Author's note: This story will be moving to a rating of 'M' starting with Chapter 14. To continue reading, please look for it there. The next chapters deal with a mature subject matter.
Chapter 12
Keith glanced back over Laurie's shoulder because he thought he'd seen a familiar face in the crowd. But, when he looked back, all he saw was Selena, Tiffany and Bonnie all laughing their heads off at Laurie's look of concern. Keith guessed he'd seen Tiffany and mistaken her for Dina again.
What he didn't know was that Dina had slid behind the large security guard that had been stationed in front of the stage to make sure no one got the crazy idea of joining the band on stage. Well, no one but the invited, yet stunned Laurie, that is.
"Keith, I will kill you for this. You know that, right?" Laurie said before Keith could bring the microphone back within a close enough proximity to pick up her voice.
Laurie's comment brought Keith's eyes back from the audience where he'd still been sort of looking for Dina; not that he wanted to find her there he told himself. Keith couldn't help the grin that lit up his face and caused a small scream of appreciation from the females in the audience.
"I'm shaking in my boots." Keith mocked her but he pulled the microphone back quickly to address the audience and spike any more comments from Laurie. "Now, she'll try and tell you that she's a little out of practice, but don't believe her. She's going to help me close the show. However, it appears that she might just need a little coaxing from all of you."
Keith's comments were met by a loud cheer from the audience; led by her three roommates who were all clapping with their hands above their heads and whooping it up like drunks at a rock concert – which they were, well, all except for the drunk part.
Keith had gone to put the microphone back in the stand and then patiently moved Laurie toward the piano, playing it up for the crowd.
"So, what would you like to do? We can make it as easy or as hard as you want." Keith realized that Laurie was really pretty concerned about how she'd do. He could feel the nervous energy coming off her in waves. Keith knew she'd handle it like a pro, but it looked like Laurie didn't have the same confidence in herself. "Oh, come on. You'll be great."
"Alright, if you think this is going to go so well, let's do 'Let it Be', 'Hey Jude' and then 'Please, Please Me'. At least we played those this afternoon at the sound check." Laurie suddenly realized that Keith had had this planned all along and her 'jamming' with the band had not been a spur of the moment lark.
Keith grinned as the look of realization spread across her face and headed over to the stool. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Laurie has chosen to grace you with a medley of Beatles songs. Who would have guessed I'm not her favorite act, hmmm?" Keith winked and waited for Laurie to get them started.
Laurie played the opening chords to 'Let It Be' and was surprised when the rest of the band joined in. She'd been so concerned about how this would all work out, she hadn't even noticed them joining her and Keith on stage.
Keith surrendered his guitar for the final song and pulled the microphone from the stand. He loved to give his all to 'Please, Please Me'. When Laurie brought the song to a close, Keith pulled her from her seat and pulled her to the front of the stage with him.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, don't let her fool you. She's still one of the best keyboardists around." He stood aside and pulled her arm up saying, "Laurie Partridge!" He then swung her arm down and pulled her into a bow with him as he set the microphone down on the stage and they ran offstage together.
"So, are you still going to kill me?" Keith laughed when he noticed the big grin on Laurie's face. Apparently she'd missed performing just a little.
"Maybe later." Laurie laughed at his answering grin. "That was a rush and way different than when we used to perform."
"Different?" Keith knew it was different for him because he was the 'name' on the marquee, but was curious as to why Laurie found it different.
"I don't know, the crowd was more 'into it' then they used to be for our family shows. It's probably the age group." Laurie shrugged.
"So, wanna come out and do it again for the second show?" Keith let that one slide. He was very pleased with the older crowds that were coming to his shows especially on this tour, but he loved his fans no matter what age.
"Can I?" At Keith's nod, Laurie grinned. "In that case, sure; I'd love to, and…."
They didn't get to finish their conversation when Gordy, Skizzy, Angie and Laurie's roommates all finally found their way backstage.
"Laurie, that was fantastic!" Skizzy came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder for a quick hug. The rest of the group echoed his praise.
"What am I, chopped liver?" Keith said with mock hurt.
"Hey, you do this all the time. Laurie's a full-time student now and she blew the crowd away!" Gordy explained the difference.
"Ah, I see. Guess if I'm second banana at this show, I should get 'em to change the name on the marquee." Keith joked.
"No, that's alright. They can leave yours up there." Angie added and then paused for effect. "But, they should definitely put Laurie's name in bigger letters above yours."
Keith could only shake his head and start walking to the dressing room. "I'm going to go shower and change for the next show. You guys stay here and kiss up to Laurie. Get the big name star to buy you drinks or something. Otherwise, help yourselves to the spread in the green room."
"Do you think we hurt his feelings?" Bonnie asked in concern.
