Chapter Six
“Hey guys, I have a favor to ask.” Ash stopped the other three before they took the stage. He’d written something special after their practice session and wanted to make it the starter song.
“I know you guys won’t know the tune but maybe you could just pick up from my lead? It should be pretty basic and I trust you guys.”
“Sure, but are you gonna tell us what happened with you and Regan back in the tent?”
“Nothing happened.”
“Nothing at all?” Ash prodded because he knew Derrick wouldn’t have said nothing.
“No not really. She apologized for her friend and I asked her if she’d stay after so we could talk then I kissed her cheek. I thought it might be out of line to go right for the lip lock.”
“There’s never a bad time for a kiss bro. You just gotta play the caveman and take control.”
“Shut up Keaton.” Typical hound dog.
Brit showed up in front of the guys.
“You ready to go before they break down the stage area?”
“Hit the lights Brit, we’re ready.”
The four band members of Afterthought took the small stage to a roar of thunder from the waiting fans. It was a feeling like no other. Keaton ran out ahead and took his place at the drums and started beating out a rhythm as the other three took their places. Ash stopped at the keyboard while Derrick moved to the microphone at the edge of the stage and thanks the crowd for the warm welcome.
“I’d like to start tonight off with a song I wrote just today so bear with us because the guys haven’t even heard it yet. This is a debut special just for you all but it’s written for one special person that’s out there with us tonight.
“All right everybody, let’s hear what you’ve got.” Ash got the crowd moving with his clapping.
Derrick picked out a simple tune on his bass guitar, closed his eyes and started to sing.
When the lights go down....
I can only see you in the room......
When the lights go down....
I wanna be alone with you....
You said we were done.
You said we were through.
I watched you walk away, and I lost that part of you......
When I saw you again, and we talked for a while...
I realized I still had that part of you, and you still needed me like I needed you....
Ash picked up the tune easily on the keyboard and the drums followed in softly. With Ollie as backup guitar, Derrick sat his guitar on the stand and finished the slow ballad. He hoped that Regan knew he was singing to her, saying things he wasn’t sure he couldn’t have face to face. When he finished the last word and the instruments went silent, the crowd roared like they’d never heard it before and Afterthought had their first new song.
The next two and a half hours flew by as the band played a packed list of favorites and the crowd sang along with every song.
They thanked the college for having them, the crowd for their constant support even after their time off and ran from the stage to a waiting limo. When they jumped in the car, Derrick was pleased to see there was one extra person along for the ride. Keaton and Ollie took the seats on each side of Regan and Ash & Derrick sat across from them.
There wasn’t much said between Derrick and Regan with the others in the car but the guys made up for it by picking on Regan as they drove around town. The driver needed to make sure they hadn’t been followed before he started dropping off at each of the houses and the last stop was Derrick’s.
“Do you want me to have the driver take you back to the campus?” Derrick didn’t want to assume that Regan would want to go to his house, that was a lot to ask. They’d been apart for a while now. A neutral place would probably be better to talk anyway.
“Actually, Marci said that my car was at your house so I guess I should go there, if that’s okay?” More than okay. He couldn’t have it work out any better.
“Of course, that’s fine by me.”
Once they stopped in front of Derrick’s place, the driver opened the door for them both and left them standing in the driveway.
“So, are you hungry?”
***
She really hoped she was doing the right thing by going to his house. It wasn’t like he was a stalker or anything bad, he was a rock star. Just a famous rock star that she’d once dated and every female in this country and probably many others wanted to sleep with.
Well that’s not helping anything.
She was so stupid, and she sounded like a dumb blond even though she was a brunette. Maybe he didn’t mean hungry for food, maybe he wanted to have sex. It’d been quite a while but she remembered exactly what that was like.
Jesus Regan, shut up while you’re ahead.
And now he was looking at her oddly.
“Oh sure, I could eat.”
“Okay, come on in, I’ll cook us something.”
It felt strange being in his house again. She sat on the loveseat so she could see him working in the kitchen. He sang while he worked, that she remembered about him.
“Would you like something to drink?” She went to where he was pouring a glass of milk for himself.
“Can I have some of that?” She wasn’t a big alcohol drinker.
“Sure.”
“I liked your new song. When did you write that?” She was a little embarrassed to mention that he’d written it for her. She sipped on the milk while he explained.
“It’s funny actually. I haven’t written anything in at least six months and after the guys told me about the concert, was all sat down and worked through a playlist for tonight. After they left, I just found myself in the groove and all I could think about was you.” She noticed his glance toward her then back to what he was stirring on the stove. “Truthfully I’ve done nothing but think about you since you left.”
He was avoiding eye contact which was probably best because it was hard enough to talk without being put on the spot. She’d always been a shy reserved person and obviously, he was outgoing, at least with his fans. Together though, as different as they were, they still just clicked.
He looked so handsome standing in the soft kitchen lighting. He wore faded blue jeans and usually a character t-shirt that always fit him tighter in the arms. She could tell he’d recently cut his hair but it was usually a little longer on the top and had that windblown look. Every time she saw it, Regan wanted to run her fingers through it. She could remember doing that a time or two. Right now, a strand was hanging down into his face and it made him look sexy as hell.
Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to be there if she was having those thoughts. They weren’t dating anymore after all. Maybe she should just get right to the point. Marci had helped her practice everything she needed to say.
“So, Derrick? I have a question.”
“Shoot, I’m all ears.”
“Why did you sleep with that girl after your concert?”