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WitFit Jan/Feb 2013
90's Sex, drugs and rock-n-roll
Word Prompt: Sway
Plot Generator—Phrase Catch: Take it to the limit.
-PoM-
The clock seemed to go backward as I paced behind the register and waited for my shift to come to a close. The money in the till was already bankfaced and neatly paper clipped in stacks by denomination so that, when the time came, I would be out of there quick.
"Hey, Bella. How were the sales this morning?"
Mike, the assistant manager of the small downtown store I worked at on Capitol Hill, came out of the door to the stockroom, clipboard in hand. He was an okay guy, but as a boss he kind of sucked—he was too flirty, and in that obnoxious sort of way that irked me. I'd lost count of the times I'd made an excuse to leave when he wanted to 'hang out' after work.
"It was kind of slow but I have my deposit ready. Can you count me out?"
"There a fire? It's not like you have anything to do."
Funny, he was not.
"Actually, I have something where I need to be at . . . soon."
"You know, I could really use some help with stocking tonight, we just got another big load in. It'll mean some overtime."
The extra money would be nice, especially with school starting soon. There'd be fewer chances to grab extra hours, but I wouldn't miss Edward's session tonight for anything. Not when he'd said it was important for me to be there. My heart fluttered like a hummingbird in my chest every time I thought about that conversation.
"Normally, I would. But tonight, I just can't. Sorry. "
"Sure," he said, all flippant disbelief. "Suit yourself."
As soon as he'd counted my drawer down and I'd signed off on it I was out of the store like a shot. The city streets were already starting to fill with end-of-the-day traffic and I had to make it just south of downtown to where the Dutchman was located. I'd been passing the place since I'd been in Seattle, but it wasn't until recently that Rose had told me what it really was. From the outside it resembled a giant warehouse huddled underneath one of the freeway overpasses . . . or maybe a bar; I had never been quite sure.
It took me twenty minutes to get there, and when I finally did the only car I recognized was Edward's. The cars rushing by overhead made the sign over the door sway back and forth, and I glanced around for Rose's car to no avail. "Okay then," I said out loud. Guess she wasn't there yet.
The inside of the building was almost as confusing as the outside. Music, muted and distorted, drifted down the hallway from somewhere, but there were so many doors to choose from I couldn't be sure which one I was supposed to go through. Pausing in the doorway, I tried to decide which to choose first.
"Bella!"
I glanced around, spotted a familiar face. "Tyler. Hey, what's up? You guys on break?"
"No. Ed and Jasper are laying down some tracks right now. I was just headed out for some smoke."
"Oh, gotcha. So, this is kind of weird, huh? Not what I expected of a recording studio. All of these rooms . . ."
"Well, it's more like a practice place for bands who rent out the space. The guy who owns it has a small studio in the back. Cool guy, and he's tight with Jasper so he's helping us cut a polished demo."
"Oh, that's awesome. Before you go, can you point me in the right direction?"
He grinned, and I realized that I liked this strange, quirky guy. He just seemed . . . nice. Simple, easygoing, just plain nice. "Nah, I'll just walk you back."
"I thought you were going to go outside?"
"I can do that in a few. Besides," he grinned and produced a pen. "I've got my smokeless with me today. C'mon, I'll take you back. "
I nodded and followed him, watching the pen that was really a pipe as I did. Personally I preferred a straight up joint when I smoked—it wasn't so harsh on the lungs, but to each their own I guessed.
The further down the hallway we got the louder the music seemed. He led me through a green door and I walked in behind him, trying to keep quiet so as to not disturb. There was a guy sitting at a sound board, smaller than I imagined, watching Edward and Jasper through the glass; he barely looked our way.
It was a dark place, padded walls and low lights, and inside the booth Edward and Jasper stood facing each other and completely engulfed in the music. It was more acoustical than anything I heard them play that night at the band house, and something about the way it sounded seemed to settle in my bones. Edward, head slightly bent, was an attractive sight as he worked his part.
But, more than that, together Edward and Jasper were magic. I hadn't really noticed it that first night, not with the way I was so wrapped up in seeing Edward again, but they were compelling me to pay attention now.
I grabbed Tyler's arm, waiting until he bent his ear down to me. "Damn, that's incredible. I didn't know they played off each other so well."
"Yeah, they're really fucking good, man. Edward's taken some of the stuff I've done and made it just masterful. It rocks, right?"
Not wanting to get in the way, I grabbed a seat on a beat-up looking couch and glanced around the room where we were. Tyler settled beside me and whispered explanations on the various pieces of equipment, what their function was and what capabilities each had, and I kind of wanted to hug him for staying with me instead of heading out to toke up.
There was a notebook laying on the table next to the board, obviously well loved because the thing look like it'd been through the wringer. Tyler must have noticed where I was looking because he snickered and poked my arm.
"You know, most of that is about you."
I snapped my head toward him, "What?"
"All that, in there? That stuff, man, is from here." He bumped his fist gently on his chest. "You're his muse."
All I could do was nod.
The thought completely overwhelmed me. Now that I knew what it was, I remembered the notebook from the time Edward and I had gone out to coffee. He'd been writing in it that day, but I hadn't paid it much mind. The curled pages tempted me in the worst way—thoughts and things about me were in there, and the part of me that was all things feminine and nosey wanted to know what they said, what clues I could glean from them.
The music stopped then and I glanced up from the lyric book. Edward and Jasper stood quietly chatting while the sound guy—Eric, I reminded myself—worked on playback.
"I'm gonna head out for a minute."
