Mr. Stump

Dusty Records

As awkward as it was to dance to the sound of clattering pans and stoking fires, Patrick holding me in his arms was a feeling I had become addicted to. His hands held firm on my hips as we swayed, as if I was going to disappear if he let go. I had my arms around his neck, the smell of his cologne was more distinct now, like the smell of some sort of manly body spray. It made me drunk. His lips press against my ear and kiss softly, then whispering "Let's get out of dodge". I lean back and look into his bright eyes, he had something planned, more than just dinner. More than just tonight. I wasn't afraid either. He releases me for a moment so he could throw some cash onto the table next to the unfinished food and apple cider, stuffing his wallet back into his pocket and firmly grabbing my arm and quickly heading towards the front door. I can feel the female eyes stabbing the back of my back as we exit, but its not out of jealously or spite, but more of a concerning sensation, that I was going to get hurt in the long run.

Both Patrick's and my car are still isolated next to each other in the wasteland parking lot. His car lights flicker to life, wanting to roam the city's darkness and discover what secrets it held. "Cmon toots, I'm gonna show you things you've never seen" He opens the car door and as my mind goes to a not so clean place I seat myself into the car. Patrick slams the car door shut and makes his way to the other side of the car, letting himself in and starting the car as the door is closed shut. As the car hums with life, the radio begins to play some band that was titled You, Me and Everyone We Know ; I'd Rather Be Sleeping . I listen to the words from the scratchy voiced singer sing about how life in your dreams is a lot nicer than the outside world and how he wishes he could always be in his dream land where everything is possible. "Do you like this band? Ever heard of them? " Patrick asks while backing up from the parking spot. I turn to him " No I have never heard of them but I really like them. " Patrick clicks the car into drive and continues to speak " I listened to this band before they became big, like I'm talking garage band time. " I snicker " Just like my band? " This catches Patrick's attention " Don't tell me that music that I heard today was you and your friends?" His surprise facial expressions tell me he didn't know me, Angie,Kristina and Pete had a little band going.

"If you mean to tell me, the music that was coming out of Joe's- I mean Mr. Trohman's classroom was you and your friends?" He clarifies and turn to look at me for a second. " Yes Patrick, that was me, Angie, Kristina and Pete playing" His face makes a face of pure astonishment " Kora you and you're friends have some serious talent. How did that start?" He asks. It takes me a second to remember how we all got together and actually played together. " Well, I think it started back in middle school when we all had to pick an instrument to learn. I decided on the drums, Angie went for the bass, Kristina wanted to learn guitar and Pete really didn't want to learn an instrument so he used his screaming voice. Then we were paired up with each other for like a 'battle of the bands' kinda assignment and when we played together, it just...felt right. " Patrick nods his head while keeping his eyes on the road. His elbow was leaning against the window while the other was sat on top of the steering wheel. " And have you guys ever played like, live? " He turns down a street where a lot of bright lights flickered and people filled with a lot of cheer and drinks wobbled down the sidewalk, better than wobbling while driving. "Um, no actually because we're really not that good and we're too busy to actually do a gig. But it would be fun to do it one day. "

I look out the window to see where we had finally arrived, a small side corner store that had a sign that said Chicago's Stage: Singing The Symphonies Of The Overdosed. "Patrick, where are we?" I ask looking up and down the sidewalk to get a better grasp of where in the world we were. All I could see from my window seat was just the sidewalk. " Oh you'll see. Just wait til we're inside babe."

Oh wait what? Did he just call me babe? Like, BABE? Like, what people call each other when they are official? Are we? Well, I guess you can say that because....we spent the night together...this is our like 3rd date...he has kissed me...really well...remind me to do that again at one point tonight.

Patrick helps me out of the car and continues to hold my hand as we make our way into Chicago Stage. As you enter, the smell of freshly sprays air fresher is light but enjoyable to smell. To your left you see about 3 rows of dusty, but beautifully organized records still in amazing condition. Next to them is CDs, more than I could count, also seem to be in decent condition. Along with cassettes, VCR tapes and other vintage looking items, this place made you feel like you had stepped back into the 90's. On the right was some record players, CD players, cassette players, etc. etc. Paired with some ugly mustard couches, stripped red chairs and a couple purple foot rests, there was a place where you could just relax and listen to whatever you wanted if the store had it. Behind the lounge area was a bar where you could get small pastries, coffee, hot chocolate, and other hot beverages depending on your taste. Old posters, guitars, pictures, magazine clippings, tickets, graffiti, plastered the walls. This place was like heaven to me. No, this place WAS heaven to me

" Well this is where I go to grade papers, relax or just listen to music. Or if the tree house is too wet to get into from the rain" he jokes and moves towards the records. I slip off my shoes and follow him while letting my eyes scan the options they had. From rock to indie to pop to modern to classics and everything in between. You name it. They had it. " This place is amazing Patrick " I say and see hims smile with happiness "I was hoping you'd like it if we're anything alike" Just as he pulls out one record. I stop and watch him for a moment. Not just watch him but look at him. It had finally hit me that were a lot more similar than I realized. I remember him talking in class about how his friends were limited and he liked punk bands and how he was sorta an outcast. He really loved his job and his students.

You could tell that for sure, just by the way he gets so hyped when he gets to discuss something with one of his students. Patrick looks up and sees I'm staring at " Kora what is it? " I snap out of day dream and slightly shake my head "Nothing just watching you. You're like a kid in a candy shop" His smile becomes slightly sinister as he moves towards me and says "the only sweet thing I want is you..." He slides his hands onto my hips and pulls me close. My cheeks burn by how close his face is to mine until they cool as his lips press onto mine. He's slow, like hes teasing me. Slow like you have your last bite of chocolate cake and you want it to last. How you want that sweet taste to last on your lips for as long as possible. His fingers dig into my dress and hold me tightly against him, he's using every nerve in his being to not just take me home and truly showing me something I've never seen. I slightly lean away to give hims some of his own medicine and my heart flutters as he makes the cutest noise that he didn't agree. I chuckle as his head hangs in disappointment.

"Fine. That isn't the end of this Kora. Now pick out something you like for the next place we're going after this, okay? " Patrick says motion towards the multiple rows of records. I nod my head and begin to look through the records. Hendricks, ACDC, Straight, Beach Boys, so many choices. I end up finding what to me is a gold mine, because of the slight squeal I release when I find Bowling For Soup, the band that got me into punk music, first album. " Find something?" Patrick says coming around the corner of the row to see what I had found. He smiles and nods his head "Alright then lets get it " He looks it over and heads towards the cash register. As we make our way towards the bored teenager, a sudden and distinct laugh comes from the store window and just as I'm at the peak of happiness, my stomach signals a fast downhill when I see my mother and her date enter the store.