Chapter Two
Flame…
“Get the fuck off me already, you skanky bitch. How many times do I have to tell you?”
“But baby. You know you want me. I can tell,” she said as she reached down and squeezed my junk.
What the fuck? I grabbed her hand before she could squeeze any harder and pushed her away. I didn’t care how many freakin’ cameras were still on, enough of this shit. I wasn’t this bitch’s play thing for the night.
She slid against the wall and ended up on her ass. I know I didn’t push her that hard. Jack would have whooped my ass if I ever even thought about hurting a woman. But there she was half sitting half lying in a drunken mess.
Of course the cameras caught everything. Just fuckin’ great. I looked around for Joe but couldn’t find him. Wrath was talking to some dude but I got his attention.
“Fuck, Flame. What the hell happened?”
“She grabbed my fuckin’ junk man. I pushed her away but not hard enough to hurt her. I wanted her off me. She’s drunk.”
“Joe’s gonna have a heart attack. Get her and bring in the back room, while I find Joe or Chaos.”
God dammit. Why did these things always happen to me? I mean c’mon. Groupies were part of the deal but I wasn’t doing them anymore. Not since Michelle. They all looked like sluts and I didn’t want anything to do with them.
Grabbing the woman, hell I didn’t even know her name, I steered her half-conscious body into the back dressing room. “Are you okay?”
“What the hell happened?”
“You’re drunk, and when I tried to make you let go, you fell.”
“You pushed me,” she screeched. “I’m gonna press charges, you bloody wanker. You can’t treat me like shit.”
“Just fuckin’ hold on. You’re the one grabbing my junk. Who gave you the right?”
She seemed to consider my words. Thank God she at least she stopped screaming. “But you wanted me. You didn’t stop me earlier.”
“Because we were on camera and I didn’t want to make a scene. I am so not into you, sorry.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with me?”
Fuck. Here come the tears. Her face crinkled up and her cheeks got red. I hated this part of the rock business. Unfortunately it went with the rest of it, and I never could stand when a women cried.
As soon as I knelt beside her I knew it was a mistake.
You know, one of those things as you’re doing it, your mind says what the hell?
But you do it anyway. Yup, I did. And sure enough, she threw herself at me wrapping her arms around my neck.
Losing my balance I ended up flat on my back with her sprawled all over me.
Just fuckin’ great. I bet you can guess what happened next.
The door opened and Joe and Chaos looked at us with a WTF expression on their faces.
I’d tilted my head back when I heard the door open, but I knew it was them before I saw their faces. This was going to go well. Not.
“What the hell is going on in here? Wrath said the girl passed out.”
Pushing her off my body, I sat up and rubbed the back of my head. “She was sorta. I got her in here and tried to talk to her.”
Chaos shook his head, probably thinking what a dumb fuck I was. I didn’t blame him either.
“Miss, are you okay?” Joe reached for her hand and helped her into a chair.
Of course Joe was going to take her side. Or at least look like it. He was the fix-it man, our manager, and maker of everything right.
Chaos helped me stand and when I looked at her I could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
She had trouble flashing in neon lights on her fuckin’ forehead.
Fuck. We didn’t need this, but then did anyone?
We were going back home in the morning. Four months was too long to be away.
We’d already decided no more long tours like this.
Besides I missed Michelle and seeing Cyn every day only made it worse.
“Are you hurt?” Joe asked the woman.
“I’m not sure. My head hurts a little and maybe my neck.”
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me. You landed on top of me, bitch. If you think you’re…”
“Flame, shut up. Just shut the hell up,” Joe yelled.
I’d never heard him yell before and it kind of freaked me out. The bitch was smiling. Of course. Chaos’ lips were pressed together in a thin line. Oh yeah he was pissed. At me or her though?
“What’s your name?”
“Janie, actually Janice Radford.”
“Okay, Janie. Do you need medical attention?”
I watched her, she looked from me to Joe and back again. I’m sure she was trying to decide how far to take this.
“I’m not sure.”
“How about this? I’ll give you three hundred dollars so you can visit your own doctor tomorrow if you need to. Will that cover it, do you think?”
“Oh brilliant. For sure, it should. Thank you.”
