Young Lust

13 - Tom the Lifesaver

Steven took my hand and led me back upstairs.

"What are you showing me?" I asked, interested.

"You'll see," Steven replied happily.

He stopped at a door halfway down the hall and opened it. With my hand still in his, Steven stepped in.

"Ta-da..." Steven motioned with his arms at the content of the room.

The first thing I saw was a row of guitars on their stands. A large poster of Janis Joplin was above them, slightly crooked.

As I looked around the room more, I noticed a drum kit, and next to that, a keyboard.

Before I had a chance to take it all in, Steven was seated on a bar stool, one of the guitars in hand and ready to play.

Without warning he started to play softly, a slow tune that was a little mysterious-sounding.

"Every time, that I look in the mirror, all these lines on my face gettin' clearer..." Steven sang almost eerily. "The past is gone... it went by, like dusk to dawn... Isn't that the way? Everybody's got their dues in life to pay..."

I was immediately enchanted by Steven's singing. I really didn't expect this at all. I'd assumed he was into music, but this was something else.

"... All the things, come back to you... Sing with me, sing for the year, sing for the laughter, sing for the tear... Sing with me if it's just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away..." Steven's face while he played held such a concentrating look. His playing and singing was so fascinating and I couldn't take my eyes away from him.

"Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream until the dream comes true... Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream until your dream comes true..."

His beautiful singing had me in a trance that I only broke out of after the song was over.

"...Sing with me if it's just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away..."

Steven gently put the guitar back on its stand. His expression, I knew, was questioning whether or not I liked what I just heard.

"Steven, I think you actually gave me goosebumps." I said blankly.

"Good goosebumps or bad goosebumps?" Steven asked slowly.

"Good's an understatement. Did you write that?"

Steven nodded, looking relieved. "I did." He rose from his seat and looked around the room at all the instruments. "It's called "Dream On","

"Is it complete? I mean, are there other instruments besides the guitar?"

"Almost. I'm not sure about a couple of things, but it's almost there." Steven rubbed his hands together.

"Well I think it was amazing,"

I turned around when I heard a tap on the door. It was Susan.

"The boys sent me up here to get beer and food," she rolled her eyes, "wanna help, Jade?"

"Sure, but Steven..." I turned back to face him, "this is your party, shouldn't you have done all the catering by now?"

Steven opened his mouth to speak. After a couple of seconds: "I kinda forgot."

"Course you did," Susan rolled her eyes again.

"Fine, I'll help." Steven ushered us out of the music room and closed the door behind him.

We arrived at the kitchen and Steven opened the fridge.

"What the hell?" I frowned when I saw that the fridge was over half filled with beer. "Do any other humans live here?"

"Sorta. When my parents aren't at work they're-" Steven was cut off by the doorbell. I looked at the clock on the kitchen wall which read 5:48.

"Oh, shit! Nothing's ready!" Steven took as much packet food as he could - two bags of potato chips, cookies and a tube of Pringles - out of the pantry and dumped it on the table.

"That's more pathetic than a shaved cat," I said with a pitied look.

"I couldn't agree more," I didn't even notice Tom standing behind Susan and I. "It's hero time," Tom laughed and headed to the garage.

The doorbell rang again. "Shhhit," Steven grumbled and went to open the door.

"Steven, buddy!" Johnny hollered.

Steven looked super relieved to see that it was only Johnny and his crew. "Thank God," Steven sighed and stepped aside to let the group in.

I saw the British guy who was in the car last night with Johnny and whoever it was that was driving.

"Whatcha got there?" Susan asked Johnny, eyeing off the flat parcel in his hand.

"I've got a little something for Steven." Johnny held it out and handed it to Steven.

"You didn't have to," Steven subtly thanked Johnny.

"You're like a little brother to me, course I had to."

"Stop being sentimental and open it," Susan snapped. Pushy, much?

Steven ripped the wrapping paper right off and dropped it onto the floor.

"No way," Steven's eyes lit up as he held the gift up for me to see.

"Aftermath." I read aloud. I looked at the five faces on the pink sleeve of the record. "The Rolling Stones,"

"Their 1966 album, "Mother's Little Helper"... "Under My Thumb"... "Goin' Home"... "Take It Or Leave It"... I've been wanting this album for ages!" Steven sounded quite excited. "Thanks, man,"

Johnny nodded in acknowledgement of Steven's happiness. "Who says I'm a bad person?" Johnny winked at me.

Everyone looked towards the front door when we heard it being banged on. Steven put the Stones record on the table and went to open the door.

"Help, it's all slipping, I had to kick the door 'cause my damn hands are kinda full," It was Tom. His arms were hanging with plastic grocery bags which looked incredibly heavy.

"Oh my God, you're a lifesaver!" Steven took some bags off him and dumped them on the counter.

I approached and went through the groceries - more potato chips, plus sour cream and onion dip, party pies and sausage rolls, more bottles of soda than I could count on one hand, even more potato chips, cupcakes, and heaps of other party foods that looked like Tom was on a budget.

"Best I could do with limited funds and time," Tom joked. "It's a few minutes to six, where is everyone?"

Right on cue, the doorbell rang. One of Johnny's guys opened the door to another group of dudes.

"Where's the party at, man?" one of them asked as they piled inside.