Chapter 7: Jared
Once again she'd fallen asleep in my arms. Which to me is one of the greatest feelings. The fact that she's comfortable enough in my arms to sleep in them, is an unexpected joy. "Danni" I whisper into her ear. "Shhh, sleeping." She whispered back, smiling and breathing deeply. "Dee you need to get up now." I answer her, gently nudging her to wake her from her slumber. "Cooney, what did I tell you before? If I'm asleep, leave me be." She says with her eyes still closed as she begins meticulously cracking her knuckles. "Okay. I was just gonna tell you that your friends left, the movies over, and we can lie down on the couch." I say, brushing her long wavy brown locks out of her fair-skinned face. "Okay." She utters quietly, stretch her arms out and yawning loudly. She shifts and scooches into the vacant space my body leaves, our bodies fitting like tetris blocks as she wanders back into sleep.
I watch the natural smile on her face grow as I take her hand into mine and stroke it with my thumb. I pull out my phone to check the time. Shit! Band practice starts in 5. I slowly inch myself away from Danielle and gather my things. "No stay!" She says with her eyes shut, reaching around for me. "I have to get to practice. But I love you and I'll see you later, okay?" "Okay?" She says sitting up and pouting. I kiss her forehead and trudge upstairs and into the kitchen to find my keys, then head to the driveway and hop into my car, speeding down the road to beat time.
"Well, well, well. Our fearless leader is finally here. Everyone stop what you're doing. Cooney's here guys." Sean says, setting down his guitar and walking over, his arms crossed over his chest. "I'm sorry guys, I really am. But I had to go to Dee's house and we got a little carried away." I say shrugging. Cat calls start from the back of the room. "My my Jay-rod, you just can't control yourself can you." Gina says, putting her drumsticks down and and flopping onto the couch set up in Sean's basement where we practice. The garage is pretty gross. We've got the amps and extra strings and mic stands and shit in one corner, a broken lamp in the other, the couch in the center and mold in the other two corners. Its a bit depressing, but it is what it is. "Gina you know its not like that." I say sternly, glaring at her. "Whatever." She says getting up from her seat. "Can we just get started?" She asks, getting up and sitting at her drums, cracking her knuckles before placing sticks into her hands. Sean gets up as well and starts reading from a notebook. "I was thinking that we could start with Irene and go into Mary Mary. I mean its a good transition to Anne-" "Why are our songs all girls names?" Gina says, looking up and twirling her drumsticks nonchalantly. "Well it works for us, I don't know, its just what we're good at I guess." Sean says scratching his head and continuing his speech. "Sounds good." I say, cutting him off. "Lets just start playing okay?" "Alright." They both say in unison, beginning the opening chords to Irene. "She lies awake in her bed, a throbbing in her head. Downed those last couple drinks, breathing heavy, crying into the sink. But, whatever, as long as she stays together..." I begin to sing into the mic, falling into the rhythm and blasting the volume and blocking everything else out.
We finish practice around 4 and go our separate ways. I heavy my guitar into the back seat and step into the car, exhausted. I decide to just stay put for a minute, reaching into my pocket for my cell. I call Danielle. It rings, and rings and rings. No answer. "Hey its Danielle, I guess I'm out, oooorrr just choosing to ignore you. Either way, leave a message after the beep and I may or may not get back to you. Its really my choice. Bye!" She's probably still sleeping. I think to myself, remembering how sleepy she had been earlier that day. "Hey it's Jared, just thought I'd give you an update on our songs and stuff. We've got a gig coming up soon. Call or text me when you get this. Love you, bye." I say into the phone, playing with my keys and trying to ignore the fact that I'm desperate to keep this relationship going. She's all I have and without her... well I don't wanna remember what life was like without her.
"Hey Mom I'm home." I say, placing my keys in the bowl and putting my coat on the hook. "Oh hi Jared, I'm just putting the finishing touches on dinner." She says, walking out from the kitchen and wiping her hands on a dish towel. "You cooked?" I ask, my eyebrows raising. "Yes Jared I cooked. Why is that so hard to believe?" She asks, her head cocked to the side. "Well Dad usually cooks, you can't cook. In fact you refuse to cook because you think its against your feminist ways." I say, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a water bottle from the fridge, taking a large gulp as I await her response. "Well you're Dad is in a meeting and he didn't have time to cook the chili, so here we are." She says, putting her arms up. "Okay Mom I believe you. I was just trying to be funny." "Well, unlucky for you, you've got your fathers sense of humor, she says nudging my arm as I make my way out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
I open the door to my room and flop onto my bed. Home sweet home. I hit play on my iHome remote and press the shuffle button. My phone buzzes on my side table. "Hey D" "Hey Cooney. Just got your message. Tell me all about the gig." "Well it's really exciting actually. We're playing the Winter Formal at WHS. Pays fifty each which is damn good." "That's really awesome babe. Can I be your adorable yet unattainable girlfriend slash roadie." "I wouldn't have it any other way. Dinner's on the table so I gotta go, even though mom did the cooking." "Your mom?!" She chokes out. "Yeah! I was just as surprised as you. I better at least try it though. Text you later, kay?" "Perfecto. Love you." "Love you too, bye." "Bye." I hang up and turn my music off, cracking my knuckles before heading out of my room. I walk into the kitchen and serve myself a bowl of chilli. Suddenly the doorbell rings. Mom grabs it.
"Hello Mrs. Cooney may I come in?" That voice. No, it couldn't be could it? "Why of course Brian, you know you're welcome here any time right?" "Thank you." "Honey, its your friend Brian Bierl." Too bad he isn't my friend...
Dun dun dun! He's back! I've been hella busy lately and have had no time to update. But thanks to HopelesslyFictional and Nightrose20 for your continuous reviews and support as well as a new favorite from Rojjy. It means so much that you guys continue to support this story. Have a great day to all of those who are reading this and please let me know what you think for this update. Good, bad, better, worse, whatever you think :)
Squeegee G