Chapter 11

Richie was alone when Mary Cowie and Darleen Little walked into Caitlin’s room. Mary frowned at her eldest’s boyfriend.

“Where’s Harper?”

“Last I saw her she was on the way to Nat’s car,” Richie answered.

“Is she mad at me?” Mary sighed. She looked down at Caitlin. “I’m glad your daughter’s OK, Darleen.”

“She’s injured, but she’s gonna be OK,” Darleen corrected. “Your daughter didn’t seem angry at anything when I last saw her.”

“Right,” Richie said. Looking guilty. Mary’s eyes walked over the boy.

“Your fly’s down,” she said. Richie turned around, blushing, and zipped it up.

“So she didn’t want to get caught with her boyfriend in a hospital? We’ve definitely done more embarrassing things at their age, Mary,” Darleen sighed.

“Tell her to call me,” Mary said. She squeezed Darleen’s shoulder. “What do you know about Frankie Sievert?”

“What? Frankie?”

‘He was in the car with Caitlin,” Darleen said. “He’s a friend of yours.”

“He’s a drug addict who works at BK once a week,” Richie answered. “I ... Why was he in Caitlin’s car?”

“He was looking for you apparently,” Mary said, growing darker.

“I’ve never talked to him outside of work,” Richie answered. “Was he alright? Did he get hurt?”

“Not as bad as Caity,” Mary said. “And he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt,” she frowned. “Is he dangerous?”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Richie said. “But I can’t say for certain.”

“If he was,” Darleen sighed, “That explains why Caitlin drove straight into that tree.”

“It was on purpose?!” Richie gasped. He rushed over to Caitlin. “If he’s a threat to your daughter, I’ll–”

“Say nothing a witness can remember,” Mary said.

Caitlin moaned. Everyone turned to her.

“Nurse!” Darleen called out.

Caitlin opened her eyes and saw her mother and Richie first. She had a head full of cotton, but she was smiling.

“Hey handsome ... Hi mom.”

“Handsome?” Mary muttered, looking over Richie again as the nurse came in.

“Hi sweetie,” the husky sixty year old asked as Richie cleared away to give access to the bed, “How are you feeling?”

“It feels good...” Caitlin said, riding the opiates.

“I’ll call the doctor,” the nurse said to Darleen after a quick preliminary look into Caitlin’s dilated pupils. “She’s got a hell of a constitution, wasn’t expecting her up for some time.”

“That’s good?” Darleen asked, hopefully.

“The doctor’ll talk to you shortly,” the nurse said, hedging her bets. “Your girlfriend’s gonna be OK, kid.”

She squeezed Richie’s shoulder as she left.

Mary watched the boy. His attention was wholly on Caitlin.

No, Mary had never got up to anything like what it seemed her daughter was embarrassed about at that age. She balanced the anger with the envy. She kept it to herself.

Gabby woke up on her tour bus, disoriented. Roni? Renee? Whatever. Guy rock stars got groupies, but she was a 95 pound girl, what was she gonna to grab some random guy for a fling? Besides most of the guys at her concerts either had girlfriends or boyfriends already. If she was gonna fuck a girl, she needed to rev up first. It was easier being spontaneous with a guy. Damned schedule.

She climbed over her backup dancer and wandered, naked, to the back of the bus and into the washroom. She sat down on the toilet and leaned forward with her head in her hands, her hair drooping over her face as she pissed.

“Someone get me a smoke!” she shouted.

“Hey girl,” Jacob, her manager, opened the unlocked door and handed her a joint and a zippo. He leaned on the door, watching her pee.

“You mind?”

“Not at all. You OK?”

“I’ll be better after breakfast,” she said. “The one thing I love about this job is no morning gigs.”

“There’s a few radio stations who’re asking for interviews,” he said.

“Nothing until after lunch,” she said, lighting her joint. “I’m getting used to being tired. Close the door, I’m gonna get a shower.”

“Tour’s done in eight days,” he said.

“The Canadian tour,” she said.

“Yeah, but you got five days before we fly to England,” he said. “When’s the last time you had five days?”

“Shit,” she sighed. “When I was nine?”

He laughed. “Good, take care of yourself. You want me to get a masseur for when we stop in Montreal?”

