Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) (37 page)

"Are you going to the bar tonight?" she asks me "Probably but I'm not drinking" "I might give it a miss, classes start back on Monday and I haven't opened a book all week" she smiles "Me neither but we don't have anything due" Just then we hear the roar of the two motorcycles as they pass the pizza shop, I watch Knox maneuver his bike as he parks. His muscles bulge beneath his t-shirt as he stops the bike kicking out the stand; Max and he stretch then walk towards us "Did you tell them we were here?" Paige asks me "No, not me".

They walk up beside us "Hey darlin what you doing here?" Knox smiles kissing me "Meeting the guys for lunch, we are going to run through the set before tonight" I nod "Cool, Paige is not coming out tonight she wants to study" I pout at her and she just rolls her eyes. Max looks at her "Hey Bro I'll get us a seat" he says walking away. Knox looks at Max then at Paige "Hey you might want to come out tonight" he winks at her. "Hey" I punch him playfully "Stop hitting on my girl" he puts one hand on the table and the other on the back of my chair leaning down he kisses me "You are going to be there right" I nod "Of course but I'm not drinking" he kisses me again then whispers "Bring Paige, babe Max does like her but he is not sure if she likes him or if it was the booze" he stands up as the guys bang on the window for him to come inside. He kisses me again walking away, "Oh I just broke guy code and brother code, so you owe me" I smile at him "I love you babe" he winks walking inside the door.

"What was that about?" Paige asks looking at me with big sad eyes; I am just about to answer when my phone rings. "Hang on" I say reaching into my pocket "Hi dad". He tells me my car is ready today and I can pick it up anytime, I am so excited I grab Paige's hand waving it around. I talk with my dad for a few minutes he tells me he will be home in two weeks, I am looking forward to seeing him it's been two months with the exception of my nan's death but I do miss him. When we hang up Paige is looking at me "What was that about?" I am smiling from ear to ear "My baby is ready to pick up, do you want to come with me?"

She nods her head finishing her soda as I stand up collecting my bag. I look through the window to see Knox watching me I blow him as kiss and wave, he smiles back at me. I am giddy about my car so I decide to mess with him by grabbing the bottom of my sweater lifting it a little, His eyes pop out and he bangs the window in warning, I just laugh and wave as Paige and I walk off. "You are going to kill that boy Bailey" she shakes her head "Na its good to keep him on his toes" I say laughing.

By three thirty I have my baby back brand new and shiny, I am so happy I hug my car. The guy in the garage laughs at me as he hands me my keys "Thanks" I say hopping in. Paige and I don't want to go home so we drive down the highway listening to my iPod, Paige points for the exit to Marion, I look at her but pull off anyway. Turning down the music she tells me to head for the beach, I find parking in a daily parking lot "Why did you want to come here?" I ask her "I like the boardwalk they have cool stores" "Ok lets go," I say climbing out of the car.

We walk along the boardwalk stopping at different little stalls; some have knick-knacks and clothes, postcards even jewelry made from seashells. Paige stops by a store that sells natural gemstones and incense, we go inside to look around for a bit. She buys a necklace for her mom then we go for Ice cream, taking our Ice creams to a bench we sit to watch the ocean. "What are you dressing up as tonight?" she asks me "I was going to go as cat woman, I have one piece body suite from a few years ago I can add a utility belt, you?" "I didn't buy a costume, I don't usually dress up" I look over at her "What? We have to hit the store on the way back," I say.

"I wonder where Knox and Max grew up, they said near the beach" I say aloud "Yeah somewhere around over there" Paige wave across to the street of houses. I take out my Phone and snap a picture of Paige and I with our Ice creams and send it to Knox.

Me: Hi look where we are!! Where was your house?

Knox: why? Don't go near there

Me: only wondering babe

Knox: Ok stay away from his house darlin please

Me: Ok only on boardwalk shopping, see you later

I guess he is still on edge about his dad and his girlfriend I suppose I don't blame him. "So what did Knox whisper to you earlier?" Paige asks as some girl sits on the edge of the bench with her back to us. "He said Max likes you, but he was not sure if it was the booze last night" Paige smiles at me "Well I guess I have a costume to buy" I hug her "Yes we do" "Hey did Knox tell you where his house was?" I shake my head no standing up, as I do the girl glances up at me. I pause looking at her, thinking her brown eyes look familiar but I never met anyone from here. Catching up to Paige we head for the costume store.

