Autumn in Kensington

Fan Girl

I was greeted by an excited Veronica with open arms. She hugged me as I scurried up to her. "Veronica!" I squeezed her against me. The bar wasn't terribly busy yet but there were a few regulars here. As with the last time I was here, I recognized some of them and they recognized me. "Veronica, this my dear friend, Chrissie." Veronica excitedly gave her a hug.

 "Oh, it is so nice to meet you! I'm Veronica. I'm John's girlfriend." She  introduced herself.

 "I'm Chrissie. Nice to meet you. I still can't believe I let this one talk me into comin’ here tonight." Chrissie said elbowing me in the side. A huge smile crept across Veronica's face as she looked at me.

 "You'll have a great time tonight. Hold on, I'll be back!" Veronica took off down the steps beside the stage area before I could say another word to her.

 "I led Chrissie toward the front of the stage area. Most everything was set up at this point. There were a few of the employees stringin’ cords every which way and making some final adjustments to Roger's kit.

 "Where did she go?" Chrissie asked me. I couldn't hide my smile.

 "To get Brian..." I said, giggling briefly as if I were a young schoolgirl.

 "What!? Lydia! Wha....no! I'm not ready for that! I thought you said after the show!!" She was frantic.

 "I also said that if we had time before the show you would get to meet him!" I reminded her.

 "Oh shit! Lydia! Now, I'm just plain panickin'!" Chrissie said flailing her hands around a bit. I looked over Chrissie and noticed Veronica, Brian and John comin' up the stairs beside the stage.

 "Good move, Veronica. Good move." I said to myself; referrin’ to the fact that she brought John along too so as not to seem obvious about anything. Chrissie was still jabbering at me as they came up the stairs. I paid her no attention and gave Brian a wink. I don't think he saw me.

 "Oh, he looks good...turn around...turn around..." I mumbled to Chrissie to shut her up. I grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. "That's Brian." I leaned over at Chrissie's ear. They had just come up the stairs to the edge of the bar.

 "Which one!?" Chrissie seethed at me under her breath. "Um, the one NOT holding Veroncia's hand!" I said nudging her in the back. Chrissie didn't have a chance to rebuttle me, react…nothing. It was as if I had just run over her with a city bus.

 “Chrissie, this is my boyfriend John and this is our friend Brian.” Veronica said as the three of them quickly approached us. Veronica’s face was lit up like nothing I’d seen. Since I was standin’ behind Chrissie, I couldn’t see the look on her face. Judging by Veronica’s excitement, I was missin’ something wonderful.

 “Hi, Chrissie…I’m Brian…but…you already gathered that.” He said extending his hand to her.

 “Hi…” it was all she said, shaking his hand.

 “Hey, Lydia. Good to see you again.” Brian told me. John had given me a smile and a wave.

 “Hello, Brian.” Much like Veronica, I was smilin’ all over. I was tryin’ to read anything in his face but I couldn’t make out his initial reaction to Chrissie.

 “Chrissie, care to walk over to the bar with me? I gotta’ take Freddie some water. Brian asked her.

 “Okay.” I heard her answer. And so, off they went. I looked at John and Veronica. Veronica immediately laughed.

 “Oh my god! You should have seen the look on her face, Lydia. It was amazin’!” Veronica beamed. “John, you can go now…that’s all I needed.” She said shooing him away.