Off Your Rocker?

by K E Osborn

  He exhales and does up my zipper and button. “Okay, I’m sorry, Lia. I never want you to feel degraded. I just... I was so scared, and then so angry, and I just had to have you, to make sure you were still with me. I needed you, Lia. I still need you,” he says resting his forehead against mine. I look him in the eyes and I can see that he truly feels regretful for how he’s just behaved. And I start to feel guilty for having a go at him. I mean I did love the way he treated me, so why am I complaining about it?

  I’m so confused.

  “I need you too, Colt. We should go, people will be wondering where we are,” I say and he leans in and kisses my lips softly igniting a fire throughout my core.

  “We should get to the after party. C’mon,” he says kissing me quickly once more and taking my hand. He halts and looks back at me. “We, okay?” he asks looking concerned.

  I nod and smile. “We’re great,” I answer making him exhale, turn and walk toward the kitchen door.

  We arrive at the after party for the New York concert and Colt’s holding my hand so tightly I think they might actually permanently mold together. He steps out of the stretch Hummer and leads me to the VIP section of the club. Anna and Johnny follow closely behind and so do the rest of the band and the Slayettes. The VIP section is on the top floor of the club and it’s surrounded by one way glass so we can see the rest of the club but they can’t see us. Anna, Johnny, Colt and I take up a booth by the back wall, while the others start to get their drink on and dance to the kinda crappy music they have playing. There’s a big commotion and we turn to see Dragon’s Lair walking in being very loud and even more obnoxious. The whole band really seem like douche bags, but the biggest douche bag of them all is walking over toward our booth. I exhale as Colt wraps his arm around my shoulders staking his claim.

  “Fuck face, how are ya?” Jarred asks stretching out his hand to knock knuckles with Johnny. Who just stares at his hand and scoffs. Jarred frowns and puts his hand down. “Well someone’s in a good mood,” he barks sliding in the booth sitting next to me. Urgh, why couldn’t he have sat down next to Anna? Although I wouldn’t really want to wish that on her either.

  “So, Lia, had enough of this dickwad and ready for a real man yet?” he whispers in my ear.

  “Piss off,” I answer and he laughs making himself comfortable.

  “Coslecki, fuck off none of us want you here. Go fuck some whore in the bathroom like you normally do,” Colt groans.

  Jarred laughs, throwing his head back. Man he makes my skin crawl. “The only whore I’ll be fucking in the bathroom tonight is yours, Colt. Isn’t that right beautiful?” Jarred suggests skimming his hand up my thigh. Colt stands up and reaches out to grab Jarred, but he’s too quick and jumps out of the booth before Colt can reach him.

  “Fuck you, you fucking cunt. Don’t you ever call Lia a whore again, or I swear to God I’ll slice your balls off with my Swiss army knife and then make you eat them you fucking prick. Actually, fuck it I’m going to do it anyway,” Colt claims trying to push past me to get at him. I stand up and put my whole body in front of Colt’s trying to stop him. I put both my hands on his chest while Jarred is laughing odiously.

  “Lia, get out of my way.”

  “Colt, just leave it. He’s not worth it, babe.” He picks me up by my waist and turns us quickly so I’m out of the way. He storms out toward a laughing and manic Jarred and I look at Johnny who stands up and walks behind Colt.

  Shit!

  Double, shit!

  “Colt, stop,” I exclaim as he walks straight over to Jarred and punches him in the middle of his face. Jarred falls to the floor and Colt kneels down on top of him and starts to punch him continuously. My hand shoots up to my mouth as I watch Colt pummel him. Johnny’s quickly at his back pulling Colt away from Jarred, while people are milling around and starting to stare at the commotion. Brad and Hux come over and pick Jarred up off the floor.

  “Your brother’s a fucking idiot, Hux, and his little slut just came onto me. Couldn’t keep her hands off me,” Jarred lies as he spits blood onto the floor.

  “You wish,” I reply, while I walk over to Colt who’s being calmed down by Johnny. I wrap my arms around his waist and he cuddles into me, but shoots a glare at Jarred.

  “C’mon babe,” I say to Colt, who’s glaring at Jarred with such an intense hatred in his eyes, his nostrils are flaring and he’s breathing heavily.

