by Holly Hood
“Now stand up,” the voice commanded.
I dropped my arms, looking over my shoulder at him. He was wearing a black cutoff t-shirt, a silver chain around his neck and carried a wooden baseball bat in his hands. I stood up, deciding it best to regain my footing before he left me to fend for myself.
“Are you okay?” he said loudly, his voice carrying over the music perfectly.
I shoved my flip-flop back on my foot. “Yeah, I think I’ll be okay.”
I turned to leave as another mass of people crowded my way. This place was a zoo. I sighed, trying to squeeze through. Finally realizing I was no match for such giant thugs, I gave up, turning back to him for assistance. He perched the bat on his shoulder, giving a nod that he understood I needed his help. With one loud yell and a couple swings of the bat, he cleared me another path. Extending his hand in front of him he gestured for me to start walking.
“I take it you wandered over here from the beach houses,” he commented, following me out the gate.
“Yeah, I was just curious.” I concentrated on my footsteps.
“Yeah, well, next time you think about stepping into rock concerts you might want to bring a bodyguard.”
I stopped and turned around. I brought my hands to my hips, a bit offended. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He dropped the end of the bat into the sand. “It means you’re small.” There was no hesitation in his voice. He wasn’t one bit concerned if he offended me.
I stared up at him. “Yeah, well, you’re big.”
I felt him following me as I made it past the rocks now. I really wasn’t sure if I wanted this guy knowing where I lived. After all, he was wielding a baseball bat, and I had just seen him strike several people with that bat. What if he struck me?
Turning back around I said, “I think I’m okay now, thanks.”
I moved past a group of guys and cut past a couple of girls, my feet crunching down on seashells and sand.
“Which house is yours?” he asked, ignoring my resistance. I swallowed hard, shoving the gate open. I had three males living with me; I hoped that was intimidating enough for him.
“This one. Now you can go. You’re really kind of creeping me out.” I shut and locked the gate quickly, throwing a barrier between us. He rested his hand on the fence, the baseball bat draped over his shoulder again.
“You were just in a mosh pit being trampled by thrashing head bangers all dressed in black, but I am creeping you out.” He surveyed my house. I wasn’t sure if I should just run inside or warn him again to leave.
“I said thank you,” I told him, crossing my arms. He laughed, but it wasn’t a pleasant your funny kind of laugh. The moonlight caught the glint of his lip ring, which he was now fondling with the tip of his tongue as he stared down at me. It was a bit awkward.
“Well, you’re welcome girl-with-no-name.” He raised his eyebrows.
I debated even giving that information up so easily. But his eyes had lost their intensity and I felt less like I was going to be beaten to a pulp with his baseball bat. “Hope Zigler.”
He took it in, leaving me to wait for some sort of response. Finally, he extended his hand. As I went to reach it, Crawford started furiously barking at the door. He thrashed and growled doing his best to tear the door down.
“What the hell is that?” he asked, backing away from the fence. He gripped his baseball bat a little tighter. I shook my head at him. It would be the last thing he did if he beat my dog. Even if I was just a flea compared to this towering inferno. “That’s my dog, and I guess he doesn’t like you.” Which was odd. Crawford liked everyone.
“More like a horse,” he muttered. I gave him a dirty look. His arms were covered in tattoos from shoulder to wrist and he was calling my dog names? He was a circus freak.
“Well, I’m not into purse puppies,” I shot back.
Dad turned the kitchen light on. He knew enough not to let Crawford outside and slowly squeezed out our door, scolding Crawford to be quiet. “What’s going on, Hope?” he asked groggily. He swayed as he walked down the steps.
“Nothing, Dad. I was just about to come in the house,” I said, taking his arm.
The mystery boy watched me carefully as I tried to steady Dad back up the stairs.
“Your daughter was nearly trampled over at the concert, I helped her get home.”
I sucked in my breath, agitated. Who was this guy ratting me out to my drunken father? It would have been nice if he just thought I was outdoors. Not running around doing whatever I wanted.
