Chapter Seven- 'It's Time To Live, It's Time To Love,
It's Time To Do What's Afraid Of...'
"You played Can't Always Get What You Want? I love that song!" Melissa giggled as they drove downtown.
"Uh-huh, it rocks!"
"How about you play some Metallica? The guitars are amazing in them..."
"Hey, I'd be much happy to. I mean, the guitar solos are amazing and Zac's got the vocals to outbreak Limp Bizkit any day, but..."
Melissa grinned. "You've got all your young little fans and stuff."
"No way! We're just nice people. Plus Tay's always telling us to be polite. He thinks he's so rock, but I hear him humming along to Backstreet Boys and N'Sync all the time."
"I thought they were the same band." Melissa shrugged. "Crazy... So if it weren't for Tay you'd be all heavy and stuff?"
"Yeah, basically. He fluffs out so many of our songs it hurts to count how many. But I'm a nice boy." He grinned.
"Oh right, I forgot. You know you're dead sexy in black." She leaned closer and kissed his cheek, blocking his view of the road.
"Hey hey! Me driving, big traffic, Friday night, freeway! Comprand�?"
"Sorry Honey, I'm just nervous."
"And killing us will make it better?!"
"Well it might be a good headline. 'Isaac Hanson killed by horny girlfriend.' It'll sell thousands!"
"Yeah, whatever." Isaac smiled, shaking his head.
"You gonna be all bad-boy tonight or am I gonna have to pry it out of you?"
Ike shrugged. "I dunno, get me a bottle of tequila and I'm in business."
"Yeah right. I don't believe you for a second."
"Okay, Okay, I'm not about to drink myself under the table. But I'm gonna be a bad boy tonight."
"Not too much of a bad a boy or I'd have just gone out with my boyfriends. You want to meet them, right?" She asked, starting to panic.
"Yeah, why not?"
"You're just saying that."
"No I'm not. It's about time I met them, I wanna see what you've been telling them about me."
Melissa smiled. "Let's see... Nice smile, cute butt and great in bed."
Ike shot a look. "You didn't!"
Melissa wanted to have her fun. "Oh it only took five minutes before I was telling them all about it. You're gonna be congratulated when you get in there!"
Ike slid a fraction further down the seat. "I hate you."
"What? I'd thought you'd like a compliment?"
"You are the devil."
"And damn proud of it! I'm kidding Ike, really." She grinned. "Awww, you've gone all pink! I'm sorry..."
"You'd better be!" Melissa leaned on his shoulder.
"I am Baby." She got up to take a look at the clubs booming with both noise and light. She spotted their one. "It's there!"
"You sure?"
"Yes, yes! Stop!"
They parked and as they got out there was a sudden wave of what may happen tonight. Already hundreds of people were lining up at each club to try their luck on getting past bouncers. Some obviously will try to weasel their way in with fake I.D.'s, bribes and just sneaking in. There were ladies wearing close to nothing and guys in expensive shirts. Everyone had a different type of perfume, cologne, whatever wafting in the air. The music was heavy and pounding into your skull even if you went a mile from the place. It was going to be a crazy night...
As they entered there was a rush of heat. Not that heat on a warm day that clings to you. It was in the air, circulating from the hundreds of bodies around the room, dancing, talking and socialising to and about anything. It was a mysterious feeling you got when you entered. Nobody could recognise you under the lights but everyone seemed to know your name. It had a kind of masked dinner party feeling to it. Very mysterious but friendly. Sexy but naive. Crazy but organised. Very cool.
"Melissa!" They turned to a bunch of people around Isaac's age. They all sort of gave Ike a once-over before smiling and talking all at once.
"Hey guys. Okay, introductions." Melissa took a breath. "Ike, this is Roy, Katie, Johnson, Bert, Carise, Carl, Sid, Spite, Josh, Rosie and Merlin."
"Ike, my man!" Spite high fived his buddy. "Didn't know you were the dream-guy she was on about! Jeeze, and I was gonna be all mister hard-ass on you. Damn."
"Yeah, whatever man. I didn't know you were a club-hopping kinda guy."
"Hell, he's a naked on the roof in winter kinda guy if we dare him!" One girl joked. Ike laughed.
"Yeah, that's Spite all over."
"What?! I like to be an expressionist and damn proud of it!"
"Yeah, but you could without everyone being mortified?" Melissa laughed.
"So, you're the Mmmbop boy?" One guy asked Ike quite openly.
"Yes, yes I am." Ike said nodding. "See, my dad with the Oom-pah-pah man and my mom, funnily enough, was a bottle of sodapop." They all laughed.
