Another Goo Story
By: Rebekah Parham
-10-
A whole week went by before I saw the boys again. During that week I had attended Reagan�s graduation, finalized the plans for the next two months, and packed as little as I thought I could get by on during this trip. We all agreed to meet at our apartment the night before leaving Buffalo. Reagan had ordered pizza and we were all talking about the order of the cities in which the boys were going to play. The first club they were to play at was in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Although he would never admit it, I knew that John was actually excited about this up coming tour. They all were, really. It was going to be the first time that they had every played anywhere outside of Buffalo. I was even excited that I would be going to cities I had never been to before.
After the guys had left and Reagan and I started picking up plates and cups when the realization hit us that for the first time in almost 18 years we weren�t going to be with each other. Since the first day we had met we had been inseparable. Anytime one of us did something the other one was always tagging along too. Finally Reagan broke the silence. "I think what you are doing with those guys is wonderful. They need you and you love what you�re doing," Reagan said this trying not to cry.
Fighting back my own tears I said, "You�re not in school anymore Reagan, you can come with us."
"No, that would be one more mouth you would have to worry about feeding. Besides I think this will do us some good," tuning toward the sink to rinse out a glass. "We have never really tried to do anything on our own, or at least I haven�t. I�d like to know if I can do it."
"You can, I know you can. Reagan, you are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for," I said coming to stand behind her. "You are going to do just fine, and if you change your mind I would be more than willing to let you come on this tour with us."
"Why, so I can be the mediator between you and John," she said comically. After a few minutes she continued, "You know you won�t stand a snowballs chance in hell with him if you don�t stop fighting all the time." Then she went into the living room to retrieve the few glasses we had missed.
Confounded once again by what she had said I stood in the doorway to the kitchen so she couldn�t get by. "That is the second time you have made a comment like that. What is it suppose to mean, and why, in heavens name, would I care if I have a chance with John or not?" I asked.
Pushing past me, she walked over to the sink to set the glasses that were in her hand down. Then she turned to face me again, "You might as well admit it. Everybody and their mother can feel the chemistry brewing between you two."
Astounded that she thought that I actually like that man I said, "Your kidding right? John and I don�t have any chemistry together." Walking back over to the bar stool and sitting down.
"You could have fooled me. I thought I saw some amazing sparks fly between you two the other night at the club," Reagan said. "Oh you might as well give it up, Kayla. Why else could John be able to make you so mad all the time?" Reagan asked continuing to do the dishes.
Completely baffled from where this was coming from, "He makes me made because he is an ass hole," I said trying to defend myself
Giving me a whatever look over her shoulder Reagan said, "So you have said may times, but I think this hostility goes beyond that."
"Well, I think that all those exams must have fried your brain because you are obviously hallucinating. Just the thought of having to spend the next two months with him turns my stomach." Not wanting to discuss John anymore I got up from the stool I had been sitting on and walked toward my room.
Following me into my room, Reagan said, "If you two would stop bickering, you could probably see that you would be good together."
Getting a little upset that she wasn�t going to let it go I said, "Reagan, I had rather eat dirt than spend anymore time with John than I possibly have to. John Rzeznik is nothing more to me than a thorn in my side."
Picking up a shirt I had worn earlier today that had just fallen on the floor Reagan looked up and with an innocent smile said, "For someone who means nothing to you, he sure knows all the right buttons to push to upset you faster than anyone else." On that she closed my door and left.
Tossing down the pillows I had just picked up, throwing the door open so hard that it hit the wall I walked over to Reagan who was now trying to find something to watch on television and said, "I am not upset."
Glancing up at me and then right back at the television she said, "So I see."
Throwing my hands up in frustration I said , "It does me absolutely no good to talk to you. This is our last night together and I don�t want to spend it talking about....about....."
Regarding me with a questioning gaze, Reagan answered quietly, "John"
Looking back down at her I said in a harsh tone, "Yes, John"
"Ok we won�t talk about him anymore tonight," Reagan said trying to make light of all the trouble she had just caused. "But you have to promise me one thing, Kayla"
"What?" I asked just glad that we weren�t going to talk about this anymore.
"Don�t let him talk you into letting Elvis walk you down the ilse if I am not there to see it," Reagan said trying not to laugh.
Throwing a pillow in her direction, I stomped back to my room, slamming the door behind me.
