Chapter Two #2
The door opens, but the camera flashes daze me to the spot.
It’s not like I haven’t had paparazzi follow me, but nothing like this.
I feel a hand on my arm, and I instantly warm at the touch.
Then I’m pulled from my awe-induced coma and back to reality with Colt tugging me into the Hummer.
After I slide in, a security guard shuts the door behind me.
“Wow,” I exclaim as everyone looks at me.
Colt chuckles and rests his hand on my knee, his touch sending a mixture of cold and hot shivers up my leg.
“Yeah, sorry ’bout that. Some fans found out where we’re staying, and well, it can get a little hectic,” he replies while the other people in the Hummer start to talk amongst themselves.
Everyone is dressed like rock gods—black tops and ripped jeans appear to be the clothing of choice, except for me, in my tight jeans and yellow cardigan.
What the heck was I thinking?
Colt’s hand on my knee tightens slightly as I look up at him.
I can’t help the nerves running through my system. I’m going to a rock concert with a guy I met last night and his rock band.
This goes against everything I was taught and everything I am.
Who the hell are you? And what have you done with Deliah Norman?
My father will scold me, and I am not looking forward to that moment.
“Dee, you okay?” Colt asks, looking directly into my eyes.
All I can do is swallow the lump that’s firmly lodged in my throat and nod.
He smiles brightly, making me melt just a little, and gives my knee another reassuring squeeze. “Just remember, you’re being spontaneous.”
“Yeah, you’re right. That’s me, living it up.”
The short girl slides across the seat and places her arm around my shoulders. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Little Bean. Mamma Sia will look after you.” She smirks at Colt.
“Mamma Sia?” I question.
“That’s me, Alysia, but everyone calls me Mamma Sia. Guess ’cause I’m like the mother of the group. I keep ’em in line, and I’m the head of the Slayettes.”
“Don’t forget to add that you keep Dingo in check as well, Mamma,” the guy who looks like Colt yells out, and the whole car explodes in laughter except for Dingo, who crinkles his nose and sticks up his middle finger.
Well, that’s kind of crass!
“I’m Dingo’s wife, so he’d better keep in line.”
“Right, so um… why am I called Little Bean?” I ask curiously
She smiles brightly. “Because that’s what you are.
A little bean trying to sprout, but she needs some help growing, and that’s where we come in.
We’ll be your water and your sunlight, helping you grow into a bright and colorful new you.
When we’re finished with you, you won’t be the same ever again. Isn’t that right, Colt?”
“Sure is, Mamma Sia. We’ll help you to live a little, and I intend on assisting you personally,” Colt answers.
I’m not sure what they’re going on about, but it sounds both scary and exciting. Maybe I’ll learn to fit in with these people. After all, they are making me feel welcome in their tight-knit group.
“She isn’t one of us, Mamma. I don’t even know why she’s here,” a female with long mahogany hair and covered in tattoos hisses from the other end of the Hummer.
“C’mon now, Jessi, play nice,” Mamma replies, then she tuts at her.
Colt rolls his eyes and smiles at me.
Well, dang, now I don’t feel so welcome.
Sia unwraps her arm from around me and moves to sit next to Dingo, who leans in and kisses her passionately.
I blush and turn to stare out the window as the city streets of London flash by.
Colt’s hand moves slightly up from my knee and now rests on my inner lower thigh. I gulp and turn to look at him.
“You still seem nervous,” he says softly.
I shrug. “Guess I’m a little out of my comfort zone.”
“Well, don’t worry, I’m here. And I know Mamma Sia will take care of you when I’m not. You’re safe with us, Dee, so let go. Enjoy yourself, and remember, be spontaneous,” Colt reiterates, his eyes glistening in the city lights.
I nod and settle back into the seat, taking in all the individuality and newness surrounding me.
***
After dinner at a nearby restaurant, which they had reserved entirely for privacy, we head back into the stretch Hummer. Then, with my newfound friends, we’re off to Wembley Stadium for my first-ever rock concert.
