First Kiss (Heavy Influence) (28 page)

The silver lining in the whole incre
asingly toxic mess was Jeff Arnault, our new producer. He had an impressive roster of A-list solo artists and bands with hit singles notched in his belt. Jeff and Notting agreed with the new music, that’s all that really mattered. I couldn’t do it without the guys, but the push back and negative energy from Mike was not something that was conducive to creative flourish.

A bang at the tail end of my truck shocked me out of my daze. It was Dump and Sienna. “What’s up man, why ya sittin’ out here,” Dump asked poking his head in through the passenger door and cigarette smoke gusted in with the breeze.

“Dude, get that cancer-stick outta here,” I said rolling down the window farther, fanning my hand in front of my face.

“A
w man, sorry,” he apologized, holding his cig back behind him. I guess being a recovering addict, Dump needed to keep one vice, a two-pack a day one.

Rolling up the windows, I reluct
antly got out of my car, not wanting to deal with anyone, especially my mother after seeing her demeanor. The heat was intense enough that I started to perspire. I spotted Rachel pulling up and my stomach sank. Great, she was the last person I wanted to see. The guilt swelled inside me. I hadn’t seen nor talked to Rachel since the whole Aly encounter. I wondered what she was doing here. She certainly couldn’t have been driving by. I looked over at Sienna, who gave me a shoulder shrug.

Rachel stayed in her car at the front of the studio, waiting for someone to acknowledge her. I approached Dump and Sienna and before I could mutter a word, Sienna came clean.

“Jake, don’t look at me that way, she just wants to talk to you before the party tomorrow. I think she’s pretty much over everything.”

“Yeah, well,
” I mumbled, looking over my shoulder at Rachel’s car, surprised to see Mike bent down talking to her at the driver’s side window. “What? She hooking up with Mike now?”

“That guy? I’ll lose what little respect I have for
her if that’s the case,” Dump piped, flicking his cigarette butt in their direction. “Sorry Bro, but Mike is on my last nerve,
and
Rachel for that matter. Oops, sorry,” he said, covering his mouth. “I guess I can’t go there.” He gave Sienna a wry smile, throwing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her in for a quick peck.

“Don’t be an asshole.” She tried to untie herself from his grip.

“Aw, come on babe, you know she’s a nutcase,” Dump said, laughing.

“Don’t forge
t that this isn’t all her fault,” Sienna replied, looking in my direction.

“Ok, that’s enough. We don’t need to rehash this stinkin
’ shit,” I said walking in Rachel and Mike’s direction.

Sienna and Dump followed.

My nerves frayed with every step. I put my sunglasses on to shield my eyes, hoping it would hide my discontent. Mike looked extra scruffy. I’d become too familiar with his many faces. He was hung over.

“Sup man.” Mike nodded. I glanced down at Rachel. She m
ade no attempt to get out of her car or even look at me. “She wants to talk to you.” 

Mike took a cigarette out of its pack and lit it up. White smoked puffed up around hi
s face. He walked away, giving the silent treatment to Dump and Sienna. I wanted to reach out and knock that cig out of his mouth. What a dick, I thought. Something’s gotta give with his shitty attitude. I’d never been so on edge in my life. It was making me ill.

“Bro, not sure how long this’ll last, I can’t stand the vibe,” Dump said in a low growl. He reached out for Sienna’s hand and dragged her towards the studio doors.

The sun beat down on my black t-shirt and I began to sweat. I turned walking up to Rachel’s car. The air-conditioning was blowing her hair around her face and pieces stuck to her red lipstick. She turned looking up at me. I stood waiting for her to say something.

“You’re just gonna stand there? Aren’t you
gonna say hi?” she asked sarcastically. “Wipe the sweat from your upper lip, Jake. God, how can you not feel that?”

I was relieved to hear her candor. “What’s up, Rachel,” I asked sincerely. “Mike says you need a word.”

“Uh, yeah,” she said pausing, her face pained. “I’ve been wondering if you were still planning to play at my party, that you’re not going to bail at the last minute.” She finally looked at me.

“Yeah, of course we’re playing. I wouldn’t bail like that. I’d like to think you’d know me better than that by now.”

“Our last face to face was pretty dramatic. I’m sorry, Jake, it’s just tough.”

Rachel being sincere tugged at me, this combined with the last time I was with her, painted a more human side to her than I’d known all these years. She was always tough as nails, an ironclad fortress of no-nonsense, too confident and too cocky.

“Rachel, can we just move forward, please?” I asked, nearly pleading. “I admit it’s been weird not having you around.”

I had to be honest. Being the one dealing with the promoting and everything else was daunting. I was so used to Rachel and Sienna dealing with it all. Rachel had led the charge, now I was left giving direction to Sienna.

“Yeah right, you and your new girlfriend would just
love
having me around,” she said, melodramatic.

Her perfectly manicured hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel like she was ready to run me dow
n. “Come on Rachel, come inside,” I ordered, standing upright, “I’m sweating my balls off.”

“Jake, I really don’t have anything else to say. I just wanted to tell y
ou I’m sorry… and I miss you,” she said, staring straight out her windshield.

“Come on Rachel, co
me inside, hang out for a while,” I asked once more,
“Park your car.” I slapped the side of her car in finality.

As I walked away I thought about how she pushed Aly in the pool. I didn’t want to believe she could be so vindictive, but now I
kinda understood being pushed to the edge. My gut was telling me that Mike had some weird, secret obsession with Aly. I was never a fighter, but it made me wanna kick his ass.

