by Andi Bremner
I couldn’t take my eyes off her and her voice, the way she moved and the words she sang had done things to my body which were embarrassing to admit. I wasn’t a fifteen-year-old guy with no control over his erections anymore. I was a twenty-one-year-old with more control. Or so I thought.
And don’t even get me started on when she dropped that rosebud down her pants. I couldn’t even let my mind go there.
Swallowing hard I realized my throat was dry and my beer was warm. I’d barely touched it. Pushing my way through the crowd I headed back to the bar where I ordered another beer. I was driving, but one wouldn’t hurt and no doubt if the band came back on again I’d be too hypnotized to even touch it.
“Hey, buddy! You made it!”
I snapped my head to see my roommate Toby. He back slapped me and shook my hand before introducing me to the girl hanging over his shoulder. Kyla I think her name was, but it didn’t matter. Toby and I had only been roommates for a few weeks now but I knew him well enough to know that I might see Kyla once or twice, but that would be it. There was no point getting to know her.
“Glad I did make it,” I told him, “that band is awesome.”
“I know right? And I knew you would appreciate their music too, and not just that hot little piece of ass bouncing around on stage.”
My grin froze on my face and my insides hardened at his words. Toby was a good guy and this was how he talked, but I didn’t like him talking about Trinity that way. Trinity. I ran her name through my head liking the way it sounded. It suited her.
“Hey, afterwards we are headed to a party and the girls from the band are gonna be there,” Toby continued, “come along.”
“Sure,” I didn’t hesitate. I wanted to meet Trinity. More than anything else right now I wanted to meet her.
Suddenly the phone in my pocket buzzed and I pulled it out. Melissa’s name flashed across the screen as well as her text. She wanted to know if I was home. If she could come over.
“Something wrong?” Toby asked.
I quickly sent a message to Melissa. Not tonight. I’m out. And tucked it away. “Nope. Just Melissa.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Again? Whoa man I thought she was done with you.”
I shrugged. I didn’t want to talk about Melissa with him, she didn’t deserve that. “We’re still friends.”
“A text at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night is not what friends do.” He whistled. “That’s a booty call mate. You still up for the party? Or you want to go with a sure thing?”
I frowned at him and opened my mouth to tell him not to talk about Melissa like that. She might be my ex-girlfriend but the breakup was amicable and she didn’t deserve to be talked about like that. I needed to correct Toby and his opinion of her but then the music started up again and the band stepped out onto stage, and I completely forgot about Melissa. Trinity had changed and now wore a short, tight, tartan dress. It barely covered her ass and was sleeveless. Who knew a tartan could look so fucking sexy?
The phone in my pocket buzzed again but I ignored it. Trinity was on stage and she was all I could think of.
****
Trinity
“You gotta come, Trin,” Molly pleaded. “Please?”
“Molly I’m so tired,” I complained, “I just want to go to bed.”
“How can you sleep now?” she continued, her voice falling into that whine mode of hers, “aren’t you buzzed with adrenaline?”
I was, but I could still sleep. I hadn’t slept more than two hours last night and I was exhausted. My body might be wired right now but in about twenty minutes I would be aching to sleep. Only problem was, I had nowhere to sleep tonight, although I wasn’t about to tell Molly that.
“I tell you what,” she began in her no nonsense compromise voice this time, “you come to the party for half an hour. Thirty minutes. Come, mingle, be friendly, and then you can go. We need you. You are the lead singer, and people expect to see you at the after parties every now and again.”
I sighed. “I do go…”
“When? You haven’t been for weeks. Maybe months.”
I chewed my bottom lip thinking back. The after parties were at Tony’s house and I didn’t like going there. It wasn’t just the people from the bar and the band who were there but other guys too. Older, more streetwise guys who thought a rock chic was fair game. Last time I went I felt like I’d spent the whole night swatting hands away. I didn’t know how the other girls didn’t get tired of it.
