A Night in the Life Of…

Jetta

Chance Encounters

By Nick Maro

"Thanks for lettin' me practice on your drums, Raya. Been awhile since I played," Jetta told the Hispanic woman standing next to her.

"Oh you're quite welcome to come over anytime." Raya took the drum sticks from her. "I think it's a great idea to add the drums to The Misfits sound. A new look and a new sound is just what you need."

Jetta moved from behind the drum set and sat on a bench that had a few plants on it. She was at the Alonso Nursery and Greenhouse, the greenhouse owned by Raya's family. She felt a twinge of guilt at being there. When Jetta first joined The Misfits she had the greenhouse practically destroyed. Now she was here again but this time as a friend of Raya's. Raya kept an old practice set of drums the garage of her family's home. Jetta called her earlier and asked if she could come over to see how out of practice she was. "So how did I sound? I know I need practice meself," Jetta said sniffing a flower.

Raya sat on the drumming chair. "You do need some more practice. To be honest, you sounded like you're only a couple of months out of practice, but not a few years. Why did you give up the drums anyway?" Raya asked twirling her drums sticks between her fingers.

"I was goin' to college at the time. I couldn't fit me drums in me dorm room so I took up the sax. I've always been a musical person," she admitted to the drummer for The Holograms. "Actually, I sold me old drum set to get the bloody sax."

"Must have pained you to sell it, I know it would be painful for me if I ever had to." Raya accidentally dropped a drum stick in mid-spin. Jetta picked it up and started twirling it between her fingers. "I see you haven't lost your touch in doing that." She joked and grinned.

Jetta chuckled softly. "This was easy to stay in practice for. I do it all the time with a pen or pencil. It drives Roxy absolutely batty because she can't do it." Jetta handed it back to her again. She sighed and looked at the drum set. "If I do start playin' the drums again, I'm goin' to need a new set. Could I possibly bother you to help me look for one?"

"It would be no bother at all. In fact, I need a new set myself. This would be the perfect excuse to shop for one." Raya stood from the seat. "C'mon, let's go in the greenhouse. I want to show you some of the new flowers my father is growing."

Once again a twinge of guilt hit Jetta as she stood up. "Okay, but I still feel bad for havin' it trashed," Jetta said regretfully. She followed her fellow drummer into the humid air of the greenhouse. The air was thick with moisture and smelled of varying flower scents.

"I told you before, you're forgiven. My family believes in forgiving a person who asks for forgiveness. So stop feeling so guilty. Smell this one," Raya held up a red and purple flower.

Jetta sniffed deeply. "Cor. That's lovely!" she said quietly. "And thank you, Raya, for everythin'."

"Carmen! Dinner!" Raya's mother called from the house.

Raya looked at Jetta. "Staying for dinner?"

"Yeah, Roxy is picking me up and I have the time. I haven't had a home cooked meal in awhile." Jetta felt her stomach rumble at the thought of food. Raya clipped one of the red and purple flowers and handed it to Jetta. "Thanks." She put it through a pocket button hole on her jean jacket and followed Raya inside.

"Great. You had homemade Mexican food for dinner. Better crack a window," Roxy teased while she backed out of the driveway, honked her horn and waved to Raya and her family. "Anyway, how'd it go?"

Jetta mindlessly played with a lock of her hair. "It went well. Obviously her family has forgiven me. David was right that I needed closure with her family." She leaned her seat back a bit. "So are we on for tonight after the meetin'?"

Roxy flashed a huge grin. "Oh you know it, babe! Just where are we going to?" she asked confused and curious.

"It's a small surprise. No big deal, just a new club a friend told me about." Jetta aimed an air vent at her face. The cool air from the air conditioning felt heavenly on her.

"Great. I've had the urge to go drinking though, but I guess I can do that there," she turned and looked at Jetta. "But once we get home, I challenge you to a drinking contest. This way, Hitomi can't take pictures of us nude and me groping your breasts while I sleep."

Jetta laughed softly and looked at Roxy. "I didn't mind you gropin' me too much," she teased her, who swerved a bit. "I'm kiddin'! Gods, luv, you should know me better'n that."

Roxy smirked and let out a short laugh. "It wasn't that, there was a chunk of tire rubber in the road. Besides, I always figured you enjoyed me groping you. Thought it was one of the reasons why you invited me to live with you," she teased back.

"Ha! I'm busted now. You figured out me whole master plan," Jetta said very sarcastically.

Roxy laughed as she pulled into the Misfits Music parking garage. She flashed a parking pass and drove up to her personal space. She noted that Pizzazz and David had already arrived. Roxy and Jetta climbed out of the car and walked across the newly erected skywalk to the Misfits Music building. They entered the elevator and headed up to David's office. Roxy opened the door without knocking. "Okay, so what's this meeting about? I have plans, dammit!" she said in mock annoyance. David chuckled while Pizzazz rolled her eyes.