“Great,” Joe said as he pulled money out of his wallet. “I’ll call you a taxi, but before you go I need you to sign this agreement.”
“What is it for?”
“That you’re fine and will take no further action on this or any other matter.”
I couldn’t believe he was going to pay her off, but I guess it was better than the alternative.
“Do I have to sign it to get the money?”
“I’m afraid so.”
We all waited while she thought about it.
It was like the world stopped for a few minutes while this con artist decided if she could get more out of us.
Finally she agreed and grabbed the money and shoved it down the front of her dress.
She had so much cleavage showing I don’t know how it didn’t fall right down.
She signed her name without even reading the document. Now who was brilliant?
I must have said it out loud because it earned me an elbow in the side from Chaos.
Joe must have sent a text to Terrance, our head of security, because after a low knock he walked through the door.
“The cab is here. Want me to take her out?”
“Please,” Joe replied. “Janie, go with Terrance and he’ll make sure you get into the taxi and get home. I am sorry about tonight.”
“It’s okay, you’ve been sweetie, but he’s a bloody wanker that one is.”
Chaos choked beside me while trying not to laugh. Asshole. I’d get him back later.
After Terrance closed the door behind him and Janie, Joe turned towards me. I didn’t like the look on his face, kind of like Jack when we’d broken a rule and were about to be sent to work at the Soup Kitchen for a week.
“I swear I didn’t…”
“I don’t want to hear it. It’s going to be all over the papers and media tomorrow. Not good, and especially after our last concert. Way to go. Is this how you want England to remember Raining Chaos?”
“No. But I swear…I didn’t.”
Joe ran his hands over his bald head, like he expected there to be hair or something.
“Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter what you did or thought, it’s what they saw.
The girl lying against the wall seconds after she was draped all over you.
They’ll put two and two together and come up with three. ”
“Fuck me running.”
“Pretty much. And I’d bet if it’s all over social media here it will be back home too. You’re going to have to do your own damage control with Michelle. If you’re lucky she didn’t see the news tonight.”
Shit, things were getting better and better. Wrath and I wanted to surprise Michelle and Blue by showing up at the apartment. I never figured we’d be on the TV. One of these days I guess it would sink in we were famous, and nothing was a secret.
“What time is it?”
“About midnight,” Chaos answered.
“No I mean at home.”
“Five hours earlier so around seven p.m.,” Joe said as he looked around for something.
“What’s up?”
“I can’t find my wallet, I think your little friend stole it from me.”
“No fucking way,” Chaos said, laughing.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“That she got you too.”
“Where the hell did she put it, is what I want to know. She didn’t even have a purse.”
“Probably down her dress with the other money.”
Chaos was still snickering when Terrance came through the door.
“Hey boss I think you’re missing something?” he said as he handed Joe his missing wallet.
“Where was it?”
“The girl had it. As she bent over to get into the cab it fell on the ground. I picked it up and she ignored it. Probably glad I didn’t decide to haul her ass back in here.”
“Thanks. I really didn’t want to go through all crap of getting a new license and changing all the credit cards.”
“No problem. Do you need anything else? If not I’m going back out there to make sure there’s no more trouble tonight.”
“Go ahead, and thanks as always.”
Terrance nodded at Joe and then Chaos, he winked at me as he pulled the door closed.
Chaos snickered again and Joe looked really angry for the first time that I could remember.
“None of this is funny, Trent.” Ohhh, real names. We were all in trouble now.
“It’s not, but this shit always happens to Flame. If there is trouble he’ll find it. I sure as hell want to see him get out of this with Michelle, because I can pretty much guarantee she’s heard about it. If not on TV then Twitter or Facebook or somewhere.”
“Do you think I should call her?”
Chaos shrugged. “You’re asking the wrong guy. I didn’t exactly get shit right with Cyn. Maybe try texting first. See how the waters are?”
“Good idea.”
Joe pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and dropped onto the couch. It was a small room, only for getting dressed, makeup, and shit like that. But I didn’t want to go back out in the crowd. I’d have enough for one night.
“I’ll be glad when we get back home. Some nice homemade food would be great.”
“You’re missing Sunshine, huh?”
“Yeah, I am. Go figure. I never thought there’d be anyone else after my Marge passed. I guess I was wrong.”