Later that evening Paige and I are in our costumes laughing at each other, I decided to wear a bed sheet over my costume and cut out eye holes, Paige fell off the bed laughing at me "Come on Paige get yours on" I say throwing a sheet at her. "At least uncle George won't know who I am at first" I say laughing. We walk across campus to the bar; I left my car at Paige's apartment for tonight. We cross the street laughing so hard I trip on my sheet, some guy dressed a skeleton helps me up "Thanks" I say laughing. We walk into the bar it is packed as usual, I see Knox looking like batman and my heart skips a beat "Holy shit they are gorgeous" Paige says "I know, I am sweating now" she giggles as we approach.

"Boo" we shout. Max and Knox both look at us the only thing you can see is our eyes we didn't even cut a mouth, Knox looks me up and down "Wow darlin nice costume, how am I supposed to kiss you?" I try a spooky voice "You must first remove my ghostly skin from the bottom" he drinks his beer looking at me "No, I am not lifting that up in here" I laugh "I am not naked Knox" I slap his arm "I don't believe you". Paige and I laugh, "Ok babe then you will not get to enjoy yourself" Max and the other guys from the band are looking at Knox "Do it bro, I dare you" Max says. Knox is looking skeptical, I start swaying from side to side, he shakes his head putting his beer on the bar "I know I am going to regret this"

He kneels down to the floor slowly lifting the sheet, I see all the guys waiting in suspense. Knox lifts and sees my stiletto boots, then he lifts the sheet higher to reveal my legs clad in tight leather He looks up at me smirking but I don't speak. He lifts the sheet while skimming his fingers on my legs to my waist seeing my utility belt, he laughs shaking his head as he lifts to reveal my chest, which is pushed up by my new bra. I see him bite his lip as he lifts the sheet off I have on my cat woman mask with my eyes all Smokey black and my lips a deep dark red a color I never wear. My hair is half up with messy curls. Lifting my hands I twirl for him "Surprise"

He is standing there with eyes as big as plates and his jaw on the floor "I told you I wasn't naked" he rubs his hand across his chest then coughs "No darlin you certainly are not naked" he pulls me into him cupping my ass "Jesus Christ darlin how am I going to sing now?" I smile at him then turn to Max. "Hey your turn" I say to him, He looks at me confused then I nod at Paige, Knox laughs and claps his shoulder "Go for it bro, I dare you".

Max looks at Paige in the eye "I don't know if you're smiling or cringing" he says. Paige steps forward to him "Lift it up and see" he kneels down to the floor with they guys watching him and starts to lift the sheet, he finds her boots with gold laces in them. He continues lifting to find bare legs, he stops for a few seconds then continues until he finds her blue shorts with white stars, he continues to her gold belt, standing up he is looking into her eyes as he lifts the sheet all the way up he reveals her wonder woman costume and a big smile, he smiles back at her "We need to talk" he takes her hand leading her away from the rest of us.

"Fuck I need to get a girl like these chicks" says Eric. Knox laughs at him "Sorry bro there is no more left" Knox says swaying me in his arms "I want to kiss you darlin you look amazing" I lean into him kissing him softly "I love you batman" he smiles at me "I love you cat woman" he kisses me again getting lipstick on his lips using my thumb I wipe it off. We are in each other arms until a grumpy voice cuts us apart "Are you going to sing or stand there all night like a fucking horny teenager?" Knox turns to his uncle "Ok I'm going" he rolls his eyes at me kissing me quickly "I have a new song for you" he winks walking away. Paige comes over with a big smile on her face as I pick up the sheets from the floor. "OMG! Bailey Max asked me to go on a date with him" she squeals grabbing me. I laugh at her "That's great Paige" we turn to see Uncle George listening to us and our laughter stops abruptly, he scowls and walks away.

We don't dare ask for anything to drink, instead we turn to watch Knox and Max play. Knox winks at me then starts singing "The Reason" by Hoobastank. I sing along with him smiling through out the song, he really knows how to tell a girl he loves her through songs. When the song is finished he mouths, "I love you" over to me, I get goose bumps all over my body and blow him a kiss. "Damn Paige I would marry that boy tomorrow" I say looking at Knox. She puts her arm around my shoulders "Yeah I can see that". I look over to her with tears in my eyes "I need a drink" we both laugh and look around for Lucy.

