A Different Set of Events

Chapter Fifteen

"Where are the damn aspirins?" Bon yelled in the living room. Angus looked over and went to the bathroom. He handed him a glass pill bottle.

"Here. Use water for those."

"Yes Mum," Bon mumbled. Angus came back but didn't come so close.

"They'll be back any minute, we'd better clean up a little," he seemed to whisper to himself.

Two weeks had passed. After the dust had settled we finally moved on from our California hotel and headed for Oregon. My favorite place in the world. My bruises were clearing up and the weather was cooling down. Things were looking up. Malcolm came up to me later with concern. "So you uh, going home soon?"

"I honestly don't know. I miss my home, but I've been having so much fun with you guys." Malcolm smiled and put a finger on my neck.

"Gettin' knocked around is fun?"

"Not that part, the other ones."

"Ohhh, getting pushed in a pool then?" I laughed and shook my head.

"You know what I freaking mean." Malcolm's smile faltered a bit.

"You didn't slip. Lucy pushed you in didn't she?" I bowed my head a little and nodded. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Figures. You gotta tell Angus-"

"No."

"He has to know-"

"No! He already knows."

"You told him?"

"No, but you were right when you said he didn't believe her. He admitted a couple weeks ago in California that he was miserable with her around." Malcolm laughed.

"Angus you idiot. Did he tell you why he brought her?"

"Not yet. But he said he'd tell me later."

"Hmm. That could mean never. But I'll leave that to him then. Your bruises are looking better."

"Thank you. Probably your medicine that did it."

"Better have been, I spent a crap load on that stuff. I was actually glad to put it to use. Not that I'm glad you got hurt, but-"

"It's fine," I smiled. "It's all in the past." Malcolm chuckled and stepped back a bit before continuing.

"Please don't leave yet," he said. "It'd hurt Angus more than you could know and more than he'll care to admit."

"It can't be that bad."

"Listen. I know my own brother. I have to be the one to tell you about him 'cause he won't. Just promise you won't leave. Promise Angus." I sighed. What choice did I have? Oh they were all gonna hate me when I went back to 2016. I was hating myself.

"I promise." Malcolm patted my shoulder and left me alone with my thoughts. Not only would Angus be upset, but the band and Margaret too. I lied to her face first anyway. Where was a therapist when you need one?

Malcolm left Hannah alone and joined Mark, Bon, and Phil in the rehearsal room. "She's leaving?" asked Mark tuning his bass.

"Nah, not yet anyway. We've gotta get those two together before she does though."

"You said you'd come up with a plan," Phil said.

"I'm thinkin' I'm thinkin'," Malcolm said. "I've got it." Everyone paid attention as he snapped his fingers. "We'll take 'em out one day. Nothin' special. We won't tell them where we're going and we'll go to a bar. Neither one of them is allowed in one, so they'll be forced to spend time with one another."

"They'll be pissed off for doin' that," Phil commented.

"Why?"

"Goin' off and leavin' them."

"Trust me, they'd be more upset if we forced them in the bar."

"Why couldn't we leave them alone here?"

"If we take them out they'll have to go on a date. They won't do anything in this dump."

"I don't know, this place has a lot of bedrooms," Bon laughed.

"Come off it Bon. Besides Hannah doesn't seem that type." A glint fell in Malcolm's eyes. "I think that's why she had her panic attack."

"Were you guys molesting her or something?" Mark asked.

"No, you sod! Angus was off with Lucy bein' a bit too loud an' I think that set her off."

"You'd better tell Angus that before he does something stupid," Bon said.

"It's alright, Hannah can take care of herself." Malcolm picked up his guitar and strummed it a little. "You better watch your drinking at the bar Bon, Hannah won't be there to help you."

"I have you guys."

"We'll all be doin' our own thing, you need to find a friend to buddy up with there," Phil said.

"Do we have to piss together too?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it Bon," Mark said while everybody laughed.

July 28th. Mark came up to me that night and told me to dress nice as we were going out. They didn't say where, but I figured it'd be fun for all of us. I pulled out my black dress Margaret bought me and studied it. It was nice, almost too nice. Too much for a small outing, but my sweater dresses and tee shirts wouldn't do at all.

I put it on and came out to see all the guys talking in the living room. I didn't want to interrupt so I stood off to the side. Malcolm saw me. He smiled and cleared his throat while Angus was talking.

"What?" he asked. Malcolm nudged his head in my direction and Angus turned around.