GUESS I TOOK A CHANCE
There was a strange hush in the air. Stacy and Torrie had exited amid rowdy applause before Jeff's music had washed over people, mellowing from chaotic rock to sludgy dreampools. For an hour people had felt their problems drip- dry away as the music moved like cool sweet waves over their tortured bodies. Business at the bar had slowed completely.
Chris was still a bristling indignant presence, Lita looked at him with imploring eyes. She refused to say a word now, maintaining that she had other more pressing things to do but still she'd steal glances at him trying to tell him with her electric eyes. An hour had passed and Chris found himself drawn to looking at Edge. Why had Lita mentioned the tall blonde Canadian? Then Edge happened to look at Chris as Chris had looked at him and the power of Edge's blue fire eyes had nearly blown him away.
Trish stood on the stage again, singing for Bubba. She looked like his own private wet dream, poured into skin-tight black shiny pants and a matching vest top with a plunging v-neck, her hair all piled onto her head. She had starlight in her eyes as she looked at him, the blues lilting from her throat. He stood at the back again, enjoying her sound and knowing that somehow, she was his. Couples swayed to the blowsy sounds of her music, the whole atmosphere one of contentment.
"Lita" a small voice said, breaking the spell
Lita had been dancing in Matt's arms, persuaded again to break protocol so that Matt could stop her saying something and blocking her from Chris's challenging gaze. She had been happily drifting until Torrie's quiet voice had broken through.
"I need to talk to you" Torrie continued looking drawn and determined "it's important"
Lita nodded, regretfully pulling away from Matt who kissed her on the forehead. Torrie led her to a lonely dank corner where no one sat. She still wore her dance clothes and shone like a tired nightlight in the dark
"Stacy told me she had problems with her ex that's affecting her dancing" said Torrie hurriedly as soon as they sat down "she said you'd tell me, I need to know because she's being so unbearable, if there's something I can understand then tell me"
"You've just got to give her some time Torrie, make allowances...."
"I can't anymore Li, she wants everything so perfect that I'm totally exhausted, Trish and I are going to kill her unless something can be done. So far I see nothing that's pointing to why she's being a bitch"
Lita nodded. She hadn't wanted to tell anyone else at the bar this in case they treated Stacy differently but under the circumstances, that looked to be a good thing. She wanted both Stacy and Torrie to stay dancing at the bar for a long time to come. She hoped she'd word it right
"I met Stacy at an audition, I was scouting for bar dancers" she began "that day I found her crying in the bathroom, her boyfriend Andrew had been abusing her - not physically then but always bulling her and breaking her spirit, never letting her do well at anything because he said it made him look bad, she couldn't break away from him because she was afraid of what he'd do, She'd just met Scott and really liked him so they started seeing each other secretly, Andrew found out and that was when he got physical with her, I think he even raped her once. Scott was ready to kill him and Stacy desperately wanted to get away but feared for her life, there was barely anything left of her that resembled Stacy"
Torrie listened with frozen lips. It sounded like a big soap opera jumble but from Lita, it had to be true. She never joked about something this serious.
"Dance was something she'd always done and kept doing, I encouraged her to dance at the audition which she did and I hired her, Matt and I immediately made sure she never went back to Andrew, we got Scott to take her home. Andrew realised something was up and went straight to Scott's apartment. He punched Scott right in the mouth as soon as the door opened but Scott fought back and Stacy phoned the police to get Andrew out, he was screaming that he'd get her back, that she belonged to him, Matt and I eventually helped her get a restraining order against Andrew and a new place of her own which Scott moved into pretty soon afterwards"
"Fill her up" instructed Scott, shoving his glass towards Matt
"How's Stacy doing?" asked Matt quietly
Scott sighed as he pulled his shades off and deposited them on the bar in front of him. It was too dark for them anyway
"OK you know, he hasn't found the new address thank God" he never referred to Andrew by his name "Stace's still throwing herself into her dancing, says it helps her keep in control with her life, I know she's wearing herself out"
Matt looked over to where Lita sat talking to Torrie, her face perfectly serious. Torrie seemed to be frozen to the spot. It was pretty harrowing hearing it for the first time and then applying it to Stacy. But Torrie hadn't seen how terrified she was when Andrew had been beating down Scott, yelling that she was next. Matt and Lita were second on the scene to the police and had taken Stacy and Scott straight to the hospital.
"I'd do it again though" Scott said "don't know why, but I would"
It was time, he had to tell him. Edge could feel himself beginning to shake all over. He knew that if he didn't say something, he was going to drive everyone nuts. Chris was sat behind the bar, morosely staring at a drink in his hand. Edge could feel his heart jumping his throat, not a pleasant sensation. His voice was going to sound all cracked up. If Chris said no, then Edge could live with that, with a lot of time taken to recover and spent away from the bar but people would understand. They all knew how he felt and how he'd handle it. Lita's reaction told him that much. Before he could talk himself out of it, he jumped off his stool and along the bar to where Chris was, passing Matt and Scott talking together as he did.
