by Ally Vance
I watched as everyone looked up, their eyes closed, peaceful smiles on their soft, unaged faces. I felt my age then, among these young bucks and nymphettes, and for a second, I wondered just what the hell I was doing. But one glance at Daisy brought it all back. My mission.
My promise.
Once the appropriate span of silence had been met, the group chatted softly and the guitarist started up a tune I wasn’t familiar with. Some of the girls, Daisy included, opened up coolers filled with beer. One by one, they went around to the attendees and handed out the bottles of beer. I waited with bated breath as Daisy came my way.
“Beer?” she asked me with a smile. Her husky voice that reminded me of smooth whiskey and winter nights weaved itself into my soul.
I didn’t change my relaxed position, only accepted the cold bottle from her. “Much obliged.” I tilted the bottle her way in thanks.
Something in her expression changed, and she seemed to see me for the first time. I knew exactly what it was. I was a man. Not a fresh, baby-faced boy with a lyrical voice to match. I was rough, masculine, and knew exactly who the hell I was in this world.
She seemed to hesitate before asking, “Want some company?”
Looking next to me at the empty space on the ground, I put down my beer and asked the kissy-faced couple if they had a spare blanket, which they were more than happy to provide me. I spread it out next to me and motioned for Daisy to sit.
“Well, aren’t you a gentleman?” She giggled a little nervously as she sat down, tucking her legs to the side and underneath her for modesty.
“No, darlin’. Just a man who knows a woman’s worth.” I tipped the brim of my hat up and winked at her. She blushed and looked away.
I smiled at her reaction. Daisy was a good girl. A pure girl. And as far as I knew, still an untouched girl, as she should be. Sure, loose women or ones that fooled around with their boyfriends or fiancés had every right to be free with their sexuality. But Daisy was mine to protect from the many predators out there in the world. Besides, no one would ever be good enough to even touch her.
“You from around here?” She fiddled with the hem of her skirt as I opened my beer with my car key.
“Not too far, not too near. Yourself?”
“Montana.”
I whistled. “Pretty far trip.”
“Yeah. But I had to come. Tolkien was brilliant, a true-blue genius, don’t you agree?”
I nodded after taking a sip of my beer. “He will be missed for sure.”
“Since you’re much older than me,” she said, ducking her head shyly. “Sorry, I mean—”
I waved her away with a surprised laugh. “That I am, no harm in acknowledging it.”
She smiled. “I just wanted to know… how old were you when you first read Tolkien?”
I looked up for a beat, trying to recall. “Thirteen, fourteen, I think. I was always more partial to Lord of the Rings, myself.” Which was true. Although, admittedly, I had found it incredibly tedious, but my professor in freshman year had made us read it.
A happy sigh escaped her lips. “It’s just so rad that his words touched so many.”
It was she I wanted to touch, but I agreed. “That is true.”
I wasn’t much of a talker; never had been. Daisy didn’t seem to mind, though, as we sat in silence for a beat, until the boy across the way started up with a new song. In the corner of my eye, I saw Daisy straighten, and I turned, mid-drink, to her see what had caused it.
She eyed me, smiling, a look of pure sex kitten on her pretty face. I swallowed my beer, its bitter piss-taste making me regret taking it in the first place. But I had to hide my reactions from her. I was barely able to control myself from touching her and grabbing that yellow hair into my fist and pulling her luscious lips to mine.
I raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what she was so excited about.
“This is one of my favorite songs!” She closed her eyes and swayed, her cheeks flushed, her smooth graceful neck splotched with ruddy color. “I’m Rose, by the way. What’s your name?”
With her eyes still closed, I watched her in awe before I gathered my damn wits and answered. “Sonny. It’s nice to meet you, Rose.”
She smiled, showing perfectly straight white teeth, and opened her eyes. “Groovy name. Nice to meet you, too, Sonny.”
