“Do you have any fucking idea what time it is?” Her voice was heavy with sleep and anger at being woken up.
“Sally, it’s me.”
There was a slight pause then she answered. “Alex? Oh, is everything okay?” Her voice had changed to something low and sweet.
“No problems. Just, when you booked Dee’s band for the club, you got their contact details, right?”
An even longer pause.
“Umm, yeah. Why?” Now her voice had become tight and forced.
“Whose number did you get?”
“Dee’s. And the other guy, the bass player, was the backup number.”
“Pete? Do you have it?”
She gave a small laugh. “Oh, Pete. You want his number?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m calling you. Obviously.”
I wasn’t oblivious enough not to realise she had been jealous when she’d thought I wanted to contact Dee but that was none of her business. Still, she’d be more likely to help out if she knew it was Pete I wanted to speak to.
“Where are you?” she asked.
I looked up, trying to find the name of the cafe. “Bruce’s. It’s a cafe near the club.”
“Cool. See you there in fifteen minutes.”
She hung up before I could tell her it wasn’t so urgent. I picked up the menu and gave the breakfasts a read. I’d kill for some French toast but I’d been a slack on the workouts lately. Instead, I ordered a Quinoa porridge and another shot of espresso.
I’d just finished eating when Sally arrived.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I said.
She’d definitely just woken up when I’d called but she’d had time to swing by the club and get the details, as well as put on a full face of makeup.
“It’s fine, Alex. Anything to help.”
She smiled at me like a beam of sunshine — and it was far too early in the morning for that shit. She wriggled into the booth seat opposite me and sat a slip of paper on the table.
I gave her a salute and picked up the paper with Pete’s number.
“Wait. Aren’t you sticking around for another coffee?”
“I’ve had two already, and I need to sleep before rehearsal.” I threw some money on the table. “But get yourself one.”
I had no time to waste on Sally.
Dee
“What the hell did you say?”
Pete looked shamefaced, as well he should. I’d beat him to a pulp just as soon as I stopped shaking. The rage in me was so strong that I thought I’d burst like a faulty boiler, the pressure building up until I splattered all over the walls of my dodgy room.
“He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Do you have any idea who this guy is? Have you forgotten? Did he blind you with the sparkle of his shiny money? Pete, you total douchebag.”
Since I was too overwhelmed to actually beat him up, I sat down on the bed. It creaked and strained. I picked up the lumpy pillow and beat that instead. Pete leant against the crappy old sink in the corner.
“You started this. You wanted to come to this town and you wanted to get close to Alex so you could get your revenge on him, then one little setback and you want to retreat. Don’t be an idiot, Dee. The guy is clearing the path to your vengeance as though he wants you to bring it on.”
I had been fuming ever since the night we’d played. The absolute jerkiness of him pulling the plug on us, literally. Then wanting us to come back to play again. What was even going on in that man’s head? And what was going on in mine? My revenge plan was not exactly genius. I’d been relying on having a brainwave for part two of it after we’d played but so far, nothing seemed to make sense.
“So exactly how much did you sell us out for?”
“Four gigs, one a week starting next week. And he has the option to extend. He’s paying us a decent fee for playing, setting us up with a proper rehearsal space. And, best of all, he’s getting us an apartment. Rent free for the month or longer. A three-bedroom place.”
“I’m happy here,” I said.
“You’ve heard them, right? At night, in the walls.”
“A few cute little mice don’t worry me.”
“Mice? They aren’t mice, Dee. They aren’t cute and they aren’t little. They are big, fat, dirty —”
“Sweet Jesus. Don’t say the ‘r’ word.” I folded my legs and hugged them to my chest. For all my words, the thought of one of those r-critters coming out to nibble my toes freaked me out. I had to pretend they were just mice; cute, furry mice that wouldn’t harm anyone. That was the only way I could sleep at night and, to be honest, I didn’t think mice were that harmless either.
“It’s up to you, of course. I mean, it’s got to be all of us in it together but I’ve talked it over with Ferdie and either we take this offer or we pack up and go home. Both of us are almost out of savings and there’s little point us being here just sulking in our rooms. You were the one putting the ultimatum on me to play the club in the first place, now you’ve completely changed sides. Either we play or we leave.”
I didn’t want Pete and Ferdie to leave me. We were a band, together. If they went home, I’d just be a nothing, floating around this city. I did not want to go home. There was nothing there for me. I didn’t want to be here alone either. We didn’t have to play Alex’s bar. There were other rock clubs in this city. Heaps of them. We did not have to rely on Alex. Before I could formulate a better plan though, Pete gave me a lot of pure determination. He’d not budge on this.
I hated the way he’d gone behind my back to make arrangements with Alex. And now, giving me no option but to take Alex’s charity. That was the one thing I didn’t want.
“We could move out without accepting Alex’s offer,” I said. “Just get a place on our own. Somewhere better than this.”
“That’s impossible, and you know it. We have no money. We don’t have the kind of money you need for a security deposit and rent up front. Besides, you need steady jobs and all that.”
“We could get steady jobs.” I unfolded my legs, lowering them to the floor, but then I remembered the critters and put them back on the bed.
