Warlord Metal (7 page)

When no answer was forthcoming, she pulled the collar of her jacket closer to her neck in the rain and dug her hands deep into her pockets. Fortunately it was the standard misty drizzle that was popular for the Portland area and not a real downpour to soak her. She continued walking.

She'd learned a valuable lesson tonight. Never, never, ever go on a date without twice the bus fare home. At the very least, she would have had the thirty-five cents for a payphone and been able to call the bar where Warlord had been playing. As it was, they wouldn't accept the collect call she'd made from downtown and she'd had to walk. At the time it was for too early to call home and now that it was late enough, there were no payphones in sight.

Sonny was in a predominantly residential area at the moment. She knew that there would be a Safeway up ahead another mile or so - it was on the bus line she took on a regular basis. I'll call Tom from there. A flash of her brother being worried sick and angry crossed her mind. "Oh, man, is he gonna be pissed."

There were headlights ahead, coming towards her. The teenager stood straighter as she strode along, head held high. At this hour, alone and in an unfamiliar neighborhood, Sonny knew she wasn't safe. She heard Jordan's voice saying, "If ya act like you belong, they'll think you belong. Don't be looking at the sidewalk with your head down. You'll have 'victim' written all over you."

The car continued along the road towards her. When the driver got close enough to actually see her, the vehicle slowed down and honked.

Sonny's heart pounded, but she kept her head. A glance at the car told her she didn't know who it was. And the streetlight overhead was reflecting off the windshield so she couldn't make out the driver. With a nonchalance she didn't feel, the dark girl kept walking.

The car, a golden late model Buick, slowed to a halt with another short honk. When the teenager ignored it again, the driver put the vehicle in reverse and began catching up.

Sonny glanced once over her shoulder at the approaching car and gulped, eyes wide. Crap! Now what?! She looked around for a house with a porch light. There! Three houses down! She picked up her pace, hearing a power window roll down.

"Hey, sexy," a rather familiar voice called. "Need a ride?"

The girl slowed down and looked back over her shoulder in amazement, her fear easing. "Jordan...?"

"Or you could keep walkin'," the redhead shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Makes no never mind to me." The engine revved.

"No, no!" Sonny said with some haste, moving around the front of the car to the passenger side. She clambered into the seat with a great sense of relief. "I am sooo glad you're here!"

"I'll bet," the redhead responded. She waited for the door to close before putting the Buick in gear and driving away. "You okay?"

Sonny finished putting on her seatbelt. "I am now," she said with a grin. "How'd you know where to find me?"

Jordan shrugged and pulled a pack of cigarettes from her jacket. She proceeded to light one up, speaking around it as it dangled from her lips. "It was pretty self evident once I knew where you'd been and the time."

The teenager shivered as the heater began to warm her feet and legs. "And how'd you know that?"

A grin played across the woman's face. "Had a little chat with Mr. Bailey."

"Did he... Did he tell you what happened?" Sonny asked tentatively. She was glad for the darkened interior, her face feeling heat of a different sort.

The driver window rolled down a crack and Jordan took a drag from her cigarette. "Not really, no. Just that there'd been a fight and you ditched him."

"Oh."

There were several minutes of silence, the only sound being the car as it made its way down the street.

After a while, it occurred to Sonny that they were still driving away from home. Puzzled, she asked, "Where are we going?"

Jordan pondered the question. "Well, Tom's in a dither and I told him we'd call when I found you." Green eyes sparkled at the teenager. "But, I think he needs time to settle down before we get home. His knee-jerk reaction is gonna be to start yelling and screaming. A bad scene." The redhead shrugged and flicked ashes out the window. "We'll call and then give him time to cool off a bit."

"Oh." A seed of dread lodged itself inside. It wasn't hard to imagine her brother's response to the whole mess. "Good idea," Sonny agreed.

There was a chuckle from the driver's seat.

Eventually they pulled into the parking lot of the International House of Pancakes - IHOP for short. The two locked up the car and entered the building. They stopped long enough in the foyer to make the proscribed phone call. As was expected, Middlestead was at first relieved and then yelling in anger. When Sonny pulled the phone away from her ear with a wince, Jordan snagged it.