Her cat eyes stayed on mine for a long time, then her little pink tongue peeked out to lick her bottom lip. She was so sexy and had no goddamn clue of it, either. Heat soared in my blood as I gazed at that mouth, reading the desire there that communicated want. Need. Lust.
Someone broke the spell, however, when they called out her name. Daisy turned to look and waved. “Over here, Paula!”
Paula, the red poncho girl, came running over and pulled Daisy by the hand. “Come on, let’s dance!”
As the girls began to move their bodies to the music, right in front of the fire, I drank my beer slowly, fingering the wet label on the bottle until I’d rubbed it off, its pieces falling onto my jeans, jeans that were getting way too tight in the crotch. I distracted myself from the hypnotic sway of Daisy’s hips by listening to the words being sung by Guitar Boy. I smiled when I followed along. It was about a wild world, where a girl could lose her way to the dangers that laid in wait for the innocent. I even found myself nodding along with it.
“Cat Stevens, man. Gotta dig it,” the young buck beside me said as the woman in his lap nodded.
Indeed, I could dig it. The words rang true, reminding me of why I was here and that I wasn’t the only one in the world who knew the dangers a flower in a wild world full of weeds could face.
My own flower raised her arms over her head, her smile one of rapture. A few of the men watched her intently, looking like a pack of drooling wolves, and I almost growled like one myself.
It wasn’t time to take my Daisy, not yet. Not until the time was right. But right now, with the looks she was getting, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had no choice but to make my move.
Chapter Three
I ended up hanging out with Daisy and her crew over the next few days. I had to hand it to these kids; their energy was on fire. Early to rise and late to bed, they were all smiles, every waking moment, energetically clamoring for more.
For the most part, I watched by the sidelines, always when there were more than ten people in attendance at the impromptu parties and get-togethers. Apparently, Daisy and her friends were like vines—wherever they went, they spread out their happy-go-lucky selves, attracting like-minded individuals to them like bees to flowers. Never bored, always doing something as a group.
The latest thing that occupied their thoughts, though, had me concerned. A plan to travel midway between here and the coast, a place where a small group of hippies had started a commune of some kind. A married couple, both in their late twenties, had sung its praises to Daisy and her friends last night, inviting the teenagers to follow them on their trek to this place of “healing and light.”
Sounded like a scam to me, but I’d follow anyway. Knowing Daisy, I already knew she’d be unable to resist an invitation.
The plan was to leave in the morning, early. We’d have one more night in the motel, and then we’d head out.
It was going on eight at night when we arrived at the married couple’s farmhouse. They had packed their things earlier and were throwing a goodbye party. Of course, we were invited to that, too, along with all and sundry in Saint Marlot, it seemed.
The house was packed. It was hard to keep an eye on Daisy, but I managed for the most part. But when she and Paula hadn’t returned for a while from the bathroom, I decided to check on them.
“Golly, I can’t believe we get to see a real commune in action!” Paula, as always, was beside herself as I listened from the hallway, my ear to the bathroom door.
Music distantly filtered in from the living room, along with the skunk smell of grass. The lights were dim in every damn room in this place, and only Christmas l
ights, with their fat bulbs of color, lit the walls in what had to be a fire hazard in the making.
“I know! I’m just over the moon with it, I really am!” Daisy was sounding giddy, a bit too much.
I quickly ran over the past hour in my head, trying to see how much, or what, she had partaken of the various vices going on in this house of love. But besides a few drinks—mostly watered-down gin and mixers—I was pretty sure she hadn’t taken anything.
The door clicked, and I stepped back a few paces in front of another door, pretending I was looking for the bathroom.
“Oh, hey, Sonny,” Daisy cooed, her smile bright, her eyelids a bit too lazy looking for my liking. She placed her hand on my forearm. “I didn’t even see you earlier. Seems like every time I turn around, there you are!” She laughed, which made Paula snort. I eyed the latter, seeing her roll her eyes at her friend.
“Guess I’ll leave you two birdies alone.” Paula smirked and headed toward the living room.
