25. Battle of the Bands - Round 2
twenty-five
Marlowe
All the bands had come by earlier to set up their equipment, and the shows would start an hour after we opened. When I let the guys in, they filed through the door, greeting Naomi and me, then walked over to the backstage area of the bar.
I returned to the bar and started messing with the clean glasses. Reorganizing them, even though they were in perfect order.
Naomi stood beside me with her arms crossed on her chest. Her pitch-black hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail. Her sharp eyebrows and black lipstick made her look fierce as ever. “Why the fuck does Bunny have a black eye?”
My anxious movements stopped, and I looked over at my best friend.
I hoped she could read the worry painted across my face.
By the way her features dropped, I could tell she could.
She pulled me into a hug, and I relaxed into her.
“He left randomly last night, came home late, and woke up with it. It’s just gotten worse through the day.
Every time Dex or I ask him about it, he brushes it off. Keeps snapping at both of us about it.”
Fighting back tears, I pulled away from her. “We just want to make sure he’s okay, you know? But I’m pretty sure he went to Nicki’s. Probably got pills or something. Dex said he can get like this. But I fucking hate him blowing us off.”
“Talk to him, Mar. You can’t just let this shit sit with you. Fucking talk to him or I will.” She gave me a serious look, and I knew she meant business.
I nodded and walked to the front door. The security guard, Dave, was able to high-five me when I told him he could open the doors.
He was an aging tattooed guy who had lived in Middleton for over 50 years.
Dave said he had been in the military or something.
Apparently he was in his 70s, but the guy barely looked 55.
As the bar filled with people, Naomi and I got to work mixing drinks and pouring beers. I kept a close eye on the clock for when I would need to go back and help the guys get their equipment switched out for their set.
Setting two drinks down, I turned to Naomi. “I’m going to go help them, you good?”
Dave walked up behind me. “You go, I’ll jump in.” Turning around, I stepped out from behind the bar and pushed my way through the crowd to the gate to backstage.
Stevie pushed the barrier out of my way as I approached. “Hey, Marlowe.” He waved as I scooted past. Smiling, I continued back to where the guys were.
Dexter handed me a roll of cords, and we walked out onto the stage.
Meticulously, we worked around each other, getting things adjusted and plugged in, and set up how the guys felt most comfortable.
As soon as I double-checked Bunny’s mic stand, I jumped off the stage and ran back to stand with the guys.
Taking both Dexter’s and Bunny’s hands, I squeezed them tight.
Dexter squeezed mine back, but Bunny didn’t.
Releasing Dexter’s hand, I grabbed Bunny’s face and turned it to face mine. His black eye was so much worse than earlier. My thumb grazed over it gently. “Bunny.” My voice was barely a whisper, and he pulled away from me.
“Welcome to the stage, Solace!” Stevie announced from the stage, and the guys walked out in front of the crowd.
Bunny’s foot immediately got wrapped in the cord. He played it off with his stage presence, but Dex looked over at me. The crowd didn’t notice, but we could both tell something wasn’t right. Bunny tripped up on a lyric in one of their Deftones covers, which was not at all like him either.
They did alright, but it wasn’t the best Solace had performed. The crowd still loved it, which was good for them in this stupid competition. But Bunny was not going to be happy.
As soon as the last band played for the night, we started cleaning up.
The guys helped out as usual, but I noticed that Bunny disappeared right after their set.
Naomi and I had been so busy behind the bar that I didn’t see him the rest of the night.
Dexter only came up once and ordered drinks for the two of them. “Where’s Bunny?” I asked Dexter.
He ran his fingers through his dark hair, looking around the bar. “He may still be out back. He said he needed fresh air a bit ago.” Nodding, I returned to the task I was doing behind the bar.
I really wanted to bring up his black eye again, but it was clearly a sensitive subject. Then again, I was worried, and I felt like I had a right to know.
Bunny was outside smoking when we walked into the parking lot to leave. We all piled into Dexter’s car and drove home.
Dojo greeted us at the door when we walked in, and Dexter led him out to the backyard. Bunny sat on the couch, turning the TV on. Sitting down in the recliner, I pulled my feet up underneath me and looked over at Bunny. His attention was fixed on the show he put on.
The back door slid open, and Dojo jumped up into the recliner with me. “Bunny.” He turned his attention to me, but his face held no emotion. “Just tell us how you got the black eye.”
He threw the remote on the couch and stood. “Leave it alone, Marlowe.” He walked past Dexter, but Dex stopped him, grabbing his arm.
“She’s fucking worried about you, just like I am,” Dexter spoke with dominance, but Bunny ignored his tone and jerked out of his hold.
“Well, stop fucking worrying about me. I’m fine.”
Stepping out of the chair, I rushed over to where they were and put my hands on Bunny’s chest, shoving him lightly. “We want to make sure you’re safe, you jackass.”
He pushed past Dexter and me, walking toward his room. “I don’t need you two to keep me safe,” he shouted before slamming his bedroom door shut.