Capricorn Season - Jimmy Page

Chapter 34 Part 1

9 am. Voices. Already. 

I didn't want to peel myself from the blankets. Their warmth clung to me, soft and heavy, like velcro. The thought of having to venture into the world was unbearable. 

I closed my eyes and rolled over, trying my best to ignore it. I had to get up soon and get my day started. I just wanted five more minutes. 

But then I heard it—my name, spoken tense and low. I cracked open my eyes and saw Peter and Jimmy huddled together, their faces tight with frustration. Peter's jaw was clenched, his eyes shadowed. Jimmy was hunched and small. The air between them was thick. 

Jimmy turned to me, looking caught. He was nervous. "One second." He said to Peter. He knelt down beside me and told me he would get us breakfast. He was dotting on me, more so than usual. 

"You don't have to do that. I'm getting up soon. I have to mail my film reels so I'll be up and about anyway." 

"I'll do that, don't worry," Peter said. We both looked at him, puzzled by his sudden kindness. He was wearing a toothy smile and looking back at us. 

"That would be great," I said and dropped my head back on the pillow. 

"No, don't worry, G, I can do it," Jimmy said with an apprehensive glint in his voice.

"Nonsense, I'll do it. A little peace offering."

"I don't care. Someone do it." I said with a flick of my hand. Jimmy returned to Peter's side and they left the room, continuing their talk. It sounded much more pleasant as Peter grabbed the envelope of film. 

Last night must have given him a change of heart. He saw that I was doing a good job and saw how helpful I was being. I had been trying to get him to see how wonderful I was. I think my hard work was finally paying off. 

For the last two weeks, ever since this feud with Bonzo started, I could tell Peter wasn't my biggest fan. I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with ways to get him to like me. I first tried to gift him with a baked good.

"Okay, I've got my list of ingredients." I smiled and sat my pen down on my grocery list.

"What do you need with a grocery list?" Robert asked.

"I'm going to make some brownies."

"Why?" Jonesy asked.

"She just wants Peter to like her." Bonzo teased. It bothered me how well he could see past my thin attempts at approval.

"No, it's just because I want everyone to have delicious brownies."

"You're a filthy liar!" Robert and Bonzo were upon me now. They were not the type to let this sort of thing go.

"I'll help." Jonesy said. 

"Thank you, John."

My next mission was to find Richard so we could grocery shop. He rented the car and told me if I needed to go somewhere he would drive me. I'm sure there was no ulterior motive there at all. 

He agreed immediately and pulled out his keys.

It was a smooth twenty-five-minute ride to the local grocery store. It was a small building with a large sign that said "Humphrey's Grocery and Emporium". I thought it was a rather unusual name and we shared a laugh about it. 

The shop was brightly lit and smelled wonderful. The scent of fresh bread wafted through the aisles, reaching all the way to the back of the store where the eggs and dairy were held. We walked side-by-side through the thin crowd of people. It was a Tuesday morning at 11 A.M. I didn't expect many people to be there.

I needed eggs, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, oil, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips. 

Richard walked close behind me and helped me find the things I needed. He was too close as we traipsed through the aisles, I could feel his breath on my neck.