“Please… You can drive your own car and then leave whenever you want.”
I eyed her. “Half an hour.”
She jumped up and down and clapped her hands before kissing me. “Yay! Trinity’s coming to the party!”
I had no room in my car for anyone else, but that was okay as they all piled into Gwen’s car and I followed. They didn’t ask questions but I knew that Olivia and Molly had both seen the pile of shit in my car. I hated that they’d seen that. I hated them feeling sorry for me. Even if they didn’t say anything I caught the glances they shot each other.
I followed them through the streets towards the “nicer” end of town. I mean nice, in a very loose term. It was further away from the trailer park and The Silver Den and was down near the lake. The houses were more middle class and the gardens were neat and manicured. There was a public school and a private school but everyone on this side of town sent their kids to the private school. I didn’t look at the houses as I drove past, didn’t want to know which one my dad lived in. I felt my shoulders and jaw stiffen from the effort of not looking but still I resisted.
Eventually we pulled into the driveway outside Tony’s house. He was there already, the lights were on and music spilled out the open and welcoming front door. Twisting the rearview mirror, I took a moment to examine my face. Some of the thick black eyeliner had gone but there was still enough actual makeup to cover my bruise. I applied some dark red lipstick and hoped that would detract further from any swelling that might still be showing. The girls and Tony knew not to ask questions but sometimes strangers weren’t so considerate. I thought of the guy earlier. He’d seen the bruise. I’d heard his sharp intake of breath and seen the pity flood his eyes. My stomach turned over and I pushed the rearview mirror away.
People could look at me with hate, lust, disgust, amusement, whatever and I could handle it. But the one thing I’d never learned to handle in all my nineteen years, despite my familiarity with it, was pity.
Climbing out of the car I slammed the door shut and locked it. All my stuff was in my car, I couldn’t afford to lose a thing even if none of it was particularly valuable. Then I hoisted my bag up over my shoulder and made my way into the party.
Thirty minutes. I only had to be here for thirty minutes.
****
“Here you go.” Shawna handed me a lemonade. “Do you know how hard that was to find? I could get you any type of spirit, any type of wine or beer, but you want just plain old lemonade. Lucky Tony has the most amazing bar and he needs the lemonade to make some equally amazing cocktails.”
Shawna sipped her beer as I swallowed my lemonade and glanced around the party. We were out the back by the pool, which was illuminated by lights dotted along the floor of the pool. A few girls were in there already, squealing with delight as they bounced around in just their bikini bottoms. I looked away. This was how Tony’s parties generally were and it was still only early.
Molly, Gwen, and Olivia had all scatted throughout the house, mingling with people. Shawna was only slightly more social than I was and preferred to hang back a little. I appreciated that about her and it gave me someone to loiter in the shadows with.
I glanced at my watch. I had twenty minutes left before I could skedaddle out of here. Not that I had anywhere to go. I couldn’t go home, that much was sure. My cheek began to throb a little just thinking about going home and I touched it. It was tender but would be fine in a few days. And that was also how long I needed to stay away, give my mom a chance to c
alm down. Then hopefully, I could go home, if only for a little while.
“You okay?” Shawna asked now. “You look a little worried.”
I smiled up at her. “Fine. I need the bathroom though. Be back soon.”
I pushed off from the wall and made my way across the lawn and back up toward the house. I could waste another ten minutes in the bathroom hopefully. I kept my eyes down as I walked, winding my way through the crowd. Tony knew a lot of people.
Suddenly a chest appeared in my way and I was forced to stop. I made to step around but they chose the same direction and we did that awkward little dance you do when you bump into someone.
I looked up.
It was him. His eyes were green. Very green. And there was a streak of hazel in them. They were quite mesmerizing and they were staring down at me.
He grinned. “Trying to run me down again?” he asked, his voice light and teasing.
Heat flooded my face and I was thankful for the thick makeup which hid the color in my cheeks.
