Out of the Shadow

by J. L. Paul

“There are a couple of empty seats here,” a woman said, moving over to make room for them. “Sit, quickly, and grab a glass of champagne. It’s almost time.”

  Ally scrambled for the seat, Robby right behind her. “Thank you,” she said as the other woman wringed her hand.

  The bartender set two glasses of champagne in front of them and refused Robby’s offer of payment. “Champagne is on the house for the countdown, young man.”

  “You picked a great place,” Robby whispered in Ally’s ear. “This is really cool.”

  “I know,” she said as a hush swept over the crowd and the bartender turned up the volume on the lone TV hanging behind the bar.

  Everyone watched as the host of the New Year’s Eve show declared it time to count. Everyone in the bar counted along with him. When they reached one, they all clinked glasses and kissed each other.

  Robby touched his glass to Ally’s but before she could drink, he kissed her hard enough to take her breath. When he drew back and lifted his glass to his lips, he was fighting a smirk. She did blush that time and sipped her champagne.

  “Happy New Year,” he said, kissing her cheek.

  ***

  RJ gathered Ren and Parker on the deck and passed out glasses while Jamie and Cole filled them. They stood together, with Lila and her two friends, and waited to begin their own countdown.

  “Do you realize that it’s already the New Year in Chicago,” Ren said, a slight tilt to his head.

  “I know,” Parker snorted. “Deidre texted me. She’s still too pissed to call me, though, because I’m here for New Year’s and not there.”

  “She’ll get over it,” Cole reassured him. “She’s cool like that.”

  “I know,” Parker sighed, running a hand through his hair. “But it sucks that I leave her so much.”

  Cole didn’t respond even though he could certainly relate. He wondered vaguely how Ally had celebrated the New Year. Was she with her family or maybe with Shannon? Or had she gone out with Robby? He didn’t want to think about it.

  Lila looped her hand though his arm and he flashed a grateful smile at her. Maybe she wasn’t so bad.

  “Hey,” he asked her as if the thought had suddenly occurred to him. “How come Doug isn’t here? This is his place.”

  She laughed, her eyes sparkling in the light from the tiki torches. “He had another party to attend. He just told me not to trash the place.”

  “Wow, he’s trusting,” RJ said. “Hm. Never saw that in Dougie before.”

  They laughed until Ren shushed them and turned up the radio someone had brought out on the deck. The DJ started counting down and they joined him. At exactly midnight, they toasted each other and sipped their champagne.

  Lila pressed a kiss to Cole’s cheek. “This is going to be your year, Cole.”

  He forced a grin. He certainly hoped it would turn out better than the previous one had.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ally felt as though she was floating on clouds high above the ground when she returned to her dorm the Sunday night before classes were to resume. She went about unpacking and was actually singing in a low voice when Shannon stormed through the door.

  “Hey, Ally,” Shannon greeted cautiously. “How were your holidays?”

  “Fine,” Ally said and pulled Shannon into an impromptu hug. “Yours?”

  “Good,” Shannon said, puzzled. “Um, did you and Cole get back together or something?”

  “No,” Ally said as her smile faltered. “No, that’s over.” She turned away so she could banish the pang in her heart to the farthest reaches of her body. “He’s dating someone else, I guess.”

  “Ally, I’m so sorry,” Shannon said, sinking to her bed.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Ally said as she sat on the edge of her bed. “I actually dealt with it. I’ve, um, started dating Robby Redden.”

  Shannon’s eyes bulged as she leaned over, resting her elbows on her knees. “Wow. I mean, Robby Redden is so adorable. Um, does Cole know?”

  Ally winced as Shannon finally voiced what Ally had been most concerned about. “No, not yet. I haven’t told him.”

  “Ally, I’m no expert in these matters, but I really think you should,” Shannon said. “I mean, he’ll be really hurt if he finds out, won’t he?”

  “Yeah,” Ally said with a sigh. She rubbed her forehead as her euphoria over Robby started to wear off due to a hard smack from reality. “Yeah. I’ll tell him tomorrow. I’ll have to. I’ll call him after practice.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Shannon said. Sensing Ally really didn’t want to discuss it further, Shannon started pelting her with questions about Robby which Ally was only too happy to answer.

  The next morning, she dropped her tray next to Jamie in the cafeteria and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek. “Morning, cuz,” she said, grinning as she sat. “How are you?”

  “Someone is in a good mood for a Monday morning,” he said. “Why is that?”

  “No reason,” she said with a shrug as she lifted a fork and dug into her eggs.

