The New Dudez

Chapter 18

I finished up the last song to the first half of our set. Now there's a break and it's when I plan on giving the gifts to Cole.

Lately, we've been gigging a lot at Hollywood Corner. I don't have a problem with it. I like gigging here. We've taken notice too, and one of the most shocking nights was when a girl came over and asked for our autographs. That was so weird and new to me, but clearly not for Dalton. Same for Max and Brad.

I walked over to the table where IM5 and the girls were sitting. Max and Brad joined too. Where's Dalton?

I leaned over and asked Max, "Where's Dalton?"

He shrugged in response then dipped a tortilla chip in cheese sauce and ate it.

I sighed and leaned closer to Cole who was checking his phone. "I'm gonna go get a drink."

He nodded and said, not looking away from his phone, "No beer. Remember what happened last time."

I rolled my eyes. "I wasn't hung over. I got sick from mixing pizza with the beer."

"Rox." Cole warned, looking away from his phone this time for a second to look at me.

I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm not having a beer. I'm getting a Red Dew."

I stood up and walked over to bar. Justin was working tonight and I gave him the presents earlier to hide behind the bar.

He saw me and pointed at me. "Let me guess... A Bud light for you and a round of presents for Cole?"  

I made a short, hysterical laugh. "No, I'll have a RD instead of a Bud. But I will have that round of presents for Cole."

"What does Mr. Pop want over there?" Justin asked. Yeah... he's not a big fan of Cole. Shocker.

"Get em' a BD."

"You sure you're not ordering for Dalton?"

I hadn't thought about that before. Blue Dew is Dalton's favorite and it's also Cole's favorite. Weird.

"No Justin. Just get me my drinks and presents, then get back to work."

He laughed. "Okay, Okay." He reached below where the cooler was and pulled out two Blue Dews and a Red Dew. I'm gonna just go with a hunch here, but I think the second Blue Dew is for Dalton. Justin has been all for Dalton and I dating. So has Daren. Plus the girls have, even though all their boyfriends are in IM5. And of course, Dalton. And Me.

Justin set the gifts on the counter, which I just put in one big black bag. I figured it'd be easiest and, since the lights are dim, he won't notice it until I actually give it to him. I arranged the cans of Dew in my left hand and I carried the bag in my right. I walked over to the table, setting the cans of Dew down first, and then I walked behind Cole's chair and wrapped my arms around him to set the bag on his lap.

He looked up at me with a smile. "What's this?"

I smirked. "You know what it is Mr. Pop."

Cole inched up to give me a quick kiss on the lips then he said, "Thank you."

I moved back around to my seat and opened the Red Dew, and took a sip. Cole still hadn't peeked in the bag yet. I pointed at it and, with a raise of brow, I asked, "You gonna open it?"

"Do you want me to here?" It's kind of the reason I gave them to him here, and right now. Usually a person would immediately rip open the bag or wrapping to see what it is.

"Kind of..." I trailed and took another sip of my Red Dew.

Cole opened his mouth to say something, but another voice filled in for him. It was Dalton's. I looked up at the small stage in the corner to see him sitting on a stool with his acoustic guitar. What is he doing?

Dalton leaned close to the mic. "Hey, I know Red Wings is on a small break. But I wanted to play a song about a special someone. It's called 'Miss Amnesia' and I hope you guys like it." Dalton started to play a few chords, slowly at first, and sung the first words, "Walking in the streets at night. We forget how to navigate..." 

I could feel my heart beat quicken and it started to pulse in my ears. I kind of went into a trance, spacing out, until the chorus of the song.

His voice rung in my head. "She has the time ticking by.  As I stare into her brown eyes, watch her hair flowing in the wind underneath her gray beanie. See her smile when I make her laugh. She's got me like, Oh Miss Amnesia. You make me forget all that's bad. I know how to love again. You're love is my drug. You're my amnesia. Miss Amnesia. Oh, Miss Amnesia."

He seriously wrote a song over me. Well, for me in a way, I think. I couldn't stop the smile spread on m lips as I watched him get into the song. He looked straight at me, and he was smiling too.

I laughed to myself. It's what he called me way back at that one morning, and he had said it'd be a great song title. He's not wrong. It's kind of catchy. When he ended the song, I couldn't stop myself from walking up onto the stage and hugging him tightly.

"I really liked the song." I whispered into his ear.

"I knew you would, Miss Amnesia." He replied back with a smirk. I had this strange urge to kiss him; maybe it's still from the overwhelming feelings about him writing the song about me.

It was now, that I realized I had went up onto the stage and hugged Dalton tightly. I looked over my shoulder to see everyone looking at me; mouths dropped open. Cole's jaw line clenched. I, slowly, walked over to the table and said to Cole, "We've been friends a long time, you know that."

Cole replied, "Of course, yeah, I know." He stood up, chugging the rest of his Blue Dew.

"Where you going? We still have the second set." I asked.

He rubbed his chin where he's been growing a stubble. "Sorry, I can't stay, management texted. I'll see you tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yeah. See you tomorrow." He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.

Then he left me, and he left the gifts.