"Okay, Okay, we'll ease up." The guy said. "Just don't even think you're a better guitarist than me."
"Oh, wanna bet?"
"Yeah, actually." They said half-joking, half being dead serious.
"Okay, you two can do a battle to the death after the fun, Okay?" Melissa said, grabbing Ike by the arm.
"You hated them right?" Melissa asked as they reached the bar.
"No way! I already knew Johnson, Spite and Rosie anyway. Don't you think Spite and Rosie should get together?"
"Yeah, yeah actually. They are totally dense they are perfect for eachother. You are so right." Melissa said, sipping a coke.
"That's what I thought! Did I not compliment you on your dress?" He asked, leaning over.
"Yes, but that don't mean I don't like your compliments." They kissed spontaneously.
"One word for it: Groovy."
"Not shagadelic?" Melissa asked, sounding hurt.
"Extremely. That's two words."
"Sexual?"
"Shutup." She giggled again.
"Sorry. You wanna go to the dance floor?"
"Only if I get to do the funky chicken."
She glared. "You dare and you're a dead Mmmbop boy."
"Damn." They laughed and got up. "But I must warn you I suck royally at dancing."
Melissa indicated the rest of the room. "Look around; you'll fit right in."
"...So then I wound up having to tell this huge," Ike paused, "Okay, I'm not talking huge. I mean big-ass, don't wanna be sitting behind him at the movies kinda guy. I have to tell him where to go as he wasn't letting them backstage!" Everyone laughed.
"What'd he say?"
"He totally apologised! I can't believe that! He kinda looked like the security from Jerry Springer. Anyway he let them through and I was so amazed he didn't punch me."
"Well you never know." Six-foot-five Jamie said in his squeaky voice.
"You ever been to Woodstock?" Katie asked.
"Not the festival."
"You've gotta be there! Totally awesome, nobody gives a damn who you are and you're watching the best bands in the world, ever. Except last time we went we were so far back we didn't even know if we were in the right field!"
"Dang."
"You'd get us to front, right?" Rosie asked.
Ike laughed. "Hey, the only way I can get to the front is with flame-throwers."
"Well what's the point of being friends with someone famous if they can't get you to meet the big bands?"
"I didn't say that. But I'm not promising anything."
"You met Steve Tyler, right?" Merlin asked.
"Oh yeah, we've got his number."
"He is awesome." Carise said.
"Yuh-huh." Melissa agreed. "Dang, out of beer. You all want another round?"
"Woah, not too much." Ike jumped in. "I don't want us all drunk for the night."
Melissa leaned closer to him. "Ohhh, Okay. For you." She kissed him.
"Awww, you two are so cute." Johnson cooed. "You're just adorable. Don't you guys agree?"
"Very cute." Carise joined in. "Melis, grab us a few drinks, then I say we all migrate to another club. This town has much more for us to see and I for one wanna gatecrash every nook and cranny it has to offer. You all in?"
"Sure." Everyone said, getting up. They all walked out, like one huge huddle, all laughing and joking at everything.
"Yo, Spite, you coming?" Ike asked.
He was seated next to a girl. "See, there is this amazing chemistry when the right ones touch. I'll show you..." Ike grabbed him by the arm. "Hey! Oh, that's right, ruin my chances!"
"Come on Lover Boy, we're gonna find another club."
"You got my number, right?" Spite yelled back.
"Since when did Freaker get dates?" Carise asked outloud. They all shrugged.
Club-bouncing was a fine art. For one thing you had to know a lot of people to get in. Then the fact that the right moment to enter was crucial. To come in at the wrong point of a band playing or for the wrong mood would be a shame. You had to be swift, quick to pay and make sure everyone knew you always got the best table. Since Melissa and Carise were already workers at a club they knew a lot of the staff at others nearby and taking the lot of them were very social it didn't take long before they had covered some of the finest spots without a problem.
And then the fact Melissa was linking arms with a rock star made it even easier. Which made it even better.
It had been seven clubs now and it was just turning two in the morning. Something about that was weird. Not the time. Just the fact on what Ike had been doing as those hours had ticked by. It was so cool. He should do this more often...
"I could live like this." Roy laughed. "V-I-P. I like the sound of that."
They were all seated up on a balcony overlooking the dance-floor still packed tightly with dancers, prancers and moshers. A mellow indie band with heavy guitars was set up and half way through their set and it sounded like they wouldn't stop until they were pulled off.
"Yeah." Melissa agreed. She smiled at Ike. "And you said you wouldn't help?"
Ike grinned. "I guess I'm just so great..." He was showered with peanuts and other snack foods before he could finish. "You'll all die for that!"
"And yet, you might take us to one of your little concerts which will be torture enough." Jamie grinned.
