Ember

II

I had no idea how far Trident Rising would go to get me. Slay invited Jaden and Lizard invited Belle only if I went along. I had them following me for a week pleading that their lives would be ruined if I didn’t go. Then the flowers started coming and coming and coming. Next, came the text messages from Hutch and Blaze over and over. Finally they all showed up on my doorstep on a Sunday morning waking me up. Jaden being my roommate let them all in and I stumbled upon them in my shorts and tank pajamas.

“Why are these people in my kitchen cooking breakfast?”

Jaden at least had the nerve to look pitiful. “Because they missed us?”

“Babe you have a rockin studio”

“Blaze don’t call me babe.”

“Aww Babe you need some coffee. Hutch get her some will ya”

“I repeat why. Are. You. Here?” This is bad this is very bad. Today my brothers are coming over to take down some dead trees. My life will be over as I know it soon. There will be blood and police and ambulances and lawsuits and I will be dead and there is a Hummer Limo in front of my house. Please make them late, not happening as the front door opens.

“Em, why is there a Hummer Limo in front of the house?” Yep, Mark the Protector has spoken.

“Who do you know that has a Limo?” Yes, that is Mike, the instigator.

“Jaden and Belle have company?” Oh please let them fall for it.

“Hi I’m Blaze; I’m going to be your brother-in-law”

I just hang my head as 4 sets of eyes stare me down. Life just sucks at this moment. “He’s joking” I walk off to my bedroom slamming the door. I take a shower, a very long shower, wash my hair, shave, deep condition my hair, buff my entire body; I might just stay here all day. Not going to happen as I hear a knock and Mel’s voice.

“You can’t run away in a bathroom, Em.”

“Please let me try”

“Matt knows who they are”

“Wonderful”

“We know why they are here”

“Is there blood in my kitchen?”

“Not yet at least”

I walked back out with Mel. It looked like the Hatfields and McCoys, but it was Trident Rising and the Marches. Mark wanted the bloodletting to commence and Blaze wanted to help the situation along. I jumped between them, yelling as loud as I could.

“No one is going to kill anyone today. In fact, my brothers were just leaving. I have to pack, I’m going on tour.”

I can’t handle any more bullshit.  My life was going up in flames and the only way it would end was if I gave up and went on the tour without a fight. That would make at least 8 people happy versus my 4 brothers who I could deal with at a later date, maybe after I relocated to Amsterdam. It occurred to me that my life at this minute was not fair, equitable and sucked in major proportions. It also didn’t help my mood to see Blaze with a huge smile on his face, like he had just won some prize.

Mark wouldn’t leave it alone though, he wanted to know why Blaze wanted to marry me and god forbid have children. That implied we would have to have sex and that was a non-starter to him. I was sure the parents had had ‘the talk’ with him, but now I wasn’t sure.

“He fell in love with my perfect pitch and the ability to replay music I had heard once.”

Mike had to step in it with the comment, “which instrument?”

Knosh, who I thought was mute had to ask, “What does he mean by that?”

Mel who thought he was helping ended it with, “she can play them all.”

Blaze who was now stupid with desire said, “my God she’s perfect. She really can play any instrument?”

This was going nowhere. My brothers who thought they were singing my praises had set my ship adrift right into the rocks called Trident Rising. The band looked at me in awe and I looked at them in well, I just looked at them. I walked to the door and opened it; a clear sign to my brothers that tree trimming would be done without my presence. The parting shot was delivered by Matt.

“You will call us every day or text us. She comes back in any condition other than how she left; you won’t live any of you.”

The door closed and Slay, Jaden, Lizard and Belle all started jumping up and down. Guess it finally dawned that the love express was taking off and dragging me with it. It also came as no surprise that they were packed. Blaze followed me into my bedroom and watched as I grabbed my duffle bag emptied my underwear, jeans, t-shirt and sock drawers into the bag. I went into the bathroom and came back with all my bath things and makeup. Picking up a pair of boots, I laid them on top and zipped the bag. Walking out with Blaze trailing I picked up my music player. I only had two more things to get if I was going to be working on songs, that was my acoustic and my 1960 Fender Stratocaster, the holy grail of electric guitars. It was in its original case which was inside a crush-proof case. Blaze had no idea he was carrying a $60,000 guitar. I decided to wait and tell him about my muse later. Who knew maybe I would even let him play it.