| As I skipped down the steps, I noticed myself humming the tune of one of the songs from the CD I had listened to on the way home. I shook my head at myself once again, but the music WAS really great and you couldn't help humming it, it sort of stayed with you. I got in my car and started it and then had another debate with myself. "Jessie, you are a bonifide idiot! You know he may not even be there when you get there...and what makes you think it would be worth it? HUH? He's a musician..a popular one..and by tomorrow he will be gone and you'll never hear from him again..what are you thinking?" "I'm thinking I'm already dressed and I want to see that smile one more time and if he's not there so what? At least I can listen to some music that will put his out of my head..I have to anyway...I PROMISED him.." "UGH! , Jesus Jessie! Just drive.." As I pulled into the parking lot of the Intersection I noticed that the place was packed, as usual. But then, Plunk, one of my favorite local bands was playing, and they always drew a big crowd. I found a parking space, but it was quite a way from the building. I parked and as I started to walk toward the building I could hear the loud music, and the general noise of the whole place. I could smell the aromas of differnet dishes coming from the building, but to my amazement,they did not evoke the huge hunger pangs I always got when I would come here to eat after work sometimes. I milled my way through the crowd outside and got to the front doors, "Hey Jakey.." I said to the bouncer who was a big, blond, mass of muscles. "Hey Jess..you're not workin' tonight?" he asked me. "Yeah, I worked, but I decided to shower and stuff so I wouldn't scare off all your customers." "Well, you should do that more often, smart ass, you clean up nice. " I gave him my best raspberry and went inside. |
| Wow! Plunk was on a roll tonight! They were playing louder than usual so instead of working my way closer to sit where I could see, like I usually did, I went to the bar and found a vacant stool. As I sat down the bartender, Steve, headed toward me. " The usual, Jess?" he asked. "Nah..I'll have something a little stonger tonight I think. Why don't you make me a Long Island Tea?" I replied. His eyes widened and he just stared. "What?" I asked, mystified. "Why are you drinkin' the hard stuff Jess? You don't usually. What's up?" "Nothing's up. I just had an unusual night at work, that's all. Would you please fix my drink, Steve? I'm dying of thirst over here.." "Yeah, ok.." he ducked under the bar and fiddled with some stuff and then made my drink for me. I put the money on the bar and grabbed my drink. "It's already paid for, Jess." "What did you say?" I wasn't sure I heard him right. "I SAID, it's alreay paid for. You need a hearing aid?" "OH STEVE..." I groaned, "Which loser this time? Good god!" I scanned the other side of the bar trying to find one of the usual goons that tried to hit on me when I came in here. "This one, but I think if my brothers heard you say that, you'd be in trouble." said a voice from behind me. I knew that voice. |
| I whirled around to see him standing right in front of me. Taylor. Oh man, he was beautiful! He had obviously taken time to change his clothes. He was wearing black leather lace up pants, black shoes and a white wifebeater with a royal blue over shirt. His hair glowed golden even in the dim light of the bar area. His blue eyes sparkled with unreleased laughter. "Hey! No fair sneaking up on me like that! I'm glad you found the place though." "Me too...you look great , by the way.." "Thanks." I smiled at him. As I was about to ask him where his brothers were he said, "You know, I was beginning to think you weren't coming." "I said I'd be here, didn't I? But I did have to park a ways, and it's late.." "Well I'm glad you're here. Here I'll take that. Come on.." he took the drink out of my hand and led me off to the side, but closer to the stage, to the table where his brothers were sitting. Ike was sitting next to a pretty blond haired girl with hazel eyes, and Zac was sitting on the other side of her. Taylor set my drink on the table and pulled out a chair for me. "Hey , it's Jessie! Woo hoo, Tay, she didn't stand you up! He thought you might ya know," Zac said and I could tell he'd already had a couple beers. "Hi Zac. I hope you ordered something to eat to soak up all