“Did I ever answer no to that question?” she said. She blew out a stream of pale blue smoke.

“Not so long as I offered,” he said. “But you hate it when I don’t give you a heads up.” He pulled out his phone and started making the arrangements.

“Yeah,” she leaned back. He looked over the top of his screen to her toned belly and bare tits. She smirked at him, around the glowing embers of her joint. He was older than her father.

“You could make a lot with one click of that camera,” she said.

“But, then I’d have to share,” he said. “Get a shower. Get your head in the game. We’ll be there in an hour or two.”

She reached back and flushed. He closed the door. She looked at herself in the mirror blowing smoke.

Was she taking risks? Was she getting bored? She felt incredibly guilty. Twenty-two, filling stadiums. Maybe not the biggest of stadiums, but she’d done four-thousand-fan shows. Song about love and passion and connection. She hadn’t really felt that herself for more than a few weeks at a time.

How many other people were ever in this position? She loved seeing people touched by her music. Sure, she didn’t write most of it. Not her most popular songs. She had a few favorites. When those reached out and touched someone. She didn’t feel alone.

She snuffed the half-smoked joint on the bathroom sink and got into the shower stall. She washed away the frustration and ingratitude.

Shit. She should’ve asked Jacob which dancer she had taken to bed last night. The girl was gonna be hurt when Gabrielle got the name wrong.

Or worse, she’d have learned to expect it after last time.

“You’re fucking my brother?” Nat asked the girl in her passenger seat as she drove back out to school. “You know about all of the others?”

“I know of his girlfriend, the redhead, the big-assed girl, Pearl maybe, and there’s another, a tiny black girl?” Oksana frowned. “Quite the harem, eh?”

“Yeah, you seem OK with it,” Nat said. “So do the others though. His cock must be amazing.”

“Best I’ve ever had,” Oksana grinned.

“And you look like a girl who can take a lot of dick,” Nat said.

“Hey!”

“I’m fucking with you. I know you’re gay,” Nat said. “But still, Richie though?”

“I guess,” Oksana said. “You don’t get to choose who you’re attracted to.”

“That is incredibly true,” Nat said.

“You’re my type,” Oksana said. “Hot and crazy.”

“Yeah, you’re gay. Chicks.”

“I also kinda like milfs,” Oksana said. “I hate girls that make me have to go for it. It’s kinda nice being with a guy. He either wants you or he’s sleepy.”

“Yeah,” Nat said.

“Are you jealous?”

“Of Richie? Oh! You’re trying to get me to ask you out?!” Nat laughed. “I’m really flattered, but I’m totally into dudes. Sorry.”

“Yeah, girls have such terrible tastes,” Oksana said.

“You try out any of his harem yet?”

“Not yet,” Oksana sighed. “I was really looking forward to getting fingerfucked while that redhead stared me down in the eyes. Broken arm.”

“I get why it has to be her eyes. Does it have to be her fingers? Lots of different hands to use, y’know?”

“Always look on the bright side of polyamory,” Oksana said. “My third dad and eighth mom always said that.”

“What? Oh, you’re being silly,” Nat said. “I like it.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t trying to get you to fuck me,” Oksana said. “Or date me, or go steady, or whatever.”

“It all ends in fucking,” Nat said.

“Right,” Oksana said. “I kinda feel like it’d be cheating. I don’t like cheaters.”

Nat started laughing madly. It sounded honest and sad. Oksana frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never homewrecked by fucking the girlfriend before,” Nat said. “I like your boobs.”

“For now,” Oksana said. “Gotta get mileage out of the big’uns when you’re young.”

“Lucky you. Every morning, Richie runs for miles,” Nat smiled, grinding her teeth some.

“What’s Harper like?” Oksana said. “I met her once, she was worried Richie was gonna start cheating on her. She’s letting all of this happen now.”

“So are you. So is Richie and Zita and Perla and Caitlin. Lilith too, Harper’s little sister. Can you imagine a girl giving the go-ahead to fuck her little sister and school bully?”

“Maybe if Richie’s cock was twice the size and thorny.”

Nat laughed. Oksana lost her smile.

“Jesus.” Oksana said and let her forehead fall onto the passenger side window.

“What?”

“I still would.”

So would I. Nat kept her words behind a fake laugh.

