It was a long trip from Murphys to San Bernardino. By the time we picked up the other two guys and then stopped for lunch later, it was mid afternoon when we got to the motel that Daniel had made reservations at.
I was tired, but not the 'need a nap' kind of tired. It was more the 'tired from not being able to move around' kind.
Red had a room, Justin and Drake had a room, and Daniel and I had a room.
When I walked into our room, I got my energy back real quick. I went around investigating everything.
"Daniel, the bathtub is one of those huge ones!"
" Yep. Hey, squirt, I have to go down to the club to get stuff set up for later, and then I'll be back to
change clothes and pick you up."
"Can't I go with you?" I asked, a little disappointed.
"You could, but it's going to be a long night. I thought you might want to stay here in the
room, take a bath in that big tub, watch some tv, relax a while."
The thought of that big bathtub was awfully appealing. "Okay."
Daniel got ready to leave a few minutes later, after lecturing me about locking and
deadbolting the door.
"And you don't open it for anyone. Nobody. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Alright. I'll be back in a couple hours."
"Promise?"
Daniel turned to give me a irritated look. "No. I don't promise," he said sarcastically. "I brought
you all the way to San Bernardino just so I could leave you in a motel room all night by yourself."
"I was just checking."
Daniel paused in the doorway. "I want to hear this door lock behind me."
"Yes, Daniel," I sighed.
He went out and I locked the door behind him with a click. I waited a couple of minutes
until I heard him talking to Red, and then I unlocked the door and flung it open.
"What are you doing?" he said.
"Oh, I was just making sure I could unlock it quickly, in case I order pizza, or invite
some cute boys over."
Red stifled a chuckle, while Daniel walked very slowly back to me.
"I'm not amused."
"I see that," I said, trying not to laugh.
"Enough fun and games. Are you going to do what I tell you and keep that door
locked?"
"Yes, Daniel. "
"Then do it."
I went in and locked and then deadbolted the door. I went to take a long soak
in the bathtub, pouring in some bubble bath provided by the motel. When I finally
got out, I took out the dress I'd brought along, and slipped it on.
The dress is one Hannah gave me on my last birthday. Adam didn't care for it much,
he claimed it was too short, and that the neckline was too low. Hannah told him it
was perfectly acceptable, but he didn't seem convinced. It's a little fancy so I haven't
really had a chance to wear it anywhere.
I cinched it with a sparkly silver belt, and pulled on my better pair of cowboy boots.
I put on some mascara and eye shadow and brushed out my hair, leaving it down loose.
Since my hair is so curly and hard to control, I don't leave it down very often, because
it gets in the way of what I'm doing, but tonight was different. When I put on some
hoop earrings, I was ready.
I was watching television, when I heard knocking on the door.
"It's me, squirt," Daniel said, and I went to let him in.
"Everything okay?" he asked me.
"Yep," I said, shutting the door, and turning to find him staring at me.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong. You look beautiful."
"Thanks."
"Where'd you get that dress?"
"Hannah. On my last birthday. Remember?" I said, twirling a little.
"Uh, no I don't remember."
"Remember, Adam didn't like it? He said it was too short."
"Huh. Well, I don't know if I should take you now or not."
"What?!" I asked, thinking he was serious. "Why?"
"You're so darn pretty, everybody will be watching you, and not listening to us
sing."
I slugged his arm. "I thought you were serious about not taking me!"
Daniel laughed. "I'm sorry. I'm gonna get cleaned up." He paused at the bathroom
door. "But hey, I mean it. About you looking beautiful."
"Thanks, Daniel."
When Daniel came out, he was wearing a new shirt that I hadn't seen before,
and it made his eyes look even more blue.
I whistled.
"Okay, huh?" he asked.
"Better than okay. I like the shirt."
"Present from Hannah."
"She's the best, isn't she?"
"Best of the best," he agreed. He grabbed his cowboy hat. "Ready to go?"
7
When we went into The Outlet, I was looking around so much that Red and Daniel
and the other two guys were way ahead of me. Daniel came back to take me by the
hand, and tow me along.
"See this table?" Daniel asked, pointing out a table right near the stage. "This is
where I want you sitting, the whole show. I don't want you wandering around by
yourself. There's likely to be some rough people here."
"What kind of rough people?"
"Drunks, perverts."
"Oh, boy! Drunks! And perverts, too? I can't wait!"
Daniel turned to face me. "Listen, funny girl, I'm serious."
"I can see that," I said, reaching up to run my fingers over his forehead. "You're getting
wrinkles from worrying so much. I promise I won't marry the first pervert who asks
me. I'll wait for the second one.".
Daniel reached up and took my hand, holding it tightly, so tight that I said "Ow!"
