Come for Me

Chapter 9

Chicago.

"Well, the chicken wing system isn't difficult." Ryan says to Reed and Mara.

"Yeah, you just kinda have to look up the best chicken wing places of whatever town you're in." Ricky says.

"Looking at Yelp helps." Balz adds.

"Then you have to call each place and see who has the best deals that day." Ryan says.

"It also depends on what kind of wings you're looking for." Balz says.

"And the quantity." Ricky adds.

"I want chicken wings so bad now." Reed says, having just finished a joint.

"We'll order some after the show." Mara says.

"Nooooo I want some now!"

"Well, then maybe you shouldn't have lit a bone right before the show!"

"It helps me with my anxiety, bitch."

"There's buffalo chips in the green room if that'll help hold you over."

"Ooh, yay!" Reed says before walking off.

Alice walks over, "God, I hate the smell of pot."

"Yes, but you love your Reed. So either suck it up or just hold your breath." Mara says.

Alice rolls her eyes, then changes the subject, "Have you seen Hunter?"

"I haven't, actually." Mara says before spotting Blake, "Blakey-poo, have you seen Hunter?"

Blake thinks, then speaks, "I think I saw her on the phone earlier."

"Well, she better not take long. We go on in an hour." Alice says.

"And God knows Hunter's a chatter-box." Mara says.

Chris walks up to Blake, "Hey."

"Hey." Blake says.

"Is Hunter okay? I just saw her talking on the phone."

"Oh, you saw her? I'm not sure. Hopefully she's okay."

Chris nods and decides to change the subject, "You ready for the show tonight?"

"Mhm. Now that I've got the hang of it, playing in front of so many people, it's not so scary anymore. It's a lot more fun now."

Chris smiles, "Good. I think so too. I mean, I still get nervous, but it's still totally awesome."

"I bet. Especially now that you get to have Hunter on stage every night during 'Contemptress'."

Chris gives an awkward laugh, "Yeah, that's...that's pretty fun."

"You seem to have a lot of fun with her during that song." Blake continues.

"Yeah, it's really fun. She's definitely sexy."

Chris observes Blake a moment. Blake wore a tight-fitting HIM T-shirt iwth the sleeves cut off so it was a muscle shirt, black skinny jeans, black Toms and a black beanie. It was simple, but on Blake, it was...right. For that moment, at least.

"Hunter isn't the only one though." Chris continues.

Blake raises an eyebrow, knowing who Chris was referring to, "Really?"

"What, you don't think you're sexy?"

Blake shrugs, "I have my moments. I don't feel like I'm unattractive, but I don't think I've ever seen myself as sexy."