now, you should have a piece of this mushroom and sausage pizza. It’s extra cheesy and double the grease.” Keaton was a party boy through and through. He could survive on a couple of hours’ sleep, cold pizza and beer for breakfast and still outlast the other three on a good day.
“Jesus Keaton, that’s a heart attack in a box. Put that shit down and let’s have a jam session. I’m sure you all got rusty while you were out fucking off.”
“Jesus DJ, just shut up and count down.” Ash to the rescue again. They’d be lost without him to keep them on track.
“Hey Ash, I think we have a new job for you.”
“My singing not good enough for you?” They could also add smartass to his list of accomplishments.
“No, you fit that bill, you’re just bossy so maybe you should be our manager. That way we don’t have to pay that stupid shit we had last year.”
“Ha, very funny.” But it wasn’t a bad option and he could see Ash’s wheels turning as he thought about it too.
“I’m actually being serious. You are way more organized and you always keep the rest of us on task and what else is there that the other guy did that you can’t handle?”
“And we actually like you.” Keaton chimed in with his two cents between greasy pizza bites.
Ollie played a few high-pitched cords. “Can we start playing already?”
Ash stared at Derrick, shook his head then adjusted the mic stand.
“All right, let’s go over this playlist once. I think Mr. Music man picked a good flow.” Derrick cracked a smile. Felt like things might start falling into place just a little, one thing at a time.
“Ready? 1, 2, 3…”
***
“So, is this really happening?” Regan had one three-hour social class that day but spent the entire time rehashing the speech she’d prepared to confront Derrick with. Thank god, the professor had a bad habit of not looking up from his lecture book for most of the class. However, she might need to find someone to copy the class notes from.
“Yep really happening.” Marci brushed out her short pixie-cut hair and sprayed it in place.
“Did you call Derrick?” She wanted to ask her friend earlier but kind of didn’t want to know at the same time.
“Everything is under control okay? Don’t you worry about a thing. Just get yourself all dolled up and looking hot and let me handle the rest.”
Regan looked at Marci who was smiling as she applied eye liner.
“Yeah not worried at all, just so you know. And that was total sarcasm if you didn’t notice.”
“Regan I’m not giving you the details. You don’t need to know because you’ll only stress out and I’m not playing twenty questions with you. Now hurry it up, we need to leave.”
“I thought it didn’t start til eight?”
“It doesn’t but we have another stop, so move it.” Marci grabbed her hooker looking pumps and left the room.
“Do you need your tip belt to go with those shoes?” Marci ignored her but she could hear her dropping things into the blender. Good idea, she might need a stiff drink to get her loosened up.
“What in the world did I agree to.” She finished her makeup and pinned her hair up into a messy bun and grabbed the flats that matched her cover girl pin-up red dress. She didn’t want to wear it but Marci didn’t give her much choice. Something about making sure that everyone noticed her. After trying numerous times unsuccessfully to adjust the girls into the front of the dress, she felt more like a hooker than a college girl on the verge of getting her master’s degree and she was more than sure she’d get attention she didn’t want.
“Quit messing with your boobs for Chrissake, you were blessed and you shouldn’t try to hide them. Not that you could in that dress anyway.” Marci laughed as she handed Regan a frozen pineapple daiquiri.
“This is the last time I let you dig in my closet.”
“Fat chance, I love your closet. I think I’ll start wearing your clothes instead of mine.
“Ooh that’s strong. What did you put in this drink?” Regan was not the drinker of the bunch and when she’d had too much her mouth got a little loose. Said things she probably shouldn’t say.
“Don’t worry about it, just drink up, we have to go.”
“Why are we in a hurry? I can’t drink all this now, can’t I take it with me?”
“Good lord, I suppose but let’s go.” Marci moved her arms in a sweeping motion toward the front door, hollering to the others as well.
“We’re not going alone?”
“No, we’re better in numbers. Now quit asking so many questions will ya?”
Regan mimicked turning a key on her lips then throwing it, didn’t say another word, and followed Marci out. While they waited at the curb out front, she could hear Suzy shouting her excitement as the door flew open.
Suzy rushed up on Regan then apologized for her outburst. “I’m so sorry, that was a little overzealous. I’m just super excited y’all invited me to come along with you. It’s flippin’ Afterthought, ahhhhh.”
So much for Regan thinking she could hide in the crowd and keep a low profile. No doubt just about every breathing female from the college would be there hoping they’ll get noticed buy any one of the guys in the band, including Suzy. Well at least Keaton would have his pick. That was what he lived for after all. The guys gave him a hard time but she thought he was a nice guy, and a hearty eater.
Suzy started flapping her arms, jumping up and down and Regan turned to see what she was freaking out about.
Marci moved toward the car as it came to a stop and the driver climbed from the front seat.
Oh, my god! “Who rented a limo?”