"So, that's our idea. Jetta switches from the sax to the drums," Stormer explained to David and the rest of the Misfits. "What does everyone else think?"

Pizzazz spoke up first. "It's a great idea. Rebirth is all about change and new starts. That's exactly what we need, a new sound to represent a new start. My vote is yes."

David looked at his half-sister. "Then that means you'll have to write new music, Stormer. You do write most of the songs after all," he explained to her in his soft-spoken way.

"Already taken care of. I wrote two sets of music just in case." Stormer showed David some sample pages.

"They look good on paper, but I still don't know. Why spoil a good thing?" David began to protest.

Jetta cleared her throat so that she could speak. "I went to see Raya today and to see how out of practice I am. I need work but I'm still in practice. David, I really want to do this."

"Oh I dunno," he said rubbing his temples. "Why ruin a good thing?"

Pizzazz sat on the edge of her brother's desk. "I still say Rebirth should symbolize a new sound for The Misfits. We should have a new sound for our new look. Jetta dropping the sax and playing the drums is what we need at this point."

"I don't know. Clash, you're the sound expert here. What do you think?" David said rubbing his eyes. Jetta noted that he looked very exhausted.

"We should lay down a few test tracks first and see if it sounds good. I can't judge it on theory. Sorry," Clash said shrugging and began shutting down her computer. Once it was shut down, Techrat took it and put its carrying case.

"Roxy, what do you think?" David asked the woman leaning against the wall. After a few seconds of her not answering, he asked again. She still didn't answer. "Roxy, are you listening?" he said impatiently. Jetta began poking her in the ribs. She finally opened her eyes and looked at him. Her face turned a little pink. He cleared his throat and asked a final time. "I said, what do you think about Jetta taking up the drums and dropping the sax."

"Sorry, I was daydreaming before. Adding drums to our sound might be an improvement. We should test to see if we like it before we commit ourselves," Roxy said overcoming her embarrassment.

"Well, let's meet tomorrow and test it out. If anyone else has an idea they'd like to try, let me know tomorrow," David told his friends. "Now go out and have some fun. Let's say we'll meet at Flash Studios around noon. Bye all."

Jetta waited for Roxy while she talked to David. He handed them each an envelope. Jetta and Roxy each thanked him and walked to the elevator. After pressing the wrong button and going to the lobby, Roxy led Jetta across the skywalk to her car where they headed home to change.

Sitting on the edge her bed and looking at the old photo, Jetta felt a flood of emotions come rushing towards her inside. The woman she stood next to was a few inches shorter than her with short blonde hair and wore a slightly faded jean jacket. Jetta wiped the tear from her eye. "oh, stevie. I miss you so much," she said quiet enough that Roxy wouldn't hear her in the next room. She put the photo away.

"You ready yet?" came Roxy's voice from the other side of the door.

Jetta picked up leather coat and opened the door. "Yes, Miss Impatient," Jetta teased the woman who she now saw as her best friend. After a few seconds of last minute checks and forgetfulness on Roxy's part they were on their way to the club. Roxy was a usual bundle of nerves tonight. She needed this night more than she knew. They talked on the way to club, Jetta explained when and where she played the drums. Roxy pulled into a pay parking lot and they walked to the club.

After a small wait Jetta and Roxy found themselves inside the club, Camelot. Raya was right she loved it. She looked around at the layout and design of the club. It was designed to look like a thirteenth century castle. The walls were prefabricated fake stone, empty suits of armor stood along the walls, tapestries were hung from floor to ceiling, while replicas of medieval weapons were mounted between the tapestries and armor. They walked to the bar and Jetta ordered two beers. She paid for them since Roxy paid the cover for the club for her. "Let's find a table!" She heard Roxy yell over the pulsating music. She nodded and followed Roxy to an out of the way, quiet table. "This is actually a nice place. We should try and get David to book us here," Roxy said after taking a sip of her beer.

Jetta smiled and leaned back in her chair. "Believe it or not, Raya told me about this place. She and Aja came here a few days after it opened. I gotta admit, she has good tastes."

Roxy took a gulp from her beer. "I'm going to dance. Need to unwind." She held out her hand for Jetta while swaying her hips. "Join me?"

Jetta didn't feel up to dancing just yet. "Nah, I want to relax here for a bit. Go enjoy yourself. Break a few hearts." Jetta smirked at her. Roxy shrugged her shoulders and danced her way to the dance floor. Jetta was happy Roxy was going to unwind. She needed it. Jetta finished off her beer and caught a waitress to order another. A she was about to order when she saw someone out of the corner of her eye. "Sorry, luv, I changed me mind," she told the waitress, who just smiled politely and walked away. Jetta made her way to where she saw a familiar figure. It had vanished. Desperately, Jetta looked all around, until she finally spotted the person sitting at a booth. Slowly and nervously she walked up to the table.