I looked down at Daisy, who was tall enough for my lips to rest against her forehead. Her cat eyes widened at me, fading in and out just a bit. I narrowed my own.
“Girl, what are you on?” I swept a stray strand of blonde hair away from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.
Giggling, she made an innocent face, her lips soft, eyes downcast. “Something Buzz gave me. It’s called, get this, love. With a name like that, I had to try it!”
I put my finger under her chin. “Right. Well now, who is this Buzz? Not sure I’ve met him.” I kept my expression and tone light, even teasing, but inside I was furious. I couldn’t believe I had missed seeing her take anything. Must have been when I had gone to the kitchen for some water.
Daisy flapped a hand at my chest like a fish. Yep, she was definitely on something.
“Oh Sonny, Sonny, Sooooonnnny.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, and she licked her lips, her eyes growing wide and bright again.
I pulled her close, not about to resist her. “What is it, baby?”
Her breath puffed against my throat. “Oh, Lordy. Your voice. It’s so dreamy. So, so, so dreamy.” When her tongue came out to lick my Adam’s apple, I spun her around and wrapped my arm around her waist.
“Alright, girl. Let’s get you some water. I want you to sit with Paula for a bit while I find this Buzz.”
“Ummkay, dreamy man.”
I grunted out a laugh. Damn, she was cute.
Paula was sitting on a bean bag, speaking animatedly with some lady with cropped hair who looked uncannily like Mia Farrow. Paula looked up as soon as Daisy and I came closer.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I got a good look at her, noticing the clear eyes behind her ridiculous glasses. Good and sober. “Daisy’s not feeling well—”
“I feel groovy, perfectly fine!” Daisy patted my arm, the one wrapped lighting around her waist.
I gave Paula what I hoped was an indulgent look. “Well, be that as it may… Will you watch over her while I get her some water?”
“Sure, yeah, of course. Daisy, come share my seat. Meet Dawn. She was just telling me about the Calling House. She’s going to be a member, too, just like May and Phil!” She patted the leather bean bag, smiling like a loon, and Daisy glided over and sunk down beside her.
Satisfied, I told Daisy I’d be right back and walked around, asking a few people where I could find this Buzz character.
Buzz, it turned out, was a smarmy-looking fellow who looked to be in his late twenties. His longish hair was parted on the side like a hairy cow click. I hid my contempt and made my body relax into a happy-go-lucky, loose as a noodle hippy, and started up a conversation with him.
“You Buzz?” I asked.
“Yeah, man. I’m Buzz. What’s happening?” He held out a hand.
“Sonny.” I shook his hand. “Hey, my friend said she got something from you a bit ago. Seems like some good stuff. Called it ‘love’? You, uh, got some more to spare?”
As I knew he would, he denied having anymore.
“Nah, I cached out. I can give you my number and you can call me tomorrow, though. Might get some more in.” He sipped his drink, turning his head away, pretending to just be one of the party.
“I dig you. Damn, I’m leaving in the morning.” I rubbed the back of my neck for show. “So, what is it, anyway? An upper, downer?”
Buying my fake interest, he turned back to me, leaning in to get closer. “Some new beauty on the wind, man. You smoke it, right? Just a hit dropped in the bowl. Imagine grass with a hint of mescaline, a touch of ludes, and a pump of dolly.” His gaze swept my face, a kooky smile on his livery lips. “Yeah, man. It’s that good.”
I wanted to punch him in his stupid face. Instead, I nodded slowly, my eyes widening in awe. “Sounds wild.”
He pulled back, grinning, winking at me as if he were Hugh Hefner, for Christ’s sake. “Exactly.” He dismissed me, then, walking away to speak to some fellow near the record player that was blaring out Darkside of the Moon.
I went back to the kitchen, grabbed the water I had promised, and went back to Paula, who was still sitting on the bean bag. Daisy wasn’t next to her.
Shit.
Paula saw me coming and pointed to the open front door, continuing her conversation with the Mia Farrow look-alike.
Great friend, Paula.
