I was almost in my home when my phone rang. It was Susi.

“Hi, Susi.”

“Claire, where are you?”

“Coming home ... Why?”

“I rented a nice movie. Can you come here?” Even without seeing, I could’ve sworn she was doing puppy eyes.

“Which movie?” I asked, but she already knew my answer. I never refused to go to her house.

“Oh, you know, like we’re really watching it! Stop with the questions and come!”

"Ok, ok."

We hang up and since I was close to my home, I went there to take a bath. But I was still stressed out when I arrived at Susi's home. She noticed.

“What happened, Claire?” She asked, worried.

I told her everything. When I finished, she giggled.

“Are you crazy? I tell you I was caught by two guys who wanted to do God knows what to me and you laugh??” I asked in disbelief.

“I'm not laughing because of that, of course not. I'm laughing because you're thinking of some of them, right? I mean, you’re thinking about the one that saved you, or the one that saved you from the one who saved you” she said, laughing louder this time. I could not believe my ears.

“Are you nutts, Susi?” I asked, serious. It could only be a joke.

“Are they cute at least? Something that gives a good competition to Ben?“ She was literally laughing now. I ignored her completely. I was definitely not in the mood for her usual jokes. I grabbed a pillow and threw at her. I didn’t want to talk about Ben now. And then, amen, we changed the subject and talked for a while, but she fell asleep.

I wondered what Michelle thought when she saw Brian in that situation. And then I realized it could be a normal thing he gets drunk at home. But I rebuked myself for thinking so. I really didn’t know him, but I did not get a good impression either.

I digress a little longer until I fell asleep too.

I woke to the sound of the alarm clock of Susi. And mentally thanked for today being Friday.

We had coffee and I gave her a ride to the hospital where she worked.

I arrived early at the studio and only Judith was there. Caroline hadn’t arrived yet, nor the band.

Not sure why, but I gave a sigh of relief.

I entered my room and there was someone in there. I recognized her crystal-clear blond hair.

Michelle was on the phone with someone. I was going to leave the room, hoping she would not notice me there, but I stumbled on the doorstep. She turned.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t know you had arrived. I was seeing if the date of the first show was scheduled and how we would do the stage.” She said.

“Okay, I think we'll have to get used to it, right?” I said and she smiled.

“The boys are also finalizing the recording of the CD...” She was with a solemn expression suddenly. I'd ask if everything was OK, but we were interrupted. The door opened and the boys entered. They seemed much more daunting now than when I had seen them on the stick. And they were just 4 and not 5 as I saw on the plate stick. Perhaps the other was still arriving, I thought.

Matt was the first to see me, and came to greet me showing his lovely dimples.

“Well, I imagine that you are familiar with Brian” he said, and I looked at Brian who was in the back of the room, head down “so I'll introduce you the rest of the band.

“That chubby over there is Zacky” he said smiling, and pointed to the man with black hair and green eyes I had seen yesterday. He had snakebites. Zacky rolled his eyes to Matt, smiled, and threw his hand to me. I smiled too and shook it.

“The dwarf over there is called Johnny.” Matt said and pointed to a short man with funny hair. I smiled again and shook his hand as well.

“Nice to meet you.” I said, shy, and Johnny winked. Zacky laughed.

“So, as we were saying ...” Michelle said, trying to catch the attention “we were talking about the mounting of the stages yesterday. Any new idea, guys?” As she spoke, Michelle walked to the couch, sat beside Brian and rested her head on his shoulder. I assumed that their fight should not have been intense or he’d always come home drunk, and she was just used to that.

Once again I scolded myself for thinking that and I blushed when I saw that Johnny and Brian were looking at me. I looked down quickly, maybe they noticed.

“I was playing with some scenarios, but I have nothing set in stone yet ..." Zacky said.

“What kinds of scenarios? You know that the shows start a week and a half from here! I am so excited to arrange everything. I'm sure Claire is too.” Michelle looked at me and smiled. I felt guilty because I wasn’t excited, at all... But I smiled at her. She seemed like a nice person.

Judith came in and did not seem surprised by what she saw. She asked permission to enter the room and looked at me with an expression that said “good girl!” I laughed and rolled my eyes. I could not stay angry for so long with her.

“Here, children, are the dates and the venues. The first show, of course, is here, in Michigan.”