"I. Am. Serious. If you can't quit the fooling around and mind me, then I'll drive
you back to the motel, and you can be there instead of here."
"Alright, Daniel. I'm sorry."
"And?"
"And I'm going to quit fooling around, and listen to you."
"And where do I want you sitting?"
"Right here," I said, pointing to the stageside table.
"Alright, then," he said, apparently satisfied. "Let's get something to eat."
We sat at a table eating hamburgers, with Red, and Drake and Justin and the
girls they were with that had met them there. They all seemed well acquainted with each other
and I sat, mostly listening to their conversations. The two girls I watched with interest.
Nan and Drake were obviously a couple, and though at first I'd thought the same
about Justin and Clare, I started to have my doubts. Clare talked equally to
everyone, including me, and didn't seem encouraging to Justin's romantic
overtures toward her.
When Daniel and the other guys got ready to go up on stage, I stayed, sitting with
Clare and Nan.
The first half of the show went great, at least I thought so. Daniel did all
the singing, except for one song that Red had lead vocals on. Drake played
guitar, as well as Daniel and Red, and Justin played drums.
Clare leaned over and nudged me. "Daniel's voice is fantastic."
I nodded, feeling proud. "He has a great range."
"He says you have a good voice, too."
I don't think I sing all that great, so I shrugged, a little embarrassed.
"You have a brother that plays five instruments, Daniel said."
"That's Ford."
The music started again, and it was too loud to really talk.
At the mid-show break, I went up to the edge of the stage to get Daniel's attention. He came
over and leaned down so he could hear me above the noise.
"I'm going to the bathroom," I told him.
Daniel pointed. "It's straight back there. Come right back."
I made my way to the restroom through the throng of people.
When I was washing my hands, and preparing to head back up to the
front, another girl who was reapplying her eye makeup in front of the mirror,
turned and asked, "Great show, huh?"
"Yeah, it sure is," I agreed.
"You eighteen?" she asked.
"No."
"Well, watch using fake id, cause they're starting to tighten down."
"I don't have fake id," I said.
"How'd you get in?"
"My brother's in the band."
She put her mascara wand back in her purse and looked at me
with interest. "Which one's your brother?"
"The dark-haired one. The lead singer."
"Daniel?" The girl whistled. "He's a hottie."
I didn't ask how she knew Daniel's name. I thought she must be sort of
a music 'groupie' or whatever.
"He have a girlfriend?" she asked, blowing a bubble with her gum.
I discreetly took in her appearance: teased hair, and so much eye makeup
that she resembled a raccoon, and I thought it unlikely Daniel would go for
her. He tends to date more 'natural' looking girls. But she seemed friendly, and
I didn't want to be rude.
"Not really," I said.
"Will you give him my number?" she asked, already busy writing it on the
back of a napkin she had shoved in her purse.
"Umm, I guess so."
She handed it to me, and I tucked it in my belt.
"My name's Vinnie. Vinnita," she said, and motioned to a similar appearing girl
standing beside her. "This is Dorinda."
"Hi," I said to the other girl.
"Hi."
Vinnie looked at Dorinda, and they seemed to exchange communication I
didn't understand.
"You wanna?" Vinnie asked, and the other girl shrugged, and popped a pink
bubble.
"Sure," she said.
Vinnie picked up her purse. "So when you give Daniel my number, tell
him me and Dorinda will be ready anytime."
I didn't understand what she meant, but I just said okay.
The crowd seemed even thicker than it had a few minutes before.
I got jostled pushing my way thru and when I bumped into somebody, I looked up
into the face of a man.
A hand wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me up tight against
his chest. "Well, hello, darlin'," he said, and I knew immediately he was drunk.
I twisted, but he had such a tight hold, and with the crowd I didn't have room
to struggle.
"Dance with me."
"No, thanks."
"Aww, come on." He got his face so close to mine I could smell the alcohol
on his breath.
I tried again to get loose with no success.
"I'm not gonna take No for an answer," he said, and I felt the stirrings of
unease. I was in a crowd of people, but I might as well have been alone.
I remembered something Hannah had told me she did once, when she was
in college and a guy wouldn't leave her alone.
I forced myself to seem relaxed, and smiled what I hoped was a convincingly
devastating smile. "Okay, I'll dance with you," I said. "Lead the way to the dance floor,
and I'll follow you."
The drunk turned and started weaving his way thru the crowd. I headed the opposite way
and made my path to the table. When I walked up Daniel was sitting there at the table,
talking to the group, and drinking a Coke.
"About damn time," he said, and I just sat down fast, kind of breathless from
hurrying so fast.
"There's always a line for the women's," Clare said, smiling at Daniel. I thought
how nice she was.
When the break was over, the guys stood up, getting ready to go back on
stage. Justin put his arm around Clare and started muzzling her neck.