"How about you all start up a mosh-pit at the front?"
"That," Carise said, "you can count me in for."
"What are we talking about?" Spite came back with more cigarettes to pass round.
"Mmmbop's little concerts." Johnson said.
"You mean we get to go? Oh goody goody." Spite laughed. "Nah, I aint no player hater. But I'm stage-diving."
"And I'll tell them all to move outta the way." Ike smirked.
"Cool." Spit's eyes brightened. "I could like that."
"Are we all crashing at anyone's?" Roy asked the group. They all shrugged.
"Don't even think about my place." Melissa said. She sat on Ike's lap and kissed him for effect on her point. "We want a private session or two."
"Or five. But I've gotta be up early for a show." Ike replied before she could kiss him again.
She pouted. "You're not coming over?"
Like he could say no to her. "Yeah, of course. Just... I need sleep at some point."
"Done." She said. She turned back to the group. "You guys need a lift anywhere?"
"Nope. We'll live." Carise said before they could butt in. "Have fun guys."
"Thanks." Ike said. He grabbed Melissa and swept her up, baby-carry style. "Come my sweet."
She was trying not to laugh or he'd drop her. She put her arms around his shoulders. "See you guys!"
Ike managed to carry her just to the exit before he let go gently.
"You're weak."
"You're heavy."
She hit him. "Don't go there. For that, you're driving."
Ike shrugged. "Seeing as I'm still sober I think that's a given."
She shrugged. "And to think I have an off-day tomorrow. Why d'you have to work?"
Ike laughed as they got in his car. "'Cause they want us on that show."
"Tell them you're sick."
"I can't. You haven't seen Chris when we try that line on him." Ike replied, starting up the car.
"Ohhh..." Melissa whined.
"You can whine as much as you like but I have to go."
"Fine. I make you never want to leave my bed tonight then!" Melissa laughed.
"Oh, can you?" Ike leaned towards Melissa.
She kissed him. "Too well. If you liked last night you aint seen anything yet."
At precisely four in the morning Ike was getting hungry. He was restless, which didn't help either. He looked over at Melissa sleeping and smiled. There was great content in being with her and he didn't want to let go, ever. He wanted to tell her everything, but, what good would that do? He would never think of hurting her and if he told her he'd never see her again. He'd have to live with this secret. God knows he's been good at it so far.
Ike gave up waiting. He had to feed. He found his trousers and put them and rummaged around for his shirt. He was being as quiet as possible yet he couldn't help but bang into a few things. He was totally uncoordinated at this hour which didn't help him any more when trying to find a decent meal.
A few minutes later he'd found somebody. Again the awful feeling filled him, like every other night, but, he couldn't stop it. Nothing could stop it. He was taking another life, yet again, but he had to. Ike shook his head clear and walked up to a guy. He was alone in the park. He looked like he was waiting for somebody. The guy didn't have a chance to look up before Ike had bit him. The guy tried to cry out but Ike stopped him. Before long his body slumped to the ground and Isaac walked away quickly. He still felt sick from doing that, even after a year. He knew he'd never get better at it or feel any better for doing it, he just did it and left it at that. No questioning, no difference in his beliefs, nothing to confuse him further. He just did it.
Isaac walked slowly back. He wasn't tired and he had let his mind wonder to what may happen between him and Melissa. She'll suspect sooner or later. She'll find out and she'll want him dead. Ike didn't want to know. He just wanted to be with her, with his family and with his friends for the rest of his life but that was not to be granted. Isaac told himself to stop thinking like that and he did. He walked back into Melissa's bedroom and got back into bed.
"Ike? Where have you been?" She asked slowly. She wasn't asleep.
"I couldn't sleep. I took a walk." Ike said. Well, that part was true.
"Oh. I didn't tire you out enough?" She asked, sounding hurt.
Isaac laughed. "Yes but I'm restless. Plus I really want to be with you tomorrow also."
"Then stay here. Take a rain-check."
"But then everyone will know and it's more fun with you if it's secret."
"Tay and Zac know. That's not it." She said stubbornly.
"I like doing shows, Okay? Apart from the dumb questions it's fun."
She paused for a second. "You know, I don't mind that you love working. In fact it's cool. You should have told me, it's not like I'm gonna force you to quit the band. Even though that aint all you're good at..." She smiled impudently.
"Well, d'you wanna come with?" Ike asked.
"Won't I be an intrusion?" She asked slowly.
"Hell no." Ike replied. "We'll have a time."
"If you insist."
Melissa kissed Isaac goodnight and then thought. She had no clue what a Hanson show would be like. Was she supposed to be scared, or just curious?
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