“It’s a good thing, Joe. No one should be alone.”
Joe chuckled. “Married life is agreeing with you, son. You’re definitely mellowing out. Cyn is good for you.”
“I’m not mellowing,” Chaos grumbled.
“Fuck yeah you are.” Laughing, I dug my cell out of my locked case. We didn’t bring anything but our bodies on stage with us but I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave my phone sitting around. All the valuables were locked up until we were done.
As the phone came on I half expected to find a text from Michelle. I wasn’t sure I should be relieved or not when I had no messages.
“So far nothing. Either she saw it and she’s pissed off or she didn’t. She knew we had a gig tonight.”
“Maybe you got lucky,” Joe said.
Chaos laughed. “Hell no he didn’t. She saw it and she’s fuckin’ pissed off. I can just about guarantee it.”
“Want to bet?”
“If you want to give up your money?”
“Even if she saw it, she knows I care about her. I’ll bet you one hundred bucks she’s not pissed.”
“Right, and my name isn’t Trent. I’ll take your money. No problem. Joe, you heard it. He can’t back out now.”
Joe nodded and I hoped I wasn’t fucked. She knew how much I cared about her, right? I wouldn’t cheat on my girl. She had to know. A niggling voice inside my head told me I was wrong. I’d never shared my true feelings. God dammit.
“Good luck with her, I’m going to find my wife and have a drink.”
The room was quiet after Chaos left. Joe nodded off on the couch and I stared at my phone wondering what the fuck to text to Michelle.
Joe’s sleepy voice mumbled, “just text her already. She can’t hurt you from here, son.”
He had a point. At least I hope he did. She was a tough woman, been through her own shit, maybe it’s why we got along so well. There was nothing shy or reserved about her, and I still couldn’t see her teaching kindergarten. One of these days I’d have to drop by her class. Give the kids a thrill.
Hesitating, as I tried to figure out what to send, I could hear Michelle telling me to ‘suck it up buttercup and get on with it’, and she was right.
Me: Hey babe, how’s your Friday?
The waiting and wondering was making me crazy.
Did she even have the phone by her? I fuckin’ hated waiting.
Shoving the phone in my jeans, I looked around for a bottle of anything alcoholic.
It didn’t matter then, I wanted a drink.
Even my hands were getting sweaty. Fuck. When did she get to me this bad?
It seemed like I’d just met her a week ago, but it was closer to seven months. Shit. She was funny, sarcastic, sexy…oh fuck yeah totally sexy. She showed me things I’d never expected and now she had me by the short hairs. Did she even realize how addicted I was to her?
My phone buzzed as I found a bottle of scotch shoved in one of the drawers. Grabbing it I didn’t even bother to look for a glass just took a long swig.
Michelle: Hi. It’s fine. Or was until I put on the TV.
Damn she’d seen something. But what?
Me: If it was the blonde bitch don’t worry. I couldn’t get rid of her fast enough.” I didn’t have long to wait for her reply.
Michelle: It didn’t look that way to us.
Shit.
Me: Baby. Seriously. She’s gone. We’re coming home tomorrow. I can’t fuckin’ wait to see you.
Michelle: You’d better wash that skank off before you come anywhere near me.
Looks like I owed Chaos one hundred bucks. I’d be able to fix this. I knew I would. I had to get home first though.
Me: There’s nothing to wash off. Please don’t be pissed off. We’ll talk about it when I get there okay?
Michelle: Okay.
Me: I miss you baby.
Michelle: I miss you too.
I thought that was it for now but a few seconds later the phone buzzed again.
Michelle: Get home safe, so I can hurt you myself.
Now that was the Michelle I knew and loved.
Wait? WTF? Loved? When the fuck did that happen?
Maybe I’ve had enough scotch for one night.
Time to get back to the hotel and sleep this shit off.
The more I thought about it though, the more I realized it was true.
I was totally in love with her. The thought of losing her was like a kick in the balls.
Did she feel the same about me? Or was this going to be another “Ashley” deal.
Michelle didn’t seem like that at all, but she did meet me after we’d made it.
Maybe she was just a different type of groupie?
Fuck. Maybe I needed another bottle instead of sleep.