“You know, I feel better about all of this now,” Lilith said, leaning on Zita’s shoulder as they rode the schoolbus home. Friday night! Though, she had a babysitting gig. Trevor was a cool little dude, but she’d much rather hang out with Zita and whatever slutty shenanigans Zita wanted to get up to.

“Caitlin got in a car wreck?” Zita said, sighing. “I know what you mean. And then I feel all guilty. She’s a nice girl and I’m ... Well, I guess I’m not...” she gestured low and out of sight the word fucking, “Caity’s boyfriend. But still.”

“Oh, yeah, shit happens,” Lilith said. “Harper was at the hospital. I hadn’t heard either way but she was good with Caitlin. I was worried Richie was running around behind her back. Somehow.”

“Yeah, but then she’d be at your house,” Zita said. “If she’s not home, she’s with him.”

“Right, I know that...” Lilith said. “Anyway, she never gave me the thumbs up like you got apparently. I don’t wanna get into a fight over dick.”

“Then maybe you should’ve waited and asked,” Zita countered.

“Boo you,” Lilith said. “I had fun. We share some other guys?”

“No.”

“He’s with Harper, Z. And if he is gonna relay race off, why would he pick you over ... Caitlin or Perla?”

“I heard that hesitation!” Zita growled. “You’re gonna steal him!”

Lilith snorted, laughing. Zita frowned.

“Richie’s a fun guy who knows what he’s doing,” Lilith said. “Like I said, it was fun. I don’t mind having fun until college, but I am getting out of this town, this province, and hopefully this country. If I thought there was something more than fun to be had with Richie. I’d run away screaming.”

“You’re a slut.”

“And I own it,” Lilith said. “You’re a side piece who wants to start shopping for wedding rings. Look, Nat’s throwing that party tomorrow night, right? Richie’ll be there, sure, but you and me, we can find someone to keep up with us. What do you say?”

“I say that I don’t just want fun.”

“You make fun sound like a four-letter word,” Lilith said. “Though, lots of four-letter words are fun, aren’t they?”

“Then go home and take a shit.” Zita pushed Lilith off of her. “I’m getting off the bus.”

Lilith got out of Zita’s way as she stomped towards the exit of the bus. She fell back and saw a younger guy looking at her.

“You’re a slut, and there’s a party?”

Lilith looked him up and down.

“You can’t even buy me a drink yet, kid. Lower your standards,” she smiled.

“Not a slut, just a bitch...”

Lilith leaned back and grinned.

“Do you want to watch Hercules for the twenty-four hundredth time!” Flo smiled as the babysitter picked up her son.

“I haven’t watched it two hundred times since with you last time,” Trevor grumbled.

“That’s not my fault,” Lilith countered. “Bye Flo! Say bye to Mommy, T-Dog!”

“Bye Mommy!”

“Bye T-Dog!” Flo shook her head and walked out to her driveway. He would be there tonight. He will be there tonight. She was driving out a few hours before her shift. One of his girls had been in a car accident. She didn’t want to make him worry.

She had never driven as legally since her driver’s test. She was passed at every opportunity. She pulled into the parking lot, checked her makeup and hair one last time in the vanity mirror, and headed into the restaurant.

“Changed the back code, 2321,” said Jimmy, who was clocking in on the front cash.

“Thanks Jim,” she said, pressing in the buttons and heading into the kitchen of the restaurant. She walked across the floor and into the main office. Curtis, the owner, was sitting down going over some papers on the desk. He looked up.

“I’m not usually here when you get in for the nightshift, Flo,” he said.

“I had some business,” she said.

“Something wrong?” he worried.

“Frankie, you know the charity case, we have to fire him,” she said.

“Oh, do we have cause?” he said. “I know we cut his shifts back to two a month, they usually quit on their own when they do that.”

“Yeah, he’s not a smart kid,” she said.

“You’d vouched that he’d be OK,” he said.

“And time has passed, and I am rescinding my vouching. Is vouching a word?”

“Close enough,” he said. “‘cause?”

“He’s been stalking one of our staffers. He followed me home to get a phone number to do so.”

“That Oksana girl?” Curtis shook his head. “If you or she want to move to daylight shifts. Say the word, I’ll make it work.”