"Knock it off, Justin," she said.
"Baby-" he began, resting his hand dangerously close to her rear.
"Baby, baby, baby-" she mocked, and gave him an elbow jab to his stomach. It
must have hurt, because Justin's face turned red, and he held his stomach
for a minute. I giggled before I caught myself, and Justin glared at me.
The guys were huddled, talking, when I felt a hand around my waist
again. I turned in horror to see Mr. Dance With Me standing there.
"Hello, darlin'," he said. "We meet again."
"Go away!" I hissed, glaring at him. I wanted him gone before
Daniel saw him.
"No, no," he said, shaking a finger in my face. "Be friendly now."
Daniel turned and seemed to take in the situation at a glance.
"What can I do for you, buddy?" he asked, in a steely like voice.
"Just goin' to dance with my little darlin' here."
"No," Daniel said. "You're not."
"This one here promised me a dance and I aim to have it." He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
Daniel's face looked like stone. He stepped closer, knocked the guy's arm off
my shoulder, and pushed me behind him.
"Go find another girl. You aren't going to dance with this one. "
Mr. Dance With Me looked at Daniel, bleary-eyed. "Is that right?"
"That's right."
I held my breath, praying there wouldn't be a fight. Please, please, please, I said
to myself.
When it looked as though it might come to blows, Red stepped up beside
Daniel, silently presenting a unified front.
Apparently, drunk or not, there was still enough self preservation in the
other guy to know he couldn't take both Daniel and Red. He held up a hand.
"Okay, be cool, I guess there's enough girls to go around." He turned
to weave away.
Daniel turned to me, looking angry. "You told him you'd dance with him?!"
I was embarrassed because this was happening in front of Clare and Nan and Red.
"No, it wasn't like that! He caught me on my way back earlier, and I told
him that to get away from him!"
Clare spoke up quietly, a touch of humor in her voice.
"We females always have to put up with jerks like that, don't we, Harlie?" she said,
speaking to me, but looking at Daniel with a calming smile.
"That's the truth," Nan added.
I gave Clare a grateful smile.
"I'll stick with Harlie if she leaves the table again," Clare told Daniel. "We'll keep an eye on each other that way."
I appreciated the way Clare made it sound like we were equal, not like she had to babysit me.
Daniel looked slightly mollified. "Well, okay."
The guys headed back up for the second half of the show.
I sat down with Clare and Nan at the table again.
"Thanks for calming Daniel down," I said.
"Glad to," Clare said.
When the second half was over, the guys started breaking down the equipment to get ready to leave.
Clare and Nan carried on their conversation without seeming to mind that I was there.
They were bemoaning the lack of nice, decent guys to go out with. " They all have
crazy exes or kids they don't take care of," Nan said.
"Yeah," Clare said, "or they don't know how to do an honest day's work."
"I told Justin I'd come tonight," Clare was telling Nan. "But he knows that's it."
"How'd it take it?"
"You know Justin. He hears what he wants to hear."
I was so curious I couldn't help asking. "You're breaking up with him?"
"Yeah. He has a lot of growing up to do."
"What's wrong with him?" I asked, then realized I sounded nosy and rude, too. Clare didn't
seem to mind me asking, though.
"Oh, Justin's alright. We don't have anything in common, though. And he's obsessed with getting married."
"You don't want to get married?"
"Oh, yeah I do. I want a husband and kids sometime, if I meet the right guy. But it's not Justin. He has
two ex-wives now."
"Wow. He's been married twice already?"
Clare nodded. I sipped at my Coke, as she and Nan continued talking. The more she talked,
the better I liked her. An idea was forming in my mind.
"Do you mind if I ask how old you are?"
"I don't mind," Clare said, in an easygoing way. "I'm 25."
"Do you like the country?" I asked her.
"I love it. I grew up on a farm. Right now I'm stuck in a little apartment in Modesto
while I'm taking my nursing classes."
A nurse! Besides being beautiful and fun, she was obviously smart and motivated, too.
"Do you ride horseback?"
"I had a horse growing up. I haven't gotten to ride in a long time. I miss it."
"Do you have a big family?" I asked.
"Nope. One sister."
"What's your thoughts on big, noisy families?" I ventured.
"I don't have any practice with it, but in theory I love the idea," Clare said,
and smiled at me. She seemed to sense my intent. "What are you thinking, Harlie?"
"Well," I said slowly, smiling back, "I was thinking that I have this brother, and he
should meet somebody like you."
"Does he look like Daniel?" Clare asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Yeah. He looks like Daniel. His name is Brian."
Clare winked at Nan, and leaned across the table towards me.
"Let's do some talking, Harlie. Tell me more about this brother."
7
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