Under the LA skies

8. A long awaited fredom

July 4, 1989, 2 years later

"Thank you, you are just an amazing audience! Los Angeles, we love you!" Eddie shouted into the microphone  and waved his hand to the heated crowd, hallowed by the lights of the club. In response, people shouted loudly and whistled with joy, dozens of hands flew into the air and started waving to us too.

We bowed hand in hand and went backstage, accompanied by the roar of the crowd. Another performance ended, and without feeling tired, I jumped onto Max's lap. The guy inhaled with pleasure the smell of my hair, already a little greasy and sweaty after the concert, but still very familiar to him. And then he kissed passionately, putting his hands under my T-shirt, which was stuck to my body from the rain.

I involuntarily remembered Joe, who had never been so gentle and kind to me. And right now, answering the guitarist's kiss, I finally felt freedom from the addiction, which was called Joseph Hunter.

Then, being pretty drunk, we went to the bar with the whole crowd, laughing and talking loudly, and on the way I shamelessly hugged Max right in public, without embarrassment. John and Eddie were laughing at us, occasionally making comments about our affection, but I was not offended. They were the best team and I didn't regret leaving Stardust and joining Weird sunny lovers. Then I met good people, a guy who did not treat me like a thing, and real friends.

Yes, I felt good, and I really loved Max, happily knowing that I never saw that curly boy from Sunset again. Of course, Max knew about my past relationship with Joseph, but chose not to remind me of it, but enjoyed life with me.

I finally let all the shit go, I stopped thinking about Hunter at night, now I realized that I loved my new boyfriend and the band and did not regret anything.
The guys and I sat down at our favorite bar near the Rainbow, where I met the guys several times before becoming part of the group. At that time, I was accompanied by Joe and my old team, and no one touched me, because Hunter was too fiercely letting everyone know who was boss.

I was now sitting on Max's lap and felt so calm that I wanted to sing for joy. The concert at which we were the leading group has just died down, and, tired, but insanely joyful, we came here to unwind.
"Are you tired, my sun?" Max asked me, looking tenderly into my eyes, and I answered in the affirmative. I loved him more than anyone else.

"Oh, stop it you two! Otherwise, I'll vomit now," Eddie shouted jokingly and, just as jokingly, covered his eyes with his hands. I laughed.

Suddenly, I turned towards the entrance, because the waitress greeted someone too loudly who came here. They were them. Stardust with the whole staff, accompanied by young girls in short skirts and shorts, piled right here.

"They're here too," I whispered, leaning across the table to the guys.

"Let's go?" John suggested. I shook my head negatively.

"No, we came earlier, and nothing will spoil our party."

Max nevertheless looked warily at the guys from my old group passing by me, and when his and Joseph's eyes crossed, I was ready to swear that both immediately hated each other.

I hastily turned Max's attention to myself and kissed him on the cheek, pretending not to notice the guys.
But I missed all of them except Hunter. Jack helped me so much in my life, and I was overly grateful to him.

Gently glancing over Max's shoulder, I noticed that Joe was not leaving, but standing and looking at us, glaring at us.

"Good evening Kitty. Haven't seen you for a long time, right?" he said with a certain grin. I got up from the guy's knees and shook his hand, which he held out to me. Max, like everyone else, was staring at us tensely.

"Don't call me that stupid nickname, Joseph. I'm glad to see you too." I answered with dignity, and it seemed to me that he was embarrassed by the icy tone with which I pronounced his name.

"We need to talk right now in a few words, does your boyfriend mind?" he inquired, looking at the guitarist sitting directly behind me. He nodded slowly, and then spoke clearly so that Hunter understood: "But if she comes back sad after talking with you, I'll shove the microphone in your ass, okay? I know everything ahead of your question. Kat has told me everything."

"Max, calm down, please." I stroked the blond on the shoulder and confidentially looked into his eyes. "We'll be back soon. I promise you."

We came outside, and I turned my face to the cold wind, covering my eyes painted with golden shadows. It was nice and cool on this strange night. Joe stood next to me and smoked his second cigarette, and I knew that this was a sign of the guy's nervous state - I knew him too well.

"So? What did you want to talk about?" I asked, turning to face him.

If only I could withstand this look and not turn away, and then I won. He didn't look the way he did on the day before I left for Vegas. Now, calmness was read in his eyes, but still the guy was a little annoyed, as if he also remembered that fateful day.

"I don't even know what to tell you. Now, as I see, you have everything you dreamed of." he hesitated, he answered quietly, drawing again.

"How is Monica?" I changed the topic.

"She got married and drove off to Italy to her husband," he replied, grinning. "She sometimes flies to me, cheat on her Lorenzo, or whatever he is. Even so far from me, she remains in my power. Funny, huh?"

I did not answer a word, just rolling my eyes vaguely and avoiding meeting his languid gaze.

I folded my arms across my chest, shivering chilly from the night wind. I was wearing only leather leggings and a strapless top, left over from the concert, and only now I realized how cool it was. Hot after the performance, I did not feel cold, and only now this feeling has returned. He took off his jacket and tried to cover me with it, but I took a step to the side.

"I'm not cold, thanks."

"You're lying to me again, knowing how much I hate it. Why don't you just take help?" his voice was hoarse and strangely alien, I did not recognize him, and in fact only two years had passed since our parting!

"Joe," I said without looking away. "Before, I lied for fear of losing you, but now we are nobody to each other, so why should I be crystal honest with you? Especially after you raised your hand to me."

" I just wanted to help now and warm you now. It's strange that your new friends didn't teach you to accept help just like that."

He manipulated, again being a master at this. And I was so blind meeting him and believing that he loved me more than life?

"When I helped you, you did not want to be in debt to the former prostitute and every our quarrel reminded me of this, and also said that if it were not for you, I would still be her. You know, Joe, I don't want to stir up the past and I just want to finally put all the points above and. It's all over between us, although I doubt that there was anything at all. I do not regret anything, as, apparently, and you."
He looked at me differently now. Somehow too harshly, apparently, he tried to show that he was dissatisfied with my statement, but if earlier I would have immediately climbed to apologize and ask for forgiveness, now I was just waiting for his answer, without saying anything more.

"And you've grown up, Katilyn Mullen. True, you have changed a lot. Well, I understand you." he said suddenly, which made me turn to him again. And he continued: "I won't bother you anymore."

"I nodded and brushed my hair to one side, looking at him evenly and confidently. He did not lie, and it seems that he really understood everything. He also grew up over these two years, and I was sincerely happy for him. Now either he or I had to leave, and I, like that day, decided to do it first."

Without saying anything, I walked around the guy and went back to the bar without turning around. And he stayed outside, and I absolutely did not want to guess what this curly-haired black-haired guy was thinking about, breathing out the poisonous smoke into the dark night sky of Los Angeles.