"Hey Chris, can I talk to you for a second?" he said as soon as Chris noticed his presence
Chris stared at him, his stare so unusually intense. Chris was known for having very quick reactions and a notoriously short attention span so taking time over an answer was not his style. It made Edge more nervous, what was taking Chris so long to answer? From the look on Chris' face, he was weighing something up in his mind, trying to decide, a torrent of emotions barely contained beneath the frozen intense glare. Suddenly, he got to his feet and began walking across the room. Edge had nothing to do but follow him.
They reached a corner of the room unoccupied and that was when it happened. Chris turned, pushed Edge up against a wall and kissed him hard. Something exploded inside Edge; he was shocked, scared and ecstatic. It was like his wildest most impossible dreams had come true. All too soon, Chris pulled away. His dangerous eyes roved Edge, looking for a reaction. Edge was breathing hard, unable to speak, comprehend what had just happened. Had he dreamt it up in his love crazed mine? He had to say something. Finally
"How long?" he croaked out
"How long what? Have I wanted to do that?" Chris was back to his arrogant self as he stood in front of Edge "long time Edgester; you've disappointed me in not saying anything or making a move..."
"You spend your whole life flirting with women, how was I supposed to know?"
"By asking me"
"And totally embarrassing myself if you'd been straight? No thanks"
Chris grinned and pulled himself closer. Edge's heart skipped a beat as he found Chris' body so close to his own. He looked into Chris's teasing eyes
"Safe to say I am not straight!"
"So why didn't you say anything to me? You know that I'm gay, Christian always brings the sexuality of our family up in conversation"
Chris smiled a little. It was understated and almost tender in its emotion.
"Guess I was scared too"
"What made you make a move tonight?"
"The way that Lita desperately wanted to say something, I heard her mention you" Chris explained "everyone else seemed to know what she wanted to say but Matt wouldn't let her tell me, then I realised she started behaving that way when you came in the door and I saw the way you looked at me and well, I guess I took a chance"
Edge heard a whoop and they both looked up to see Jeff and Christian laughing together as they pointed down at Edge and Chris. Edge waved at his brother who sent him a thumbs up and a wink. He guessed that this wouldn't stay a secret for very long. He slipped an arm around Chris' waist, a little shy but also relieved and happy.
Chris looked over to Edge and grinned widely. Sometimes taking a chance paid off. He wrapped his arm around Edge's shoulders. How was Lita gonna react to this? Oh he couldn't wait.
There was a strange hush in the air. Stacy and Torrie had exited amid rowdy applause before Jeff's music had washed over people, mellowing from chaotic rock to sludgy dreampools. For an hour people had felt their problems drip- dry away as the music moved like cool sweet waves over their tortured bodies. Business at the bar had slowed completely.
Chris was still a bristling indignant presence, Lita looked at him with imploring eyes. She refused to say a word now, maintaining that she had other more pressing things to do but still she'd steal glances at him trying to tell him with her electric eyes. An hour had passed and Chris found himself drawn to looking at Edge. Why had Lita mentioned the tall blonde Canadian? Then Edge happened to look at Chris as Chris had looked at him and the power of Edge's blue fire eyes had nearly blown him away.
Trish stood on the stage again, singing for Bubba. She looked like his own private wet dream, poured into skin-tight black shiny pants and a matching vest top with a plunging v-neck, her hair all piled onto her head. She had starlight in her eyes as she looked at him, the blues lilting from her throat. He stood at the back again, enjoying her sound and knowing that somehow, she was his. Couples swayed to the blowsy sounds of her music, the whole atmosphere one of contentment.
"Lita" a small voice said, breaking the spell
Lita had been dancing in Matt's arms, persuaded again to break protocol so that Matt could stop her saying something and blocking her from Chris's challenging gaze. She had been happily drifting until Torrie's quiet voice had broken through.
"I need to talk to you" Torrie continued looking drawn and determined "it's important"
Lita nodded, regretfully pulling away from Matt who kissed her on the forehead. Torrie led her to a lonely dank corner where no one sat. She still wore her dance clothes and shone like a tired nightlight in the dark
"Stacy told me she had problems with her ex that's affecting her dancing" said Torrie hurriedly as soon as they sat down "she said you'd tell me, I need to know because she's being so unbearable, if there's something I can understand then tell me"
"You've just got to give her some time Torrie, make allowances...."