When I walked outside, I saw Daisy leaning against a tattered fence post, gazing at the sky. She was alone, thank God. I passed the mingling people that were hanging out on the porch and walked over to her. She looked up at me and smiled.
I handed her the Tupperware cup of water, and she drank enough to appease me. Closer now, I got a good look at her. Whatever was in her system made her pupils huge. I hoped the shit was on its way out.
She handed me back the orange cup, now empty. “Thanks, Sonny. It’s such a beautiful night, don’t you agree?” Hopping onto the post, she faced me, bringing up her bell-bottomed legs, pulling me inside them. I scooted back, not allowing my crotch any contact. The girl was killing me.
I set the cup down and placed my hands on the rails beside her. I cleared my mind and tried to figure out the best way to handle this situation.
She was high as a kite. She was young. Away from home. I was practically a stranger—not that it mattered with these kids. She was inexperienced. I wasn’t.
I wanted her, but it wasn’t time.
So I kept her busy by asking her questions, letting her ramble about the things she cared about, while I listened and watched her mouth, her eyes, her jaw. For the months I’d been watching her from afar, to be this close was intoxicating. But I controlled it.
When she started talking about the commune, this Calling House, my focus homed in and I listened very carefully.
“Just think, Sonny…” She was absently fiddling with my shirt collar, had been for a while now. But I didn’t mind. “Growing your own food. No currency. Complete freedom from The Man. Nobody to tell you how to live, no worrying about a job. No pretense. Just freedom and living. Doesn’t that sound dreamy?”
I grunted, and she looked up at me, her cat eyes curious. Clearing my throat, remembering my role, I told her, “Well, sure, I guess. The world isn’t what it used to be. Things are changing, and not for the good, in my way of thinking.”
She nodded, hanging on to my every word while I continued.
“But… to be beholden to a group, one with its own rules and ways, isn’t that missing the very point? Sounds good in theory, but trust me. There’s always a leader in every society, no matter how small. And odds are, in my experience, leaders start getting big heads. Only leads to trouble in the long run.”
She laughed. “Oh, Sonny. You’re being a fuddy-duddy. Don’t you see? It’s just the opposite there! The people are tired of their abusive government and propaganda. The awakened… well, sure, the war ended, our soldiers came home, but it was too late by then. We stopped the draft, but it was way too late, too. We’re done with society.”
My fingers brushed back a wayward strand of her hair. “Utopias don’t exist, baby. If they did, we’d be living in one now.”
She shuddered, forgetting the subject completely. “Oh, my.”
“What?” I chuckled.
“When you call me that… it does things to me….things that…”
When she didn’t finish, I gave in to temptation. “What kind of things, pretty girl?” My voice came out husky.
“I feel hot and… and puffy in places.” She kept her eyes closed, leaning into my hand as I cupped her face.
Christ.
“What places, baby?” Damn me, but I really couldn’t help myself. My lips brushed her cheek, whispering soft breath over her silky skin.
She grabbed my other hand, the one not touching her face, and placed it on her breasts. “Here.” Then she moved my hand down between her legs. “And here.”
When she arched her back, I thought I’d die. I had to stop this. Now.
I grabbed that hand of hers and guided it gently back to my collar, then I pressed my forehead to hers. “I think that’s the ‘love’ talking. How ‘bout we go for a walk? Like you said, the night is beautiful. I think I heard someone say there was a pond in the backyard.”
She made a humming sound. “Call me baby again, Sonny.”
Hells bells, this girl.
I kissed her forehead instead and leaned back, grabbing her by the waist to lift her off the post. “Come on, little lady. Let’s go walk for a bit.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
I said a silent prayer of thanks and I let out my own sigh. The girl could wake the dead, what with her pouty lips and innocent words that stoked the fires of lust.
We went around the house, and I got us back on topic. “Tell me more about yourself. What are your plans after visiting the commune?”
“Oh, I don’t plan on just visiting. I already made up my mind, Sonny. I’m going to join them!”