Dad turned back around. He gave him a look over. “Why are you carrying a bat?”
“Safety reasons. The crowds get rowdy,” he told him point blank.
Dad scratched his head. “What’s your name, guy-that-saved-my-daughter?”
He stared at us before reluctantly saying, “Slade,” then finally walked away, leaving me to tackle Dad back up the stairs.
“Stay away from that guy. He looks like a career criminal.” Dad hiccupped, falling into the railing.
Music
Morning came quickly. I hurried to shower before any of the men woke up, taking my time to brush and blow dry my wet hair before Nona came to take me school shopping. She knew Dad was rather broke at the moment, so she offered to get me and the boys some new clothes before school started in a couple days.
I slipped into some old jean shorts and a yellow tank top. Seconds later, Nona was bellowing out some old show tune at the door, Crawford barking a greeting in the kitchen.
“Hey, Nona,” I said, coming into the kitchen. I grabbed water from the refrigerator and followed her outside. She lit up one of those long skinny cigarettes and dusted off our patio furniture before plopping down.
“Elliot and Easton, are they awake yet?” she asked, not bothering to greet me this morning. She looked worn out.
“I gave them a ten minute warning.” I looked at my pink watch. “Ten minutes ago.”
Nona sighed. “Nona needs a very dry martini. Does your Dad have anything?”
I shook my head. She knew by now Dad only drank Jack Daniels.
“So, Hope, tell me how you feel about school starting so soon?” She fanned her face, leaning far back, enjoying the sun.
“I’m curious, kind of excited, and a bit nervous,” I offered. Elliot and Easton came out the doors interrupting our conversation. Nona told them to help her back up, and we were off to the store.
“This would look smashing on you,” Nona said, pressing a bright red turtleneck against me. I moved away, disturbed in her taste in wardrobe. She dropped the turtleneck on a chair, going around to the other side of the rack. “What about this one? Purple looks grand on you.”
I eyed the purple tank top. It had a dark flower printed on the side. I allowed Nona to sling it over my shoulder. She smiled, pleased, lighting up another cigarette. “Nona, I don’t think you’re supposed to smoke in here.”
Nona exhaled a large cloud of smoke. “Nona keeps their lights on. A little smoke won’t hurt them.”
I shrugged, going to the next rack of clothes. Two girls giggled across from me. I assumed it was at Nona. “Isn’t he so hot?” the blonde girl gushed. I turned my head, spotting the bat wielding Slade. He was with a tall girl with long black hair. Both of them dressed in black, her skin milky white, and even she was covered in tattoos. I wondered if that was his girlfriend. And then I wondered why I even cared.
“What about this dress, Hope?” Nona called out to me.
I shook my head at the polka dot frump she called a dress. “Nona, I think I have enough,” I told her, going to stand in line for the dressing room.
“Out again without a bodyguard,” Slade said in passing. The girl he was with raised her eyebrows in confusion, then settled her eyes on me. She was pretty, dark red lips and jet black hair.
I kept my clothes from slipping out of my hands. “Does my grandma count as a bodyguard?”
They both stared at me, confused rather than amused or willing to crac
k a smile. My cheeks felt warm. Apparently the whole city lacked any sense of humor.
“I think that was a joke,” the girl said, still not smiling. Slade rubbed the back of his neck. She took off inside the now free dressing room. I sighed, doing my best to wait in line patiently as he took a seat in one of the chairs outside of the dressing room.
“That’s some interesting clothes you got there,” he pointed out from his chair. I stared down at my clothes. “I’m not into gothic. I like to dress like a girl.” I stared straight ahead, willing one of the curtains to come open so I could hide away for awhile.
He kicked back, crossing his legs at the ankle. “Maybe for the next rock concert you should get something black.”
I was looking his way now. “I don’t plan on stepping foot back in there again.”
He shrugged. “Too bad. I’m sure it would be a learning experience on good music.”
