Under the Cornerstone

by Sasha Marshall

  Women begin to file into the large studio which instantly makes the three boys happier.

  “I fucking love yoga pants,” Ryan says with wide eyes.

  “Ditto,” Rich agrees.

  I take that moment to look down at Noe’s ass, “Fuck me.”

  The class begins as she explains the first pose and how deep breathing creates space in our cavities. We start with a block under our upper backs and we’re instructed to close our eyes and breathe deeply, in and out. I have to give it to her, this shit is relaxing.

  Then we’re on our feet and going through poses that have us doing a sun like motion and then down into downward facing dog. The problem is, the five of us are in the very back of the studio with rows of women ahead of us.

  “Shit, look up,” Jimmy whispers.

  I don’t need to look up to know what he’s looking at, but Ryan does and then he crashes loudly to the side. The instructor comes over to him quietly and Ryan apologizes with a red face.

  We repeat the combination of moves again and again, Jimmy makes lewd comments each time we find ourselves in downward dog.

  “I’d fuck that one, and that one, and that one… not that one though, but I’d let her suck my dick,” Jimmy tells us.

  We go through other poses and I am surprised to find I like yoga, with or without Jimmy’s commentary.

  “Damn, she’s flexible. I’d like her to flex right on this,” and then Jimmy grabs his cock in the middle of a yoga studio.

  “What was that?” the instructor asks.

  “I’m feeling the flex,” he lies.

  For the rest of the session, the instructor takes a special interest in Jimmy. She doesn’t stray too far away from him, and anytime asses are in the air, she stands right in front of him, blocking his view of said asses.

  “Can’t relax and concentrate on my breathing when you’re standing there,” he tells the masculine instructor.

  “You’re doing it wrong,” she advises.

  Then she gives him the VIP treatment and moves parts of his body through each pose.

  “I think she likes you, Jim,” I tease.

  “Fuck you!” he whisper-shouts.

  “She probably feels so much sympathy for his broken leg,” Noe adds.

  Rich, Ryan, and I all cough because we choke on our own spit.

  “I have a broken leg, I’m not a cripple,” Jimmy advises.

  The women in the studio shush him.

  “I’ll shush you,” he whispers. “With my cock in your mouth.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Noe whispers.

  Once the session is finally over, Jimmy mingles amongst the women cleaning their mats and tries to get a phone number. He ends up with three and gives them all tickets to tonight’s show.

  “Sometimes, I feel like our shows get him more pussy than it gets us,” Ryan says disturbingly.

  I laugh, “No doubt.”

  “Such a dog,” Noely insults Jimmy, but she does it with a smile.

  Two Months Later

  “Ow! What the fuck?!!” Jimmy yells at Noe as she grabs his casted leg and swings it around to use it as a door stop to the back door of the venue.

  “You’re not much use for anything else,” she smiles sweetly down at the big guy.

  “Be gentle. It’s a broken bone!” he yells again.

  “Oh,” she says and places her hand on her chest. “I didn’t mean to be so rough. Please forgive me Jimmy Boo.”

  “I hate her nickname,” he growls at me.

  She thrusts a computer in his lap, “Work. I emailed you a list of shit to do before you’re allowed to move your ass off that crate.”

  “You’re a tyrant,” he says.

  She flutters her eyelashes at him and sashays off to get the equipment and merchandise inside. In three months’ time, we went from being a baby band to exploding in the rock world. I have no idea how it happened, but I secretly think Noe is our good luck charm. I’m sticking with that. We went from being the first on the bill to the opening act for the headliner. Fans scream the lyrics to our music, and the merchandise is selling fast as fuck. We can’t keep shit in stock before Noely and Jimmy have to order more.

  Interviews are scheduled all the time, and in a few weeks we’re hitting a late night television spot to play a song. Noe even got us a spot in Rolling Stone. She’s been working her ass off, but I think she brings more to this tour and band than hard work… she’s our amulet.

