A Rock and a Hard Place

Before You Say Anything

"Ready, set, go!"

The circle tilted their heads back and held the bottom of their cans to the sky. Cheap beer spilled from my lips as I tried to chug it with the rest of them. Most of them were pros, drinking beer like water for the taste, while I only drank to get drunk. I'd need more than this to get through tonight.

I managed to swallow the last of the beer as the guys around me started hollering and shoving each other in masculine camaraderie. The display made me nervous and reminded me of exactly why I didn't hang out with a lot of dudes. I separated from the group like I'd never been apart of it, like I hadn't been brought in specifically by, uh, whatever the dude's name was to have a drink. I made my way through the crowd and looked for a familiar face but couldn't find one.

The band playing was alright but I couldn't remember their name either. They were new to the scene and had only played a couple shows, but they had potential. Most people stood around and watched them with idle amusement, and I feared tonight I'd get a similar reaction. Next to me there was a table with half melted Jello shots, and I held my breath as I swallowed the slime down.

Finally, I caught Taze across the yard from me with his girlfriend. I started forward, relief visible, but someone caught my shoulder. By instinct my hand tightened into a fist as the person whipped me around. My heart sank as I came face-to-face with him.

"Terry!" I shouted. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

My older brother stood before me, a red Solo cup in his hand and a lopsided grin on his face. He looked half gone, and I knew there was more than alcohol in his system. His flannel hung loosely on his bony frame and his long hair was messy.

"I don't know, man!" He sounded like this was a good thing. "What are you doing here?"

I rolled my eyes, but inside I was panicking. Nobody in my family knew I was in a band, and I'd never planned on telling them. And he's here, which means nobody was watching our little sister.

Deflecting the question I asked, "Who's home with Tabitha?"

"Dad got home early," he answered. My blood began to boil and he must've felt it because he quickly held his free hand up in defense and said, "He was fine! And Tabitha was asleep already."

I was still nervous, so I abandoned my brother and pushed my way across the yard to Taze. He noticed me coming and as I approached him he asked, "Who's this?"

Terry came into my peripheral as I stopped in front of Taze and I rolled my eyes again. "This is my brother, Terry," I quickly introduced. "When are we going on?"

"One more band. Why?" he asked. His girlfriend tried to greet me but I only waved.

"I have to go home. Just for a minute. If we're not on for another half hour I can make it," I rushed.

"What? Are you crazy?" Taze started, but I tuned him out. I had to figure out how to tell him that what I was saying wasn't a question, that I really had to leave, without telling him my whole sob story. But he kept going, saying I couldn't. We were already on thin ice being here without Jerry, we had to start on time, we had to play better than we'd ever played, this was all my idea anyway, if I didn't want to be here I should've thought about that when－

I felt warm arms wrap themselves loosely around my neck and a soft body press against me from behind. Belinda's smooth voice in my ear revealed who it was, but I couldn't acknowledge her, or the fact that she'd been missing from my text message inbox for the last day and a half.

"Taze, I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," I tried.

"Tabitha will be fine," Terry said before taking a long sip. He tilted the cup to finish the drink.