OCTOBER 22nd, 1990
SEATTLE ࿐ྂ"THIS IS FUCKING GOOD."
Delia turned up her pickups speakers to almost their max and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel along to the demo tape of Stone, Mike, and Jeff's new band, Mookie Blaylock. Despite two musicians in the group being from Mother Love Bone, it was vastly different from their music. Though that was mainly do to the voice that sang over the pre-recorded tracks.
"Eddie just got here a week or two ago from California. So I dunno how they're gonna sound tonight."
They were parked outside the Off Ramp, where Mookie Blaylock were about to have their first live appearance, Delia also had to bartend, but she had a good view of the stage from behind the bar.
It had been nearly a week and a half of Delia staying at Chris' and she so far hadn't made any effort to find a new place, and Chris hadn't mentioned anything. He liked having her around, and secretly wouldn't mind if it stayed that way.
Once they had started playing, Delia found herself constantly distracted by the music, more specifically by Eddie, who she had yet to meet, only having heard little things about him from Chris. It was obvious he was shy as he sung, occasionally turning away from the small audience, but he still caught their attention with his voice. It was unlike anything Delia had ever heard, and it suited the bands music perfectly.
Their last song finished, and the five members exited, most coming over to the bar. Stone was the first to realize it was Delia bartending, nearly running up to her, being it was the first time she'd seen any of her friends in two months.
The rest of his band mates joined him, Eddie hanging behind them slightly. She caught up with Stone and Jeff, saying hello to Mike and Dave, whom she didn't know nearly as well. Once they dispersed and she'd gotten them drinks, Eddie came up.
"Just a banquet. Please." He had an incredibly soft-spoken voice, though at the same time it was deep. As she got his beer he spoke again, "so uh, you know the guys?" He gestured over to them, sat down at the end of the bar.
She nodded, placing his beer on the bar top. "Yeah, through Chris." She gave him a sweet smile. He sipped it, and gave her a small smile back as he reached for his wallet. "On the house."
"Oh, thanks."
"Of course." She nodded, "that was a great show by the way."
From his spot with the rest of the guys, Chris watched Delia and Eddie's exchange, wondering if he realized she was flirting with him. You'd have to be a dumbass to not flirt back, he thought.
"You think?" He took another sip of beer, taking a seat on the barstool in front of her.
She nodded, "uh-huh. I love your voice."
At this he felt truly flattered, "thank you." Eddie looked away and down at the dirty floor and his DM's. "I'll let you get back to work." He said, and with that walked back to his band mates.
Delia watched him walk away, then focused back on her work, until a familiar voice brought her out of wiping down the bar top.
"That was kinda sad."
Delia's mouth fell slightly agape at the sight of Ellis, who, besides Chris, was her closest friend. "I wasn't trying to really flirt." She insisted, a wide grin spreading on her face with the sight of Ellis.
"So you're back."
"I know, I know I didn't call, I've just been at Chris' and been busy, I guess. I'm sorry."
Ellis' eyes widened animatedly at Chris' name. She was a constant supporter of Delia and his non existent relationship. 'It's bound to happen someday!' Was what she routinely told her best friend. "It's okay, don't worry about it. I'm just happy you're alive and well."
"And sober." Delia added, pleased to tell Ellis this, who had been one of her only friends that had ever told Delia off about her addiction. In a way, she'd played a small part in saving Delia.
"Really?" Ellis, who was normally not very expressive, face filled with joy, her smile growing.
Delia nodded, as she poured her friend a drink. Chris walked over to join the two, giving Ellis a small hug.
"You see Delia strike out too?" Chris asked Ellis, grinning to himself as he was met with Delia's scowl.
"I wasn't trying to strike-in, Chris."
"Sure."
He believed her, but didn't say it. In the past five years, Chris could only recall maybe four people she'd dated or even went on a date with. There were a few hookups, but Delia had never been keen on the idea of love of relationships. He wasn't sure why as it was something they'd barely talked about.
He knew what Ellis thought about the two of them, and he couldn't deny he'd thought about Delia that way, though only occasionally if him and Susan were on a break or had a fight. But he'd never seriously considered it.
Ellis left to join the other group, leaving Chris and Delia.
"You can't say shit, still haven't gotten a rebound!" She spoke louder as another band began to play.
Chris shook his head, leaning closer to her on the bar top so she could hear. "I don't need a rebound!" With their faces closer together, he could see she no longer sported dark under eyes and that hollow kind of look. She looked younger and her face was fuller and the cropped wife-beater she wore, he could see her old track marks had almost fully disappeared. He refrained from saying anything, knowing she wouldn't want to hear it.
"I'm just suggesting. Do whatever you want!" She poured him another drink, expecting him to head back to their friends, but he pulled out a barstool and sat. He kept her company for most of her shift when the bar got slow, going between talking and watching absentmindedly as she made drinks.
They drove back to his place listening to Facelift, a drunken Chris refusing to go home until the record was over, so they drove around, eventually parking by the waterfront so he could continue singing along enthusiastically to Alice In Chains.
Delia ran her hands through her overgrown pixie cut tiredly, her eyes felt heavy and though she loved the record, she wished it would end so she could go to sleep. At one point, the nearly hour long record was nearing its end and she rested her head against the window and fell asleep.
Chris noticed this, and turned the speakers down and the car off, thinking he'd let her rest while he had a smoke. He stepped outside of the pickups cab, knowing she wouldn't want cigarette smoke in her car.
Eventually, after standing outside too long in the cold, he went back into the car, where Delia stirred slowly.
"Del?" He poked her arm.
"I'm up," she opened her eyes, "I'm up." She repeated, sitting up straight.
She drove slowly, trying to keep her eyes fully open on the short drive.
As soon as they parked, Chris rushed up the five flights of stairs to his place, leaving the door ajar as he rushed for his guitar. He'd gotten an idea for the song that had been bothering him. He made Delia come and listen, where she fell asleep once again in his bed.
Even though he was still drunk, he managed to hastily throw a blanket over her and shut his door softly. He slept on the pull out.
༺✧༻

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