  I place my hands on either side of Colt’s face. “Colt, look at me,” I say as he exhales and shuts his eyes, turns his head toward me and then opens them again. And instead of anger and hatred they’re filled with a kind gentle gaze.

  “You with me?” I ask, looking deeply into those soft blue pools.

  He swallows and nods. “I’m with you,” he whispers softly.

  I lean up and kiss his lips and he holds on to me tightly as Dingo and Sia walk over to assess the situation.

  “Hey, we should start calling you the Hulk from now on, hey. ‘Colt angry, Colt smash things’,” Sia jokes trying to sound like The Incredible Hulk. I smile and intertwine my fingers with his. He smirks but keeps his eyes on me.

  “Colt I know he’s the biggest prick around, but you can’t go around smashing up the face of the lead singer of our support band. What if he wants to press charges? Did you think of that before you morphed into The Incredible Hulk?” Sia asks, showing her managerial side.

  Colt’s eyes are still on me and I move my hand up to touch his face, he exhales and leans into my hand. I smile up at him and he turns to look at Sia.

  “Sorry Mamma. I know it was stupid, but what he said about Lia, was uncalled for.”

  “Yeah, maybe so, but he wanted to get a rise out of you and that’s exactly what you gave him. He won that round Colt, because you let him get to you, and remember you’re the one that wanted stupid fucking Dragon’s Lair on this tour with us, because of Brad, and Brad and Jarred are a package. You have to take the good with the very, very bad. We don’t need any press getting out that you’re bashing up the support band, it won’t be good for you or the rest of the guys. Sales could drop, tours could be cancelled. Just think next time before you Hulk out, okay Colt? That’s all I’m asking,” Sia states firmly while touching his arm and squeezing. He nods and Sia walks over to Jarred, Hux and Brad to assess the damage.

  “Fuck what my wife says, Sladenator. Go fuck that kid up! He deserves the beating of a lifetime, in fact, I’ll come with and help you. We can tag team the little bitch until he’s screaming and then we can beat the living shit out of him till he can’t sing anymore, that’ll get rid of him for good. What d’ya say?” Dingo raves on bringing his fists up and jumping from foot to foot like he’s a boxer. I can’t help but laugh as Anna slaps him across the back of the head and he looks at Anna with a smirk.

  “I know you like it rough, Madam A,” he says making her gasp.

  “Oi,” Johnny yells at Dingo, “I told you ‘cause you said you wouldn’t say anything dick. Thanks man,” Johnny berates as he looks at Anna whose blushing bright red.

  “Oh c’mon, even though you told me about her dom sessions, we share a penthouse everywhere we go and we hear you guys all the time, so it’s not really a shock now is it?” Dingo questions looking over at Colt.

  “Yeah, he’s kinda right, Anna. The penthouse walls are always thin. We can hear how much of a bad, bad boy, Johnny has been,” Colt states making me gasp. Anna flushes even a brighter shade of red. She’s so sweet, I never would have guessed that she’s a dominatrix. I can’t help it and I burst out laughing.

  “Oh, thanks for the support, Lia,” Anna sharply states with a smirk.

  “Sorry Anna, I just never pictured you like that. You’re always so sweet,” I reply making Colt laugh.

  “My wife, sweet? I don’t think so,” Johnny quips while he takes her in his arms and dips her down kissing her. It’s nice and just the light bit of relief we needed after the last few moments of Hulk mania. Colt takes my hand and walks me back
to the booth, but forces me to slide in first, so I’m against the wall and he’s on the outside in case anyone else tries to sit down next to us.

  “I’m sorry I went all crazy town out there. I just got so angry when he called you that. I honestly couldn’t restrain myself.”

  “It’s okay, just don’t do it again. Last thing I need is for you to be arrested in a different country,” I say and he nods leaning in to kiss me. Anna and Johnny come back to the booth with a bottle of Jack and four shot glasses.

  Oh man, this is not going to be good!

  “I don’t think I’ll have that tonight, I can’t be bothered with a hangover that tomorrow will bring, and we’re flying,” I babble while Anna frowns at me.