I pursed my lips, looking at him angrily. “I know a lot about music. Jeez, you’re really judging and all-assuming.”
He sat up, interested now. “What could you know about rock music? Give me three facts.”
I took a breath, rolled my eyes and then said, “Rock music originated in the United States. It evolved around the 1940’s and 1950’s, primarily from blues, country and jazz, and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that it achieved worldwide popularity.”
“You’re just a regular Wikipedia aren’t you,” he told me. “Name three rock bands that are your favorites.”
I couldn’t believe I was still being questioned on my realness. Who was this guy? Because I didn’t have a set of tattoos with blazing skulls or bleeding hearts I wasn’t allowed to enjoy his kind of music?
“The Doors, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Ramones,” I spouted.
“What song is your favorite song by The Doors?” he asked, genuinely interested suddenly.
“People are strange,” I said without a second guess. My dad and I sang it all the time. “I also like Alabama Song.”
He nodded, letting a small grin escape. “That’s mine.”
I crossed my arms. “Well, I’m glad I meet your approval. Although I wasn’t looking for it, or even concerned with coming back around such a disaster you people call music.”
He stood up. “Ooh. That really hurt. You don’t think I hear that all the time. All bark and no bite.”
I clenched my teeth. I was about to show him bite. He smiled in amusement at my temper trying to rear its little head.
“I doubt you even got to hear any of it with all the boots smashing your body on the ground.” He crossed his arms, staring me down.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I searched the store for Nona and her trail of smoke, not finding it anywhere. She was probably sucking down martinis at the shore bar, I thought.
Slade’s girlfriend pulled the curtain open. She stepped out in a tight black dress. If I wasn’t mistaken, I was sure it was leather and part metal. It stopped at the top of her thigh and she wasn’t at all bothered by this.
“You like?” she asked Slade. He gave her a head nod and she vanished back behind the curtain.
“That’s my sister,” he said, pointing at the closed curtain.
I shrugged. “I’m glad you guys are so close.”
He shook his head. “Look, if you want to catch some good music around here maybe I can safely get you inside the park next time. I might need to encase you in some type of bubble wrap and a helmet, but at least you could enjoy the band.”
I searched his eyes for sarcasm. It seemed he was being honest. “When’s the next gig?”
“Tonight at ten. Are you going to lock up that horse?” he asked.
I grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“No, I mean it. I don’t like dogs and dogs don’t like me that much.” He bit his lip ring.
“Fine.” I gave a wave going into the dressing room. Once the curtain was closed, I exhaled. Had I just made a date with a tatted up bat wielding miscreant?
I gathered my clothes from the dressing room. Slipped my shoes on and flung open the curtain. Slade and his sister were long gone and Nona sat in his seat. “Did we find some new threads? That is what the kids are saying, isn’t it?”
I threw her a disturbed look. “I’m not sure what the Californians are calling it, but not back home.”
She gave a kick, standing up. “Well, just get used to it, because you’re a long ways away from Kansas, my dear.” She actually started singing “The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow” as she traipsed to the counter.
I cringed as several teens gawked in shock at her crazy performance. If only they knew how normal this was in our family. Nona had been bonkers since I could remember. Dad said it was menopause, but I had looked that up once, and I highly doubted that was the case.
I stuffed the last of our bags in Grandma’s trunk. She drove a jaguar. Well, her boyfriend did when she didn’t have her hands on it. I couldn’t figure out how loaded he was, but it was apparent he was well off.
“Thanks, Nona,” I told her, getting into the front seat. She patted my leg, backing out of her parking spot.
“I want my munchkin to look gorgeous.” She smiled, flying into traffic. My body bounced up and down as we hit the curb. She quickly straightened out the wheel and let out a sigh of relief. “That would have been bad.”
“Nona, do you know anything about the rock band down the beach?” I asked suddenly. Nona had lived here long enough to know something, I was sure of it. Anyone that was living within a ten mile radius she knew all about. I heard her gossip all the time to Dad.