  “I didn’t see much of you over the break, cuz,” he said as he finished his juice. He watched her eat and when she was done, he shouldered his bag and picked up his tray. She followed him and shivered against the angry, January wind.

  “I spent a lot of time with Robby,” she admitted, answering his earlier question. She pulled her coat tighter against her body as she picked up her pace, eager to reach the warmth of the sturdy brick building where her first class was located.

  Jamie nodded thoughtfully as he adjusted the beanie on his head. “Are you dating now?’

  “Yes,” she said succinctly. “We are.”

  “And when do you plan on telling Cole?”

  She stopped and snagged his arm, yanking him around to face her. Fire burned her insides, instantly warming her. “I don’t know, James, maybe when he decides to tell me that he’s dating someone else.”

  Jamie’s brow furrowed. “He’s dating someone? I didn’t know that. I was with him most of the break and he never mentioned it. Are you sure?”

  She released a long, drawn-out breath, clinging tightly to the remaining threads of her patience. “I am positive. He made a date with her that night we were at RJ’s house. He planned the damned date while I was sitting there next to him.” She spun on her heel and shrugged. “If he can move on then so can I.”

  Jamie jogged to catch up with her. “Ally, I don’t remember him ever mentioning a date.”

  “Maybe he didn’t tell you because of me,” she said as they reached the building. She yanked open the door and hurried inside, unzipping her coat. “I have no idea, James. You’d have to ask him.”

  They started up the stairs together, avoiding the students that tended to linger on each step, texting or speaking quietly on their cell phones. “Okay, so Cole was a jerk to not tell you,” Jamie reasoned. “But that still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell him.”

  “I know,” she said as they reached the top and turned a corner. “I know and I will. I was planning to call him after practice tonight.”

  “Good,” Jamie said as they entered their classroom. “And good luck with that.”

  “Gee, thanks,” she said sarcastically as she found a desk.

  ***

  Ally’s mind wandered to her impending phone call to Cole as she dressed into her sweat shorts and battered t-shirt. She tied her shoes and was in the process of shoving her gym bag in her locker when Sami bounced over, excitement shining in her eyes.

  “Hey, Ally!” Sami greeted, grabbing Ally’s arm. Ally dropped her gym bag to the floor.

  “Hi, Sami,” Ally said. “What’s going on?”

  “I made the A Team,” Sami blurted. “Coach Thornberg sent me an email last night and asked me to practice tonight.”

  Ally smiled and hugged the other girl. “That’s great! I knew you they’d have to move you – you’re too good.”

  “She’s too short,” Danielle said, edging in on the c
onversation. She leaned against the neighboring lockers, nasty sneer on her face. “Way too short.”

  Ally brushed past Sami and straightened in front of Danielle, her fists clenching and unclenching at her sides. “She’s at least two or three inches taller than me and I’m the top scorer on the team. Her height makes no difference.”

  Danielle pushed away from the lockers and towered over Ally, her eyes darkening, her sneer evolving into a knowing smirk. “I knew it was only a matter of time before the real Ally Jones appeared – the conceited Ally Jones. MVP of the National Tournament, daughter of a famous rock star, girlfriend of an up and coming rock star.” She paused to press her fingers to her lips. “Oops, that’s right! You’re no longer girlfriend to that rock star, huh? He dumped you, didn’t he?”

  “It’s none of your business what happened between me and Cole,” Ally said, grinding her teeth.

  “Why? Embarrassed to share the details?” Danielle taunted. “Ashamed to tell the truth?”

  “Leave her alone!” Sami said, gripping Ally’s arm. “She’s right – it’s none of your business.”

  Danielle snorted and flashed Sami a look of superiority. “What, you think she’s going to tell you everything just because you somehow managed to weasel your way on the A Team?”

  “Leave her out of it,” Ally said, gently shoving Sami out of the way. “You’re just pissed because you’re barely holding on to your position on this team. You know Sami can outplay you.”

  Danielle laughed hollowly and her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Not even in her dreams, Jones, but I digress. Tell us, Miss Ally, why did Cole Crawford dump you?” She folded her arms over her chest, her thin lips pulled back in another sneer. “Did you follow in Daddy’s footsteps?”

  “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re rambling about, Danielle,” Ally said, a shiver starting deep inside her body and working its way out.

  “Oh, no?” Danielle said, lifting a brow. She placed a finger on her nostril and inhaled deeply before lapsing into a smile. “Been indulging in a little nose candy? Huh? Cole find out and decide he didn’t want you ruining his band the way your father ruined Tight Control?”

  Ally’s jaw dropped as she staggered back a step. She shook her head wildly. “No, my father did not ruin his band.”