"I can't anymore Li, she wants everything so perfect that I'm totally exhausted, Trish and I are going to kill her unless something can be done. So far I see nothing that's pointing to why she's being a bitch"
Lita nodded. She hadn't wanted to tell anyone else at the bar this in case they treated Stacy differently but under the circumstances, that looked to be a good thing. She wanted both Stacy and Torrie to stay dancing at the bar for a long time to come. She hoped she'd word it right
"I met Stacy at an audition, I was scouting for bar dancers" she began "that day I found her crying in the bathroom, her boyfriend Andrew had been abusing her - not physically then but always bulling her and breaking her spirit, never letting her do well at anything because he said it made him look bad, she couldn't break away from him because she was afraid of what he'd do, She'd just met Scott and really liked him so they started seeing each other secretly, Andrew found out and that was when he got physical with her, I think he even raped her once. Scott was ready to kill him and Stacy desperately wanted to get away but feared for her life, there was barely anything left of her that resembled Stacy"
Torrie listened with frozen lips. It sounded like a big soap opera jumble but from Lita, it had to be true. She never joked about something this serious.
"Dance was something she'd always done and kept doing, I encouraged her to dance at the audition which she did and I hired her, Matt and I immediately made sure she never went back to Andrew, we got Scott to take her home. Andrew realised something was up and went straight to Scott's apartment. He punched Scott right in the mouth as soon as the door opened but Scott fought back and Stacy phoned the police to get Andrew out, he was screaming that he'd get her back, that she belonged to him, Matt and I eventually helped her get a restraining order against Andrew and a new place of her own which Scott moved into pretty soon afterwards"
"Fill her up" instructed Scott, shoving his glass towards Matt
"How's Stacy doing?" asked Matt quietly
Scott sighed as he pulled his shades off and deposited them on the bar in front of him. It was too dark for them anyway
"OK you know, he hasn't found the new address thank God" he never referred to Andrew by his name "Stace's still throwing herself into her dancing, says it helps her keep in control with her life, I know she's wearing herself out"
Matt looked over to where Lita sat talking to Torrie, her face perfectly serious. Torrie seemed to be frozen to the spot. It was pretty harrowing hearing it for the first time and then applying it to Stacy. But Torrie hadn't seen how terrified she was when Andrew had been beating down Scott, yelling that she was next. Matt and Lita were second on the scene to the police and had taken Stacy and Scott straight to the hospital.
"I'd do it again though" Scott said "don't know why, but I would"
It was time, he had to tell him. Edge could feel himself beginning to shake all over. He knew that if he didn't say something, he was going to drive everyone nuts. Chris was sat behind the bar, morosely staring at a drink in his hand. Edge could feel his heart jumping his throat, not a pleasant sensation. His voice was going to sound all cracked up. If Chris said no, then Edge could live with that, with a lot of time taken to recover and spent away from the bar but people would understand. They all knew how he felt and how he'd handle it. Lita's reaction told him that much. Before he could talk himself out of it, he jumped off his stool and along the bar to where Chris was, passing Matt and Scott talking together as he did.
"Hey Chris, can I talk to you for a second?" he said as soon as Chris noticed his presence
Chris stared at him, his stare so unusually intense. Chris was known for having very quick reactions and a notoriously short attention span so taking time over an answer was not his style. It made Edge more nervous, what was taking Chris so long to answer? From the look on Chris' face, he was weighing something up in his mind, trying to decide, a torrent of emotions barely contained beneath the frozen intense glare. Suddenly, he got to his feet and began walking across the room. Edge had nothing to do but follow him.
They reached a corner of the room unoccupied and that was when it happened. Chris turned, pushed Edge up against a wall and kissed him hard. Something exploded inside Edge; he was shocked, scared and ecstatic. It was like his wildest most impossible dreams had come true. All too soon, Chris pulled away. His dangerous eyes roved Edge, looking for a reaction. Edge was breathing hard, unable to speak, comprehend what had just happened. Had he dreamt it up in his love crazed mine? He had to say something. Finally
"How long?" he croaked out
"How long what? Have I wanted to do that?" Chris was back to his arrogant self as he stood in front of Edge "long time Edgester; you've disappointed me in not saying anything or making a move..."
"You spend your whole life flirting with women, how was I supposed to know?"
"By asking me"
"And totally embarrassing myself if you'd been straight? No thanks"
Chris grinned and pulled himself closer. Edge's heart skipped a beat as he found Chris' body so close to his own. He looked into Chris's teasing eyes
"Safe to say I am not straight!"
"So why didn't you say anything to me? You know that I'm gay, Christian always brings the sexuality of our family up in conversation"
Chris smiled a little. It was understated and almost tender in its emotion.
"Guess I was scared too"
"What made you make a move tonight?"
"The way that Lita desperately wanted to say something, I heard her mention you" Chris explained "everyone else seemed to know what she wanted to say but Matt wouldn't let her tell me, then I realised she started behaving that way when you came in the door and I saw the way you looked at me and well, I guess I took a chance"
Edge heard a whoop and they both looked up to see Jeff and Christian laughing together as they pointed down at Edge and Chris. Edge waved at his brother who sent him a thumbs up and a wink. He guessed that this wouldn't stay a secret for very long. He slipped an arm around Chris' waist, a little shy but also relieved and happy.
Chris looked over to Edge and grinned widely. Sometimes taking a chance paid off. He wrapped his arm around Edge's shoulders. How was Lita gonna react to this? Oh he couldn't wait.