We’re ushered out as soon as we pull into an underground parking lot. Since I was the last in, I slide out first, with Colt following closely behind me. He places his hand on the small of my back in a commanding maneuver, giving me the strength to continue, and walks toward the building.
Screaming in the distance echoes around us, and I look around, trying to see where it’s coming from, but Colt walks me so fast that I’m inside and rushing down a hallway before I can see anything.
A group of people has headphones with microphones attached and swanky lanyards hanging around their necks.
They greet Colt and ask him questions, one right after the other.
Everything’s happening so fast that I can’t seem to concentrate.
Over dinner, they tried to run me through what to expect, but they underexplained how hectic this would be. We’ve just arrived, and I’m overwhelmed and way out of my element.
Needing to focus on something to distract me from this world of chaos I’ve entered, I quickly glance at one of the passes attached to the lanyard. It reads, 12GAUGE-Slayed Loaded and Live World Tour.
I look up at Colt while he answers the barrage of questions these people are throwing at him, and I’m in awe. He doesn’t appear to be affected by the onslaught. It’s like this is an everyday occurrence. But now I’m seeing it in person, I suppose for him, it is.
His hand leaves my back while he reaches out to sign something, and a wave of anxiety follows at the loss.
One of the people talking to him pulls him along, so he’s walking faster, and I’m now struggling to keep up.
The hallway is small, and there are people everywhere.
With my eyes focused on Colt, I’m caught off balance when I suddenly walk into a trash can, which halts me in my tracks.
But Colt doesn’t miss a beat, and the people keep walking.
Anxiety takes over as I try to step around the trash can, but an arm wraps around mine. When I see it’s Mamma Sia, I take a deep breath, and she starts to walk with me.
“It’s okay. I got ya, Little Bean. I know this can be overwhelming the first time, but you’ll get used to it. Colt’s life is hectic, and this is all part of it. If you’re gonna stick around, you better learn how to adapt and to walk quickly,” she tells me with a slight chuckle.
No wonder she was walking so fast at the hotel—this world waits for no one.
I keep up with her while I watch Colt in the distance being led into a room.
Sia turns, taking me with her, and we head into a different room a few doors down from his.
From what I can tell at first glance, this is a dressing room.
There’s a massive mirror with lights framing it, and plush red couches are sporadically placed around the walls.
Bottles of champagne sit on ice with a fruit and cheese platter served on an ultra-modern table.
As the small room starts to fill with females—seven, including me—Sia lets me go and makes her way over to the champagne.
“Well, slags and sluts, here’s to the final night in our hometown, then we’re off to take over the rest of the world,” Sia exclaims as the other females in the room take their champagne flutes and cheer loudly.
Language ladies!
I’m taken aback at the less-than-desirable words she used to describe us. So I stand in the corner, as far away from the alcohol as possible. Especially after last night’s vodka binge, I don’t think I could stomach more than water.
All the girls look like they belong. They pull off the rock chick vibe perfectly. Then there’s me, standing in the corner in my jeans and yellow cardigan.
For crying out loud, what possessed me to agree to this?
The girls start chatting amongst themselves. The tattooed girl from the stretch Hummer sits in front of the mirror, playing with her gorgeous hair. She’s so beautiful, I don’t know why I overlooked that before.
While eyeing her in the mirror, she spots me and deliberately rolls her eyes, turning around to face me. “You know you don’t belong here with us, don’t you, Sandra Dee?” she advises, staring at me with contempt written all over her face.
The room hushes into silence.
“Jessi, be nice,” Sia berates.
“I mean, seriously, Sia? Colt? With her? Oh, come on!” She scoffs, shaking her head like the very thought is laughable.
“Sweet might be cute for a bedtime story, but Colt doesn’t do gentle lullabies…
” She looks me up and down, the pettiness practically dripping off her.
“He craves something harder, with edge. Something that burns and lingers. And trust me…” She leans in, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
“No one spices things up like I do. He could never resist a little fire on his tongue.”
My eyes widen with her words as realization hits me.
Oh, she and Colt are a thing. But I don’t have time to say anything before Jessi continues her power play.
