Obvious

Chapter Two

We had agreed to meet at the touring home.  Why?  I’ll never fully understand.  Danny had said something about meeting on neutral territory.  Whatever that meant.  But if you had asked me it had been where all of our troubles had started.  And I had avoided this place since Ronnie’s disappearance.  Nonetheless, I agreed.  Hoping that this would be a quick exchange of pleasantries.  I was wrong.

            “You look just like Ronnie!”  Matt smiled ear to ear.

            “No.  She looks just like me!  After all I am older!”

            “I always liked cougars!”  This time around Matt was being much more open with the situation.  Though I could never tell what he was thinking inside.  He pulled a cigarette from his back pocket and made for the front door.

            “Can I have one?”  Sammy asked.

            We were all shocked.  Ronnie had always appeared to be an angel, a saint, pure white, untainted by anything bad.  Sammy on the other hand, was different.  Completely different that Ronnie.  I relaxed a little and pulled my packet from my back pocket.  Ronnie frowned when she saw the gold and white plastic box that freed itself from my jeans.

            “We need to enjoy this nice California air anyway.”  Danny added.

            To be honest I had never spent much time outside of the touring home.  I couldn’t even tell you what color the picnic table was that had been set up probably years and years ago, maybe even when Aron was still our singer.  Sammy took the edge of the picnic table, giving only one lucky guy a spot next to her.  Jordon sat next to her, though he did not smoke with the rest of us.  Ronnie had probably been trying to get him to quit.  George sat across from her, I next to George and Dylan next to me.  Leaving just a spot left for Matt next to Jordon.

            Danny and Ronnie stood off a few feet, deep in some conversation.  I took a drag from my cigarette and watched as Jordon rubbed his face with the palm of his hand.  Obviously the thought of Danny and Ronnie spending time together made him feel uneasy.  But he had promised Ronnie that he would be more trusting.  But it was still plain as day that it was bothering him.

            “Come on guys, tell me everything!”  Smoke flowing quickly between Sammy’s lips.

            “You obviously know quite a bit about us.”  George replied.

            “I have been a fan of the band for quite some time.  Even before Danny joined.  Don’t get me wrong, I have always liked Danny.  I watched him grow up with my sister.  But I still enjoy quite a bit of Aron’s music.”  She hadn’t been told.  Everyone’s face dropped in response but she continued on.  “I never would have thought that the man who has a wienie that he loves to show would have finally settled down.  And with my sister no less!”

            If Jordon ever got embarrassed, now would have been the perfect opportunity.  “What can I say,” He added.  “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

            He watched turned his attention to her and she to him.  I, on the other hand, looked away and inadvertently caught the attention of Sammy.  She only smiled and blew out more smoke.  I finished the last of my cigarette, tossed it to the ground and stomped on it with the side of my tennis shoe.

            “Let’s see.”  Sammy pointed to Matt.  “What’s your story Kurlzz?”

            “Not much to know about me.  I’m pretty straight forward when I need to be.”

            “Oh don’t give me that bullshit.  Tell me something.  Anything.  I know you’ve been pretty consistent when it came to my sister.  No feelings for her?”  Sammy was enjoying putting us on spotlight.  She, just like Ronnie, had a way of getting whatever she wanted out of us.  A sisterly trait.

            “Eh, she’s beautiful don’t get me wrong.  And Danny here thought the same thing, but I don’t have any feelings for her.  I mean not like that.  I mean I could but…” Matt rambled into oblivion.

            Sammy just laughed.  With every question, she had each of us boys trampling over our feet.  She had George admitting he was a sap for chick flicks; Dylan admitting he had a thing for short girls with giant breasts; Jordon admitting that he had given some thought to children; and Danny spilling the news that he and his wife were expecting their first child.

            “Congratulations!”  Ronnie wrapped her arms around his neck.  “I hope it’s a little girl!”

            “I don’t!”  He quickly added.  “I don’t know what I would do if I had a little girl!”

            “Dress her up in princess outfits!”  Ronnie replied.

            Our excitement was short lived as Sammy turned her attention to me.  “Jorel.”  My heart dropped at the anticipation of what was to come.  “Tell me something about yourself.”  The way all of her questions started.

            “I’d rather not.”  I replied honestly.

            But she took the challenge.  “Do you have a special someone in your life?”

            I tried desperately to keep my eyes away from Ronnie.  But I knew she was watching ever move I made or didn’t make.  “No.”  I replied.  The infliction in my voice gone.

            “I see.  Still the silent type.  I like that in a man.”