Caiomhe
Gruesome Uproar and Scars on Broadway ended up meeting several more times, some times with me, and some times with out. We all ended up being good friends, much to Brian's disapproval. I did manage to get him to understand it was business friendship, eventually.
Everyone kept on urging me to end my relationship with him, and I kept on ignoring them. It all came to head though, when we all went out for drinks after a long day of recording.
It was a small Irish bar, one of the few half way decent Irish bar on the west coast. It was homey, and had good beer. Brian sat between me and the rest of the guys, keeping a wary eye out while downing several beers. I ended up drinking on half a bottle the entire three hours we were there. I was the one chosen to tell the taxi cabs were the hell everyone was going.
Sam and James looked less than pleased that Brian had tagged along, but said nothing. Daron and Keagan were in a deep discussion about drug laws. The two Johns were cracking jokes and attempting to flirt with the barmaid.
"I'm going to go have a smoke," Brian slurred after his fourth, stand and staggering to the door. We all fanned out, grateful for the extra room. I gave up my seat and wound up sitting on Sam's lap and stretched my legs across Daron and Keagan's lap.
"Aw, Keev, why don't you give me a little leg action?" Johnny said. I flipped him off before taking a swig of my beer.
"So classy," he grinned.
"I don't need class; I'm Irish," I said, throwing on my accent. I through one arm around Sam's neck and we began singing Da Vinci's Notebook's Irish Drinking Song. Halfway through it I felt a sharp tug on my pony tail that sent me backwards. I was dragged up and was face to face with a pissed off drunken Brian.
"What the hell are you doing?" he growled.
"I… I… N-nothing, honey… Just singing," I stammered. Brian looked at the group behind us and pulled me outside.
"Brian, ow, you're hurting me!" I yelped. My arm felt like it was going to snap. He threw me to the ground. I managed to land on my side.
"You filthy whore!" he screamed at me. I stood, feeling defiant. Maybe it was the booze, though it wasn't much, or maybe just I had enough.
"I am no whore."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the boys spill out of the bar, worried looks on all of their faces. I stared Brian down, something I had never really done. He looked nervous; he had to regain control again. He raised his fist and hit me open palm. I staggered with the force, nearly sending me backwards. In a flash, Daron was at my side, steadying me.
"Don't help the whore up, you faggot," Brian slurred. Daron stiffened at stared at him.
"I don't want to fight," he said, calm and deadly. James and Sam stood on either side of Daron. Brian sized up the trio. Daron took a step towards him.
"I bet it makes you feel like a big man who you push Caiomhe around, huh? You no worse than a playground bully trying to get people to like him. Well, big news, no one's taking your shit anymore, so go away."
Daron was short compared to Brian, but his tone was dangerous. Brian looked at the trio, then at the two Johns and Keagan guarding me. He opened his mouth and turned away. I learned later he walked straight into police's arms. Daron looked back at me.
"Keev, are you alright?" he asked. I nodded, but the slap, combined with and lack of food made and the whole fact that Brian was gone was too much. I stumbled and he caught me. I smiled up at him.
"Thank you, so much."
I leaned up against his chest. He was comfy, not overly muscled, just nice and comfy. He smelt good too, sweet but smoky. I think it was pot. I didn't care. I was emotionally spent.