“That would take months. No one’s asking you to date the guy or even be nice to him. You just have to play at the club.”
“And live in the apartment.”
“The apartment is all ours. Alex won’t exactly be bunking with us. He said it’s an investment property he owns that’s empty at the moment. He wants to get some work done there, painting and the like, so he’s only letting us stay there until that’s done.”
“And Ferdie agrees with you?”
“Ferdie is 100% behind me.”
I put my head on my knees. I didn’t want to say Pete was right but he was. I could get close to Alex this way and could really get under his skin. But, screw it all, I’d keep a detailed record of our expenses other than the regular payment for playing, and I’d shove that money in his pie hole as soon as I could.
“You’ll agree, won’t you?”
I kept my head down.
“You don’t have to say I’m right,” Pete said. “You just have to say I’m not wrong.”
I slowly put my head up. “You aren’t totally wrong. There is wrongness in there but there’s some common sense too. I can change my plan to accommodate this, if that’s what it takes to make you and Ferdie happy.”
Pete smiled and I stood up. Just as I did so, the scratching noise in the wall cavity started again. I screamed and jumped.
“You can spend the night with the rats if you want to, but we’re out of here.” Pete dangled a key on his finger.
“I told you not to say the ‘r’ word!”
“What if it gnaws on your guitar.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll pack my stuff.”
***
“Tell me again, this place is free?” Ferdie moved from room to room. “It’s awesome. We have everything we could possibly need and more. Three different gaming systems, even snack
foods in the cupboard. This is the sweet life.”
“It’s not free,” I said. “There are strings attached. Well, more like ropes, those big, thick ones they use on freighter ships. We’ve sold our souls just so you have a PS4. So worth it.”
“We’ve got the latest Assassin’s Creed.”
“Okay, maybe it is kinda worth it.” I’d play the fuck out of that but, first, I’d get some food together. We had enough stuff in the fridge to put together a meal. Plus, an assortment of fancy teas. Even if I hated Alex, I couldn’t hate his apartment.
“I’ll play later, I’ve got to get to work,” Pete said.
“Huh?” Ferdie and I both turned to face him.
“That was another part of the deal with Alex. Well, a separate deal altogether. Alex gave me a job working at the bar.”
“Wow, you and Alex are best buds now, aren’t you? Why don’t you just marry Alex and be done with it.”
“What? The guy offers me a job? What am supposed to do? I need a new bass and my van’s falling to bits. Do you guys want to walk to gigs? Plus, we need to spend some money on promotion. So, while you two sit on your butts, playing Assassin’s Creed, I’ll be serving drinks to make an honest buck or two. That’s not a crime.”
I shrugged. Pete had been too right lately, and I’d been way too wrong. The threads that I’d been hanging onto, the hatred and resentment, Pete had let go of so easily. I couldn’t be like Pete. Those threads were the only thing holding me together. I banged some pots around in the kitchen with no plan of actually fixing food.
“Don’t worry about cooking,” Ferdie said. “Let’s order pizza. We can at least afford that now we’re on easy street.”
I didn’t want to get too used to being on easy street or too dependent on Alex but, on the other hand, pizza sounded mighty good.
After we’d gorged ourselves on pizza and gone through everything in the apartment, Ferdie suggested heading to the bar.
“We don’t need to go there. We’ll be there often enough anyway. And, Assassin’s Creed…”
“It’d be good to support Pete on his first night.”
“It’s not like he’s not done it before.”
“Yeah, but it’s a new town. The guy’s trying his hardest to do the best for the band. Even if it doesn’t make you happy, he’s doing this for all of us. He hates Alex as much you do, but he’s putting that behind him because he knows it’s what he needs to do.”
Wow, that made me feel less than great. I did want to support Pete but, to do that, I needed to support Alex as well. I just felt like Alex had turned into something giant squid-like, wrapping his tentacles around every aspect of my life. Revenge was becoming harder to plan with all his giving me stuff.
“Okay, I guess one drink won’t hurt.”
Ferdie broke into a huge grin. “Let me get my drinking money and put my best drinking pants on.”
Even though I didn’t care one iota about Alex or anyone else, I got changed into my cutest dress, all tight on top with a short flippy skirt. I threw my leather jacket over the top and put on some lipstick. The horrible thing was that, if Alex was there, I’d have to thank him for this. I didn’t want it, didn’t ask for it, but I couldn’t be bad-mannered either.
Alex
I knew when I offered Pete the job at the bar, it’d bring Dee in. She was sitting at the bar when I turned up that night. She didn’t see me come in, she was busy talking to Carlie. But I spotted her the instant I walked in the door, my eyes drawn to her.
I didn’t approach her. I just sat at the other corner.
I’d received some good news that day but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share it with anyone else just yet.
My musical career had been full of disappointment so far. After the accident, I’d drifted, not wanting to settle. Then I’d found Trouble and had formed my new band. We had a good following. Hell, even fans of The Jackals, the band I’d had with Jake, had found me and followed me here. A small but passionate fan base really helped. But I seemed to have stalled at this level.
