Pretty Little Lady

Chapter Two:

"So, Austin. If you don't mind my asking, how is it my daughter came to be in your car?" Clair's mother eyed the tattooed, tall stranger suspiciously, she had never understood what tattooing yourself did, other than cause pain, and show rebellion.

"Mom!" the embarrassed daughter berried her face in her hands and started shaking her head no.

"It's fine, haha, uhm, your daughter was coming to one of my bands shows, but it had been canceled, because our drummer wasn't feeling well. She knocked on the door, the entrance to the concert hall, and my friend Jedd here, turned her away, telling her about the concerts cancellation. But when she came back a few minutes later, he let her in, she had been car jacked I think. So, I figured, while I'm in Oregon a while, I'd give a fan a ride home." he smiled at Clair's mother, April, giving her his best "I'm not a hoodlum" look.

"Ah, I see. You know Clair, you could've just called me and I'd have come pick you up." she cast a degrading look to her daughter, now sitting on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest. "You know my number don't you?" 

"Yes ma'am. I tried to call you, but he insisted." Clair looked at the swirls in the design of the couch, tracing one finger over them. She told him. It would've been better for her if she had called her mom, instead of having some strange man drive her home. 

"I did insist ma'am. Your daughter was pale white with cold, didn't have a jacket, as the one she had on she left in her car, and had no cell phone, also in the car. I felt better making sure she got home safe, and not frozen to death. Mind if I sit down?" he gestured his hand to the couch, and April nodded. 

"I just don't get it." she seemed genuinely confused. "Why would you waste your time on her? I mean, I love my daughter, but don't rock stars like you have woman lined up around the corner at all times?" she glared at Jedd, who was leaning against the wall playing the air guitar. 

"No, no miss. I had no intentions of, that, I just wanted her to get home safely." he sat down next to Clair and put his hand on her knee, smiling at her. "I just hoped to make her day a little better."

"Mom, can they stay in the guest bedroom? They're staying in Oregon for a while, and I think it's a great way to show our gratitude." Clair quickly changed the subject, and studied her mother for a sign that she was angry, or upset, or scared, and none came but boredom.

"Sure sure, of course. Thank you for protecting my daughter Austin. You and, your friend, are welcome to stay as long as you want." she smiled kindly at Austin, and he stood up, shaking her hand and thanking her. "I'm just going to head to the store, seems we're out of milk. I'll be back in a few minutes Clair, don't get into any trouble." and with that, she walked out the door.

Clair stood, taking Austins hand in hers, pickup up Jedd's hand with the other as she walked down the hall. The old Lima bean coloured walls were so familiar to her, the way the paint swirled with the brush strokes, the finger prints her and her father had put at the ends of the hallways, their personal touch. She remembered painting with her dad, remembered him guiding her hand as she went up and down the wall. She chucked at the memory. She recalled her mother being so angry at the colour, how disgusting she had said it was. "Reminds me of diarrhea" she had said. Her dad lightly laughing and kissing her mothers forehead, he had told her it was his favorite colour.

Clair was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the closed door she was about to walk into. 

"Uhm, are you alright doll face?" Austin stopped her, pulling her back, stepping aside her.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I was just thinking about the paint... " She slightly chuckles, and looks at Jedd, who is leaning against the wall, rolling his eyes. 

"I like it, it's my favorite colour. Always has been." He smiled at her, with his big toothy grin. Clair had waited all her life to see that grin, and now she couldn't believe she really was. Maybe that mugger had killed her, maybe she was in her own personal Heaven.. 

"So where's the guest bedroom doll face?" Jedd piped up from the back. Looking at her, then Austin then back to Clair. He looked annoyed, as if it was a nuisance to him to be there. Austin punched his arm, glaring down at him, as Jedd was much shorter than him. 

"Right here, there's only one bed, you might have to share with each other , or I can bring a mattress in here and one of you can use it.." She opened the door to the guest bedroom, ushering the boys in, and sitting herself on the recliner on the left hand side. The room was the same colour as the hall, an earthy lima bean colour, with a bed in the center. The bed had a yellowing with age comforter on it, and four green pillows. Before her dad moved out, he had used this as his study. Clair can still see the desk, covered in papers and little drawings she had made him in her mind, could still hear the old radio that used to be where the bed now is. She missed walking into the room and feeling like all the knowledge in the world was stored in it. The rows and rows of books, the globe that quietly creaked when the wind spun it.  The hardwood floors chilled her feet, and the cold of the open windows blowing her long, black hair over her eyes. 

"It's fine, I don't mind sharing with Jedd." Austin smiled, wrapping his arm around Jedd's waist, and pulling him in. Jedd of course squirmed and got away from Austins tight grip, huffing and puffing his way to the bed, flopping down, and flipping him the bird. 

"Alright. Well, I'm going to go make dinner. Want to come with me, or do you want to settle in?" She stood, walking out the door, glancing back at the awe-struck man, continuing for the kitchen. Austin quickly followed behind, grabbing her hand as he caught up to her. Stopping her, he leaned in only an inch away from her. He looked into her eyes, dark gray and lifeless, and saw a spark of joy cross her pupil. He kissed her cheek and continued to walk down the hallway.