“Plus, what’s with this whole ‘Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee…
lousy with virginity’ act?” Jessi sing-songs mockingly, then lets out a scoff.
“Don’t worry, Dee. I’m sure you’ll find someone to deal with your virtue on tour.
” She turns back to the mirror, scowling.
Annnd I am pretty sure I’ve just been insulted.
Wait… was she quoting the movie Grease?
I should have known Colt wasn’t available. I mean, he didn’t even try to kiss me or anything else, and it all makes sense now. If she’s his bit on the side, no wonder she hates me. I kept him in my bed overnight when he was supposed to be with her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize Colt had a girlfriend,” I say sheepishly.
The whole room laughs, almost hysterically.
I jerk my head back, slightly confused.
“Oh, honey, Colt doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s not the type to commit. Never has been, never will be,” Sia answers as Jessi furrows her brows.
My eyes shift to Jessi, swallowing a lump down my throat. “Oh, but I thought Jessi—”
“Oh no, Little Bean. Jessi’s just his go-to girl. Isn’t that right, Jessi?” Sia states, her voice almost smug.
Jessi grunts, narrowing her eyes at Sia like she’s annoyed.
“He keeps coming back for more. The other girls are only ever one-nighters, so he must feel something for me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t keep coming back.
As I said, he likes it spicy, and I’m a Carolina Reaper.
All the others… well, they’re just like plain white rice to Colt.
Safe, bland, and drowning in butter to be palatable.
But no one goes back for plain, white rice when your taste buds can be on fire every night,” she explains, smirks, then chugs back the last of her champagne.
Sia clears her throat, tilting her head. “Have you got a hankering for Mexican or something, Jessi? You’re throwing a lot of food puns around?” she mocks.
Well, this just got real awkward!
The other girls laugh, my stomach tightening with anxiety, but Jessi sticks her middle finger up at them in return, while I swallow hard and wrap my arms around myself for protection from this onslaught of information and blatant insults being hurled my way.
Sia walks over and smiles. “Look, Little Bean, he obviously has a past, and yes, some of the girls in this room are a part of that, but he’s taken by you.
He doesn’t get taken very easily, but you’re definitely different from what he would typically go for,” Sia explains while she rubs my shoulder supportively.
She dips her head, then walks off to sit on a sofa.
Did she just say some of the girls in the room?
Of course!
He is a rock star, after all.
It makes sense he would be a man whore. The effect he’s having on me, he has with all women, and I certainly don’t want to be another notch in his belt.
“I… um… I might go,” I babble, but no one notices.
I bite my bottom lip as I realize how incredibly stupid I’ve been for trying to be spontaneous, and it hits me like a Mack truck.
I’m never going to fit in here. My desperation from loneliness and the thought of having nothing to return to scared me into making a silly, irrational decision.
Coming here with these people, whom I hardly even know?
Big, massive, HUGE mistake.
Logic is… to blame it on the copious amount of vodka mixed with my life derailing.
Exhaling, I walk out the door and turn down the hallway.
It was so jam-packed before, but now that it’s empty, it matches my mood.
I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe that’s it.
I wasn’t because I got so caught up in a web of exciting new possibilities, only to be left feeling overwhelmed and alone once again.
Quickly, I grab my cardigan edges and wrap my arms around myself as I rush toward the exit.
At the same time, I begin to feel emotional at the thought of not seeing Colt again.
I only met the guy last night, on the same night I broke up with the man I supposedly loved, so these feelings have taken me by surprise.
I’m obviously so upset about Joseph that I am trying to distract myself from the pain of losing him by getting involved with another man.
Berating myself, I know I need to get back to the hotel and wallow, because that’s what I am good at, and that is what should happen when you break up with someone.
You don’t go to a rock concert with strangers!
The door opens to a dark sky, and I take a deep breath of the cool winter night and exhale slowly. I see my breath as the white vapor streams from my mouth in the cold night air.
To ward off the chill, I wrap my arms tighter around myself as I walk.
I have absolutely no idea where I’m going, but I want to be away from here.
Jessi’s right…
… I’m not a part of them.
And I was a fool for believing I ever could be.