"No!" Laurie, Skizzy, Gordy and Angie all answered quickly.
At Bonnie's startled look, Laurie went on to explain. "Bonnie, Keith knows who the crowd was really here to see tonight. He's used to our teasing him. Believe me, his ego is big enough. We don't need to stroke it after every show."
"Well, it would have been nice if at least someone had told him how fantastic the show was even before you joined him on stage." Bonnie's shyness was all but forgotten since her car ride with Keith.
"Why don't you tell him later." Laurie suggested and then finally noticed that Dina wasn't there. "Hey, where's Dina?"
"She said she had to use the restroom. Said she'd join us later." Skizzy explained.
Keith never rejoined them before he went on for the second show. Reuben had arranged for a quick meet and greet with some fans who had won a contest from the campus radio station. And, rather than forcing Keith to stay late after the second show, he'd scheduled it for in between. That way those who won from the first show could stay after and those who won from the second show just had to show up early.
The group of friends watched the second show from the wings and enjoyed seeing what Keith saw while he was on stage. Well, actually, they could likely see more than he could. He was constantly in a spotlight which really cut down on just how far out into the audience he could see. They got a taste of it once when the spotlight had flashed near enough to them to let them all experience the glare and the near blindness it resulted in.
"Dina, why are you hanging back?" Laurie finally had to ask. She'd noticed Dina skulking in the shadows and basically avoiding Keith, little though he'd been around since they'd arrived.
"Oh, I just want to see him in his natural environment. If I let him know I'm here, he'll try to downplay the female fans. You know, the girlfriend is here – gotta be on my best behavior." Dina laughed. Though she tried to make it sound light, it was anything but in her mind. She'd always wondered what Keith was like when he was away from her. When the girlfriend wasn't around; how wildly would the mouse play?
"So, you're scoping out the competition, huh?" Laurie took it at face value not thinking that Dina and Keith's parting, that hadn't been on the best of terms, was still a problem seeing Dina hadn't mentioned it during their phone call.
Well, to put it truthfully, they hadn't parted on any terms at all. Keith had left while Dina was still sleeping. The morning after she'd confessed her love to the darkness. She'd started wondering if he'd heard her and that was the reason for his quick departure. Or, if like many times before, Keith had simply been running behind and hadn't woken her so that he wouldn't end up any further behind. She didn't know, but she sure as hell wanted to find out.
"You could say it like that." Dina made sure to keep a grin on her face. If Laurie thought she was worried, she'd either do something to try and patch things up, or possibly warn Keith in some way.
"Well, make sure you have some fun too." Laurie pulled her closer to watch the show. "You don't want to miss this part of the show. It's fun to see the faces of the girls in the audience when he slows it down and does the acoustic portion of this set. I've seen it plenty of times from behind my keyboards at the Family's shows, but you were in the audience last time. Believe me, you wanna see this."
The two girls watched as Keith sang several songs with just himself and his guitar. It was a very warm and personal part of the set. It gave the band a break and gave Keith a chance to connect at a whole different level with his fans.
"My god, they are absolutely…..well, I guess rapt, is the only word I can think of." Dina looked at Laurie in almost shock. Had she looked like that when she'd been in the audience a short time ago? She didn't doubt it. She already knew what Keith did to her and rapt was an apt description of her reaction to him; especially in the bedroom.
"Yep, total and complete adulation. Sickening, isn't it?" Laurie joked. Her brother had a certain effect on females when his voice was the most prominent part of the show. She didn't really think it was sickening, but she teased Keith about it enough to keep the joke going now with Dina.
"Not really. I kind of understand where they're coming from. When he came back from his last tour, Gordy and Skizzy were having a party. Keith didn't want to end up singing, but, like always, he did. I know exactly how each and every one of those girls feels – only worse. Keith was singing directly to me and I knew darn well I was going to be alone with him later. Wow, what a combination." Dina admitted sheepishly.
"Another one bites the dust." Laurie rolled her eyes and put her arm around Dina to pull her into a quick hug. "You have my sympathies."
Dina knew Laurie was joking, so she laughed. But, she was starting to wonder if falling in love with Keith had been a mistake. He'd never actually said it, but in so many ways he had made it known that he liked their physical relationship. But that was it. He didn't want anything more. Not now. Maybe not ever – was Dina's last, almost hopeless thought.
xoxo
"What are these?" Keith asked in surprise after his second shower of the night. Reuben had tossed him his car keys which he'd caught in midair.
"Exactly what they look like. There was a change in plans. Laurie and her roommates are having a party at the house. You're supposed to hurry up and arrive as soon as you're done." Reuben told him. "Skizzy decided to hang around and wait for you. Something about starting to take his bodyguard responsibilities to heart. I think I'm going to like having that kid on the payroll."
