How Not To Be A Groupie

Chapter Forty Five: Bon's Errands

Bon and I stood a couple feet apart in the elevator. Neither of us had said a word since we left his hotel room. The pair of us had gotten a few weird looks from passersby but they were mostly directed at me since I was still in pajamas. I really had a bad habit of wandering the streets of Sydney in sleepwear. The bell dinged and the door opened, Bon looking at me to go first. I left the elevator and he followed, hurrying out the front doors of the Christmas laden lobby. 

The looks we got outside the hotel were worse. Bon got a couple of waves from passing men who thankfully ignored me and my getup. A few times a woman or three would run up to him for a hug. I couldn't stand being famous. I've got places to be!

After opening the market doors, Bon stood aside to let me in. This market was crowded with fake Christmas trees and surfboards. Bon led me past all of them, headed straight for the coolers in the back. They too were decorated with tinkling bells over the doors that rang when you opened them. Everyone in the store could hear you making your choice of liquor. "What kind do you want?" Bon asked, scanning the shelves. 

"You're kidding, right?" I asked, Bon knowing good and well I didn't drink. 

"I never kid about my booze," he smiled. It was the first time I'd seen him smile all morning...ever since I explained to him my secret. I told him the truth of who I was and where I came from while he listened in silence. Waiting for his response, I braced myself. He only told me to 'hold that thought' and brought me along to the market. Selecting the largest case he could find, he handed it to me and I took it reluctantly. "This is for our trip," Bon explained, grabbing a second large case. "Need somethin' to keep us busy on the plane, ya' know?"

"Oh, don't I know it," I said as Bon kicked the door closed. The bell slammed against the glass and he led me to the counter. With ease Bon set his case down while I struggled to lift mine. 

"Here ya' go," Bon said, helping me out. The bottles clanked and rattled against each other in the cardboard. 

"Thanks," I panted. The cashier looked over the display of Coors in our possession and glanced at his watch, surely making notice of how early it was to be drinking. 

"Mornin'," Bon smiled at him. The cashier smiled back, albeit in a less friendly way and rang up the bottles. 

"And do you happen to have any ID, young lady?" he asked me. I stood there in shock, unable to stand up for myself and explain they weren't mine. His condescending tone gave me indigestion. 

"Don't worry, I got one," Bon said, pulling his wallet out from his back pocket. I sighed and the cashier and I waited for Bon to pull out his identification. "It's in here somewhere," he muttered, rifling through. "This it? Nah, that's a library card..."

I started giggling but the cashier only sighed. Bon had a shit eating grin on his face the entire time. 

"Ah, here it is," Bon said pulling out a photograph. "Never mind, that's me mum," he said putting it back. "Look a lot alike, me an' her..." Bon ran a hand over his scratchy chin and kept looking. I was full on laughing by now, unable to tell if Bon was putting the cashier on, or if he really couldn't find his ID. "Found it." Bon pulled out a motorcycle license and handed it to the cashier who took it with a grimace. "Sorry, mate."

"No problem," the cashier said, handing the ID back. I took a quick glance and saw Bon with a whole beard in the photo. Looking back at the current Bon, it was hard to believe it was the same person. "That'll be-"

"Wait!" Bon turned around and looked at the tiny shelves behind him. He grabbed something and placed it on the counter. "Can't leave the lady out."

"Wouldn't want that," the cashier said, ringing up whatever Bon grabbed. When he set it down I could see it was a bar of chocolate.