  Things have been great between us. There’s no tension. Not that there’s a hell of a lot of down time for tension to be an issue, but in the moments on the bus or when we have an off day, we hang out. It’s easy the way it used to be. I still fight my feelings on a daily basis. I still have to remind myself not to lean down and kiss her. But, the panic attacks have ceased since the night I found her outside of her father’s house.

  She’s been in touch with Nick and Ant, and it’s almost amazing how much they adore their sister. Not that she’s not easy to love, because fuck she is, but they just met. It seems their meeting affected those two boys much like it did the first time I met her. Nick just turned eighteen, and Ant turns seventeen soon, so they’re begging to come on tour for a visit. They talk to me too, and I know they’ve asked her, but I wait for her to make the decision since it’s hers to make.

  Jimmy looks up at me with a questioning glance.

  Yep, buddy, she knows your leg isn’t broken.

  I’m not going to be the one to tell him though. I’m having entirely too much fun watching her torture him.

  A town car pulls up and our manager Leo steps out. He manages a lot of bands, so luckily I haven’t had to see his face much. I let Rich deal with him over the phone as much as possible. I’m not over what he did to Noely. He didn’t have the right to leak the story or her name.

  Leo looks over the top of the town car and he whistles as Noe leans down to pick up a box, “Now that boys, is an ass I wouldn’t mind taking my hand to.”

  I immediately want to throat punch him. A jealous rage and possessiveness courses through my veins. I ball my hands into fists until my knuckles are white.

  “Keep your eyes to yourself, Leo,” Jimmy warns.

  He holds his hands out in surrender, “Now, now, boys, I know she’s Johnny sidepiece. I abide by the gentleman’s code.”

  Hearing him refer to her as something as insignificant as a side piece makes me want to beat the fuck out of him.

  “She’s not my side piece. Don’t talk about her like that again,” I warn.

  “Easy, Johnny,” he smirks at me. “She works for me too. I wouldn’t do anything to harm the girl.”

  “She doesn’t work for you,” Jimmy tells him. “She’s the band’s personal assistant. We pay her. Don’t fuck with her or you’ll regret it.”

  Leo snickers. He’s a fool if he thinks that fake cast will save him from Jimmy fucking Crawford. He’s never seen Jimmy in a brawl.

  I walk off to help Noe and Aaron unload merchandise before I do something I’ll regret.

  “Don’t hurt your back,” Noe chastises me. “You won’t be able to play.”

  “I guess you’ll have to take care of my back and Jimmy’s broken leg, then,” I smirk at her.

  She laughs.

  I avoid Leo like the plague and stay close to Noely. I watch her direct everyone, answer questions, keep us updated on time, and work through emails and social media. She’s a fucking queen. She was born to do this.

  Around four I realize I haven’t seen her eat all day. She does that. She gets so busy we have to remind her to eat.

  “Have you eaten lately, Noely baby?” I ask her.

  She stops to think, but her stomach growls on cue, giving me my answer.

  “I’ll eat in a bit. I’ve got to get…” she starts.

  I stalk towards her and close the small space between us and then throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the complimentary room.

&nbs
p; “Put me down you damn caveman,” she says from over my back.

  I smack her ass which makes my dick twitch.

  “You’re eating,” I tell her.

  I sit her down inside the complimentary room and all the other bands hoot and whistle when I walk in with her over my shoulder.

  “Did you not eat lunch again?” Ray, the guitarist from the headlining act Raid Night, asks.

  “I’m busy,” she says and glares at me.

  “Make her eat, Johnny boy,” he tells me, so I smirk at him.

  That’s what I’m doing.

  Noe puts her hands on her hips and gives me her serious face, “I really have a lot of shit to do, Johnny.”

  “It waits. The queen eats first,” I smile and get close to her, daring her to dart around me. “Table is that way,” I say and point behind her.

  “Queen my ass,” she says and turns on her heel.

