19. Battle of the Bands - Round 1
nineteen
Dexter
The line to get into Captain’s was wrapped around the corner. Even with the cover charge increase for the night, the line was longer than usual.
We watched the first two bands perform. They did well. We played very different types of music, so it was hard to judge who was better. Luckily, it wasn’t up to judges. Listeners got to pick and vote online.
At exactly 10 minutes before our set, Marlowe appeared, and we finished switching out our equipment.
Once she double-checked the mic stand and cleared the stage, the lights went dark.
Stevie, the 93.3 Thrash Radio host, walked out onto the stage with a spotlight following him.
“Give it up for our first two bands of the night!” The crowd cheered.
“Next up we have a local favorite that’s pretty popular here at Captain’s from what I understand.
” Marlowe started jumping between Bunny and me.
“Thrashers get ready for Solace!” The crowd shouted and jumped as Rich and Chris walked onto the stage.
Bunny and I both looked down at Marlowe and smiled before smiling at each other and walking onto the stage.
Everything went perfectly with our performance. It was a short set, but all the songs we played had no flaws. We played three covers and two originals. We thought it was a good balance for the first show, and if we move on, we will play more originals since we will have a longer set.
We stayed at Captains the rest of the night, taking photos on digital cameras and talking to people. I noticed Bunny disappeared for a bit but assumed he went outside for fresh air.
“Get the fuck off me, Nicki.” Bunny’s voice was coming from the front door, and my feet moved immediately. Nicki had her arms wrapped around Bunny from the back. He hated that. Running over, I forced my arms between the two, separating them and pushing Bunny behind me.
“Fucking party foul, Dexter. I was just kidding.” She rolled her eyes and leaned around me to look at Bunny. “You know where to find me when you want some.” Turning around, Nicki walked out the front door of Captain’s.
Bunny wasn’t behind me anymore when I turned around. He was walking toward the bar. “You good?” He just nodded. “She was talking about pills,” I said this as a statement, not a question. I knew he was messing around with Nicki and her shit again, and that just confirmed it.
Once Captain’s closed we Bunny and I had settled into stools at the end of the bar. We were taking Marlowe home after her shift, and it was almost time for her to leave.
“Guys, you ready?” Marlowe asked from the entrance to the back.
“Please, I’m exhausted,” Bunny muttered as he hopped off the barstool. We walked out the back door of Captain’s and to my car. “Groupie, you ride up front since we are dropping you off first.” Marlowe didn’t argue. Bunny climbed in the back and lay down.
93.3 played quietly on the radio on the short drive to Marlowe’s place. Her little black car sat off to the side of the trailer. I wanted to help her figure out what was wrong with it so she could have a reliable car. But I didn’t know shit about cars.
Another two cars sat in the main driveway to the trailer. “Dammit,” she mumbled.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking around.
She unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her keys from her bag. “Nothing. My sister’s boyfriend is here. He’s an asshole.”
A light was on in what looked like the living room, and I could see two people standing talking to each other.
Suddenly, the bigger of the two started yelling and grabbed the other by the shoulders and shook them before slapping them across the face.
“Oh my god!” Marlowe screamed and swung the car door open.
“Marlowe, wait!” I heard a door slam behind me and gravel crunching. Bunny had gotten out of the car too.
Frantically, Marlowe tried to unlock the front door. “Get your fucking hands off of her!” She screamed at the middle-aged-looking guy in her living room. Her sister stood crying when we ran into the room.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with you, Marlowe. Get out of here!” Her sister screamed, throwing herself between Marlowe and the guy. Marlowe ran to her sister’s side, spinning her so she looked directly at the woman I was becoming far too attached to.
“I know you aren’t standing here and continuing to defend him, Francesca!” Marlowe gently placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “He just fucking hit you. We are getting the fuck out of here, and you’re coming with us.” Gripping her sister’s hand, Marlowe pulled the younger girl behind her.
Francesca yanked her hand out of Marlowe’s. “Stop it.” There was no fight in her words.
The guy shoved Francesca out of the way and approached Marlowe. “You heard your sister, bitch. This has nothing to do with you.”
As soon as the guy raised his hand as if he was going to hit Marlowe, Bunny and I both shoved the guy. He fell back on the couch with a grunt.
Marlowe’s little sister gasped and tried to run over to him. “Fuck off all of you. You’re so annoying. Just get out of here.”
Marlowe just stared at her sister, dumbfounded. “This is a fucking joke, right?” She looked around the room at all of us, a questioning look painted across her face.
“Come on, Mar.” I ushered Marlowe toward her room, where I heard Dojo whining.
Marlowe wiggled around me and ran back to the living room, pulling her sister back to her so she would look her in the eye. “So this is really happening? You’re just going to let history repeat itself and end up just like her?” Marlowe raised her eyebrows at Francesca.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Francesca asked, coming at her sister with a fierce attitude she didn’t have a moment ago.
Marlowe turned away and walked back toward me. “You heard me, Francesca. I’m not going to fight with you about this anymore. It’s not worth it.”
Francesca made a face behind Marlowe’s back and flicked her off. The guy struggled to stand up from the couch, muttering something under his breath I couldn’t hear, and Bunny pinned the man to the couch by his neck.
“What the fuck are you doing to him?” I heard Francesca screech as Marlowe and I began gathering the essentials for her and Dojo to stay with Bunny and me.