-11-
The day we had all been waiting for had finally arrived. Robby had picked up the van from the rental company before coming to pick me up. Now John, Robby and George were trying to arrange all of our luggage plus their equipment in the van. I was taking one last look around the apartment to make sure that I hadn�t forgotten anything. "Look like it�s about that time" Reagan said as we were walking outside. When we got to the road where Robby had parked the van Reagan turned to me and said, "I�m so proud of you."
Not daring to look at her for fear that I would loose the battle with the tears that I was trying so hard to hold back I said, "Oh stop it. I haven�t done anything you haven�t done yourself."
"That�s not true. You know I would have never made it here with out you," Reagan said. Now taking my hand and forcing our eyes to meet she said, "You are my best friend, and I love you."
Tears were now streaming down both of our cheeks. I said, "I love you too, Reagan."
John was puffing on a cigarette that he had just lit. He turned to Robby saying, "Girls, why do they always have to get so emotional."
"I don�t know," was Robby�s response.
Holding out his arms and walking toward Robby, John said, "Dude, if you ever leave me I don�t know where I�ll go or what I�ll do."
Robby was now putting his hands in front of him to ward off John�s impending hug. "Man, if you hug me I swear to God I will hurt you."
John had now captured Robby in a bear hug. "Robby, promise you will never leave me."
Through their laughter Robby said, "John, I am warning you...you better get the hell off of me." When John made no moves to let go of Robby, he turned around and threw John to the ground. Now they were wrestling around in the grass like adolescent boys.
I eyed Reagan who had also been watching this scene between these two best friends. "You see what I am going to have to put up with?" I said.
George was now calling from the van, "Are we leaving today or what?"
John and Robby picked themselves up off the ground and walked to the van. Robby opened the back door for me and I turned to say my last good bye to Reagan.
Reagan was having a group hug with George and Robby. John walked by and she grabbed him by the arm, "You might as well give me a hug too," she said to John. John bent down to give her a quick hug and Reagan whispered softly so only John could hear, "Try not to be too much of a hand full. She is a wonderful person if given a chance." John didn�t say anything, just nodded his head.
It was my turn now. As Reagan and I hugged our tears that had begun to dry were flowing again. Through our tears, I promised to call her when we got to our stopping point tonight; then I climbed into the van. As Robby pulled away from the curb in front of the place I had called home for the past few years, I turned to wave my last good byes to my best friend.
With Robby and John up front, George was sitting in the seat beside me. He reached out and touched my leg to get my attention. "It will get easier," George said in a sympathetic voice.
Robby looked at me in the rear view mirror, "Yeah, George is right, Kayla." .
"I won�t be like this the whole time. I just need time to adjust to being own my own," I said looking out the window.
"You're not alone. You will have all of us. We will be your family now. Won�t we John?" Robby said punching him in the arm.
"I guess," John said.
"Thanks guys I really appreciate it," I told them.
We finally arrived at our first destination. It was a small club called Donavins. After we met the owner, Tim, we all went our separate ways. The guys went to set up their equipment and I went to call Reagan. After I told her we had made it to Harrisburg with no major problem I went to the ladies room. The show wasn�t going to start until 8:00 and it was only 4:00 now so we decided to get something to eat a find a motel to stay in. We knew our money would be limited on this trip so we resolved to all share a room. This meant that every night I would be sleeping in the same bed with one of the boys.
We got back to Donavins just in time for the guys to do a quick sound check before the club opened for business. The show started out kinda slow, but once John and Robby got into their groove the crowd came around. We loaded up the van and headed back to our motel room. Everybody was tired after the long trip, so one by one we all took our showers and went to bed. I slept with Robby that first night. He seemed to be the one that I was most comfortable with but we had agreed to switch bed mates every night. Not that I thought they were going to attack me or anything, Robby just made me feel safe.
-12-
The next few days past in a blur. All of our time was spent in the van, in a club, or in a cheap motel room. But we weren�t complaining. Right now we were all having the time of our lives. Even John and I had only gotten into a few minor arguments.
We were sitting in the bar the boys had just played in when a stranger came up and asked me to dance. Before I could even answer he had pulled me out of my chair and onto the dance floor.
"Hi, I�m Kevin." he said
"Kayla"
"Well Kayla, what�s a pretty little thing like you doing with those three misfits?"
"We work together. They are a band and I am their manager," I said turning my head so that I didn�t have to smell his breath.
"They don�t look like your type of people."
"Didn�t realize that I had a type," I said a little hostile.
"Now don�t go getting you panties in a wad. I was just making an observation that you looked lonely."
I could thank my lucky stars that the song had just ended. I took a few steps back a stuck out my hand, "Thank you for the dance."