  She makes a plate and I follow her down the table, making a plate for myself. I also grab us both a beer to take some of the edge off this fast pace for her. She sits down beside Ray, and I sit on the other side of her.

  “Eat, drink, and be merry, queen,” Ray says to her and raises his beer.

  She takes the beer I offer her and clinks it with Ray’s. Then she shoves food down her mouth too quickly.

  “Nobody is going to take it away from you,” I tell her.

  “I’m eating. Shut up.”

  I snicker. God, she’s hot when she’s feisty. I look over to find Ray smiling and know he’s thinking the same damn thing.

  She stands up as she shoves the last bite in her mouth and throws her bottle and plate away. She salutes us and is out the door.

  I don’t see her for another hour as she is no doubt ensuring everybody is doing what they’re supposed to be doing and where they’re supposed to be. I step outside to smoke a cigarette and smile when I see Jimmy’s ass is still on that crate and his leg is still being used as a door prop.

  He glares up at me, "My ass is asleep.”

  “The queen spoke,” I tell him.

  “This is America! We’re a democracy and tyranny will not be accepted. We have the right to overthrow a tyrannical government!” he yells with passion.

  “You overthrowing Noe?” I ask him and raise an eyebrow.

  He frowns, “No. I got carried away. Long live the queen.”

  I laugh as he finishes with a defeated mumble.

  Noe steps out and looks down at Jimmy and smiles at him.

  Then she pats him on the head and says, “Good boy.”

  Jimmy barks at her and then pants like a dog.

  She tucks into my side like she does on a daily basis now, and grabs the cigarette from my hand. She takes a few hits and hands it back to me. This has become common practice for her over the last month. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smoke a cigarette until the night outside of her father’s house.

  “It’s almost six. Why don’t you lay down for a few hours before the show?” I ask her.

  “I’m fine,” she lies.

  “Noe, you look exhausted. If anything comes up I promise to wake you.”

  “I just didn’t sleep well last night,” she admits.

  “Any particular reason why?” I ask concerned about her.

  “Not really. Just tossing and turning.”

  “Sleep now,” I say and point to the tour bus.

  She closes her eyes and sighs, “Yeah. Okay. Wake me up if you need me.”

  She kisses me on the cheek and then kisses Jimmy on the top of his head before she walks to the bus. I watch her walk away. I should treat her to a spa day or something the next time we have a day off. She’s tired, and we wouldn’t be here without her. There was no way we could’ve handled this tour without her once the music gained notoriety. She never complains. She wakes up at all hours of the day and night to deal with problems. She talks with the fans and makes sure if there’s someone extra special in the crowd we need to meet, we get the opportunity. The fans love her and often communicate with her on social media. She even has her own hashtag, #BloodFeatherQueen. The other bands love her and threaten to hire her away from us, but I know she’d never leave us.

  I interview with a local radio station and then wake her at seven thirty so she has time to prepare before we go on stage at nine. But I watch her sleep for a few minutes. I listen to her soft breaths, and take in the peaceful expression on her face.

  Did you finally find peace here with us, Noe? Did you finally see this is where you always belonged, with us? Did you finally see this was your dream too, and that you deserved to live it with us? When will you see, you belong with me?

  I trace the lines of her tattoo with my fingertip until she stirs.

  “Johnny?” she asks in her sleepy voice.

  “Yeah, baby.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Around seven thirty.”

  “Thank you for waking me, and for letting me nap.”

  “No thanks required. You work too much.”

  She chuckles, “Says my boss.”

  “I’m not your boss.”

  “Who signs my checks?” she asks.

  “Technically, your checks are direct deposited into your account, so no one signs your check.”

  “Technicality, Rome.”

  “I’m not your boss, Noe.”

  I don’t like that she thinks of me that way.

  “No?”

  “No. You’re our partner in this shit. An equal. You always have been. No more boss bullshit. Besides Jimmy says you’re a tyrant, so I think you’re the boss.”

  She laughs and sticks her arm out of the bunk for me to help her out. I run my fingers through her hair to tame it down from sleep. She stretches and then throws her arms around my neck.