Then, my main competitor – in everything – had his band signed and had taken off on a big, international tour. I’d wanted to punch someone. Razer didn’t have a patch on my talent but he’d taken my girlfriend and he’d taken my career. He was in Europe with his band and with Violet, who’d picked him over me. She worked for his promotion company and wanted to settle in Berlin.
Carlie delighted in reading me messages she received from Violet, detailing every triumph of the band.
“You should get Violet to put in a good word for you,” Carlie kept saying.
I’d snort and turn away. As if I were a beggar, needing crumbs from them.
Then today, out of the blue, some guy had called me. Said he was a promoter for the Summer Rock Festival. Nothing was confirmed as yet but some bigwigs from a music company were coming to watch our next show and, if they were happy to sign us, we’d be on the bill. My step felt lighter and I couldn’t keep the grin off my face, but there was one thing that nagged me. If this all fell into a pile of shit, I’d be humiliated. Much better to keep the news to myself and wait until everything was signed and official. I wouldn’t even tell the other guys that the label guy was turning up. They’d get nervous and might screw things up.
Dee ordered another drink. She laughed at something the drummer said. Pete looked right at home behind the bar. I hadn’t just offered him the job to get him on side. We sure as hell needed experienced bar people. It seemed like you got people, got them trained up just right and they moved on.
She drank beer. I’d have never picked that. She’d had such a sweet tooth once.
“You look in a good mood,” Carlie said as she sat my drink down.
I glanced over at Dee. She didn’t seem to have noticed me. I didn’t want to catch her eye or anything like that. She seemed so much lighter when she was with other people.
“How’s Pete working out?” I asked Carlie. “He seems to be fitting right in.”
She nodded. If there was one thing that was certain, if someone passed muster with Carlie, they had to be okay. She didn’t tolerate slackers.
“I’m thinking of moving him upstairs.”
“That’d be right. As soon as we get someone decent in, you take them upstairs. I’d like a break occasionally, you know. Maybe a few days off to spend with my boyfriend.” She huffed.
The lights reflected on Dee’s hair, making it appear to glow, giving her an ethereal look. She turned but, if she spotted me, she didn’t acknowledge it. No, wait, she had. She bit at the nail on her little finger. That gesture. She always did that when she was agitated. She’d seen me but she had chosen to ignore me. I’d not acknowledge her either.
“Are you asking for time off?” I asked Carlie.
“Not particularly. I’d just like the option.”
“Well, I can get someone from upstairs to fill in if you need. You just have to ask.”
Carlie scowled. “There’s no one up there with bar management experience. Babs has been here the longest but she’s happy just working the bar without the added responsibility. Pete has bar management experience, and he’s great with the customers.”
“Well, there you go. If you want to take time off, Pete can come back downstairs. I can get Sally to run things upstairs.”
“Sally isn’t your pig slave, you know. And it’d be better if Pete stayed downstairs, that’s all I’m saying.”
I caught Dee looking at me. From the look on her face, she was conflicted. She might’ve accepted the deal I’d made with Pete but that didn’t mean she’d accepted me. Pete could be very persuasive when he needed to be.
When I’d called him, he’d been reluctant to meet with me.
“I don’t think we have anything to say to each other,” he’d said.
“You want to play in my club? You want to get ahead? Then make sure you come in to see me this afternoon.”
I’d had no doubts that he’d turn up.
Wh
en I put the offer to him, he’d been only too happy to jump at it. He’d done a complete 180 in his attitude.
“Dee’s not going to like it,” he’d said.
“Well, part of the deal is talking her into it.”
And now here she was, acting like I didn’t exist.
“You like her, don’t you?” said Drew, sitting down beside me.
I glowered at him. It wasn’t a situation I wanted to explain.
“You never looked like that at any girl, not even Violet. Did you even love Violet or did you just want to keep her away from Razer?”
Again, I didn’t think that was worth answering. I’d liked Violet. I’d been able to see us together. We had a lot in common. And lust, I’d had a bit of that too. My feelings for her seemed so uncomplicated now, even though it’d cut me to the core when she’d picked Razer over me. I mean, she was a great chick and we’d have been perfect together, but I didn’t love her.
But Dee was different. She fascinated me, and my feelings for her were all jumbled up in a huge mess that could never become unjumbled. “Like” was not really an emotion in that mess. It was too safe, too simple.
Drew might’ve been right about Violet. He was completely wrong about Dee, though. She’d been my best friend’s little sister. Even without the tragedy, that would’ve made her off-limits. Her hating me and wanting me dead was also a big obstacle.
“You really don’t sound like a guy who wants to get anywhere with his music,” I said. “Those kinds of guys know when to keep their mouths shut.”
Drew screwed up his face then grinned. “So, you are saying there’s a possibility that I might play upstairs again sometime?”
“You never know.”
Dee had turned on her stool so her body faced away from me. I wanted her to accept this arrangement. She’d crushed on me big time once. I wondered how I could get back just a small part of that. I wanted to protect her and encourage her.
“I’ve been working really hard with Jackson. You should listen to me some time.”
She got up to leave, put on her jacket and stood for a moment, staring into space. Then she walked towards me.
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