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STUCK BY A DRUMMER
This short work in progress orginally appeared on the RIGHT STUFF message board. Here it is in free-flowing, easy to read format!!
PART SEVEN
She looked exactly like Pete would have looked- had he been floating in a creek for ten days and bloated up to twice his normal size. A fat, Gothic-type hippo in a black tent dress, pretentiously smoking Slims through a cigarette holder. To top it all off, she was perched on the hood of my car, swinging a pair of fat feet that she had managed to stuff into dusty old velvet pumps. When she saw us her piggy eyes lit up and she smiled, but made no move to get off the car.
My previous fright left my nerves and patience in a state of disaster, so I freaked out.
"Who the fuck are you and what are you doing making my car into an insurance case?"
Before she could reply, Steve strode past me to confront her. Pete, I noticed, stood well back. He looked scared, which was puzzling, considering his recent against-the-odds battle. He actually came up behind me and dug his nails into my upper arm.
"Taura," Steve said, clearly making a supreme effort to be civil, "what do you think you're doing?"
The question animated her. With a grunt she hoisted herself off her expensive perch and waddled over, smiling and fat black lips parted in a wide grin. "Did you guys get my flowers? " she asked in a deep, smokey-and whiskey voice.
"Yes, we did. Thank you- your support is always appreciated." Pete's voice was even enough, but his nails were embedding themselves deeper into my arm by the second. I winced, but did feel relief to see that no damage had been inflicted on my car by the bovine behind. Now I was just pissed off.
"THat's so sweet." She looked at me for a split second, her smile faltering for the same amount of time. Then the sunny, adoring expression returned. "I LOVE you guys, don't you ever forget that."
"You should go home, Taura," Steve said. "It's dangerous round here this time of night."
"God, that's so nice of you to think of me." She was close enough now to get a good look at his facial injuries. "Omigod, what happened, Steve??? Did you fall off the stage?"
"Uh...yes. After the show." Steve was clearly eager to just get rid of her. "Now-"
Before he could finish, she thrust a pudgy hand at me. I was repulsed, but at least Pete let go and moved back a few steps. "I'm Taura Manson," she beamed. "I read your column all the time. I'm sorry if I scared you by hanging around your car. I saw you drive in, but you entered the club before I could get your attention. I just wanted to know what issue this interview is going to be in. I swear I'll buy a HUNDRED copies- I'm Dead Or Alive's biggest fan."
I shook her hand, and forced a smile. "Two months is the general pre-publication time."
"Gee!! Thanks for the info!!"
Steve walked past her as I produced my car keys and unlocked the door. He opened it for me and ushered me inside. Pete approached, although he was clearly uncomfortable around this Taura character. As I was strapping myself in, Steve leaned into the car and whispered in my ear, "We're at the Four Seasons until Tuesday. Room 1309. Call me." In a louder voice, he said, "Thanks for the interview, Miss Payden. Lee will be in touch with the magazine to provide photographs."
Pete darted quickly past Taura to reach in too and offer me his hand. "A pleasure, darling."
"THank you both for your time. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," they said in unison. Steve and I shared one last lingering gaze before they all stepped away from the car. I turned the key in the ignition, waved one last goodbye, and steered the car out of the lot. Before turning onto the street, I took one last look in the rearview mirror: Steve was speaking to a fawning Taura while Pete, hugging himself nervously, stood behind him. I fought down the unease that weird fan had stirred up in me, and concentrated on going to the nearest Starbuck's, where I could indulge in a triple latte and put everything in perspective.
I wasn't sorry that Steve and I fucked: I had found him attractive and took my pleasure where I could find it. I had already made up my mind that I was going to call him: he was pigheaded and had a raging temper, as I'd already seen, but he also had a cavalier, warm attitude that I found appealing. He also had a hot body and powerful sex drive that made me wet just to remember.
The Starbucks latte calmed me down and sent me home in a mellow mood. I didn't think anything could disturb me- until I pulled up on front of my condo and found my doorstep inhabited: by none other than Taura Manson!!
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