Chapter 2- Sidewinder
Saturday night was my wind down time, especially after a week of traveling and performing all I wanted to do on my Saturday night was curl up on the couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry's and watch some TV. That's exactly what I was doing when my best friend Valary called me.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Val." I heard my best friend squeak over the other end of the phone.
"Hey, what's goin' on?"
"Nothing really, the guys are back from tour and your brothers throwing a massive party at his place tonight."
"Oh, sounds fun."
"You sound exhausted Gina; did you guys have a show tonight?"
"No," I answered taking another scoop of my ice cream. "I'm home, watching a movie on TV."
I heard some rustling around in the background and then the familiar sounds of the phone switching hands.
"Gina, it's Matt."
"Hey Matty, what's kicken?"
"You're coming with us tonight, so be ready by seven thirty."
"Dude, why drag me to this party, I don't know anyone but you, Val and Johnny and that's not cool."
"The rest of the guys are dying to meet you, so be ready, you have no choice." And then the line went dead.
Typical Matt, always giving me an ultimatum, or making up my mind for me, but I always complied none the less because we all knew Matt was a softy. I stole a quick glance at the clock over the TV and noticed that it was already six fifteen. I reluctantly got off the couch and put my ice cream away and made my way upstairs to take a shower and get ready for this gala event that I would reluctantly be attending, at the hands of my brother I was sure. But before I could do that, being the girl that I am, I had to figure out what to wear so I sent a quick text to Val before hopping in the shower.
When I emerged from the shower, I took the time to straighten my violet hair and apply some black eyeliner and mascara. By the time I had gotten into my bedroom I had a new message from Val: The usual hot stuff you wear will do =]. I shook my head before replying; Thanx Matt.
I opened my closet and grabbed a pair of low rise light denim jeans that my mother insists are two sizes too small for me, and put them on. I grabbed a neon green tank top from one of my draws and then put a black fishnet top on over it that stopped just under my boobs. I slipped on a pair of black Adio sneakers and grabbed my black hobo bag from my bed and made my way downstairs to wait for my lovely friends.
I was just about to sit on the couch when I heard the front door open, and voices fill the hallway.
"Oh great, your robbing me too." I said sarcastically as Val and Matt entered the room, with someone else from the band, which I had briefly been introduced to as Zacky.
"Because I want all those hot clothes you have." Matt said, sending a wink in my direction.
"Yes of course," I said smiling. "Next time I text Val, make sure she answers."
"You're busted now Shads!" Zacky said laughing.
"Whatever, let's just go; Johnny's going to spit Frisbees' if were not there by eight."
I simply nodded, knowing the typical antics of my brother, as everyone made their way out of my house, and I locked the door behind us.
We all got into Matt's black Ford Explorer, and I wound up sitting in the back with Zacky, while Val and Matt occupied the two front seats.
"So when are you going back on the road Gina?"
"Umm, they actually gave me some time off so not for a while." I answered smiling.
"Well you seem happy about it," Val said. "How long did they give you?"
"They gave me six months and full pay for it because I faked a knee injury last Monday night."
"You faked an injury?" Zacky asked shocked. "What exactly do you do for a living?"
"I'm a professional wrestler for the WWE."
"Don't you mean the WWF?" He asked emitting a small chuckle.
"No, it's the World Wrestling Entertainment, I work for Vince McMahon."
"That's flippin' sweet though that they gave you six months and full pay!" Matt said, quickly glancing in the rear view mirror to look at me.
"Well, I'm one of the best female's they have so he had better pay me!" I said laughing.
Not soon after we had left my house, we arrived at Johnny's. The house didn't even look like he was expecting a party, or that there was a party going on there. We all hopped out of the car, and made our way to the front doors of the house, and I watched as Matt let himself in, quite similar to what he did at my house.
"Do you just walk into everybody's house?" I asked him, laughing along with Val and Zacky.
"Only people I know." He said, shaking his head in my direction.
I only laughed as I made my way into the kitchen of the house where two other guys were gathered with my brother.
"Yo, do you let Shad's walk into your house uninvited all the time?" I asked Johnny, finally making my presence in the house known.
"Hey, you came!" He exclaimed, scooping me up in a bone crushing hug.
"Ugh, John, stop crushing me."
The room erupted into laughter, as Val, Matt and Zacky joined the others at the kitchen table.
"So, how long will you be gracing us with your presence?" Johnny asked.
"Six months, they gave me time off and I'm getting paid so I make no complaints," I smiled looking around the room. "So, are you going to introduce me or what, cause my telepathy is a little off today."
"The tall bozo looking dude is Jimmy Sullivan," He said referring to the tall guy that was now occupying the space next to Zacky. "And this fellow over here is Brian Haner."
Both Jimmy and Brian gave me a small hug and then Johnny continued to talk to the room of people.
"This is my lovely older sister, Gina, who you have all be going ape shit over meeting!"
Jimmy laughed, and I had kind of gathered that he was the comical relief of the group, even though they all seemed equally as funny. I couldn't quite put a tag on Brian though, because he hadn't said much throughout the time I had been here, and I wasn't sure if he was depressed or just a shy kind of person.
By the time eight fifteen rolled around, the party was in full swing, and the house was packed full of people and roaring with loud music. I felt so out of place so I stuck with Val most of the time, while Matt was off mingling with the random people that were at the house.
