It was obvious he felt the same frustrations as me because even from this distance, I could see his eyes as they narrowed. I watched as his entire body stiffened as soon as hesawme.
Avery had the whole trip over to tell me he was playing in The Band. She listened to me go on and on about how much he made me crazy and didn’t say a word about him being heretonight.
I slammed my cup down on the counter sending drops of soda flying before I stormed out of the bar. Thanks to the loudspeakers, I could still hear the music in the parking lot, but it was still better than seeing hisstupidface.
I didn’t wander far from the front door. It might be teen night, and this might be River Valley, but I had no delusions about being a young woman wandering around the dark parking lot of a bar. From where I stood, I could still see inside the building, and the bouncer checking ID’s couldseeme.
He wasn’t the biggest guy I’d ever seen, but I felt safe knowing at least someone would be near if something were to happen. I leaned up against the wall and listened to song after song. Most were familiar, and if I wasn't so angry, I might even sing along. Not tonight. Tonight I was too mad. I wondered if I’d ever be able to hear them again without thinking ofRainier.
“Hey, Michelle,” a voice said from beside me, and I looked up. I hadn’t noticed Jenny walk over to me. She was dressed in a short dress with flowers on it and wore her hair down and curly. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her look sopretty.
“Hey,” I said, with a slight smile. We weren’t exactly friends, but we weren’t enemies either. Or at least, I didn’t think we were. She’d been nice to me since our shift together. Maybe we’d found a truce between the twoofus?
“Too loud?” sheasked.
“Somethinglikethat.”
“Have they been playing long? I had some things I needed to do at home, but got here as quickly as Icould.”
“Not really. I bet you’d still get to see a lot if youwentin.”
She hesitated for the briefest moment, almost like she wanted to say something, but settled on a quick goodbye before she walked over to the guy standing at the door of Wild Bill’s. She pulled out her ID, was given the same underage treatment that most people here had tonight, and wentinside.
I stayed at my post outside the bar listening to more songs. As the evening went on, they began playing more and more original tunes. I looked down at my phone and realized I’d been sitting outside for about an hour. The show had to be over soon. It was time for me to go back inside and play supportive friend toAvery.
As I walked up to the front of the crowd, pushing people out of the way and giving dirty looks to anyone who argued, I noticed Jenny had also pushed herself to the front. She stared up at the stage with the same lovesick expression Avery did. Only her gaze was stuck toRainier.
What was it about him that brought out such strong emotions in everyone? There wasn’t anything special about him. He was quiet, awkward, and not exactly the best looking guy in town. His eyes were set too far apart and were a dull brown shade. Not to mention those thick glasses. His hair had the same generic qualities, a boring dark color that was cut into a style that didn't do him any favors. At least it was covered underneath a baseball hattonight.
The Band finished their set soon after I came back in and Avery found me. It wasn’t hard. I was standing pretty close to her after fighting my way through thecrowd.
“Did you even listen to any of it?” she pouted even as she linked her arm in mine and steered us closer to the bar. It was slammed now with a long line of teens waiting to getdrinks.
“Of course I did. I was feeling overheated and needed some space.” She scrutinized my face determining whether or not I was telling the truth. “Avery, you know how much I hatesweating.”
That much was true, and she knew it. “Fine. So, what did you think? Isn’t Carteramazing?”
“Yeah, he’s great. Why didn’t you tell me Rainier was inTheBand?”
“Really?”
“You know how much I can’t stand him. It would have been nice to have aheads-up.”
“Well, consider this yourheads-up.”
“A heads-up happens before thesurprise.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I really didn’t think it would matter. Besides, it’s not like Rainier’s actually part of the band. He’s just filling in forCooper.”
“Thankgoodness.”
“Seriously, Michelle. You need to chill with your grudgeagainsthim.”
“Maybe. Hey, are you readytogo?”
“They justfinished.”
“I’mtired.”
