Well, that’s kind of crass!
“I’m Dingo’s wife, so he’d better keep in line.”
“Right, so um… why am I called Little Bean?” I ask curiously
She smiles brightly. “Because that’s what you are. A little bean trying to sprout, but she needs some help growing, and that’s where we come in. We’ll be your water and your sunlight, helping you grow into a bright and colorful new you. When we’re finished with you, you won’t be the same ever again. Isn’t that right, Colt?”
“Sure is, Mamma Sia. We’ll help you to live a little, and I intend on assisting you personally,” Colt answers.
I’m not sure what they’re going on about, but it sounds both scary and exciting. Maybe I’ll learn to fit in with these people.After all, they are making me feel welcome in their tight-knit group.
“She isn’t one of us, Mamma. I don’t even know why she’s here,” a female with long mahogany hair and covered in tattoos hisses from the other end of the Hummer.
“C’mon now, Jessi, play nice,” Mamma replies, then she tuts at her.
Colt rolls his eyes and smiles at me.
Well, dang, now I don’t feel so welcome.
Sia unwraps her arm from around me and moves to sit next to Dingo, who leans in and kisses her passionately. I blush and turn to stare out the window as the city streets of London flash by. Colt’s hand moves slightly up from my knee and now rests on my inner lower thigh. I gulp and turn to look at him.
“You still seem nervous,” he says softly.
I shrug. “Guess I’m a little out of my comfort zone.”
“Well, don’t worry, I’m here. And I know Mamma Sia will take care of you when I’m not. You’re safe with us, Dee, so let go. Enjoy yourself, and remember, be spontaneous,” Colt reiterates, his eyes glistening in the city lights.
I nod and settle back into the seat, taking in all the individuality and newness surrounding me.
***
After dinner at a nearby restaurant, which they had reserved entirely for privacy, we head back into the stretch Hummer. Then, with my newfound friends, we’re off to Wembley Stadium for my first-ever rock concert.
We’re ushered out as soon as we pull into an underground parking lot. Since I was the last in, I slide out first, with Colt following closely behind me. He places his hand on the small of my back in a commanding maneuver, giving me the strength to continue, and walks toward the building.
Screaming in the distance echoes around us, and I look around, trying to see where it’s coming from, but Colt walks me so fast that I’m inside and rushing down a hallway before I can see anything. A group of people has headphones with microphones attached and swanky lanyards hanging around their necks. They greet Colt and ask him questions, one right after the other. Everything’s happening so fast that I can’t seem to concentrate.
Over dinner, they tried to run me through what to expect, but they underexplained how hectic this would be. We’ve just arrived, and I’m overwhelmed and way out of my element.
Needing to focus on something to distract me from this world of chaos I’ve entered, I quickly glance at one of the passes attached to the lanyard. It reads,12GAUGE-Slayed Loaded and Live World Tour.
I look up at Colt while he answers the barrage of questions these people are throwing at him, and I’m in awe. He doesn’t appear to be affected by the onslaught. It’s like this is an everyday occurrence. But now I’m seeing it in person, I suppose for him, it is.
His hand leaves my back while he reaches out to sign something, and a wave of anxiety follows at the loss. One of the people talking to him pulls him along, so he’s walking faster, and I’m now struggling to keep up. The hallway is small, and there are people everywhere. With my eyes focused on Colt, I’m caught off balance when I suddenly walk into a trash can, which halts me in my tracks. But Colt doesn’t miss a beat, and the people keep walking.
Anxiety takes over as I try to step around the trash can, but an arm wraps around mine. When I see it’s Mamma Sia, I take a deep breath, and she starts to walk with me.
“It’s okay. I got ya, Little Bean. I know this can be overwhelming the first time, but you’ll get used to it. Colt’s life ishectic, and this is all part of it. If you’re gonna stick around, you better learn how to adapt and to walk quickly,” she tells me with a slight chuckle.
No wonder she was walking so fast at the hotel—this world waits for no one.
I keep up with her while I watch Colt in the distance being led into a room. Sia turns, taking me with her, and we head into a different room a few doors down from his. From what I can tell at first glance, this is a dressing room. There’s a massive mirror with lights framing it, and plush red couches are sporadically placed around the walls. Bottles of champagne sit on ice with a fruit and cheese platter served on an ultra-modern table. As the small room starts to fill with females—seven, including me—Sia lets me go and makes her way over to the champagne.
“Well, slags and sluts, here’s to the final night in our hometown, then we’re off to take over the rest of the world,” Sia exclaims as the other females in the room take their champagne flutes and cheer loudly.
Language ladies!
I’m taken aback at the less-than-desirable words she used to describe us. So I stand in the corner, as far away from the alcohol as possible. Especially after last night’s vodka binge, I don’t think I could stomach more than water.
