Wait until the music's over

8. Toga! Toga! Toga!

Luckily the diner's not that far, a five minute walk from our rehearsal room. Rehearsal room... I mean, it's the messy, dusty basement of an art gallery, let's call things by their name! Still much better than when we used to practice at Stone's attic, with his mother showing up at the door from time to time to ask if we wanted cookies. The cookies were great by the way...

As soon as I peep out from behind the half closed shutters, the typical almost never ending Seattle drizzle turns into a cloudburst.

"Fuck, I narrowly escaped that!" I say as I enter the restaurant, my eyes greeted by the sight of Meg's ass, as she was bend over washing the floor.
"Hey Mac!" she turns around to say hi and unfortunately I lose the sight of her back, but the front is just as breathtaking.
Despite that shitty dress.
"Hey Mac" I answer and hug her. Mike McCready and Megan McDonald, Chris calls us The Macs. At least it's not M&Ms, I hate you Jeff. But why am I even thinking about Jeff as a beautiful girl is kissing me? This last week of intensive rehearsal is already affecting my mental health.
"Have you seen Angie? She just went out who knows why, she must be drenched by now..."
"Uhm no, I haven't seen her. But she's all grown up, you know, I'm pretty sure she can take care of herself without Mum Meg by her side" I answered.
The only known person I bumped into is Eddie. He doesn't have a place yet, so he's crashing at Jeff's and at our manager Kelly's. Tonight he said he would stay there at Potato Head and as soon as we dropped our instruments he was already scribbling on that fucking notebook he brings everywhere. He only left after we forced him to go and buy at least something for him to eat, we basically had to throw him out. I met him again just round the corner a moment ago, he nodded at me and ran away. That dude is strange.
"Ha-ha if I'm her mom so who are you? Daddy?" she smirks at me and starts cleaning again.
"No, I'm the family friend who secretly gives her alcohol and smoke and tries to have his way with her mother"
"Secretly uh?"
"And comes to take mom and daughter home when they have late shifts, to protect them from the cold and prowlers"
"Thank you for reminding me prowlers exist, now that my little girl is out there all alone!"
"Your little girl is never alone, she's got half Seattle as a family. And I'm quite sure Stone and Jeff implanted a tracking device under her skin to find her wherever she goes"
"Ahahah those two are crazy, man! I can see them doing something like that, especially Stone"
"Those two have never been particularly sane, but they got worse after Angie came to town... What if they are her true parents?!"
"Well... yeah, I confess, I adopted her from them. No need to say who's mum and who's dad" Meg replies and bursts out laughing, like me, while a perfect drenched mess enters, mascara, or what it is, melted on her cheeks and almost all over her face.

"The adopted daughter is back!" I yell.
"W-what?" Angie scowls at me shivering from cold.
"Nothing, usual Mike's bullishit, he claims I treat you like you were my child, just ignore him... anyways, where the hell have you been little girl? You're grounded!"
"Good deed of the day. This is my reward" Angie remarks pointing at her miserable self.
"Oh wait, I go looking for a towel and a spare uniform for you" Meg reassures her before running to the back.
"Good deed uh? Did they say thank you at least?" I ask her as I sit on the counter.
"Well... yeah"
"You got your reward then" I point out and I really can't look at her without giggling.
"Right..." she starts picking up paper napkins from a 50s style chrome metal and red dispenser on the counter, sticking them one by one on her wet and stained face until it's all covered. She looks like a mummy.
"Do I look presentable now?"
"Ahahah yeah, you finally look like a respectable person" I joke.
"Thanks"
"And you know what would be more respectable? You coming to the gallery to see us practising and eventually meet the one who stole the title of Newest Seattleite from you"
"You're right, I'm sorry!" when she talks the two napkins she placed on her mouth move like some kind of beak. She's an ass, I adore her "It's just... I've been busy lately"
"Yeah yeah, the same old excuses! But I forgive you and Meg this time, also because you'll see us tomorrow night"
"Tomorrow night?" Meg asks as she runs back with a towel and a white apron "Sorry Angie, the only uniform left was the one which belonged to Bony-Ass-Becky and uhm I don't think it fits you..."
"The name says it all" I laugh.
"Thanks for boosting my self confidence, Meg. Am I supposed to put that on?" Angie asks lifting two napkins up from her eyes "And what do I wear underneath?!"
"Err... nothing! After all we're by car with Mike, don't worry"
"Go out in panties?"
"By the way this is Roxy's apron..."
"With my ass showing?!"
"No! This is so large, you'll be swimming in it!"
"You're crazy"
"You can't keep wet clothes on, you'll get a cold!"
"Mum, you're debauched!" Angie snaps and takes the towel and the apron, holding it close to her to try and measure it by eye.
"And if you get sick you won't be able come and see us tomorrow night..." I repeat, since the first hint I dropped was totally ignored. Shut up and pay attention to me!