Ricki and the Flash ~ Unfinished Business

Full Stop.

Recommend you listen to the song first ~ tried to attach the video but don't know if it worked, the songs called 'keep playing that rock and roll' x

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"I'm Ricki Rendazzo and I'd like to introduce my band, The Flash" Ricki stood on the 'famous' Salt Well Bar stage, the old bar had been her first port of call after returning from Indianapolis. "Tonight we're going to play a few classics before rounding it up around nine with the famous Tom petty and the heartbreakers" she continued, giving Greg a quick wink when their eyes latched. "But first..." Ricki bit her lip as she turned her head to Greg.
"Hmm" Greg snapped out of his daze and grabbed hold of the microphone in front of him.
"The next song" With a swift roll of her eyes, Ricki turned back to her microphone with a smile.
"Oh" Greg sighed as he pinched his nose "Edgar Winter, Keep playing that Rock and Roll"
"Don't let your mind wonder, Greg, it's far too small to be out by itself " Ricki muttered between her teeth.
Greg didn't get the time to questions her, Ricki knew what was coming and quickly began playing the intro meaning that Greg could only exchange a quick angry look.

Don't you know that I was sittin' back in Texas
I was playin' those rhythm and blues
And then I got a big offer
For more money than I could refuse

I had my chance to make it
Playin' anythin' I wanted to play
But way back in my mind
You know I could hear the people say

Ricki played her guitar as she scanned the audience for any new members. The Salt Well club had become a big part of her life. It was her job and so was being a supermarket checkout girl but the Salt Well club was different. Ricki played at the Club because it was a group of her 'family' and friends, it felt more like home than Indianapolis ever would. Without the club Ricki would simply be an ordinary rockstar trying to make it big in America, she would be traveling alone with not so much as a goldfish to keep her company.
Ricki owed a lot to the Salt Well club, she had met The Flash, Daniel and of course Greg there along with many other people that she would most certainly remain friends with for the rest of her life.

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll

So I packed up and I made it up to New York
Where my brother was a great big star
He was doin' funky music, yeah
Singin' and playin' guitar

Johnny was makin' the big time
Everything was goin' his way
But way back in my mind
You know I could hear the people say

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll

Ricki put on her best fake smile as she sang into the microphone. It was a Saturday night, their busiest night of the week. Stealing a side glance from Greg, Ricki knew that there was something wrong, she couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was definitely something not right. Ricki quickly gave Greg a small frown before she turned her face back to the microphone.

Don't you know that I've been doin' lots of thinkin'
I've been tryin' hard to figure it out
But there's a certain kind of music, yeah
Got to make you jump and shout

Naturally snapping out of her daze, Ricki decided to do her best and push her problems with Greg to the back of her head and concentrate on pleasing the crowd. More audience members meant more money coming in which meant that the small bar could keep on pleasing and serving the small community.
Ricki's eyes stopped and narrowed at a figure in the crowd. Blinking a few times, Ricki let her fingers hardly strum the guitar as if it was going to suddenly wake her up from her 'dream'. But no, sadly life isn't that simple. You couldn't just close your eyes when something bad happened, life doesn't work like that.

Now you could call it commercial
If you wanna see it that way
But way back in my mind
You know I could hear the people say

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll

Ricki kept on singing after the familiar figure seemed to disappear. She cleared her throat and sang the lyrics that now came naturally to her, it's only when she looked over at the bar that she saw the same person ordering a drink from Daniel.
Pete. It couldn't be? Could it?
Ricki stared that intensity that she neared missed her next line but by the time she had realised and looked back over he was gone and so was any sign of his insistence.

Oh, you got to keep on playin'
(You got to keep on playin')
Oh, you got to keep on playin'
(Oh, keep on playin')

Oh, you got to keep on playin'
(You got to keep on playin')
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Rock 'n' roll, rock 'n' roll to satisfy my soulmate

The crowd cheered as they song ended, like they had in one of Ricki's dreams as a young woman, but of course she hadn't been called Ricki then, she was simply Linda Brummel, a housewife from Indianapolis raising her three small children. She should have been happy in the 'prime' of her life, she had a beautiful house, a husband and three beautiful kids but being a kept woman was just not for her, a problem which later lead to the end of her marriage to Pete.

~

"Everyone's entitled to be moody Ricki, but you......well you really do abuse the privilege" Greg appeared on a stool beside Ricki at what would usually be a quiet bar.
"Excuse me?" Ricki rolled her eyes as she downed the rest of her drink "Greg, don't piss me off" she shook her head and closed her eyes as the strong liquid hit the back of her throat "I'm running out of places to hide the bodies" she giggled in her half drunken state, looking over the bar at Daniel who couldn't help but laugh with her.
Ignoring Greg's presence, Ricki ordered another drink and made herself comfortable on the small bar stool.
"Ricki"
"Oh...are you still here?" she muttered into her vodka and tonic.
"Unbelievable" Greg angrily pushed himself away from the bar and headed towards the door.
"How to lose a guy in twenty seconds" Daniel stared wide eyed at Ricki.
"He'll come back, he always does" Ricki muttered as she took a large gulp of her drink.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Nope" Ricki set her drink down and pinched her nose.
Downing the rest of her drink, Ricki passed the empty glass to Daniel for a refill.
"I had a guy in earlier looking for you" Daniel turned round and placed the full glass on top of a white coaster.
"Mmm?" Ricki near chocked on her drink.
"Yeah. He was looking to wait in your dressing room" Daniel chuckled.
"Dressing room" Ricki giggled "with what I'm getting paid, I'm lucky to have a bedroom"
"I laughed in his face and he seemed to wonder away" Daniel softly smiled as he got himself a drink "he said his name was Pete, I think"
"Oh god" Ricki muttered with a swift roll her eyes "that's all I need, bloody father of the year on my back"
"Wait a minute" Daniel slammed his glass on to the bar "Pete.....that wasn't Pete your ex, was it?!"
"The one and only" Ricki nodded.
"I thought he was in Indianapolis?"
"So did I" Ricki responded with a roll of her eyes.
"So how are.....you two" Daniel asked after a minutes silence.
"Well let's just say....I thought he was my night in shining armour but he turned out to be a tedious workaholic in aluminium foil" Ricki raised an eyebrow over her glass "we were supposed to grow old together but we grew old apart. Sometimes when I'm lonely I just think back to our marriage and the time we had together and suddenly being alone doesn't feel so bad anymore"
"You make it sound like I'm dead" chuckled Pete.

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New story ~ comments and votes are appreciated xx