Wait until the music's over

5. Zappa and the parallel universes

A puzzled look comes across Angie's face.

"Why? What do you need to tell me?"
"Uhm... not here, can we just sneak out for a while and go talk somewhere?"

"Wait, you guys are pulling some kind of prank on me, right?" she smiles and looks around to see if someone else is watching.

"No, no pranks! I just... I got something to give to you" I cut her off before she messes up my whole plan letting the others take notice.

"What? Jerry, I said I..."

"Please, not here"

Angie takes me by the arm and walks towards the hallway. I take a quick look back at the living room while leaving and realize Meg and Jeff notice us. Meg has a big grin on her face and winks at me, while Jeff frowns at me and then goes back looking outside the window. What the fuck? What's his problem? I love Jeff, he's a friend. But why does he have to be so overprotective of Angie? The same goes with Stone, like they were some kind of watchdogs... Jeff is worse though. I don't know, all this big friend/big brother thing doesn't convince me. I think he wants her. But you know what? Forget it man! You have a girlfriend, don't you? Who loves you and makes those stupid hats for you... and if you even wear them it could only mean you love her back! So just stop bugging me and let me work.

We're getting close to her room and a sequence of hardcore images starts rolling in my mind. I stop daydreaming as she stops in front of her room's door and face me with crossed arms and a scolding look.

"I said I didn't want any present"

"I know, but this is not a present! I mean, it's just a stupid little thingie... and it's not really for you"

"Uh... and who is it for?" she asks me frowning her brows.

"It's for your tin can... ehm, I mean, your amazing car!"

"Do not offend the Angie-mobile, Cantrell" she snaps pointing her finger at me and I playfully pretend to bite it.

"I'd never do that! Your car is nice, just not fully equipped yet, with this gift it'll become the perfect Angie-mobile, trust me" I take the package out of my coat's pocket and give it to her, she hands me her beer.

Will she like it? While Angie unwraps I take a sip of her beer, thinking about the present I wanted to buy at first: a breathtaking red and black babydoll I saw in a shop window close to my place. Yeah, some fool opened a lingerie shop right in front of my apartment building. It's like placing a bar just outside an A.A. meeting location. Anyway, I was really tempted to buy it, at least she'd get the message loud and clear. Well too loud maybe. And she'd probably shout at me as loud and kick the shit out of me. I'd be dead meat. So I decided on something funny and not as explicit.

"Oh my god, Jerry! It's amazing! Where did you find it?" I can see her face light up as she opens the box and finds a small Jason Vorhees bobblehead doll.
"I'm not telling you! But... do you like it?"
"If I like it? God, I love it! He's so cute, with his little mask...and his little bloody meat cleaver! Thank you..." she stretches her arms out for a hug. I slightly bend over but she still lifts herself up onto her toes to squeeze me.
"You shouldn't have, but thank you" she says holding me tight.
Ok, I didn't get to see her half naked in a babydoll, but this is not bad at all.
"You're welcome... happy birthday Angie" I whisper into her ear. Fuck, she's so close.
She then unwraps her arms from my neck, too soon, but I don't let her go yet.
"I saw it in a shop and it made me think about you... something I've being doing a lot recently..."
"You've been identifying serial killer dolls with me a lot recently? Should I be flattered or not?" she asks laughing and gently pulls my arms away from her waist.
"No, I mea..."
"It's so cool, I'm putting it into my car right now!"
"Oh come on, you don't need to do it right now. You can always do that later, when we're all going to the club" she's about to walk away but I leap out to stop her.
"Club? Ehm... are we going to a club?"
"Cut it off Angie, Meg told you we're going to see Melvins, I know her"
"She can't keep a secret, she's a good girl though!" she admits "I go and leave it in my room, just wait here a minute... and don't finish my beer!"