"Cool your jets!!" she bellowed, gaining not only the attention of the raging man on the phone but two waitresses, three bar hoppers having breakfast, a dishwasher and a chef who rushed out from the back, wiping his hands on his apron.

Sonny smiled weakly at the stares, a fine shade of crimson. She listened to the guitarist's side of the conversation as people settled down and returned to their own business.

"Now, look, she's fine and dandy. No more worries. I know. Yeah. NO! We're gonna siddown and have a cup of coffee or something." Pause. "Tough! We're gonna have a talk. Yes! You know, it's a girl thing." Another pause. Jordan rolled her eyes. "We're gonna have some coffee and dis the entire male population. You sure you want in on that discussion?" She smiled at the teenager beside her, drawing a circle in the air next to her ear and mouthing 'crazy.'

Sonny stifled a giggle.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. Have a beer and try to get some sleep. We'll be home in an hour or so. Alright. Bye." Jordan shook her head in feigned exasperation as she hung up the phone. "He is such a boy."

As the pair made their way to the sign that told them to wait for seating, Sonny asked, "It doesn't get much better with age, does it?"

"Not in the least."

A few minutes later found them comfortably seated in a booth, backs to the window and legs resting along the padded benches. The older woman had coffee and Sonny had opted for a hot chocolate.

"So," Jordan began, sipping at the black liquid. "Gonna tell me what happened?"

The teenager blushed and dropped her eyes, suddenly finding the spoon stirring her drink very interesting. "What exactly did Pete say?" she asked, fishing.

"Nope. Tell me or not. I ain't gonna play that game."

Sonny nodded glumly in understanding. After a few moments, she said, "Well, we went up to the park after the dance..." Her voice trailed off.

"Did he get to first base?" the woman teased.

Despite her embarrassment, the girl snickered. She grinned up from under dark bangs. "Yeah," she admitted.

Jordan's eyes were sparkling. "Second?" she prodded.

There was a flash of anger. "No. Not second."

The redhead nodded in comprehension. "He gave you shit about it and you bailed," she supplied.

Pale blue eyes flared. "You make it sound so... so blasé," she snapped. "When I say no, I mean no!"

"Whoa, whoa whoa!" Jordan said, turning to put her feet down on the floor and face the teenager. "That's not what I meant. I was simply stating a fact."

Sonny blew out a breath, feeling the residual anger and guilt at jumping to conclusions. "I know. I'm sorry." She shook her head. "I guess I'm still mad."

"Sounds like it."

There was silence at the table as the teenager was lost in thought. Finally, she spoke up again. "It was the same thing with Jay last year. Is that all they think about?"

Jordan looked into the beautiful, serious face. Boys ain't the only one, baby. "Well, that's been my experience," was the response.

"And it doesn't get any better as they get older?"

The redhead raised an eyebrow. "Lando."

Sonny scowled. "I might as well just give in and let 'em have it then," she murmured.

"No."

The strength in Jordan's voice startled the teenager. She looked into stern emerald eyes.

"Sex is one of the most powerful weapons you have, girl," Jordan insisted.

Dark brows furrowed. "What?"

"Think about it. All those males out there will run through hoops at even a hint of getting into your pants. It's a tremendous tool. A major point of control."

Sonny worked at wrapping her mind around the concept.

"You're still a virgin?" came the blunt question.

"Uh... yeah," the teenager blushed again.

Jordan nodded in contemplation. "Good. Hold onto it. Use it as the carrot to string the guys along. Don't just give it up."

Wow. She's really adamant about this, Sonny mused. She considered the implications of why. Dropping her own feet to the floor, she leaned her elbows on the table. "Did you just give it away?"

The question almost hit the redhead with a physical force. She sat abruptly back, mouth open and stared for a second. Just a second. And then her training rushed in to protect her. The mask settled into place and she raised a cool eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

The teenager was unsure of what had just transpired and she realized she may have committed a faux pas. "I... I was just curious. You seemed pretty... It seemed really important to you and all."

Jordan studied the girl for long moments. Ya blew it, Jordie, a voice giggled. Don't tell, don't tell, or you're gonna go to Hell, it chanted with a singsong quality. Another voice, the smaller one that was seldom heard, whispered, Tell her the truth.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried," Sonny apologized, dropping her gaze and pulling away.

