First Kiss (Heavy Influence) (40 page)

             
“You fucking homo!” Mike’s voice rang out and his laughter filled the air.

             
“Shut the fuck up, Mike, why’s everything gotta be gay and homo with you?” Bobby chimed in angrily, as he came up the other side of the aisle.

              I wanted to rip Mike’s head off his shoulders for pushing me and for a million other reasons. I bent down and picked up the bottle with its cracked lid. “I’m gonna have to buy this now you asshole.”

             
“What the hell you sniffin’ fruity shampoo for anyway.” He shrugged, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, but you gotta admit that’s gay.”

             
“What the fuck is so gay about it?” Bobby growled, moving past me so fast I didn’t’ realize he was attacking Mike.

             
Bobby flew at Mike with a rage I’d never seen. His momentum carried them into the shelves of neatly lined products. Like an explosion, the bottles went flying and tipped over in a domino effect. I stood there in shock, watching Bobby wail on Mike’s face. Mike quickly regained his footing and sent Bobby tumbling to the other side of the aisle, continuing the path of destruction. Mike got one good punch to Bobby’s face.

Finally I found myself trying to break them apart.

              “Stop, stop it! Fuck, you’re gonna get us thrown in jail!” I shouted, pulling Bobby away.

             
“You little piece of shit, I’ll fucking kill you!” Mike fumed. “Don’t you ever fucking touch me again, I swear I’ll fucking kill you!”

             
“Fuck you!” Bobby bit back, his chest heaved. The side of his cheek was split open about an inch and blood trickled down his face.

             
“Dude your face is bleeding.” I pointed at Bobby. He took his shirt off and used it to cover the cut.

             
“You need to check yourself, dude.” I barked, shaking my head at Mike. He bent down picking a phone up off the ground. “Are you retarded or something?” I asked, as if he’d admit it.

             
“Me, I’m retarded?” he shouted, “He’s the one who started it.” He pointed at Bobby, his face twisted with rage.

Bobby turned and began to walk away when he saw two store employees coming toward us. Mike held out the phone that was in his hand. “Dude, this is yours. Nice screen saver.” He sniggered, staring at Aly’s bikini clad image. “Aly’s lookin’ good.”

Mike took a closer look at the screen. The picture of Aly posed in a bikini stared back at him. It was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. His out of character kindness toward Aly, his indifference toward Bobby, his shitty attitude toward the new music and me in general, along with the look on his face as he admired Aly’s picture made me snap.

             
The next thing I knew Notting was pulling me off of Mike as blood gushed out of his nose. The commotion stirred an epic mess involving the cops. The three of us sat lined up outside the drug store staring at three cop cars and a paramedic truck. Mike was getting his face looked at and my hand was swollen up like a balloon. I’d never broken anything, but I was pretty sure my hand was broken. None of us said one word to each other. I stared at Notting as he tried to work out some deal with the store manager and the cops. I prayed we all wouldn’t go to jail. Mike was moved over to the bumper of the paramedic truck and he was informed his nose was broken. He needed to go the hospital.

             
It was about a fifteen minute drive to the nearest hospital. Dump was the only one who wasn’t involved and he wore a smirk stitched across his face. I could tell he wanted to say something so badly.

             
“What, what are you looking at?” I decided to break the silence.

             
“Are you fucking kidding me?” He shook his head grinning. “You assholes really had to go and duke it up? Bobby, I didn’t think you had it in ya.” He chuckled.

             
“I guess this means the tour is over?” I was startled to hear Rachel’s voice crack. “I mean if Jake’s hand is broken, how’s he gonna play?”

“That’s just fucking great.” Mike broke in, sounding like he had a head cold.

              “You shut the hell up,” I said pointing at Mike with my good hand. “You just can’t keep your mouth shut. I don’t blame Bobby. I blame you.”

             
“I blame all of you! I can’t take one moment to go to the loo before you act like you’re in primary school? What the hell is going on?” Notting shouted. “Everyone one of you is responsible! Cut the shit! Like little fucking girls you are, little fucking girls!”

             
If it were possible to hear breathing screech to a halt, it would have been ear piercing. Not one gasp or breath could be heard. I don’t think any of us had ever seen Notting lose it this bad. A swear word coming out of his mouth was a rarity, and never in anger. We arrived at the hospital and it must have taken over 4 hours for Mike and me to get looked at, put back together and sent on our way. Mike definitely had a broken nose, and I had a broken hand. We were issued citations of some sort. I was too afraid to bring it up with Notting, so I sat there barely moving, waiting for him to bring it up. I fucked up royally and all I cared about was locking myself in my hotel room and calling Aly. We had another three hours to go. This would be the longest drive of my life.

             
No one said one word the entire rest of the way. Only the faint sounds of music and movies streaming through ear buds could be heard. The whirring of tires spinning, the sound of book and magazine pages being turned broke in softly from time to time. We finally passed into the city limits of Phoenix, AZ. I viewed the small green highway sign with population info as it flashed by in an instant. I perked up, hoping I had reception and sent Aly a text with my good hand.

-
       
SUP ALYCAT – TRIED TO TXT DURING DESERT DRIVE. NO RECEPT. GONNA CALL U SOON AS I GET TO HOTEL. IN PHX NOW. ONLY A 6 HR DRIVE FROM HERE TO HOME. UR NEVER GONNA BELIEVE WHAT HAPND.

I wanted to turn around to see what everyone else was doing. I could hear movement and the quiet voices of Sienna and Rachel. I halted my breath trying to hear what they were saying.

“I don’t know, probably not, it’s over.”
Sienna whispered.

What was she referring to? I wondered.

