So this tine around I mixed two loves of my life. Music and wrestling. Hope you like me know.
It was 10 am, and already the air was muggy. Seth stood in the sidewalk, he wipe the fog from his glasses. When he looked up there she was, she waved from her car. And there was that smile. He waited two weeks for that smile. Isabella had been in the middle of prom season. She couldn't get away, each night Seth could hear how tired she was. Couple of night she had fallen asleep still on the phone.
He jumped in giving her a kiss on the cheek. He really wanted to toss her down than and there. " Miss me," he asked, as she wiggled to face him. She wrapped her arms around him pulling in for a kiss. " Yes, two weeks," a smirk came to her face, " is too long not to see Kevin."
" Oh," Seth leaned back grabbing his seat belt. "That was hash."
Isabella opened the door to the hotel room. Seth walked in looking around, " hon, this is really nice." It was a suit, with a sitting room, a spiral staircase. "Come on," Isabella lead him up it. It opened to a full room with a king bed in the middle, "and best part," she walked him to the French doors. It opened to a balcony furnished with a chaise langue and chairs. Isabella walked him to the edge, " looks right over Bourbon street." Seth stood behind her wrapping his arms around her. She asked him to New Orleans to meet her family. Well, her brother. Her father had passed and Isabella didn't have much contact withy her mother. But she was very close to her older brother. "You didn't have to all this," Seth turned her around facing him.
"Yes I did," she smiled at him.
"What time do we need to be at your brother's," Seth asked looking down the length of her. She wore a pair of Jean short that showed off her very long legs. A tank top with a knit top over, it was high in the front and long in the back. Seth had to shake his head, the thoughts racing through his mind, " we need to talk about that," Isabella lifted his chin. "Sat," she pulled a chair out. Seth sat worry washed over him, "I haven't told you everything about my brother," Isabella voice was nervous, she suck her hands between her knees.
"Ok," Seth laughed.
" Well, he is," Isabella stopped. " I told you he was a musician. Which is true but, I never told you," Isabella stopped again.
"Isabella, what," Seth asked.
"My brother is Philip Anselmo," Isabella bit her lip.
"As in Pantera, Philip Anselmo," Seth questioned. He grew up listening to Pantera. And to be honest they were a sceary looking bunch. They pulled no punches. What you saw is what you got. Phil Anselmo was 6 foot plus, cover in tattoos and just plain intimidating.
"That is the one, king of metal," Isabella smiled,"sorry I didn't say anything earlier."
"You're last name isn't Anselmo," Seth was still in a bit of shock. Yes his career had afforded him to meet a lot of his ideals both in wrestling and music,but dating one of their sisters.
" No, we are really halfs, we have the same dad. Seth I am sorry, I made a huge deal out of you not telling about the pictures."
"Hon," Seth took her hands, " big difference. I am glad you told me before I was face to face with him."
" He is nice, and he wants to meet you." Isabella beemed.
" Me too," Seth answered.
As the car tuned down a dirt road, Seth started to worry. They had been driving for 45 minutes. This was back woods, like they would never find you. "We are almost there," Isabella turned the wheel to avoid another pot hole. They twisted down a long driveway. And almost out of no where there was a house. "We are here," Isabella jumped out. The sound of the car door came huge dog, Seth stopped as it barked and growled in front of him. " Dracula," a thick and heavy voice called. "Go lay down!" Isabella ran to the porch were her brother stood. "You made it," he hugged her tight. Seth watching the dog back off walked up to Isabella,"Phil this is Seth," Isabella wrapped her arms in his. " Seth," Phil suck his hand out, Seth glanced over his tattoos. Both arms cover, he was tall and even for his age you could see he was no one to push. "Hear you wrestle,". Phil crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yes, sir," Seth managed to get out.
"Never watched it myself, to much croch to face for me. I am boxing man myself."
"Why don't we go in, I would like to see my sister in law," Isabella took Seth by the hand starting in the house.
The house was dark the walls covered in movie posters. Two man stood in the kitchen, "Pepper," Isabella called out.
" Hey there," he hugged her," this must be the boyfriend." He looked at Seth
"Yes, Pepper this is Seth. Pepper is one of my brothers oldest friends. And this is Mr. Jimmy Bower." Both shook Seth's hand.
"Nice to meet you," Seth tried to hide how nervous he was.
"Run out of bleach," Jimmy pointed to his hair. Seth stood lost for a second he looked between the two man. "Your hair," Pepper hitched an eyebrow, " only like."
" Oh," Seth let out a laugh, "No, I, I am growing it out." They both laughed and Seth wasn't sure if it was at him or with him.
Everyone made their way to the living room, Isabella sat next to Seth. He looked around if you didn't know better you would think Phil was destitute. Isabella was so different than him. But watching her sat there you could see the pride and love they had for each other. Phil kept his eye on them, " so," Phil sat back bringing his foot up to his knee. "You are from Iowa?"