“Well, I hear they have quite the following. I’m not into noise. I enjoy thoughtful music.” She threw her hand up ending the conversation. I didn’t bother pushing the topic any longer.
We came to a stop in front of our beach house. Nona bid me farewell and promised to drop the boys back off later. Elliot and Easton had decided to stay at the arcade rather then come home.
As soon as I hit the door Dad was handing me the phone. “It’s your favorite girl in the world,” he teased, taking his sandwich and plate outside to give me some privacy.
I pulled myself onto the counter. “Finally, you call me!”
Karsen laughed her familiar laugh. “Hope-Hope, I miss you.” She added extra sadness to her words. But if anyone knew anything about Karsen, they knew she wasn’t so dramatic. In fact, she kind of reminded me of a beautiful Daria from that television show. Karsen was as serious as a heart attack most days, but she would always be my best friend. She understood me and I understood her.
“How are you doing?” I asked her first before she could ask me.
“So far so good. I miss our talks on your old roof. I’m actually staring at it right now from my roof. I was debating on jumping and ending my despair over losing my best friend, but I decided to call you instead.” She fell silent.
“Have you tried asking again about visiting for break?” I asked. Her parents were totally against her flying so far away. This only further upset me. I wanted my friend, I needed her.
“No, but I plan on starting on them again real soon. Don’t worry, one way or another, I’ll get there.” And she meant it. “So, tell me about the place. How’s Nona?”
I crossed my legs, staring out the door at Dad chowing down on his sandwich.
“It’s not the same as back home, but the beach is a minute away from my front door. And there’s a band down the way. I’m only hoping the school is as great as Loudwell back home.”
I missed my school already. I had grown up with every single student, no exception. They all knew me from the age of preschool until sophomore year. And everyone honestly liked me. There were no cliques back home in Georgia. I feared what this school meant for me. I was going to be the new girl.
“Keep your head held high and put on that famous Hope smile,” she told me.
“I’m going to try.” I sighed.
“How’s that foxy dad of yours?” she asked, letting out a flat l
augh.
It was an ongoing joke between just about everyone back home. All my girlfriends thought my dad was hot. I tried to drown it out after a while, to me he was just Dad. I would never see him as anything other than that.
“Still the same.”
“Has Jack been around lately?” she questioned. Jack meaning Jack Daniels.
“First night we arrived. I snuck out and wandered down to this concert, and then I was nearly crushed to death by a mosh pit. But luckily I was saved by some guy.” I let it all out. It felt good to dish some news with my best friend.
“See, I told you steel-toed boots come in handy,” she said. I laughed. “So what did this guy look like?”
“Well, tall, dark black hair. Not sure what color eyes. And he has tattoos,” I rattled off.
Karsen let out an audible swoon. “A hardcore type. I like it. And why is it you don’t recall his eye color?”
I dropped down from the counter, opening the fridge. “I guess I was too busy looking at his lip piercing that he liked to play with so much.”
Karsen let out another sigh. “A lip piercing.” She gasped, the intensity going up a few more notches. “What’s his name?”
“Slade.”
She yelped, sending me into a fit of laughter. I wiped at my eyes. “Stop it.”
“So, do you like him?”
I bit at my lip. It wasn’t something I ever thought about. “You know me, I don’t even know. But he invited me out to the concert tonight. So that’s a start right?”
Karsen agreed with a soft grunt.
“Well, Dad looks like he needs help in the kitchen and this dinner isn’t going to make itself. I’ll talk to you later, Hope.” Karsen hung up. Dad shut the screen door. He returned his dish to the sink. “Have a good chat with Karsen?”
I turned on the water at the sink. “Yeah, like old times.” I plunked the dish into the hot water, adding soap and sifting for the sponge. “I just hope her parents let her visit for break.”
Dad kissed my cheek. He opened up the cupboard while I busily washed his plate. I didn’t have to guess what he was looking for. And for once I was kind of glad, because in a few hours he would be fast asleep and I could meet up with Slade for the concert.