“At least this time I should be thankful you haven’t got a powerful engine,” he continued, “and I doubt you could do much damage.”
At that he dropped his eyes and let them roam over me from head to toe. The skimpy tartan dress suddenly felt even skimpier. I squared my shoulders as heat laced through me, following everywhere his eyes touched.
Suddenly, he thrust out a hand. “My name’s Luke,” he said, “Luke Morrision.”
I eyed his hand and felt the snappy words on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t care what his name was, I didn’t need to know. Then I stopped myself. There was no reason to be hostile.
“Trinity,” I said and slid my hand into his. His hand was big, completely dwarfing mine, and warm. Strong and masculine. I shivered.
“Cold?”
“No,” I replied, pulling my hand away.
“I watched you up on stage tonight,” he said, his voice lowering as he kept and held my gaze, “you were amazing.”
His words pleased me. “Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed the show.”
“I’d heard about you from my roommate,” he continued easily, “he told me about this amazing chic band and nagged me to come see. I’m glad—very glad—I went.”
Someone bumped into me from behind, pushing me forward and into Luke. My chest squashed up against his and for the briefest moment I smelled him. Strong, clean, and masculine. I tilted my head to look up, an apology on the tip of my tongue, only to find my face inches from his. My hands were braced on his chest.
His eyes were darker now, almost an emerald green, and they dipped to my mouth, the pupils slightly dilated. Was he going to kiss me? Here? Now? In the middle of the party? Was I going to let a complete stranger kiss me?
My heart was hammering in my chest and the butterflies were going crazy in my stomach. I licked my lips.
I wanted him to kiss me. Suddenly I was very glad that I had come to this party after all.
He reached up a hand and brushed it over my cheek, his touch warm and gentle. Then he held my face, examining me, his eyes searching. “Who hurt you?”
His words were like a bucket of cold water to my inflamed desires. A coldness settled in the pit of my belly and I stepped back, confused. I was so good at reading people normally. I rarely got it wrong. But the look I’d thought was desire in his eyes a moment ago was nothing more than pity.
“Excuse me,” I muttered and pushed past him as I continued to make my way to the bathroom.
I glanced at my watch. Ten more minutes. Ten more minutes and then I was free to leave.
****
Luke
I ran a hand through my hair and cursed. I’d scared her off. Damn it. I hadn’t meant to do that, but I wanted to know what happened to her. Who gave her that ugly purple bruise on her cheek? Who had hurt her?
And if I was honest, I wanted to know so I could go and beat the living crap out of them.
Pushing through the crowd, I followed in the direction she had fled, but I couldn’t see her. The crowd closed in and swallowed her up. Going to the large winding staircase I stood on the bottom step to get a better view. I saw Toby, the same girl over his shoulder, a bored expression on her face. Drugs. I recognized the look. The girl was as high as a kite.
“You seen Trinity anywhere?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice neutral.
He quirked an eyebrow. “The lead singer?”
I nodded.
A grin tugged at the edges of his lips. “Nope, sorry mate, haven’t seen her. She doesn’t usually come to Tony’s parties.”
“She’s here tonight.”
“Oh really?” Toby was amused. “You got a thing for Trinity hey? Well join the queue mate and be prepared to wait. She doesn’t date, doesn’t screw around at all. She might look like a proper rock chic but it’s all for show. Take her off the stage and she’s a completely different chick.”
I stopped scanning the crowd and focused my attention back on Toby. “You know her?”
He shrugged. “Sure. When she’s not strutting her stuff with Moonstone she’s serving coffee at The Bean near campus.”
I nodded. Great. That was good. If I lost her now I would have a way to find her. But I didn’t want to lose her now.
Suddenly I spotted the white glow of her blonde hair disappearing out the front door. Someone held it open for her and whispered something in her ear and she turned, smiling up at them. I imagined her giggling at whatever they said and remembered her giggle on stage. Even though she dressed tough, and sang in a rock band, and strutted her stuff like she’d give Gwen Stefani a run for her money, she did something amazingly sweet like giggled.