             
This was our last day at La Brea Recording Studio. Anxiety gnawed at me knowing Rachel would be walking through the door and I decided to move myself into studio three and wait there.

As I grabbed my guitars
, Mike and Rachel walked through the door.

             
“Glad you decided to join us,” I said with a wry smile.

             
“Why not, I miss everyone,” she said softly, her eyes shimmered like she was holding back tears.

             
Great.

             
Mike passed us with his guitar cases, and I could smell pot and alcohol on him. Since I’d stopped smoking and drinking I was hyper aware of when others were using. I looked back at Rachel realizing the glint in her eye was instead the glazed over look from ripping the ganja.

I took the phone from my pocket to text Aly.

-
       
HEY ALYCAT – THINKING OF YOU, WISH U WHERE HERE.

I waited, hoping she’d hit me back right away, and she didn’t let me down.

-
       
HI, WISH I WAS THERE TOO. I MISS YOU. ALLYCAT, HUH? I THINK I’M LIKIN’ MY NEW NICKNAME.

-
       
YOU LIKE THAT, EH? I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE, CONSIDERING.

-
       
HA! CONSIDERING WHAT?

-
       
AH, HAHA, I’LL TELL YOU TO YOUR FACE, AMOUNGST OTHER THINGS I’D LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR FACE.

-
       
HMM? REALLY AND WHAT IS THAT?

I smiled. Was she egging me on? Or was she innocently wondering? The more candid and open she was with me, the more I fell for her. She took me to a place of feeling. I didn’t want to be numb with her. I was jacked up on the way she made me feel.

-
       
I CAN’T WAIT TO TASTE YOUR LIPS.

I hit send, and I waited, and waited. She didn’t come back right away, and it killed me that I couldn’t see her face. Then the ping came, one word.

-
       
DITTO

-
       
I’LL TEXT ON MY WAY HOME – KEY TO MY BACK DOOR IS UNDER THE RED POT. HOPE YOU’LL BE THERE

-
       
I WILL
. – She replied back.

The familiar ache ran through my body. I was electrified with what was yet to come. I threw my head back and rubbed my eyes, telling myself to focus on the music.

“That good huh?” Mike startled me with his insinuating tone.

             
I ignored him and laughed, if he only knew. I took my guitar out of its coffin and plugged in, as I tuned it he persisted.

             
“You know, man, Rachel’s smokin’. You really done with her and hangin’ with that Aly chick?”

             
A rage ignited, but I quickly caught myself, giving pause. I chuckled. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

             
“Mike, first of all it’s none of your business and second, if you think Rachel’s so fuckin’ hot, go for it. I have no ties. She’s a friend, and whatever happened between us, once, shouldn’t have. All free and clear bro, you have my best wishes.”

             
“Yeah, Rachel’s hot and all, but she’s not my type.”

             
“What is your type, Mike?” I asked sarcastically curious. “The last time I saw, you were running with some sleaze. Rachel’d be a an upgrade.”

             
Fuck him, I thought, he deserved my insults.

             
He laughed contemptuously with a malevolent grin, studying me with his blood-shot, glazed eyes. The wicked smile faded from his face.

“You think you’re a badass motherfucker don’t you?” he said, placing his guitar in the rack. The perspiration on his brow and upper lip shimmered in the light. For a moment I wondered if he was on something other than weed. I hadn’t seen a violent streak in Mike since I’d known him, but I readied myself for a fight.

              “Dude, what the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you all over my shit about Rachel and Aly?” I was over all his prying and innuendo.

             
Just then the entire tribe arrived. My mother, Dump, Sienna, Jeff and Notting rolled through the door, with Bobby leading the way. Bobby stopped dead in his tracks and everyone piled up his rear.

Mike continued with his verbal attack. “You know, one of these days everyone is gonna get sick of your one-way, my way or the highway bullshit, Jake. This music, this new shit, we sound like a bunch of pussy whipped faggots. It’s not what I signed up for.”

              Rachel came through the door just as I struck back.

             
“So fuckin’ quit then!” I shouted at Mike then looking at everyone else. “Does anyone else have a problem? I know Notting and Jeff like what they hear! You think a platinum record producer is gonna get tied up in some shit that’ll reflect on him?”

             
I could have killed him right then and there with my bare hands.

             
“Does anyone give a shit what I think?” Mike asked looking around.

             
“All right, children!” Notting shouted. “Calm down, everyone not in the band, please, leave! The chaps and I need to have a little pow-wow.”

             
“Naw, Notting, I’ve had enough of Jake and his lovesick bullshit,” he said looking around. “Come on, you think Dump’s gonna have my back? He’s just as whipped as Jake is.”

             
Mike pointed directly at Sienna.

“Wait a sec, don’t drag me and Sienna into yo
ur baby bullshit,” Dump growled.

             
“Whatever, I’m outta here,” Mike said under his breath as he stormed past everyone, grabbing his guitar and its case.

Rachel grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him. Everyone stood in silence for a long moment.

              “We don’t need him to record,” I growled. “I can do it myself.”

             
“We need him for the tour, we need him, period!” Notting roared, as he whisked away in a torrent.

             
I buried my face in my hands, grabbing my hair in frustration.

             
“All right, Jake, go shake it off,” Jeff ordered. “Dump, man your drums, we’ll do you first. We gotta get this shit started, time is eating away.”

***

              I could see Rachel and Mike through the glass doors, smoking cigs. Rachel paced back and forth. It looked like she was bitching him out as he sat on the black rot-iron bench, with his head hung low. Interesting, I thought. I tried to imagine what she was saying to him. As much as I wanted him out, Notting was right, we needed him. We’d all worked too hard.