"Oh, alright." Keith took it in stride but then remembered that he didn't want to end up sleeping at Laurie's. "Hey, where's the bus?"
"Don't worry, the band hopped on and took it over. It'll probably be taking up either the whole driveway or the rest of the street. Laurie mentioned you planned to sleep on it." Reuben explained.
"Yeah, she swears me off of her roommates and then I wake up with all three of them staring at me when I'm forced to sleep on the couch. Creepy." Keith shuddered in memory.
"Ah, the rock star life." Reuben mocked.
"Get out of here. It's past your bedtime, old man." Keith mocked back. They were just so comfortable with each other.
"Don't forget your mother's expecting both you and Laurie for dinner tomorrow night." Reuben passed on the message that Shirley had requested when he'd called her the other day. "She invited me too and I need you there to defend me from Danny. We can act as each other's bodyguard, deal?"
"Now that's an offer too good to pass up. You know, you could always beg off of mom's invitations if you wanted to avoid Danny." It was the family joke that Reuben had never declined an invitation to dinner at the house. Now, it wasn't exactly true, there had been the time he'd been dating Bonnie Kleinschmit and she had cooked him dinner instead. Reuben's refusal had gone down in the Partridge Family annals as a once in a lifetime occurrence. Danny had joked that hell had finally and truly frozen over and then gotten a hard look from his mom for using the word 'hell'.
"We've been on the road for three weeks. Three weeks of greasy spoons and truck stop diners. I am not giving up a home cooked meal. Not even to avoid Danny." Reuben stated with passion while he picked up the garment bag with Keith's stage costumes and flung it over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow."
Keith waved Reuben out the door. Keith packed up his few remaining personal items in the ever present duffle bag, checked around one last time and headed out the door. "Hey, Skiz."
"'Bout time Partridge. We're missing the party." Skizzy razzed.
"No one asked you to stick around. I know where Laurie's place is, you know." Keith reminded him.
"Yeah, but you took so long, the normal security is gone. And, I just checked, there's a few chicks out back waiting for you. Guess they figured the snazzy 'Vette had to belong to the star." Skizzy needled.
"How many?" Keith hoped it was a small enough crowd that he could actually stop for a while. If it was too big, he'd have to just rush through or risk potential injury to himself or someone in the crowd.
"Hey, this is a college campus. It's about a dozen girls – women actually. All well behaved from what I could tell." Skizzy got serious when he realized the Keith was concerned.
"Good, then I hope you don't mind a little more of a delay." Keith warned as he pushed through the stage door. He was met by the rush of feet toward him. He was thankful to notice that the group was small and though they'd rushed up to him, they didn't appear aggressive.
He stopped and chatted, signed autographs, posed for a few pictures, kissed a few cheeks, kissed a few more lips and before too long was headed toward his car.
"I can take that back." Keith held his hand out for the duffle that Skizzy had taken when Keith had started signing autographs.
"No, that's alright. I better get used to it if I'm going to be working for you this summer." Skizzy said.
"As security, not my bellboy. Hand it over." Keith joked.
He heard Skizzy sigh in relief when he handed him back the bag. Keith stowed it in the trunk and got into the car; immediately putting down the top even though there was a little chill in the air.
"Hey, isn't it a little chilly for the top to be down?" Skizzy worried.
"What, don't tell me you're cold." Keith looked at him in shock.
"No, it's just that the cold air can't be good for your voice." Skizzy pointed out.
"Ok, knock it off. You aren't on the payroll yet. Besides, I don't have to sing for a couple of days at least. I'll be fine. Sheesh, you're worse than my Grandmother." Keith could only shake his head.
"Right. Mother Hen mode completely shut off." Skizzy winced at how he'd sounded.
"Good, I'd hate to attend a college party with a Mother; hen or real." Keith's laugh was joined by Skizzy's.
Mission accomplished – his friend was back.
xoxo
The party was in full swing when Keith pulled into the driveway. The bus was parked on the street and its hulking shape was a comfort to Keith just knowing that he wouldn't have to sleep in the fish bowl again.
He and Skizzy walked in the front door without knocking. Who would hear it anyway? The noise was a dull roar through the closed door.
Skizzy spotted Gordy and Angie right away and headed toward them waving Keith on behind him. Keith started to follow but then noticed Bonnie standing a little uncertainly in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. He decided to do his part in Laurie's scheme to make Bonnie more confident.
He changed directions after waving to his friends and slid up beside Bonnie who looked surprised that he was there much less standing beside her.
"Hey, why aren't you in the thick of it?" Keith asked.