Judith was with several papers in her hand. She gave a lot of them to me. I felt tired just by looking at them. Then she gave other papers to Michelle.

When Michelle got to pick up the papers, she stumbled on her cell phone that was on the table edge. I held out my hand in a reflex, while Brian held out his hand as well. I ended up picking up the phone and returned the table quickly. But the look that Brian gave me had warned me that he saw much more than me running for the phone. He saw my damaged wrist.

I felt my face get hot and red under the look he gave me. I knew he was looking at me surprised, but I didn’t dare looking into his eyes. I returned to my desk and sat there, pretending I was busy. Zacky noticed.

“Something wrong, Claire?” He asked. His green eyes were very kind. I smiled at him, trying to sound confident.

“No, I was organizing some stuff here. You have not told us about the ideas of scenery on stage, Zacky.” I said a little louder, trying to divert Brian’s attention from me (yes, he had been looking at me for all this time).

“True, then spit it out, chubby. I’m curious.” Johnny said. Zacky sat on the couch.

“I was thinking of putting a cemetery, you know? ... no, not quite ... only the grids, like the entry of a cemetery ... I don’t know if you are understanding.” Zacky said.

“I think I understand.” Matt said.

“We could put three grids, like if they were gates. The letter A is in a grid, the 7 is in another, and the X in other.”

“That would be cool.” Brian said. I had managed to divert his attention. Good.

“And we could put behind the bars a photo of Jimmy, when we play the music that Syn is recording.” Johnny spoke in a low tone. When he said the name Jimmy, they all bowed their heads simultaneously. Again, I didn’t understand why and I had the feeling that this was not the best time to ask.

“But then, Claire, we have to see the lights as well. To put the play of light in harmony with the music, you know ...” Michelle said, but her voice was slowly dying. I nodded to her. And then, Matt, who kept his head down, got up.

“Well, now that we have the dates and locations of the tour, let's go to the hotel, guys?”

They began to arrange things and Matt came to me.

“Claire, we will meet tomorrow evening at the bar center, you know? I think it's Barefoot or something. We are inviting you.” Matt smiled. He seemed sincere.

“Oh, I don’t know, Matt, but ... well, I'll think about it, ok?” I said and he smiled again and nodded. He said goodbye to me and then Zacky, Johnny and Michelle did too. They left the room. Brian was with a bag in his hand, and came to my table.

“I wish you’d go. You know… to the bar. With us.” He said. I looked at him in surprise.

“Why?” I asked, being a little more noise than necessary. I think I was still angry with him because he grabbed me the other day.

“I know you must not have a good impression of me ... I dunno, just wanted to change that.”

“Getting drunk and grabbing me again?” Oops. I talked too much. I bit my tongue.

He grimaced, but then smiled.

“Or saving your night. What you prefer.”

I looked at him incredulously. I grabbed my stuff and wanted to leave the room, but he came in front of me.

“No, Claire, I’m sorry about that. Sorry.” He said.

I looked at him for a while.

“You look like the kind of person that brings some problems, you know? I don't think I need any mor---

“Can you please forget what happened yesterday? I was out of myself, the day was horrible, and sometimes get drunk seems to be the best option to forget the problems at least for a while. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Literally.” He said in a jet.

I snorted.

“I was stupid, I know, but you would understand if you knew the whole story ... And I want to change your impression about me, and tomorrow we won’t be working then it seems like a good day to restart. Please?” He looked at me and I looked at him for the first time. I mean, I had seen him before but only now paying attention. Outside the black spiky in all directions hair that I already knew, he had chocolate brown eyes and a nose piercing.

“Ooook. I’ll go, ok?” I snorted again. “Can I bring a friend, at least?” I asked, making a pout. He smiled.

“Sure, okay. See you there then.” He said, taking the bag of the table. I saw him taking a cigarette from his jacket pocket.

“Brian! Get out of here with that cigarette!” I warned him, but I couldn’t be completely serious, I laughed a little. Just a little. He could be boring, drunk and crazy, but it was easy to joke with him. He just laughed and raised his hands in surrender, leaving the room.

I shook my head.

I didn’t really want to go, but I thought I should. First, because Matt asked me, and he is too cute for me to just say no.

Second, because, even unwilling, I would give Brian a chance to redeem himself. Of course, not getting drunk or grabbing me. Or both.

I was just curious to know how he would change my mind about himself.

Notes

Comments, please?