How Not To Be A Groupie

Chapter Thirty Three: Comics

How...how did I end up here?

Sometimes my mind sees things. In the mornings when I'm really tired and just waking up I'll see things or hear things that aren't really there. I covered my eyes for a minute and let myself completely wake up. When I was sure I was fully aware, I looked back at the guitar in the corner of the room.

A bright red Gibson SG. Make no mistake about it. 

I lay back against the pillow and recounted all that had happened. Malcolm went out with some friends for drinks, I tagged along, fell asleep on the bus, and he carried me back to his brother's room. He must have, right?

I crept out of the warm and soft bed and tiptoed to the door. I opened it slowly and peeked outside. Not a sight or sound of anyone. No talking, no snoring, no flushing toilets....I opened the door a little more and winced when it squeaked. No footsteps or anything. More squeaking from the door. I poked my head around it and waited for someone to pop up out of nowhere. 

Maybe I was in the clear....

Slipping out of the bedroom I walked on my toes through the hotel room. There at the little table was Angus drinking a cup of tea. Our eyes met and it was like we had just seen each other for the first time. Neither of us spoke and neither of us wanted to.

"Hi," Angus muttered looking at me. My heart was fluttering and I rocked back and forth on my feet. 

"Hi," I said. Angus sipped at his tea and I admit it looked awfully good. But I refused to demand that I have any. I would wait to be offered, if at all. 

"Sleep well?" Angus asked.

"I guess so," I said and could have kicked myself at my new catchphrase. Couldn't I think of anything better to say? Like, "Good morning, Angus. Read any good books lately?" Instead I stood there and watched him drink his tea while he avoided eye contact. "Where's Malcolm?"

"On the couch," he said, nodding his head toward the living room. I crept up to the couch and saw Malcolm fast asleep. Silent as a mouse. I went back to the table and saw Angus pouring out a second cup. He handed it to me. "This is for you."

"Thanks," I said and waited for it to cool. I took a seat at the table across from him. There was a newspaper spread out in front of him on the comics page. I used to love reading the newspaper comics. Back when we still got printed papers. 

Angus read quietly to himself and once in a while let out a little laugh. I couldn't read much upside down. But I recognized Garfield, Peanuts, and Blondie. Every so often he'd glance up at me and I'd quickly look away, pretending not to be paying any attention to him or his comics. "Here," he said and scooting his chair so it was next to mine, he turned the paper so that we could both see it. I tried not to let him see my red face and hid behind my hair. He was very close to me...

Oh my....

We read together and pointed at any funny pictures we saw. Angus couldn't stop giggling at one rather raunchy comic and I started laughing at him. 

This is what I would have called a perfect first date.

Our laughter got a little out of control and we heard stirring on the couch. Malcolm rolled around in his sleep and passed out again. Which sent us into more giggles. After finally calming down we were quiet again and drank our tea. We'd share looks and either smile or look away shyly. Finally Angus spoke. "Mal brought you here, ya' know," he said. 

"Why?"

"Thought I'd said somethin' to upset ya'," Angus said. "Wanted us to settle whatever was goin' on."