  And then she says the same thing she always says before I play, “If I don’t see you before you go out there, play beautiful music.”

  I kiss her cheek, “I always do.”

  Then she’s off to flutter about, to prepare for us to take the stage.

  We are five songs into the set when I look over once again at the side of the stage. I haven’t seen Noely or Jimmy since before we took the stage. Something’s not right, I feel it in my gut. I look over at Rich between songs and he looks uneasy too. Then we both look back at Ryan, who returns the same expression.

  Something is wrong.

  Ryan nods his head to the side of the stage at the head roadie, Aaron. We look at him, and he quickly looks away from us. I begin to walk to the side of the stage when Aaron ducks into the shadows. The stage lights make it impossible to see where he went.

  Five more songs.

  I have to reach deep to find the energy and my usual easy disposition with the crowd. I can’t stop worrying though. I engage the crowd a little extra tonight, so they don’t sense the tension up here. I keep looking to the side of the stage for Noe, Jimmy, or Aaron, but nobody is there. I also continue to exchange looks with the twins who also don’t seem any less tense.

  Three more songs.

  I signal for the lights to go down between the next two and text Jimmy and Noe to ask where they are. I see Ryan do the same behind his drum kit.

  Two more songs.

  Throughout the next two songs I keep looking to the side of the stage. I even look down in the first three rows to see if they’re down there. Nothing.

  “Thank you, Phoenix! You were fucking amazing!” I yell out over the mic and get the fuck off stage.

  Ray and his band mates from Raid Night are on the side of the stage.

  This isn’t good.

  As I get closer, I see another band, Drying Tight, from the tour behind Raid Night.

  Fuck.

  Ray steps in front of me, “Johnny, listen man…”

  “Where’s Noe?” I ask.

  “There was an incident,” he says.

  “Where’s Noe?” I ask from between clenched tee
th.

  “Where’s Jimmy?” Ryan asks.

  “Jimmy’s okay,” Ray says, but it’s more what he doesn’t say that’s the fucking problem.

  “Noe?!!” I scream.

  “Look, Leo… he was fucking with her and..,” he begins, but I heard all I needed to hear.

  I run through the crowd towards the complimentary room and then to the dressing room.

  “She’s out by the bus,” Ray says right behind me.

  I turn around and run back through the crowd following me. I weave between people and scream for them to get out of my way. I finally reach the door I need to exit through to find the buses, but when I open it I don’t see her.

  Where is my girl?

  I see a figure close by the buses and realize it’s a bleeding Leo handcuffed to the bus’s large side mirror. I run towards him and right before I reach him, hands pull my body to a stop. I fight against the hold as more hands join in and scream my name.

  “Let me go!” I fight back. “Let me fucking go!”

  “Johnny!” Somebody yells.

  “I’m going to fucking kill you!” I scream at Leo. “I’m going to kill you! You don’t touch her!” I yell.

  “Johnny, stop man!” someone else pleads with me, but I continue to fight against the multiple people holding me back from killing the asshole who hurt Noe.

  “You don’t fucking touch Noe! She’s mine motherfucker! She belongs to me! I’m going to kill you! Fucking kill you!” I scream over and over again as people pull me back.

  Every time I think I gain an inch, I’m pulled back even more.

  “Grab him here,” I hear Ray’s voice from behind.

  Then he’s standing in front of me. He puts his hand on my neck and pulls my forehead to him so he can talk quietly.

  “Listen to me for two minutes. If you still want to kill him, I won’t stand in your way,” he says.

  I keep fighting to get to Leo.

  “Johnny, two fucking minutes man. Then he’s all yours. Stop fighting for two minutes and listen to me. Let me tell you about Noe,” his voice is so calm that it finally takes effect on me.

  I stop struggling, but the hands don’t leave me.

  “You good?” Ray asks.

  “Where’s Noe at?” I ask while I try to catch my breath.