"I guess I'm a nervous hostess. Every time we have a party I'm always the one worried about what's going to get broken or who's having a fight. You know, the normal things a worry wart worries about." Bonnie laughed at herself.
"Well, if you promise to not worry. I promise to pay for anything that gets broken. Deal?" Keith joked.
"Oh, you don't have to do that…." Bonnie trailed off when she realized that Keith had been joking. Not that he wouldn't pay for anything that got broken, but what he was trying to do was get her to loosen up.
"Ok, tell me who some of these people are." Keith suggested as a way to get her talking. "I only know you, Laurie, Selena and Tiffany. Well, Gordy, Skizzy and Angie too, of course."
"Like who do you want to know about?" Bonnie figured he'd be pointing out all the prettiest girls in the room. Instead, Keith picked out an odd assortment of people and after a while, she didn't even realize that she was laughing and joking with him.
Dina had stayed out of Keith's line of sight since he'd walked in. She'd seen him make a beeline for the pretty redhead and she'd watched him charm her into pretty blushes and much more frequent smiles that lit up her face. The rat fink was flirting with her.
Dina knew he wasn't faithful when he wasn't with her. Well, she didn't ACTUALLY know that. She'd just always assumed it and now her assumptions were proven. At least she thought they probably were. What to do?
She should sneak out. That would be best. For everyone involved. She could sneak out and go find a corner to cry her heart out until Gordy, Skizzy and Angie decided to go home.
She was just about to do that when a guy who'd approached her earlier came up to try his luck one more time. He stumbled toward her which made her realize that he'd gotten drunker than the last time she'd seen him. There was no alcohol at this party because the four roommates were all under 21, but this guy was well supplied from his own stock apparently.
He noisily came up, threw his arms around her and proceeded to plant a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
Dina panicked. Her eyes flew to Keith to see that his eyes had been drawn to the loud, obnoxious guy just like she'd feared. She watched his eyes widen in surprise when he recognized her. She pushed the guy away as quickly as possible and watched as Keith made his excuses to the redhead and began walking toward her. She wanted to run, but she stayed rooted to the spot with the drunken idiot breathing his foul stench all over her.
"Dina? What are you doing here?" Keith asked as soon as he reached her side. He completely ignored the drunk idiot.
"Hey, pretty boy, who do you think you are, talking to my girl?" The idiot asked.
Keith threw him a glare and turned back to Dina.
"Do you know this guy?" Keith asked her.
"No, he just thinks he knows me. But, he's most definitely mistaken." Dina turned her back on him. She had no desire to have the guy 'prove' himself by starting a fight.
"Get lost." Keith told him. When the guy made a threatening move toward him, he was suddenly spun around and directed toward the front door by a threatening looking Skizzy.
"I'm back on the clock for thirty seconds. That's it. I promise." He said as he walked the guy away from Keith with his arm twisted up behind his back in the age old police hold.
"I didn't know you were going to be here." Keith simply went back to his conversation with Dina.
"I came up at the last second. But, I can see you weren't expecting me, either." Dina looked pointedly at Bonnie who was watching them closely. Her next comment came out without much thought on her part. It was pure self-preservation – at least that's what she'd tell herself later. "But, hey, that's alright. I came with a date too."
Jealousy disguised as inspiration had struck as she watched a good looking guy walk behind Keith. She absolutely, positively would not embarrass herself by acting the jealous girlfriend. If he wanted to spend time with other girls, she wouldn't stand in his way. Even if her heart was shattered in pieces all over the floor.
"What?" Keith was surprised by her answer. "Bonnie? She's one of Laurie's roommates, and therefore officially off limits, you know that. Other than you, I've never dated any of Laurie's friends."
"Sure, I know that." Dina had known that, but her jealousy had clouded her thoughts; instead of seeing Keith as being nice, she'd seen it as picking her up. At least that's what her jealousy had made her see instead of the truth. The truth that Keith had just reminded her of, had just explained. The truth that was now clouded over by her own lie. Oh, what had she done now?
"So, where's this boyfriend?" Keith asked suspiciously. He knew darn well if he'd come with Dina she would not have been left alone.
"Oh, he went to the bathroom. There he is." Dina fibbed quickly and pushed past him. She needed to get out of there fast. She could feel the tears coming but refused to let them fall anywhere around Keith. He could not, would not, ever know that her jealousy had clouded her vision. "Guess I'll see you around."
Keith watched her walk up to some tall basketball player type. He dwarfed Dina, something Keith had never done. He watched her smile at him and watched the guy smile back. They headed toward the kitchen arm in arm.
Skizzy saw Dina's actions and frowned. He was about to go over and ask Keith what was going on, but at that exact moment, the drunk tried coming back into the party. If he'd talked to Keith, what happened next never would have happened.