  “He came awfully close, wouldn’t you say?” Danielle said, leering at Ally. She closed the distance with a step. “Daddy couldn’t lay off the coke, could he? Is that why he ‘retired’?” she asked, making air quotes around the word.

  Ally shook her head, too dumbfounded to speak and too angry to move anything else.

  “Sure,” Danielle continued, hitting her stride. “He was probably messed up on the coke and who knows what else and the rest of the band dumped him. Cole Crawford doesn’t want the same thing to happen to his band so he kicked you to the curb, huh? Kicked you to the gutter where your wasted, worthless father is, or will be before long.”

  White fury flashed through her brain as she launched her body at Danielle and aimed a fist at the side of her face, connecting with a gratifying crunch. They both tumbled to the floor, rolling around, punching, kicking, scratching. Ally continued to swing blindly, not knowing or caring if she connected again. She was aware of Danielle inflicting a bit of damage but she couldn’t feel a thing through the savage rage that swept through her veins.

  “Ally, no!” Sami screamed, hopping from foot to foot, trying to reach out and snag Ally’s shirt. “Stop!”

  The other girls on the team gathered around, cheering the fight on, until an enraged Coach Thornberg shoved them aside and snatched Ally off of Danielle. “That is enough!”

  Ally fell against the lockers, wiping the blood off her lips with the back of her hand, her chest heaving. Danielle stumbled to her feet, a red welt puffing up under her eye.

  “Everyone except for these two out on the floor now,” Coach shouted, her face purple. She waited until the locker room cleared, her angry glare jumping from Ally to Danielle and back again. “You two collect your stuff and get out of here. I will email you tonight and tell you what time I want you in my office tomorrow so I can tell you your punishment. Now go.”

  Ally shot one last glare at Danielle before scooping up her bag. She strode out of the locker room, pausing only to retrieve a sweatshirt from her bag and yank it over her head, then ran to the parking lot, ignoring the biting wind that nipped at her bare legs.

  She started her car and let it warm up as she dug her phone out of her bag. She hit his number, her body trembling in anger.

  “Hey, did practice let out early?” Robby asked.

  “Where are you?” she said, trying to control the tremor in her voice.

  “On my way home, why?” he asked, concern lingering in his tone. “Ally, what’s the matter?”

  She ignored his question. “Is it okay if I come over?”

  “Of course it is,” he said. “I’ll meet you there.”

  She shut her phone and put the car in gear, hoping to leave her anger in the parking lot.

  ***

  “Hey, guys,” Nate said as Cole, RJ, Ren, and Parker filed into the conference room. “Robby had to go to Indy this morning so you have to deal with us for now.” He forced a smile as he gauged Cole’s reaction. “But, he should be back in town by now and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind coming in to talk to you.”

  Cole smirked and yanked out a chair. “Nah, you’ll do. So, we’re all set? It’s cool if we record this new CD here?”

  “Yep,” Jay said, opening a file. He withdrew a piece of paper. “Robby has been working on a tentative schedule and he asked us to give it to you. He said for you four to get together and make sure it works. If you want to change something, to write it on your copy and leave it for him and he’ll fix it if he can.”

  “Wow,” Parker said. “He got us in quickly. We were going to have to wait a few more weeks if we would have recorded in L.A.”

  “Rhys is really swamped right now,” Nate explained. “Jay and I are going to take turns flying out there to help him out when we can. Robby is going to stay here and keep things running. And he wants you guys in the studio as soon as possible.”

  “I agree,” Cole said. “We want to get this new CD out quickly.”

  Doug and Lila slipped into the room and sat at the table. Doug grinned at Jay. “Is that the recording schedule?”

  “Yeah,” Nate said, sliding Doug a copy. “Robby said he hasn’t had a chance to work on local appearances yet but he’d give you a call, probably in the morning.”

  “Great,” Doug said as his eyes perused the paper. “So, they’ll start recording next week, huh? Maybe we can get a couple appearances in before then.”

  “You’ll have to talk to Robby,” Nate said with an apologetic smile. “He just asked us to go over this recording schedule with the boys.”

  “Do you guys have any questions?” Jay asked.

  “I don’t,” Cole declared, anxious to end the meeting. His stomach was protesting lack of food and he wanted to get home, make a huge sandwich, and catch a basketball game.

  “Me, either,” RJ declared. He glanced at Parker and Ren who both shook their heads. RJ grinned. “Meeting adjourned. Let’s eat!”

  As they trickled out of the conference room, Lila caught up to Cole and grabbed his arm. Startled, he shot her a look. “Hey, what’s up?”