that beer you been drinkin'.." I teased him. "How many have you had? Five? Six?" "Who me? uh uh...only three..but I did order food, hey ya want something? " "No that's okay," I giggled and sat down in the chair that Taylor helped me into. "Hello Jessie, this is Lacey Stevenson..Lacey, Jessie Reid." "Hi, Lacey, nice to meet you." I said as cheerfully as I could without being overly nerdlike. "Hi, nice to meet you too, " she said with a smile. "The band is rockin' tonight, huh?" I said and added, "they're good but I've never seen this place so packed out before.." "Yeah, they're pretty good, " Taylor offered. "you sure you're not hungry?" "No really..I'm not. I'll just stick with this, thanks." |
| We all sat and sipped off our drinks and enjoyed the music and chatted a little. I found out that Lacey and Ike had been dating for a couple of years and were recently engaged. "Congratulations! That's great you guys," I exclaimed. That explained why they were slightly oblivious to the conversation Zac, Taylor and I were having. Who could blame them? Zac on the other hand was outrageous and fun to talk to, and Taylor was equally fun but not quite as rambunctious as his younger brother. They would argue good-naturedly about certain artist they admired and I realized that Taylor's musical tastes matched my own. I was completely at ease in their company in no time, and Zac was in the mood to play. "Hey Jessie! I'm dateless and this is a good song! I feel like dancin', want to? Can I borrow her a sec bro?" Zac suddenly said. I giggled, "Zac you have had TOO much beer dude, but I guess one dance would be okay... " I looked at Taylor. "Go ahead Jess..I'll get us another round.." Taylor said with a grin, "yours is gone ya know." "Okay..I'll have another Long Island, see ya in a minute." I don't think he'll last long," I giggled again, "look at him." We looked at Zac and had to laugh, he was standing there with an impatient look on his face and slightly weaving, though he was standing still. "Okay, right back.." Taylor said and made his way to the bar. "Come ON already, Jess.." Zac whined as he pulled me on to the dance floor. "I'm coming you goofball.." I teassed back as I stumbled a bit through the crowd to keep up with him. The band was playing a really fast, rockin' song. "When will we FALL DOOOOOWN..Jump back..gotta get outta here..." the lead singer was belting and Zac burst into the wildest dance I'd seen any guy do. I burst into a fit of laughter. I couldn't help it, he was a nut, but he was GOOD. |
| Soon I was having as much fun as Zac was and we danced through two more songs. The band started a slower song and Taylor came up to us and said, "Okay Zac, you've had her long enough, MY turn. " "Okay Bro..I need a beer anyway..." Zac answered and did this kind of weave, walk back to our table. "Finally," Taylor sighed into my ear. I chuckled at him. "I was hoping you'd cut in silly. But now I'm all sweaty." as I pulled a back a little. "I'll get you all wet." "I don't care." he said a little forcefully and pulled me closer. I felt my knees go weak from the intensity of the look in his eyes and I laid my head against his chest. Oh god, he smelled so good. He was wearing CK I think and it was perfect for him. It mingled with his own scent nicely. I took a deep breath, and looked up at him. "I'm glad you showed up, Jess. I've had fun tonight." Taylor said. "I'm glad I did too, Taylor. It's been a long time since I've had this much fun." I answered. "Good." he smiled and pulled me close again. I felt my knees go weak and I almost tripped over his feet. "Hey are you ok?" he asked, concerned. "Yeah, I'm fine..just a klutz...maybe we should go sit down, I just need a sip of my drink. I think Zac wore me out." "Okay, " he said and gently led me back to our table. When we arrived we burst into laughter. There was Zac, beer in one hand slumped over the table head resting on the other arm. Ike was sitting next to him, looking disgusted. "I don't see exactly what is so funny, " he grumbled. "I do. " Taylor said with a laugh. "Now what do we do?" Ike sighed, "Lacey and I will take him home, I guess. We were about ready to call it a night anyway. Mom is gonna have a fit when she finds out we let him drink too much." "Oh, take it easy Ike," Taylor said, "Mom will get over it. He's old enough to drink anyway. It'll be a learning experience for him." |