By the time the band takes a break Paige and I still have not had anything to drink Knox and Max join us by the bar "Hey where's the drinks?" Max asks looking at us "Your fired I need a woman who can take care of my needs" Knox jokes, putting my arms around him I squeeze. "Hey darlin you ok?" I nod up at him then glance at Paige. Max gets the drinks himself from behind the bar; Paige and I are nearly dying of thirst and down half of our drinks in one go. Knox takes my glass away from my mouth "What's going on, I haven't seen a drink in your hand all night" I smile at him "Nothing babe, hey I got my car back today" He takes a pull of his beer "Stop changing the subject Bailey" lifting up my glass I drink some more "Darlin I am not going back on stage until you tell me" he says. Jesus, his uncle hates me enough without being the cause of Knox not singing.

"The bar is busy and Lucy is on the tables, I think they just didn't see us" I tell him hoping he will buy it "Yeah sure Bailey" Knox tells Max to make Paige and I two more drinks each before they go back on stage. Knox takes my elbow leaning down to my ear "Stop lying to me Bailey, I know exactly what is going on" he says walking away from me. I sigh looking at Paige "Yeah Max asked me too why we didn't have a drink" our night was not as fun as usual, Uncle George put a downer on it right from the start now both Knox and Max are pissed off. I can hear it in the way Knox is singing. By the end of the night Paige and I are ready to get out of there, when Knox gets off stage he walks over to me "Hey beautiful" he says kissing me deeply, I pull away after a few minutes wiping the lipstick off of him "What was that for?" he hugs me tight "Because I love you and I wanted to kiss you". "OK babe thanks, Paige and I are going to leave my car is at her place"

"Ok I will walk you over to get your car" he takes my hand then nods to Max who takes hold of Paige and they walk out of the bar with us "Knox what the hell" I ask pulling him to stop, he looks at me "What?" "Babe you can't just walk out and leave the bar full I thought you guys had to clear the place out" Knox just shrugs like he doesn't care, my heart is beating so fast I have to clutch my chest and bend over to calm myself, Knox grabs me "Darlin sit down" he helps me to the ground "Knox go back and help your uncle, I do not want to be the reason you loose your job or home" oh my god my heart is beating frenetically. "Bailey I love you, if he can't accept it then I don't care. You mean more to me than a fucking job in a bar"

I put my hand up onto his leg "Knox just go back please, I will wait up for you if you want me too" I can't breath so I lower the zip on my suit.

"Are you ok?" Paige sits beside me, I smile "Yeah just a panic attack" I whisper putting my finger to my lips. "Hey I will walk Bailey back to my place and wait for you guys" Max nods smiling at her "Fine" Knox says storming off. "I got it," says Max taking off after him. "Bailey why didn't you say you got panic attacks?" Paige helps me off the ground "They only started after Summer died, I thought they were gone," I say walking to her place. She is shaking her head at me "Paige don't say anything please. I am already messed up enough with out this being added on, I swear this is the first one I've had since July"

She looks concerned "I won't say anything but why did it happen?" I shrug "Just stress or maybe this cat suit is too tight" I laugh "Not funny Bailey". We get to my car a few minutes later; we sit inside waiting "Don't you want to come in?" I open my cat suit some more "No I am fine I'll just wait here, is Max staying over with you?" she rolls her eyes "Who knows now, I think George wants those two to stay at home all of the time" we both give a small laugh "Yeah, maybe you and Max should hide the fact that you may be dating. You don't want the warning"

Knox

During the show I notice Bailey and Paige trying to get a drink but they are getting ignored and it's pissing me off. I asked her about it but she lied to my face now she is sitting on the ground clutching her chest, what the fuck is going on with her? Why do I feel she is keeping secrets from me? I am pissed off with her, George and fucking Lucy. I can't deal with this crap so I just walk away I need to calm down.

"Knox! Knox, stop" Max grabs my arm "What's going on?" I glare at him "Max are you fucking blind?" I say pulling my arm away from him. "Yeah I guess I am because I don't know what the fuck is going on" he shouts at me, I pace up and down the sidewalk "George and Lucy wouldn't serve Bailey or Paige, I was watching them getting ignored all fucking night. Then I ask her about and she lies to me just playing it off" Max is looking at me like I have lost my mind "Knox calm down, we will ask why they got ignored but freaking out on Bailey because she played it off is bullshit. Maybe she was fucking embarrassed about it and didn't want to make a big deal over it. Knox you are loosing your shit over her and that will only fuck you up"