A Different Set of Events

Chapter Eight

The next morning Malcolm took me out to some breakfast place. We left before Angus woke up so someone was gonna have to tell him. Malcolm told me he shouldn't care where we were, but that he would anyway and wouldn't tell us why.

"Have you ever been to New York Hannah?" Malcolm asked me.

"No, I've never been to the east coast."

"Oregon is..."

"The west coast," I finished for him.

"Ah, I never really studied my American geography," he said. "This is your sixth state then."

"Yeah, it's nice here. Big and busy though."

"You get used to it when you're in a band," Malcolm smiled.

"Speaking of the band," I started. "the people who see me with you guys, what will they think I am?"

"Care to explain?"

"Like I'm not gonna be labeled as a- you know, groupie or anything am I? 'Cause I'm nothing like that."

"We know that," Malcolm stated.

"But people out on the streets don't."

"You don't have to listen to them, they're all talk," he assured me. "An' if anybody gives you a hard time, give 'em to us." I smiled.

"Thank you Malcolm."

Later we walked through the streets enjoying the sights. New York was such an exciting place but way too crowded. The summer heat was worse with the throngs of people.

"What do you think of Angus?" Malcolm asked me out of nowhere.

"I like him," I answered. "He's nice, funny, laughs a lot-"

"I meant my brother," Malcolm joked.

"How many Anguses are there Mal?" We laughed a little before crossing the street to a bookstore.

"Okay okay, but seriously. You really like him?"

"Course I do."

"'Cause I think he likes you," he said after a moment of silence.

"Well I should hope so. Friends usually like each other," I smiled.

"No I think he likes you," he said again. "As in more than friends." So Malcolm did know something about this after all. They were right, they were all right! I still couldn't help but think they were mistaken somehow.

"Where'd you get that idea?"

"The way he's been actin'. He's never been this way around any girl before."

"Example?"

"Well he usually stays with a girl for a while, then they leave or he leaves for the band and they never see each other again."

"That's nice," I said sarcastically. Malcolm continued.

"He doesn't actually like those girls, he just wanted to have a good time. If he didn't like you, he wouldn't ignore them."

"Maybe those girls aren't what he's looking for," I said.

"Okay, I think we both know who he's looking for," Malcolm said.

"Bridget Bardot?"

"You won't be joking like that when you see I'm right."

"It's not that I don't believe you," (I'll take lie number 103 for 500 Alex) "but it's also not like we have any opportunity to leave each other. I kind of live with you guys." Until I go back...

"For now. I saw that look he gave you when we first got here."

"I saw it too. And it meant nothing more than friendship." Don't challenge him Hannah... Malcolm stopped me.

"Look," he said softly. "Angus is my brother. I've known him for twenty years now. I know his motives and desires. He can try to deny it all he wants and you can deny it, but I know." He smiled. "Come on, we'd better get back to the hotel before Bullwinkle wakes up."

We made it back to the hotel around noon. Angus was already up, but still in his pajamas. Well, a shirt and some form of pants. He smiled as he saw us come back.

"Oh good, you're back. There's someone I want you to meet." He led us to the living room where a bombshell blonde sat on the couch.