"Okay," I said absently.
Eric spoke into a microphone and said he "had it down", and Edward finally looked in my direction. He smiled, so big and heart-stopping, and then sat his guitar down and headed for the door between the two sections. Jasper mirrored his actions, but with a decidedly less . . . inviting demeanor.
"Hey, gorgeous," Edward said as he pulled me into an embrace. "Glad you're here."
"That sounded great," I said, hugging him back.
"C'mon, there's people I want you to meet." He pulled me behind him to where Eric and Jasper were talking, waited for them to stop. "Hey, Jas, I don't think you have been formally introduced, but this is Bella. Bella, this is Jasper and Eric. He owns the building."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," said Eric.
Jasper just scowled, and that my presence made him act that way made me uncomfortable. I leaned in to Edward's side and tried not to show my unease on my face.
Edward grabbed my hand. "We're going duck out for a smoke."
"Where's Rose?" I asked once we were in the hallway.
"Emmett couldn't get off early and she went to pick him up. Looks like we're going to be here most of the night."
"Good thing I penciled you in then, huh?"
He laughed and opened the door for me. I'd just lit my cigarette when Rose's red mustang swung into a parking spot. Emmett jumped out immediately with a case of beer; she followed at a slower pace with a case of her own.
"The party's here!" said Emmett as he crossed the road with Rose traipsing behind him. When she got to me she muttered, "And even this wasn't going to be enough beer."
I chuckled as I took a drag on my smoke. Edward leaned over and I put it to his lips.
"Oh, how cute," said Rose, mocking.
"Hush it," I said.
"Here, let me take that," offered Edward. He and Emmett disappeared inside.
"Mind waiting for me to finish?" I asked, holding up my cigarette.
"Go ahead. When did you get here?"
"Only about a half an hour ago. Took forever to get across town," I said. "Edward and Jasper were playing something and then we came outside for a smoke."
"I'm sure Jasper is in an excellent mood considering Emmett wasn't here at the designated start time."
"Oh, is that what it is? I thought he was pissed because I was here."
"That guy is always pissed off about something. Don't worry; it's probably not about you. He's so damn serious about making this band the next big thing that he can be a prick about it. In fact, he is a prick."
"Tell me how you really feel."
"Just being honest, baby. You about done, 'cause I'm freezing my ass off."
"Yeah. C'mon, I'll show you the way."
We made our way back to the room where all of the guys were wearing their instruments and ready. Rose, ever the boss, walked in and stood right next to Eric like she was supervising the whole thing. I grabbed my seat on the couch again and watched them get situated. Both Tyler and Emmett were knocking back a beer and the familiar bottle of JD was sitting close to Edward on the floor next to his amp. Jasper, who I personally thought looked like he could use a stiff drink to loosen up, was guzzling from a can of soda.
"You guys wanna give me a warm up so I can set the levels?" Eric asked through the intercom.
Jasper nodded and turned to the rest of the band to give instructions. Em, still in his delivery uniform, hit a few riffs on his drum kit and shouted, "Fuck yeah, I'm ready to take it to the limit!" Tyler lost it, doubled over laughing, and Jasper shot him a look that settled him down eventually.
"One, two . . ."
They broke into a cover until they were warmed up enough, and then the music was new and wonderful, and I settled further into the couch and got lost in the sounds and the way each of them settled into their rhythmic element.
As a whole they were a killer foursome. Emmett was a wild man, easily the most showy; Jasper's guitar playing was topnotch, providing solos that were perfect, not too outrageous but impressive for their edge; Tyler was, perhaps, the most talented of them all— thrum that was the heartbeat; and Edward was so fucking made for this—he gave me chills and not just because I was so into him. Regardless that Jasper was in charge, Edward took front and center as if was his second nature.
His guitar was around his neck but forgotten as both of his hands grabbed the mic and he closed his eyes, growling the lyrics while nodding his head. His voice was so unique that I really and truly absorbed what the lyrics were about. Missing was a copycat of any other band out there right then and making it big. What came out of these guys was pure and true to rock and roll.
Their session went on for hours with a few breaks here and there, but only for a smoke or a drink or to discuss the next song. At one point, when we all stood outside huddled together for warmth, I let him know I'd need to cut out early because they were discussing going in to the wee hours of the morning.
"You sure?" he asked, all grabby hands on my hips.
Loving the feel of him, I leaned in and kissed his neck. "Mmm, yeah. I'm beat and I don't want to drive across town like a zombie. I can stay for a few more."
As the night had progressed I'd found myself listening to the words of the songs, wondering if it was one of Edward's or one of Tyler's, and trying to guess which lyrics, if any, were about me. That notebook had become an obsession quickly, and once or twice a turn of phrase made me close my eyes because it felt like maybe, just maybe, I knew what it was about.
"Okay. I'm glad you came tonight, though. I like having you around when I play."
"I like watching you play. You guys are special, I think. I'm excited for you."
He kissed my hair. "Big words from the resident critic."
A little later, when I was grabbing my things to go and waving at Edward through the window, Rose grabbed me for a hug goodbye. "Fucking told you, didn't I?"
Still keeping my focus on Edward I nodded. He'd let his scruff grow in a little more, making his jaw line more noticeable. As I watched him, I began to understand—this was what being a groupie felt like. If he wasn't already mine, I would have done anything to have a piece of him, to consume him right there.
-PoM-
I took a little license with the 'Dutchman' as I might with other venues in the story.
Thank you so much for reading!
Song – Why Go – Pearl Jam