"No!" The guitarist reached out and took the girl's hand. "I just wasn't expecting it." She swallowed and wet her lips. "I don't remember losing my virginity, squirt. Simple as that."

The teenager frowned. "Were you drunk or something?" she finally questioned.

Jordan shook her head. "Nooo..." She considered her next statement, releasing the girl's hand. "It was taken from me by my step father when I was really young." The voices in her head took up a clamor and she busied herself with her coffee cup, trying to maintain control.

Sonny blinked at the woman. A sudden wave of compassion rolled through her and she reached out to touch Jordan's hand. "I'm so s--"

"Don't even say it!" the redhead warned with a glare, pulling her had out of reach. "It happened, it's over, and I don't wanna talk about it." Yeah! Don't need anybody else to wipe while yer on the pity potty, huh, Jordie? Betcha it'd be fun - crying on her shoulder, her arms around you....

The dark girl quickly debated and chose not to be hurt by the woman's brusqueness. I'd probably feel the same way, she mused. Rather, another question came to mind. She pondered it, the thing getting bigger and stronger and she was hard pressed not to blurt it out. Oh, no. Now is not the time...

Jordan wrestled her inner demons and the feelings that rampaged through her system. Finally getting herself under control, she spared a glance at the teenager. With mild surprise, she didn't see pity or sympathy. Instead, it appeared the girl was trying to keep her thoughts under wraps. And failing miserably. The guitarist tilted her head and braced herself. "What?" she asked.

"Oh. Nothing."

"You don't lie well, Sonny," the redhead said with a growl. "Now, spit it out."

The teenager flushed a fine shade of red. There's got to be a way to stop all this blushing! "I was just... Well..." and she began to fidget and look anywhere else but at Jordan.

"Sonny..." the redhead warned, eyes flashing.

The dark girl swallowed and took the dive. "Is that why you... you know... like woman...?" The resulting laughter from across the table eased her nerves and she snuck a peek at the woman.

Jordan chortled. "Oh, no, squirt," she said, wiping at her eyes. "I've been falling for gorgeous babes since I was knee high."

Despite herself, Sonny blurted, "Really? How come?"

With a shrug, the guitarist looked with amusement at the extremely curious teenager. "I dunno. It's just always been that way. Boys were for beating up and girls were for kissing." Pause. "Among other things," she drawled. She chuckled again at Sonny's embarrassment.

"How are you ladies doing over here?" the waitress asked, a pot of coffee in one hand. "Need a refill?"

"No, thanks. We're fine, I think," Jordan said.

"Alright then. You girls have a good morning." And she left after placing the check on the table.

"So, do you think he's cooled off enough, yet?"

The redhead pursed her lips as she considered. "Yeah, maybe. Ready to hit the road?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty beat," Sonny said, stifling a yawn.

"Let's go then."

As the pair approached the Buick, Sonny asked, "Who's car is this, anyway?"

"Uh..." The redhead searched her memory. "Della? Daisy?" She snapped her fingers as her eyes lit up in remembrance. "Dolly! That's it!"

"And she is...?" The teenager climbed into the car and shut the door.

Getting in on the other side, Jordan shrugged. "Just some chick I had over when your brother came pounding on my door."

Sonny frowned. "So she let you borrow her car. Did you take her home first?"

"Naw. She's in bed," the redhead informed her as she started the vehicle. "I told her to get some sleep while I was out."

Number twenty-nine.

Sept 11, 1999

Oh, man, it's been a long night! Thank God, Jordan found me! I would have been walking until dawn before I got home!

We had a talk about guys at the restaurant. She basically told me that guys were idiots to be used. Considering her past history, I can understand her point of view. But, I don't think all guys are like that. There's my dad and Tom and Lamont, Max, Chris.... They're all decent men. I guess I'm just not lucky with boys. (Hopefully that'll change!!)

I am amazed, though. Jordan left #29 to come and find me! Tom said she argued him down and wouldn't let him go with her. Wow! Maybe she does like me. Well, that's not exactly what I meant - I know she likes me. I just didn't know how much.