Rock On

Chapter 3

'Where to then?' Bill asked as they all piled into a black Mercedes 300SD that Bill had driven around from some unknown garage and parked in the narrow street at the end of the laneway while the three of them waited to be picked up. None of them said a word as Gloria and Derrick piled into the back seat with Cherie hopping into the passenger seat and immediately sinking into the softest leather car seats she had ever come across.

She looked across at Bill wondering about him. He didn't look rich, he looked like any other normal Rock God Adonis she was thinking somewhat flippantly but a car like this with the price tag that it came with did make her wonder. He was ridiculously good looking but when he had changed after the gig he was wearing a clean but beat up Stones t shirt with 'Kooyong Australia' printed on it, hardly giving any indication of wealth or affluence. A pair of scruffy well fitted jeans and a black leather jacket slung on casually finished off the ensemble, giving him an appearance of casual chic. Yes, she did wonder about him.

'Where to then luv?' he questioned again, snapping her back to the here and now. From the back seat Derrick gave directions and it didn't take long for them to reach the old single fronted house they rented. Once inside they got the heater cranked up and Derrick showed Bill around. 'Can I get you a glass of wine or something stronger, or how about a joint?' Derrick asked Bill as Gloria settled down on one couch and Cherie on the other. Bill casually strolled over and sat down next to her. 'Whatever's going mate but make it small, I have to watch it,' Bill reminded him. He picked up a copy of the latest edition of their magazine that was sitting on the top of a pile on the coffee table and glanced at the cover.

He flicked through it with some interest, stopping to briefly skim an article that Cherie had written about the influence that pop culture had on fashion. There were stock images from the fifties paired with Elvis, the sixties and Brian Jones at his most stylish and the seventies with glam rock glitter and disco satin and those that had come and gone. 'This is good luv,' he turned to her and pointed to the article and the layout. 'Did you choose the pics then and design the layout?' Cherie nodded shyly as he moved over closer to her and talked about the way she had used the colours and asked how she had decided which trends to go with, what worked and didn't work, where she got her ideas from and a million and one questions.

They were locked in such an animated conversation that Bill didn't even touch his wine. Gloria and Derrick knew it was pretty useless thinking they were going to get an interview out of him, they hadn't even managed to get a word in for the last hour. Bill and Cherie had not taken their eyes off each other and they didn't even notice when the other two left them and went to bed. It wasn't until Cherie started yawning her head off that they looked at the clock and realised that is was nearly four in the morning.

'Sorry luv, you're tired and I have kept you up, I'd better make a move and let you get to bed then.' The disappointment that she felt at his words really shook her. She knew that she shouldn't have but she really was hoping that… she didn't really know what she was hoping but right now she wanted him to stay or at least ask if he could. She looked down at her lap trying to hide what she was feeling. In that brief moment Bill watched her closely and read her thoughts as plain as day. She looked up again and her eyes met his as he gazed at her. 'I could let you get to bed or … I could stay,' he said softly as he lent closer into her, their faces only inches apart. 'That's if you want me, to stay that is?'

Her eyes lit up at his words. He could see or he hoped to he could see that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He had wanted her the minute that he saw her sitting there with Derrick as he walked over to the table but he wanted her to like him, he didn't want to … well he just wanted to be liked for himself for a change. Very slowly, giving her the chance to pull away if he had misread her, he put his hand on her cheek and held her face, leaning in and brushing her lips. She didn't pull away.
The touch of his long delicate fingers sent shivers through her and when his lips brushed hers, tingles went racing over her to the top of her head. He pulled back a little and she opened her eyes to look at him, fearing that something was wrong but when she looked into his eyes she knew, she knew there was nothing wrong, she knew as he leant in and took her face with both hands that his lips were hungry for more.

She broke away from him and stood up, taking his hand and leading him down stairs to her basement apartment. It was totally self-contained and as she gave him a guided tour he smiled. 'Gloria was right, there are no windows down here except for that one back in the kitchen.' She smiled, 'You know it's funny but I like it. I feel really safe down here, it's my own little world if you know what I mean. It may be only small and pretty dark, well' she laughed, 'totally dark to be honest but I have everything I need. I have my own space as you can see and everything that I need. I have all my books and plenty of room to write. I love my desk and typewriter and I just feel really comfortable. I am sure that it breaks all the rules about light and council regulations but I really don't give a toss.'

She had shown him the kitchen and her sitting room then the spare room. His eyes had lit up when he had seen the upright piano that she had in the corner and rows and rows filled with more books and a comfortable easy chair. 'I love coming in here and just chilling out. I sit in here sometimes and just read for hours.' Bill looked at some of the titles of the books and realised she had quite an extensive and diverse collection, everything from physics to photography, fashion and even the odd Agatha Christie not to mention Von Daniken, Freud, Nietzsche, C S Lewis and Tolkien. He shook his head at the wide range of subjects. 'You read Tolkien?' he smiled. 'I love The Silmarillion, it is an amazing book. He was remarkable. What an amazing mind to have created a world as wide-ranging and intricate as Middle Earth,' she shook her head in wonder at his great mind.

'I think what I admired the most was his creation of Frodo in Lord of the Rings. He created the least likely of characters, someone small and normal and humble and put the weight of the world on his shoulders and then had him turn out to be the most heroic of the whole book. Here was this character that had not asked to be anything special, had been minding his own business but through a quirk of fate his whole existence had changed. The fate of his whole world depended on the least likely of creatures and even though he was scared and at times felt so terribly unworthy, he did the best that he could through so much adversity. That is noble and courageous and inspirational.'

She paused, 'It is so heroic. I get so emotional whenever I think of the courage and strength that it took for him to overcome what he faced. Whenever I get down and feeling sorry for myself or I see or read things that happen that are terrible and I think that the world is going to pieces, I try to remember that there are so many good things, such beauty and … I don't know, such wonderful minds that can create someone like Frodo to give hope and courage to those of us that don't have it. It's dumb I know but everyone needs something to believe in and I guess I am a romantic at heart and not very courageous so I get turned on and inspired by those that are.'

Her passion touched Bill, it touched him more than she would ever know. He understood exactly what she felt, wasn't that how he felt? He drew her into him and stood there just hugging her to him. He hadn't felt this kind of a connection with another for a long time and it comforted him. It was so very nice to have a normal conversation about something that he was as passionate about as she was.

He kissed her hair as he held her. She smelt wonderful and he wondered what scent she had on. He would always remember it and think of her whenever he smelt it again. He would remember her silky hair and the way she felt in his arms and the passion of her words. Yes he thought, everyone needed courage and something to believe in to keep going.

She looked up at him melting under his gaze. Her heart was beating like a drum and she was shaking. 'Heh' he said softly as he ran his fingers down her cheek, 'are you okay?' She gave a small nod. 'I …' whatever she had been about to say she never got the chance. Bill leant in and brushed her lips before she could speak. He pulled her into him tighter and she wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his soft hair. Their lips met again before the full passion of the moment overcame both of them.

They finally parted and she whispered, 'The grand tour isn't over yet' and led him to her bedroom with a bathroom leading off it. 'The bathroom is in there if you need it,' she added awkwardly. He nodded. 'You know, I was in that much of a hurry to get changed after the gig that I didn't have a shower after the show, would you mind if I had a quick one now?' he asked. 'Sure, there are clean towels in the cupboard and the soap and shampoo are in the holder.' He smiled. 'Thanks won't be long.' He took a few steps towards the bathroom then turned, coming back to her and taking her in his arms again kissing her deeply.

'I really won't be long, I promise,' he said huskily as he closed the door.