Screw

3. A Breakup (kind of)

Stepping quickly back into her clothes, Estrella paused and turned to Eddie.
"I- I have something to tell you." She said, slightly nervous.
"Yeah? Is it bad?" Eddie looked satisfied, relaxed- she felt bad for having to change that.
"Ahh- a little." She replied, shuffling her feet awkwardly. "I got a job offer..."
"I thought you worked at the strip club?" Eddie's chilled out expression had changed suddenly. Now he looked concerned and confused.
"I do- I mean- it's a position within the club... kind of." Estrella responded. Eddie moved a little, now appearing slightly annoyed.
"Well cut to it, what's the story?" Eddie gazed down at her avidly.
"I'm going on tour with a band for a year." She told him,
"Oh..." she thought she saw something like sadness cross his face, but too quickly, Eddie composed his features into a flat, emotionless board. "Well- I'll miss you-" there was a small pause "...us." He trailed off, adding the final word in a way that made him sound almost unsure. Estrella looked up into his face, wishing she could truthfully say that there was no 'us' between the two of them, but understanding that Eddie was more then just a good screw. Eddie was her best friend, her personal bodyguard- and there was no doubt she had a crush on the brown haired boxer. She knew before she'd even told him she was leaving that it would be a difficult goodbye, but nothing compared to the way her heart skipped a beat as Eddie met her eyes with his own sad ones. Boy did she feel bad.
"I'm sorry, Eddie!" She said sincerely,
"Nah it's okay babe- I- I get it." He shook his head a little, as though trying to clear it. "I'll just-" Eddie reached for the latch on the inside of the door, and it clicked open. Eddie swung the closet door open.
"Uhh... yeah. I'll see you later Eddie." Estrella farewelled, then turned to walk down the hallway, hearing the closet door thump closed as she did so.
"Estrella?" He called, causing her to stop and turn back towards him.
"Yeah?"
"When do you leave?" He questioned,
"Um- end of January." Estrella replied. Eddie nodded, his hair bouncing slightly with the movement. Estrella turned around and set off back towards the room with the boxing ring, so that she could deliver the news to her father and brother.
As she entered the room, she noticed her dad standing off to the side of the ring, leaning against the raised platform. She made her way over to him.
"Dad- can I talk to you and Caleb?"
"Hey Estrella- yeah you can but we'll just have to go into the clinic. He's patching up his face." He replied,
"All good." she said. Her father shrugged off the platform and led the way towards the hallway she'd originally come down when she entered the building. Her father opened the door for her and then followed her out into the hallway and then across it to the clinic, which was built adjacent to the room with the ring. Caleb was seated behind the table in there, holding damp cloth against his sore face.
Estrella walked around the table and took a seat beside him,
"How's your face, Caleb?" She asked, running her fingers through her black hair and twirling a spiky lock of it between her fingers, elbows on the tabletop.
"It's alright, Est. We all know I've had worse." He sent her a small smile,
"I gotta talk you" she said. Her father took a seat across from them.
"Shoot." Her father said,
"I got a job offer- within the club." She began, "I'll be touring with a band for a year." She cut straight to the chase.
"Oh." Her father looked very surprised,
"A year?!" Caleb exclaimed.
"Um- yes..." Estrella trailed off, "but it's an amazing opportunity!" She insisted.
"We'll miss you, honey." Her father frowned slightly,
"I'm gonna miss you guys too!" She replied sincerely. Her father stepped around the table and pulled her into a hug,
"Ahh- grow up too fast, don't ya?" He commented gruffly. Her brother was next, slinging his arm around her shoulders in a side- hug. He didn't speak, but Estrella knew he would miss her.
"I'll write, I promise!" She exclaimed.

January 1987...
Estrella sat in the back of the cheap taxi, luggage on the bench seat beside her. She was confident she had everything packed- pretty sure. But it still felt like she was missing something. Going over her belongings in her head one last time, Estrella couldn't think of anything she'd missed. She had her toiletries, clothing, her favourite books, her plane ticket and pass, and everything in between... she had everything. Everything except her family and- Eddie. 'Damn you Eddie.' She thought to herself, grabbing hold of her large bag as the taxi pulled up and dragging it with her as she steppped out of the dingy little taxi with its worn yellow paintjob. She made her way into the airport and within she found guns n roses and the other two dancers awaiting her. The band's manager greeted them breifly and then turned to talk to a worker behind the reception desk. He was of average height, with brown hair and a bit of scruff on his face, and seemed cool enough. Estrella turned her attention to what the rest of the group were doing.
"Gee guys- I'm tired!" She yawned as they all lined up to go through security.
"Yeah I am too!" Agreed the extremely tall, blonde guy.
'God his voice is sexy' she thought as she stood, waiting for the band manager to finish talking. She smiled up at the blonde man, watching as he stood waiting, scratching his head and making his hair flick back and forth.
"I'm Estrella, by the way." She said,
"Cool meeting you. Call me Duff." He smiled.
"What's your real name, Duff?" She smiled gently, only teasing,
"Well if you must know, it's Michael- but we'll keep that between you and me, eh?" He smirked and winked, making her go weak at the knees. She was hornier by the second, and those blue jeans he was wearing looked very nice on him. Estrella couldn't help but want a piece of him.
Once they finally got on the private plane, they all took their seats on the cream coloured vinyl bucket seats. The dancers were the first on the plane, and Rosamund and Celine decided to sit together, leaving an empty seat beside Estrella- not that she minded. This way she got the window seat without having to argue with anyone about it. The aeroplane had rows of seatbelted seats, facing the front, and behind them the back half of the plane had four tables, with plush bench seats around them.
Next, the band filed onto the plane and began to seat themselves, sitting everywhere except in the seat next to her. Duff was the last to come on, and he glanced around before realising that the only seat with a seatbelt was beside her. He looked down at her, smiled politely and then asked,
"Okay if I sit here?"
"You kind of have to." Estrella pointed out. They had to wear seatbelts whilst taking off.
"Yes- well without breaking any rules, that is..." he trailed off. Was he really suggesting that if she didn't like him sitting there, he'd actually break the rules and risk himself? She was amazed, both by his flattery as well as his disregard for self preservation. She looked at him, stunned, for a moment, then shook her head as though to clear it.
"Sit down." She stated, and he followed suit, buckling the seatbelt in over his tall frame.
"So... what are you into?" Duff questioned,
"Pole dancing and rock music." She said simply. He scoffed in amusement.
"Yeah, okay... and?" He was smiling gently down at her, warm brown eyes drawing her in. He looked happy in that moment, and she admired the way it made his warm brown eyes light up,
"You." She whispered gently, almost inaudibly. Duff's facial expression changed from happiness to surprise.
"Wha-?" He spluttered, "-what'd you say?" Estrella stared out the window, blushing,
"Boxing. I like boxing." She told him.