He looked a my out stretched hand and smiled, "No thanks required." Taking my hand and putting it to his lips he said, "If you ever get tired of those three," he said nodding toward the table where John, Robby and George sat watching us, "let me know."
I gave him one of my best smiles and pulled my hand away, returning to my seat. "Looks like you may have caught his eye, Kayla," Robby teased.
"No, just having a little fun."
Putting his hand over his heart and acting wounded Robby said, "I�m not fun."
"Of course you are. No one could ever take your place, Robby. You are my favorite after all," I said putting my head on his shoulder.
Noticing that the bar was closing, George stood up, "We had better start putting everything back into the van,." he said.
We all agreed and George and Robby head toward the stage. John was walking around the back of my chair when he bent down to whisper in my ear, "I think with flirting like that you may just be in the wrong business, sweetheart."
I jerked around to give him a piece of my mind, but it was too late, he had already walked off. I just sat there simmering in my anger. Lost in my own thought I didn�t even notice Kevin until he had sat in the seat that had only moment before been Robby�s.
"They leave you behind?" Kevin asked in a hopeful voice.
"No, just out packing the van"
Placing his hand over mine he said gently, "If you have some free time I would love to show you around."
"She doesn�t." We both looked up to see John standing behind us. "Kayla, we are ready to go," John said, his eyes never leaving Kevin.
I stood up and so did Kevin. "It was nice to have met you, but I really don�t think I am going to have time for any sight seeing."
"Well how long are you going to be in town?" Kevin asked quickly.
"We are leaving the day after tomorrow." I replied feeling John�s arm trying to pull me away.
Kevin held onto my hand saying, "Are you so busy tomorrow that you can�t get away for just an hour. Just for lunch or something." Looking toward John, Kevin said, "I promise to be a complete gentleman."
I turned to look up at the sour expression that had formed on John�s face and shook off his arm that held me, "Well, ok. How about 2:00 tomorrow?" I said hearing John mutter something, but I only caught a few of the ugly words.
A smile spreading across his face, Kevin said, "That�s great."
I gave him the address of the motel we were staying in, and we said our good byes until tomorrow. I walked off leaving John to follow. It didn�t take him but just a few strides to catch up with me. "You are not seriously going out with that guy are you?" he asked as we walked toward Robby and George.
"Well, it would not been very lady like of me to lead him on would it," I said to John sweetly. "After all, you seem to think I�m in the wrong line of work anyway, remember."
We reached the van, and headed for the motel. Once again, we were all tired and sleep came quickly. I was usually always the first one up, but not this morning. Both Robby, my bed partner last night, and John were up. I sat up and stretched, "Morning boys."
Neither of them being morning people mumbled, "Morning."
I decided that I would go for a run, because my legs felt like they were turning to jelly. When I got back to the motel room it was empty. There was a note on the bed telling me that they had gone to the club to set up and would be back later. I looked at my watch. It was 10:45 am. so I decided to take a shower and get dressed.
I opened the bathroom door with nothing but a towel around me and froze. John was on his hands and knees looking under the bed. I walked over to stand in front of him, "Loose something?"
He poked his head out from under the bed and was about to say something when he saw that I was wearing practically nothing. After his eyes had traveled up my legs, over the towel, and had finally reached my face, I reminded him of my earlier question, "Loose something?"
"What, oh.. no.. yeah," he stuttered.
"Well which is it, yes or no," I said.
Getting his bearings back together he stood up saying, "No, I didn�t loose anything, but yes, George did. He lost his drum sticks."
I walked over to the dresser that had about 10 bags on it and picked up the sticks, "You mean these?" I said waving them in front of him.
John came to stand before me. He tried to snatch the drum sticks from my hand but I pulled them back before he got the chance. "What? I don�t even get a thank you?" .
"Don�t start something you have no intention of finishing, sweetheart," he said stepping more closely to me.
Willing to play his game, I said, "Honey, there isn�t anything I start that is not finished." His step close forced me to step back. Now my back was pressing against the dresser. John ran his hand up the length of my arm.
I knew what was coming next, his head slowly descended toward mine. Moments before we touched there was a knock on the door. We both jumped as we heard George�s voice say, "Hey John, did you find them?"
John grabbed the drum sticks out of my hand and headed for the door. Before he opened it he turn back, gesturing toward the towel and said, "You really are acting the part of a whore this morning." Then he turned and left.
Tears stung my eyes. But they weren�t tears of sadness or because I was hurt. They were tears of rage. I walked back into the bathroom slamming the door and vowing that John would pay for that comment.
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