Stuck with a Punk ✔

No. 72.: Abasing him

What kind of a man names the band The Smoochers? Could you be more disgusting, more cheesy and lame? He could've called it The Masons, I think that would win by far.

And what kind of a name combination is that? Mason De Souza. Mason De Souza. Every time you say it it sounds like a name for a weak person. Mason De Souza. If I say it one more time, I'll just end up imagining him as a homeless dude pretending to be a US veteran with no legs. Pretending! Yes! That lame!

So, I'm supposed to meet with him in ten minutes and because I am not pathetic, I don't show up in front of his office, begging for his attention. No. I will come at 5 p.m. sharp and if he won't have time for me at that right moment, I'll make him beg that I stay. He has a wedding band for fuck's sake, he needs every gig he can get.

There are no cool cars here in this parking lot. My Julia is a real attraction here, my lady in red. I can only assume he has something like old Renault Clio that's barely functioning, or worse, an old Fiat that makes farting sounds when you start it. Well, my Julia is like a kitten, purring lightly, but can roar like a deadly feline!

A lot like Annabelle, actually.

I check the time again and only a couple of minutes separate me from the meeting with this... guy. I'll call him guy for now and will get creative later.

I leave the car, but before I do that I check myself in the rearview mirror.

I look fucking amazing.

And apparently his office is on the second floor. Lame. Mine is up, hiiigh up in the skyscraper. It really shows how important you are in this world, doesn't it, guy!

I stop in front of the office, and there's a part of me that wants me to back off. There's a good question - why am I even here? Patty and Danny would never hire this band, and this is Annabelle's ex! I won't go home and tell her that today I had a meeting with her oh-so-fantastic ex-boyfriend, while she has probably spent the afternoon daydreaming about him! Again.

There is no good answer, but there is a simple one. He's Annabelle's ex. He's the one that dumped her. I can't imagine anyone in their right mind do that! The worst of it all is that she can't seem to forget him... I'm here to see what is so unforgettable about this lunatic.

I guess I can say he has a quality about him that attracts women, but Annabelle isn't just one of those that fall for a guy just because he seems nice. I think her standards are pretty high, and they should be. She should know her worth, and given she didn't simply succumb to me when we first met and resisted, I think she does know it. But then the moment he calls, she comes running. I don't really know what to think.

I almost gag when I see that they have the band's name engraved on a plate they've installed on the door. When I knock I seriously consider turning around and leaving. Meeting him won't change how Annabelle feels. God forbid she should ever find out about this little stunt of mine.

The guy that opens the door isn't him. It's just some average guy who probably plays synth in the band and is still desperate to get laid.

"Hi, you must be Mr Price, correct?" He asks and once he speaks he actually doesn't seem that bad. Maybe he does get laid anyway.

I nod like I'm too proud to respond with words, but he doesn't notice that. He just happily invites me in, and the only reason why he's so excited that I can think of is probably that they suck and haven't played anywhere in a while. No shit, Mason De Souza is their frontman. Annabelle herself said that when she met him she thought they sucked, he especially.

The air re-freshener is everywhere. I hope they can open some windows otherwise I'll suffocate on a scent of summer apples.

The door at the end of the hallway opens, and lookie, lookie, it's the sucker.