"So, what's up with that Brian character?" I asked suddenly, taking a sip of my corona.
"What do you mean what's up with him?"
"I mean, he seems quiet compared to all the other guys, almost like he's super shy or something." I said shrugging.
"He's usually really outgoing, but he's just been in this slump lately, because he doesn't have anyone special in his life." She said frowning, while looking over to Brian.
My gaze followed hers as I found him sitting at the counter in the kitchen staring down the empty beer bottle that was in his hands.
"Why don't you go talk to him, I think you two would really hit it off." She said over the loud music.
"Is that why I'm here Val, so that you guys can set me up with one of Matt's band mates?"
"No, it's not why you're here, but we always did think that you and Brian would get along well, so why don't you talk to him; besides I saw you eying him up in the kitchen before."
I couldn't very well turn back now, Val had caught me staring at him when I first got here, and denying it would only make things worse for me in the long run.
"Ok fine, I'll go talk to him." Val's only response was a smile sent in my direction as I made my way into the kitchen towards Brian.
The only sound I made while taking the trip to the kitchen was the sound of my sneakers against the wood floor. I grabbed two more beers on my way towards the counter, and carefully sat down next to Brian.
"Hey."
"Oh, hey," he responded, giving me a once over. "What's up?"
"I don't know, I could ask you the same thing." I smiled, handing him one of the beers.
"Thanks," He smiled, popping the top off of his and then mine. "So how come your not with Val or Zacky?"
"No reason, you just looked kind of sad so I thought you might want another beer, maybe some company."
"Beer and some company yes," He laughed. "But sad, I'm not really sure. To be quite honest I'm not sure what I've been feeling the past few weeks."
"Well, that certainly narrows it down," I chuckled. "Anything in particular bugging ya?"
"Yep, and I think it's the fact that my best friend has someone so special and I have nothing; zip, zero, nada."
"Matt and Val I'm guessing?"
"Right on," He clanked the top of his bottle against mine and took a long sip before finally setting it down on the kitchen counter. "So what about you, someone as gorgeous as you has got to be taken."
"Sadly I am not, I travel too much and I guess I don't have time to keep up with much of anything besides work," I said, taking a swig of my beer. "I sound so much like my brother it's not even funny."
"Oh, what do you do besides be Johnny's little sister?"
"I work for the WWE, I'm one of Vince McMahon's finest," I said taking a long sip of my beer this time. "And I'm older than Johnny by two years; I lived with my mom while he lived in Huntington with dad."
"You're a wrestler I take it?" Brian added, nodding.
"Yes sir," I said smiling. "I guess it's like the same kind of passion you have for making music, I have for putting myself on the line night after night for other people's entertainment."
"So basically you enjoy hurting yourself?"
"Oh no, not that," I laughed. "I love the reaction I get when I walk down the ramp and there are Gina signs everywhere and people are cheering my name."
"I get that a lot," He said smiling. "So, are you doing a show here, or you just visiting?"
"I live in Orange now, I grew up with Val before my parents divorced, and I'm actually home for six months on paid vacation so I'm pretty happy about that."
"That's freaking awesome, paid vacation I wish I got shit like that!"
"You do, it's called album royalties." I said with a slight chuckle.
"Touché."
I only laughed as he took another sip of his beer and left the empty bottle on the counter.
"So you're home for six months now?"
"Yea, six whole months of doing nothing but relaxing."
"Well now I have an excuse to get your number."
"Why's that?" I smiled.
"So I can hang out with you while you're home."
He sat grinning at me like the cat that ate the canary and I couldn't help but smile back. He had the warmest smile, and the most inviting green eyes I had ever seen in my entire life. He looked like he could be tattooed from head to toe, but I didn't mind, ink was something I enjoyed too.
In that moment, I didn't want to be around the noise of the party, or the music and smoke; I just wanted to be someplace quiet with Brian, and talk to him some more.
"Hey, you wanna get out of here; go someplace quiet?" I asked suddenly.
"Yea, what'd you have in mind?"
"I'm not all that sure, but let's just go." I smiled.
"Sure, c'mon lets blow this popsicle stand." He chuckled.
I stood and he grabbed my hand, helping me off the stool I was previously occupying and leading me through the crowd of people in Johnny's living room. On the way out we passed Val and Matt talking to Zacky near the "bar" area.
"Hey you two what's going on?"
"We're going to head out," I said grabbing my bag from behind the 'bar.' "I'll call you in the morning."
"Wait, where are you two going, you don't have a car Gina." Matt said suddenly.
"It's cool Shads," Brian said. "I got mine, so I'll take her home, and walk her to the door and all that good stuff." Brian smiled down at me, and tightened his grip on my hand.
"Are you sure Gina?" Val asked.
"Yes I'm sure, and if he's a real gentleman I may even invite him inside." I said winking up at Brian.
Val gave me a hug goodbye, and whispered in my ear before I had a chance to pull away.
"I was right." She stated.
"I'll call you in the morning," I laughed waving goodbye. "Tell my brother thanks for the booze and I'll call him tomorrow."
Brian and I weaved our way through the sea of people and soon made it outside to his car. As he opened the door for me, I saw a glimmer of happiness in his eyes, and even if I didn't realize it, my life was changing significantly right before my eyes.