"I live in Devenport," Seth answered.
"What is it with you and that state," Pepper laughed rubbing his hand over Isabella's hair.
"Phil," Isabella cocked her head.
"Isabella says you are pretty into music," Phil kept his eye on Seth.
"Yeah," Seth swallowed " I like punk rock, I guess I mean that."
" Hmm," Phil gave a nod, " I am sure it is all the new stuff."
"Well I ," Seth mouth was dry, he hadn't been this nervous in forever. He could feel the sweat run down his back.
"Stop hassling him,". They turned to female voice.
"Bella," Isabella jumped from Seth side.
"Hey girly," she smiled, "and this must be Seth," she stuck her hand out. "Nice to meet you. Please ignore this mess," she pointed to the three man. " Isabella I got lunch, help me out in the kitchen." Isabella looked down at Seth. She wasn't sure if she wanted to leave him with brother and his friends alone just yet. Phil was very the big brother. She knew how hard he could be.
"While they do that, we can go to the barn," Phil announced. "We can play some new stuff for you." Seth didn't move, barn. What was out there? Would he came back?
"I mean if is no punk rock, but," Pepper laughed.
Isabella emptied the bags on the counter as Bella put it away, " he is hot." Bella winked at Isabella.
"He is," Isabella smiled. "I still can't believe I dating him. I mean I guess that is what we are doing."
"Seems like they gave a rough schedule," Bella leaned on the counter.
"Yeah, 300 days a year they are out," Isabella answered.
"Well you know that life, the travel the craziness," Bella laughed. Isabella has watched her brother live it. It was hard, life was a suitcase, your home a tour bus with 5 other guys. Not being there for holidays family events. And she saw what it did to a relationship. Isabella was thrilled when her brother met Bella. She could handle it, she kept him grounded. She was the balance he needed. And she did not take any crap from him. She made it look easy, although Isabella knew different.
"It is a different crazy," Isabella grabbed a water from the refrigerator, "I mean yes I spend the better part of my teen years, on the road. But this is different, there is no sleep till 1 pm, cause you partied till 5 am. They work out eat right," Isabella took a long drink. "He does this crossfire, I still don't know what it is." Bella laughed. " I wonder what he sees in me."
"Isabella you are a beautiful girl," Bella said," you are funny as hell. I can think of a million reasons."
"You should see the girls he works with," Isabella played with the cap to the water bottle.
"Well he is not with them he is with you," Bella answered, very matter of fact.
Seth stood hands in his pockets, the barn was full of instruments and sound equipment. Seth noticed a picture on the wall, it was Isabella young standing between her brother and another man. Looking closer Seth realized it was Darrell Abbott, the guitar player for Pantera. Ten years before he had been murdered on stage. A true great snuffed out. Isabella hadn't told Seth much about this part of her life, he was starting to wonder why. "Two of my favorite people in that picture," Phil's voice came from behind. "Isabella faced a lot of lose in her short life. But she still has a good heart."
"She does," Seth smiled, she did have a gentle and goodness to her. It was one of many that Seth was drawn to.
"Look I don't like bullshit," Phil faced Seth, "she means the world to me. If you are just looking for a good time, or think because of that goodness you can just."
"No," Seth put his hands up, "Look I really like her. I don't have any plans on hurting her. "
"Good cause the last asshole she brought here from Iowa," Phil stopped his lip tucked in. "I don't ever want to see her hurt like that."
"Really, I don't want to either," Seth looked him in the eye.
"Good," he nodded his face began to ease. " I will say, that smile she gets. I haven't seen it before she met you." Seth let out a long breathe, a smile cans to Phil's face. "Well since we are all on the same page. You wants a beer?"
"Sure," Seth shrugged with a smile.
"I don't know why ya'll can't stay here," Phil stood next to the car.
"Cause your sister likes Starbucks in the morning, and civilization" Bella smiled at Seth. "We will see them at Pepper's tonight."
"I have a coffee maker," Phil hugged Isabella.
"Phil," Bella called. She knew how hard it was for him to say goodbye.
"I will see you tonight," she smiled up at her brother.
"Seth," Phil stuck his hand out, " hope to see you tonight. Thanks for coming out."
They were both quite for awhile, "so," Isabella kept her eyes now the road.
" He is pretty cool," Seth laughed," I still can't believe I am dating his little sister. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know," Isabella shook her head. "Some guys get scared, other get the trophy thing. I had a couple think think they were getting recording deals." Isabella laughed, "there was a long time my brother was a real mess. Our lives have not been easy. And well sometime I had to leave that part of my life alone. Not because I ever stopped loving him but I couldn't go there with him."
"He loves you a lot," Seth smiled at her.
"I know , you ok with us going out tonight?"
"Yes,". Seth took her hand, " I know you don't see them much. And I know how much it means to you. Plus I am just glad you are finally in the same state."