I wanted to hear her giggle again.
I wanted to be the one to make her giggle.
“Gotta go, mate,” I said quickly to Toby, pushing past him, “catch ya later.”
He chuckled but I didn’t spare him a look. I needed to wrangle my way through the crowd to her. A little voice inside my head told me to stop and hold back. I didn’t know this girl, and from what I’d seen of her tonight, the bruise, the band, the pile of shit in her run down car, she came with some baggage. I didn’t need that. Not when I had my own stuff to deal with. I should turn around, let her go.
But someone had hit her. Someone had hurt her.
I pushed through the crowd harder until I was outside, the music and lights fading behind me as I made my way down the lawn looking for the car I knew would be hers. An old Toyota that must have been red once, but was now a faded orange color, more rust than anything mechanical now. She’d parked at the bottom of the driveway, under a streetlight, where she wouldn’t be blocked in by other cars. Smart.
“Trinity wait!” I called out.
She stopped and turned around. I caught up to her and stopped a little way in front of her.
“Yes?”
“I just wanted to say,” I began and then paused. I had no idea what I wanted to say, I just wanted to talk to her and yet suddenly I couldn’t find any words. That amused me. I hadn’t been this tongue tied around a girl in well, possibly ever.
She raised an eyebrow. “You wanted to say what?”
“I just wanted to say sorry,” I began, “for intruding where it was none of my business.”
She stiffened, her shoulders squaring and her chin jutting out a little. She was trying to either look tough or be tough, but on someone who looked like her, was as tiny and fairy like as her she didn’t look either. But she looked adorable.
Fuck. What was wrong with me?
Finally she nodded and turned away.
“It’s just,” I began again, “it’s just that I don’t like the idea that someone has hit you.”
She turned back and spoke slowly, carefully. “Your concern is touching, really. But nobody hit me. I fell during rehearsal, that’s all. You can ask anyone.”
She was lying. I was sure of it. But she was damn good at it. That made my stomach turn over. To be that good at lying about something like this
meant she’d had practice.
“I won’t ask,” I assured her, “like I said, it’s none of my business.”
She nodded again and her eyes fell to the ground. “Is that all?”
“Yes. I mean no.” I cursed under my breath. I was a bumbling fool. “I mean, can I get your number?”
She blinked at me like she didn’t understand.
“Your phone number, “I clarified, wondering if there was another type of number I could ask for.
“Oh. I, um, I have a boyfriend.”
I stared at her. Right. A boyfriend. Of course. He was probably one of those meat heads back at the party, although I hadn’t seen her talk to anyone, but then I’d only seen her briefly. She might have been with him earlier, she might have been walking away from him when we bumped into one another, he might have … the words tumbled out of my mouth before I had time to stop them. “Did he hit you?”
Her eyes snapped. “No. I told you, I fell during rehearsal. We do some tricky dance moves on stage sometimes.”
I didn’t apologize for that comment. I knew she was lying. I suspected she was lying about the boyfriend too but I wouldn’t call her on that. If she didn’t want to give me her number I wouldn’t push it.
“I have to go,” she said eventually.
“Right. Bye.”
And I watched as she made her way across the manicured lawn to the shitty little Toyota. Climbing in, she snapped her seat belt on and then leaned back against the head rest staring up at the ceiling. Then she wiped her eye.
Fuck was she crying?
I made to walk toward her when she turned the engine on and reversed the car out. Then I watched as she drove out of my life.
Chapter Three
Luke
I couldn’t get her out of my head. Toby didn’t come home that night, which was good because I really didn’t need to listen to him and his girl going for it through the paper thin walls, especially when I had thoughts of a certain sexy lead singer dancing in my head. But as it was I was too wired to sleep anyhow. I just kept seeing her adorable little pixie face and the way she’d moved on stage. It was like she was two different people. I wasn’t quite sure yet which one I liked more.