  “C’mon, just one with your new bestie? Or do I have to get my whip out and tell you you’ve been a bad, bad girl?” Anna asks deadpan.

  I open my eyes wide with shock and she bursts into laughter along with Johnny and Colt.

  “Lia, don’t stress, Madam A is reserved only for Johnny. Isn’t that right baby?”

  “Yes Mistress,” he replies pouring out the shots.

  I burst out laughing and Colt wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Wow, the things you learn about people, hey?”

  I notice Hux and Jarred sitting on a lounge over the other side of the room with a small table in front of them. Hux looks up and around the room while Jarred pulls out a small bag with a white substance in it. I swallow as I look up at Colt, who’s too busy chatting to Johnny to notice. I watch intently as Jarred empties the contents onto the table and gets out a card positioning the powder into long lines. I instantly know what it is.

  Shit they’re doing drugs!

  I keep watching as surely Hux is smart enough not to take any, but he takes out an American dollar bill rolls it up and snorts a line of the powder up his nose. I swallow hard and look up at Colt who’s still oblivious to the fact his brother’s snorting drugs, in the VIP bar, in public. I watch as Jarred snorts the other line and relaxes back into the lounge. I can see the bruises on his face starting to show from Colt’s punches, but surely having some Cocaine or whatever the hell that is, isn’t good for him after being in a fight? Shouldn’t he be going to a doctor or something? Jessi slides down into Jarred’s lap and he kisses her forcefully. Colt looks down at me and I think he notices the horrified look on my face. He follows my line of sight and he exhales when he looks over at his brother and his arch enemy sitting together getting high, both rubbing their noses.

  “Seriously?” he states as he moves to get up.

  “Babe, please don’t start something, again,” I say as I grab his hand.

  “This is so fucked up,” Colt hisses, but then he sits back down and runs his hand through his hair.

  “What?” Johnny asks.

  “Hux is snorting coke again,” Colt replies. Johnny frowns and looks over at Hux and Jarred.

  Again? Does that mean that Hux has done it before?

  “Stupid dick, you’d think he would’ve learnt from last time, and from your dad,” Johnny says. I look up at Colt and a wave of sadness washes over him.

  I wonder what the story is there?

  But I don’t ask because he looks sad enough already.

  “We’ll have to keep an eye on him. If it gets too bad we might have to deal with it the same as last time,” Anna states.

  “The same as last time?” I ask.

  “Yeah, Hux, has been to rehab for substance abuse. He nearly didn’t survive it, so if he’s heading down that path again… Oh God, it’ll kill Mum if she found out,” he says, shaking his head.

  “I know man, but don’t worry. We’ll keep an eye on him and we won’t let it get bad this time, Colt, I promise ya man,” Johnny declares as Colt turns to looks at me.

  “Wanna get out of here?” he asks raising his eyebrows insinuatingly. I smile and nod. “You guys wanna come back to the hotel? I don’t want to be here,” Colt croaks out as we shuffle out of the booth.

  “Nah, you guys go and have a good night. We’ll stay here and keep an eye on things,” Johnny says. I lean in and hug Anna goodnight and Colt walks with his arm around my shoulders and mine wrapped around his waist while we move down the awaiting stretch Hummer. As we walk outside the screaming starts and two bouncers step across to help us to the car. Colt holds on to me tightly. Suddenly a flash goes off, temporarily blinding me. The evil minion fans start screaming Colt’s name. I hold on to him as tightly as I can. People start to push all around us, then I feel someone grab my hair and yank and I’m jolted in Colt’s arms as I let out a whimper.

  “Hey, back off,” Colt yells as a security guard from the club takes her away and the bouncers open the door for us. Colt practically pushes me inside with his body and then follows in behind me. He slams the door shut and turns taking my waist and lifting me into his lap. I squeal a little as he pulls me into him. His hands are running through my hair frantically.

  “What are you doing?” I ask as the car pulls away onto the street.

  “I’m checking your hair to make sure you’re all right. That stupid bitch, I should’ve taken her name so we could charge her with assault.”

  “That’s funny coming from the man who just ten minutes ago assaulted Jarred Coslecki,” I reply with a smirk.