When she reached the booth, the person looked up at her and started to speak. "May I ha-. oh shit."

"stevie? is that you that really you?" Jetta asked very quietly as she felt tears beginning to form. The woman sitting in the booth looked a little like her friend but this woman had shoulder length red hair, blue eyes, not brown and a smaller nose. There was one thing that gave Stevie away to her, it was her body language. The way this woman sat was exactly the way Stevie sat.

"oh my god! eddie's found me," Stevie said with panic in her voice and began to get up.

Jetta lightly pushed her back down into the booth, she was thankful Stevie was alone. "stevie, it's me sheila," Jetta whispered sitting next to her.

Stevie looked at her suspiciously. It's gotta be a trick! Sheila's dead! She thought to herself. "Prove it," was all she said. Leaning her head forward Jetta took out the contact in her right eye. She looked at Stevie and her eye was now the unique jade green she knew. After Jetta put the contact back in, Stevie practically flew out of the booth and hugged Jetta tightly. "I heard you were killed a few months ago. That Eddie killed you!" she whispered sharply. "I'm such a bloody fuckin' idiot," she said sadly.

"It's okay, I am too. I believed Eddie when he said he killed you." Jetta consoled her old friend. She pushed her away a little and looked at her a long minute. "God, it's great to see you! Let's get outta here and talk someplace more private." She stood up and helped Stevie out of the booth. She told Jetta to wait and wrote a note for the friends she was with. Jetta then remembered Roxy. Let her have her night out, she'll understand if I write a note. "Bugger, almost forgot to write a note meself." Jetta led Stevie to the table she was at. Thankfully it wasn't taken but Roxy wasn't there. She quickly scribbled a note and went out the front with her old friend.

"So you're with someone too?" Stevie asked Jetta as they walked out of the club.

"No, I came with me roommate. It was a girl's night out of sorts," Jetta said taking her old friend's arm in hers. "So where can we go that's private to talk?"

Stevie slipped her arm around Jetta's waist. "Can't go to me hotel, stayin' with some friends," she told her.

Jetta thought as she walked. "Can't go back to me apartment, Roxy will show up sooner or later." She sighed trying to think. They walked about a block in silence, both thinking when Jetta stopped. "Oooh, I'm so bloody stupid. There's a rooftop terrace at Misfits Music. There won't be anybody there. It's the perfect spot." Stevie looked at her clearly confused. "I'll explain everything once we get there." Jetta hailed a taxi and was driven to the tall silver building.

Jetta had just finished telling the story what happened since Stevie had last seen her. She took drink from her bottle of fruit juice, put her feet up on the stone table before her and relaxed. Stevie rested her head on her shoulder. They stared at what stars they could see. "So, what about you Stevie? What happened to you after I saw you last?" Jetta finally asked.

"I took off to Germany after we escaped from Eddie. I laid low for a longtime," she started explaining. "I heard rumors that Eddie was gainin' more power. Then again he always was a braggart. So I stayed in hidin' with some friends and got into computers. It's paid off pretty well. I'm one of the top programmers around. In fact, that's why I'm here, big computer expo goin' on at some damn convention hall.

"But a few months ago I got a call from an Interpol friend to come and identify a body. I swear to God it was you, Sheila. The face was smashed up, someone removed the teeth and the body had no fingerprints. But the tattoo was right where yours is. I was certain it was you. I cried for days. Thankfully Katja was there for me. She's me new love. You'd love her. She's almost as clever as you." Stevie wrapped up her story that explained most events. "So do you know what Eddie is doin' now? Last I heard he was expandin' into Scotland."

"He's dead. Eddie's dead. The Azure Blades are no more."

Stevie sat up with a look of stunned confusion on her face. "Dead, how'd you know?"

Jetta sat up straighter and cleared her throat. This was the event that had been tough on her and something she left out. "I know because I killed the fucker. Shot him seven times. He had just shot one of me good friends and was about to shoot another in the back of the head. I just reacted. I don't know if it was right, I don't know it was wrong. Just that it felt like I served justice," she said with tears from the painful memories running down her cheeks. After a few heartbeats she looked up at Stevie. "Why is it that I kept hearin' you were killed by Eddie?"

"Easy to explain," Stevie told her with a smirk. "I faked me own death. I heard Eddie took the credit and just let it stay that way. He believed I was dead that's all that mattered. At this point I thought you were dead anyway."

"That's a mystery solved. Okay, another stupid question, how come you never heard of me bein' in The Misfits?"

Stevie let out a short laugh. "I don't follow the music scene anymore. Most of the time I'm in my room workin' on a new program or buildin' a new computer." She fell silent and enjoyed being next to her long lost friend. "So I guess you told the police about the drugs, huh?"