“This totally effing sucks. It can’t end like this.”
“Rachel said.
“But, this could be the most perfect thing though, right?”

Right what?

“
Rach, I don’t know. I don’t wanna know anymore. This whole thing is messy and I’m out.”

“Oh come on. It’s just a matter of time. The band first, you know that.”

“You’re totally delusional. You’re not seeing what I’m seeing.”
Sienna’s whispers grew louder.
“Just stop.”

“Rachel, shut the fuck up already.”
Dump’s gravely deep voice stomped.

Silence commenced. Everyone struggled to pull themselves together as our hotel came into view, as if we were pulling into the gate after a long flight, poised and ready for the ding of the fasten seatbelt sign being turned off. Thankfully I was in the front seat. I swung the door open while the van wasn’t even stopped and hugged my backpack to my chest, jumping out. I hightailed it through the hotel lobby and up to the front desk. An older lady with perfectly coifed chin length blond hair and orange lipstick smiled at me as I approached. The closer I got the more visible her finely lined faced became. The hue of her fake tan matched her lipstick and her long fake coral colored fingernails.

She looked cartoonish.

“Hello, I’m checking in, Jake Masters.”

“Hello Mr. Masters.” She smiled at me with bright white-capped teeth. “How is your day going?”

“Been better, broke my hand.” I smiled crookedly, holding up my cast.

“Oh my,” she gasped with a serious expression. “I hope it doesn’t hurt too much.”

“Nope,” I smiled. I bent in closer whispering at her, giving her a wink. “They gave me the good drugs.”

              She blushed. “Well, that’s good.” Her eyes crinkled with her smile. She glanced back down at her computer screen.

             
I took note of her nametag. “So, Suzanne, you got that room?” I was antsy. I wanted to get the hell outta there before Notting came through the door, but luck wasn’t on my side.

             
“We need to talk, young man.” Notting’s smooth voice rang out, echoing through the lobby.

             
“Oh my.” Suzanne jumped as she brought her hand to her mouth. I gave her another wink and closed both eyes. Taking a deep breath I spun around, leaning back against the counter.

             
“About?” I said calmly.

             
“Oh, let’s see,” he said and looked up at the ceiling with forced calm. “Jumping out of a moving vehicle, breaking your mates face and your hand, basically screwing up the last dates of this tour sponsored by a label I was hoping would sign you one day…”

             
“Stop, just stop,” I said firmly, holding my hand up as the others made their way into the lobby. “Can we talk about this later?”

             
I turned to face Suzanne again. “Please get me outta here?”

             
“We will talk as soon as you drop your bags into your room,” Notting said.

I didn’t want to turn around. I knew what I was about to do would send him over the edge when he found out, but I didn’t care. We didn’t have a show now and there was no reason why I had to stay around.

              Arriving at my room I pushed the room key into its slot. I pretended I didn’t hear Rachel call out my name. Opening the door I let it slam shut behind me, hoping she’d get the hint.

I took my phone out I dialed Aly’s number. It went straight to voicemail.
“Alycat, uh, call me back asap. I wanna come home and get you. We’re done with the tour early. I’ll explain later. So yeah, call me back.”

I could hear Rachel’s muffled voice calling my name through the door. Opening the door I stood there staring at her disheveled appearance. Her face was drawn and tired.

“I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you’re ok,” she said with a soft smile. “Do you need anything?”

“Rachel, I need you not to care,
” I begged with a heartfelt expression.

Notting stopped directly behind Rachel, looking at me over
her shoulder. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

Rachel watched and waited for Notting’s door to shut. She looked back at me with a rumpled forehead. “What’s going on with you?” she asked, shaking her head. “Jake, whatever’s going on, we’re friends, right?”

“Yeah, of course, but this,” I said gesturing between us. “This has to stop. I can’t have this. It’s never gonna be the same.” I had to say it, recalling what I’d heard between Sienna and her.

“But why, why does it have to be different? Why can’t we move on?” She questioned in dismay.

“Rachel, I know you and Sienna are best friends and you and Mike are gettin’ close. But ultimately it makes it weird for me and I can’t have it. I’m sorry.”

She remained still, staring at me with her mouth open, searching my face. I wasn’t going to budge and I hoped she wouldn’t start crying.

              “Look, Rachel, I’m sorry. I gotta go, Not’s gonna be here any minute,” I said looking down at the tan and black patterned carpet.

             
“Fine,” Rachel said, forcing me to look up. The softness I’d admired on her face was gone and the evil glint she was known for emerged in her eyes. She turned briskly walking away. I didn’t attempt to stop her. I was tired of feeling bad. I stepped back and let the doors weight slam itself shut.

             
I tried calling Aly again. Finally she picked up. “Hey,” I said, relieved. “What up? Did you get my message?”

             
“Hey you, yeah,” her voice trailed off. This was not the reaction I was expecting. There was silence and instantly my hands began to sweat.

             
“So?” I said in an attempt to coerce something more out of her.

             
“Who was that girl you were with last night?” Her words clubbed me over the forehead. My mind raced, wondering how she found out. I wasn’t going to try and lie to her.

“Aly, it’s not what you think it is.” I stammered.

              I closed my eyes tightly, waiting. There was silence, no crying or screaming. Not your typical girl reaction. I paced the room waiting for her to say something. I stared out the window searching for who knows what. I noticed the sun hung low and I needed to get on the road if I was going to see her tonight.

             
“Aly, please don’t do this, say something.”

             
“Do what, Jake?” she said bitterly. “I’m minding my own business, trying to feel close to you. So I get online, looking around and I see you practically sucking face with some hoe bag.” She paused and my heart raced. “Just be honest with me, please.” She pleaded softly and my heart cracked.