  “That’s different, he deserved it, you didn’t. You did nothing to her except be there with me. You shouldn’t have to put up with that crap from them. Fuck! I wonder if it’s even worth it, ya know?” His hands gently massage my sore scalp as I lean into him.

  “Colt, you love making music, it’s a part of you and unfortunately that out there is a part of it too. You can’t have one without the other, and babe you can’t live without your music,” I talk softly and then lean in to kiss him gently. He kisses me all the way to the Hyatt. We make our way upstairs without any hassle this time and to our separate room away from the penthouse suite. I like that we have our own room. He swipes the door with the key card and we walk in, he clicks the door closed behind me and pulls me up against him.

  “And now Miss Norman, I’m going to make you scream my name so the whole of New York City can hear who I’m here with,” he says sliding his leather jacket off my shoulders.

  As I lay in bed next to a slightly snoring, and gloriously naked Colt, I think about how in the last two weeks my life has changed. I broke up with Joseph and I’ve moved on pretty quickly with Colt. It still amazes me after how upset and completely distraught I was when Joseph kicked me to the curb, that it actually doesn’t upset me at all anymore. As a matter of fact, this is the first time that Joseph has even crossed my mind. I’ve had more sex with Colt in the past two weeks than I had in my entire four years with Joseph. Joseph had a lot of trouble keeping it up and keeping up with me. He couldn’t, so he didn’t, and it was a huge problem in our relationship. However, with Colt it’s so different. And let me tell you - one word for Colt would be stamina! He can keep going for hours and it is amazing every time. I’ve never had sex like it, and the connection I feel toward him is undeniable, unfathomable and completely unexpected.

  I run my finger along the stubble of his jaw, his face twitches but he doesn’t wake. I think I’m really starting to feel something for him. I like him, a lot and I can only hope he feels the same. He’s shown me a bright and amazing new world and I’m finding it so surreal to think that he actually wants me around. I jump as my mobile starts to ring. Colt stirs from his sleep as I jump up, wrapping the sheet around me and race over to the bench to answer it. I look at the caller ID.

  “Urgh,” I moan as Colt mumbles in his sleep.

  I open the balcony door and walk outside, wrapped in nothing but a sheet. I sit down on a chair and swipe the phone.

  “Hi Daddy.”

  “Delia, princess, your mother misses you. You need to come home.”

  “I’m fine thanks, how are you?” I answer sarcastically.

  “Delia, don’t you smart mouth me young lady. Don’t you see that you gallivanting all
around the world with that bunch of imbeciles is tearing your mother’s heart apart? We saw photos of you in the paper this morning getting your hair pulled by some stupid woman while trying to get into the car. Delia see some sense child. This life is not for you. Come home now and we can put this whole mess behind us.”

  I scoff. “Daddy, listen, I’m not gallivanting, I’m on tour with some really great people. Yes, there are some fans that get a little carried away, but I feel safe with Colt and I’m getting used to it. And Daddy, I’m having fun. I really like being with him—”

  “Him?” he yells.

  Shit!

  “Them, I meant them, they’re all looking after me really well and I’ve made a friend… a really good friend. Her name’s Anna and you’d love her, so would Mother. So, I have to stay because I finally have friends that care about me, Daddy. You want me to have friends don’t you?”

  “Not if they’re all high on drugs and alcohol, I don’t. I know, and I’ve heard all about these so called rock groups. The term ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ comes to mind Delia, and they don’t just say it for no reason, young lady. Oh God, you better not be having wild orgies or drunken rowdy sex parties out there, Delia. We taught you better than that. We’re of class, Delia. I don’t want to see your photo splashed across every newspaper and magazine. Think of the position that places me in. Actually that’s it I’m booking a flight right now to come and get you. Where are you?”

  “Dad, I’m not going to any sex parties, trust me on that, or for that matter having wild orgies. I promise. I also promise that there’s no drugs being taken by me or my friends at any time, so the only part of the saying that’s true is the rock and roll, and there’s plenty of that. Their music is amazing Daddy and Colt is so talented—”

  “Colt, that’s his name, the imbecile that hung up on me last time we spoke. Delia you’re coming home now, and mending what is broken between you and Joseph and that’s my final word on this matter.”