"Yeah, I have a few good friends in the Yard to go with no criminal history. I was given me original criminal record and a note sayin' that me computer records are erased. It was a thank you for doin' that and all of the trouble me friends and I were put through."

"That's actually a relief. I never felt comfortable with the idea of sellin' the coke. But I do feel good knowin' that Eddie never got to sell it himself." Stevie fell silent again. "I'm glad you killed the bastard. I hated him," she said quietly to herself.

Jetta sighed deeply and kissed the top of Stevie's head. "I hated him too, but I only acted out of the defense of a friend. I'd never kill someone to just kill them," she told Stevie honestly.

"You're a good person, Sheila, one of the many reasons why I befriended you. I still love you like a sister. Nothing can change that," Stevie said reassuring Jetta.

Jetta checked her watch. It was later than she thought. "Just remembered I have a meetin' at noon. Seein' if me playin' the drums is a good thing or not. I really don't want to go." She gave Stevie a long hug.

"Yeah, Katja will worry that I ran away with you," she joked. "Besides, I heard thunder. Sounds like a storm comin' this way."

Stevie and Jetta gathered up their trash and threw it out. She shared a cab with Stevie to her hotel. She got out with her long lost friend and told the cabbie to wait for her. "I've really missed you, Stevie. We've got to get together again," Jetta said in the elevator.

"We sure do. Tell me do have anyone special in your life?"

Jetta blushed slightly before answering. "Yeah, but she doesn't know it. She isn't like that. So I'm not goin' to ruin anythin' with her by tellin' her," Jetta admitted as Stevie nodded that she understood. The elevator doors opened to Stevie's floor. They walked to the room Stevie and Katja were staying in. "Now, you know where to write and call, don't you?"

"Yep, I have all of your addresses and phone numbers in me pocket. And you have mine?" Jetta nodded. Stevie smiled and hugged her. "Oh, Sheila, I'll miss you, luv. I hope we can get together again soon."

"Me too, I'll miss you also. See you soon, luv." She kissed Stevie on the cheek and headed to the elevator. She went back to the waiting taxi and headed to her apartment. Fatigue hit her as soon as she shut the taxi door. She leaned her head against the cool window and watched the wet road. She thought about Stevie and smiled happily.

The taxi pulled up to her building, she paid the cabbie and told him to keep the change. The cab pulled away after she got out when she noticed that Roxy's car had a flat tire. Shaking her head, Jetta went up to her apartment. She opened the door and Roxy was standing there in her robe. "You won't believe the night I had!" she said in a mixture of excitement and annoyance.

Jetta took her jacket off and threw it on the recliner. "Wait till you hear about mine, luv," she said starting to go to her room. Roxy slipped into her own room. "Where are you goin', Yank?"

Roxy poked her head back out. "Want you to meet our new roommate," she said with a happy grin. She opened the door all the way and a little puppy ran out to greet Jetta. "His name is Karma."

"Awww, he's cute, but we can't keep him. The landlord won't allow animals. I'm sorry," she said trying not to disappoint Roxy and failing. She bent down and scratched the puppy behind his ear.

"Maybe we'll have to get a house then. Or give him to Stormer or Pizzazz," Roxy said trying to stay hopeful. Jetta figured that she'd become attached to him somehow.

Jetta thought about it for a few moments. "Stormer would be your best bet. She loves animals." She leaned against her bedroom doorframe.

Scratching the puppy under his chin she thought about what Jetta suggested. "Good idea. Well, he can stay the night in my room. Night, Jetta, I'll tell you about what happened in the morning." Roxy hugged her best friend tight.

"Same here. Night, Roxy." She hugged her in return. The puppy yipped and wagged his tail at Jetta. Maybe we could get a house. We can afford it now. I'll ask Rox in the morning, she thought while closing her bedroom door behind her.

Jetta flopped onto her bed and stared at the ceiling when Roxy opened the door a crack. "Hey, can I come in?" she asked still in her robe. Jetta nodded still staring at the ceiling. Roxy came in and the puppy jumped on the bed next to her. "He wanted to come in by you. Hope you don't mind too much." Roxy sounded almost apologetic.

"No problem at all. In fact, you can stay in here too. I kinda feel the need to have someone near by. Had a strange night and I don't think I can sleep alone," Jetta told her roommate. Roxy gave an understanding smile and put on some pajamas. She lay next to Jetta with the puppy between them. "G'night, Rox," Jetta said sleepily.

"Night Sheila," she said to her best friend. "Night Karma." The puppy was lying on its side with her arm around it. Slowly Jetta and Roxy each drifted to sleep.

CONTINUED IN

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… ROXY

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… DAVID & KIMBER

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… PIZZAZZ & STORMER

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… TECHRAT & CLASH

STORIES CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER!