Chapter Two
Ray still couldn't believe that A.J. was actually up there, that he was seeing her again after so long. He contemplated trying to find her after the show, but scoffed at how impossible that would be seeing as she probably had security and everything now. He shook his head and went to get another beer, deciding that the bar was a better place to watch her from he stayed rooted in his spot leaning against the counter hoping she'd sing another song.
A.J. got settled behind her keyboard again and talked to the audience for a minute or two. "Hey, everybody how's it going tonight? Ladies, have you heard any good pick up lines?" she joked, laughing. "Okay, this is going to be the last song of my set and it's the first song I ever wrote," A.J. says, "I wrote this about a musician when I was 16 and I saw him perform and I wished I could be the girl he wrote songs about. So, Ray Barnett wherever you are tonight this is for you." Ray lifted his head up in shock when she said his name and listened intently as the notes flowed freely from the keyboard and her voice effortlessly filled the musky, small club with sweetness as she sang.
You look at meCurious of what I'm made of
Sugar or steam
And what kind of man I love
What I believe
What I know and what I crave
All my pet peeves
Where I've shed and what I stain
Do you know
Cause I'm not here to be around
And be that girl that you forget about
Cause I all I want is just to be a song
That you can feel longer than just right now
So come on baby let me be the girl
That you can count on to rock your world
And then you'll see there's so much more than curves
And then you'll see that you and me belong
Do you know my vice
And how to get under my skin
Just what I like
And where I want you to begin
Do you know my middle name
And where I'm sensitive the most
That each night I pray
And you think that I fit the mold
Do you know
Cause I'm not here to be around
And be that girl that you forget about
Cause all I want is just to be a song
That you can feel longer than just right now
So come on baby let me be the girl
That you can count on to rock your world
And then you'll see there's so much more than curves
And then you'll see that you and me belong
You and me belong
You and me belong
Cause I'm not here to be around
And be that girl that you forget about
Cause all I want is just to be a song
That you can feel longer than just right now
So come on baby let me be the girl
That you can count on to rock your world
And then you'll see there's so much more than curves
And then you'll see that you and me belong
You and me belong
You and me belong
Ray was shocked that A.J. had written a song about him and was surprised that she had written it before they got together. He wondered what made her say those words though, those words that kept replaying in her head, "So wherever you are Ray Barnett this is for you." Before he had time to contemplate that any further Brett ran up to him asking, "Dude, you know her?" "Yeah, I know A.J. We um, we used to date back in Philly." Ray explained. "You've got to go backstage, man and talk to her! How could you let a piece of ass like that get away?" "I went to med school and she stayed behind in Philly, that's how I let a piece of ass like that get away. And don't call her that!" Ray shouted, punching Brett in the shoulder. "All right, all right, I won't caller that; chill, man!" "Sorry, it's just all the memories are comin' back, you know? It's weird seeing A.J. again, but it's also like I never left." "Yeah, I know what you mean, but try and talk to her anyway." Ray nodded and went toward the back of the club while Brett left, and wondered just what he'd say to her anyway since they hadn't seen each other in like four or five years.
A.J. came off the stage, enjoying the applause and sat down next to Chris who was on the couch that the manager of the club had provided them with. "Hey, Parker, awesome job. I'll see you after the show." "Thanks, Chris. Good luck up there." Chris just shot her one of his arrogant smirks, saying confidently, "Like I need luck." A.J. just laughed and leaned back against the couch as she slowly came down from her high on stage, but she wasn't prepared for what happened next. "Hi, um I'm an old friend of A.J. Parker's and if you don't mind I'd like to talk to her." Ray said to the security guard. "All right, let me see if she's accepting visitors." The guard stated, going backstage. "A.J., there's a guy out there sayin he's an old friend of yours. Should I let him in?" "Yeah, why not," she replies, "And don't worry Bryan I'll tell you if he's a psycho Alfred Hitchcock type of guy; I promise." The security guard shook his head, telling Ray, "You can go ahead backstage but I'm watching you." Ray nodded and took a deep breath before he walked over to the couch where she was sitting and saying, "Hey, Cinnamon girl."
A.J. felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck and shivers run up and down her spine; there was only one person who called her that: Ray. But he couldn't be here, could he? Taking a deep breath the suddenly nervous auburn haired girl turned around to see Ray staring back at her with his hands shoved into his jeans pockets and a sheepish smile gracing his now rugged features that were no longer baby faced like they had been in high school when they were sixteen. "Hi." Was all her meek voice could manage, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through her veins. A.J. took the silence as an opportunity to study what he looked like now that they were older. He was still tall, his hair was spiky and a darker brown than it was in high school, his hazel eyes had gotten darker and more piercing, he now had facial hair, a goatee to be exact, he was still as lean and muscled as he was back then but now he had a tattoo on the inside of his right arm and wore black nail polish on his fingernails. "You've changed." Was the next thing she said. "So have you." He replied. "What are you doing here?" A.J. asked, wanting to run into his arms like she did when they were young. Shaking her head, trying to suppress that thought she asked again, "What are you doing here, Ray?" "I live in Chicago now. I'm a doctor in the ER at a local hospital."
"Good for you. You've done well for yourself I see." "So have you." A.J. looked up at the clock in the small backstage area and saw that it was almost midnight. Chris would be finished with his set in a couple minutes, so she cut her conversation with Ray short, saying, "Opening acts never stay after the co-headliner has performed. I've gotta go back to the hotel." She grabbed her purse, put on her jacket and then grabbed her guitar case before turning around to say, "It was nice seeing you again, Ray. Good luck with your medical career. Maybe we'll see each other again someday." With that fleeting comment, A.J. left the Empty Bottle for her hotel room at the Four Seasons Chicago, while Ray just stood there staring at the spot she had been occupying only seconds ago. He left the club shortly after she did, going home to his empty apartment, realizing that Neela hadn't finished her shift yet and sank down on the couch, thinking about the girl he let get away from him. Ray got up from the couch and went into his room, finding the beaded bracelet A.J. had made for him when they were going together and put it around his wrist before he fell asleep, dreaming about simpler times when they were teenagers.
A.J. flung herself on her large bed in her hotel room and buried her face into her pillow as she cried hysterically, thinking about Ray. After crying for a good twenty minutes she opened her black suitcase and found her 'Ray box' a box that held everything he had ever given her and pictures of them, corny stuff like that. She shuffled through the box and found the small diamond drop necklace he had given her the night he got on the train and left her life forever, as she studied the diamond she felt the memory wash over her and she curled up in a ball on the floor; crying hysterically again as she whispered, "God, why did I have to fall in love again. I hope Chris will be finishing up soon. I need him here." Eventually she fell asleep and Chris, having come back from the show walked into A.J.'s room and found her on the floor curled in a ball, which was breaking his heart. He picked up the petite girl and laid her down on the bed, pulling the covers over her as he said, "It's gonna be okay, Parker. Sleep tight, Pooh Bear. I love you." A.J. felt Chris' arms wrap around her as he laid down next to her and she replied softly, "I hope you're right, Keller. And I love you too, Christopher Robin. Good night." Then they fell asleep in each other's arms, while Ray fell asleep alone in his empty bed, dreaming about A.J.
