Who Are You?
Demons
.:.:.
Jimmy, Zacky, and Johnny took off running, leaving me behind the pack of girls leading us back to the car. I knew what the guys were up to. Being friends with them for such a long time left ‘predictable’ stamped across all their faces. And right on queue I heard it; the curse words and high pitched screams radiated through the streets along the PCH.
Gena and the other girls clung onto their swim tops as their men took off. I shook my head and dropped the lighter back inside my pack of smokes and slipped them in my pocket. The warm smoke filled my lungs before I sighed it back out. I was happy for them and the relationships they had but I couldn’t help but be envious. Everything that was “Matt” yearned for his Valary back. Her sister and Brian had left to visit the twin sister’s family for a while and I couldn’t wait for the day I’d see her again, hoping I wasn’t being too hopeful.
Everyone had already begun to load into Zacky’s SUV by the time I reached the end of the street.
“Shads has to ride in the trunk!” Jimmy poked his head through the window from behind the driver.
That fool was going to have his neck pinned between the glass and frame someday.
I walked to the car and flicked the cigarette butt into the trash can on the sidewalk. “There are seven seats, Sullivan. Or does your long neck need the extra room?” I chuckled.
“That’s not the only long thing on me.” Jimmy batted his eyelashes.
.:.:.
The surrounding scenery began to slowly move as we made our way back to Lee’s. We all knew how lonely she was since her roommate left but she would never admit it. She was always the perky one in the group and we all adored her for it. She and Jimmy really were the perfect match. Just watching the way Jimmy cradled her head in his lap was, dare I say, cute? Then again it wouldn’t be a Jimmy/Leana relationship if he didn’t ruin the moment by sticking a saliva covered finger into his unsuspecting girlfriend’s ear. A fit of laughter overtook our drummer as she glared a million daggers at him.
“I think we should listen to us!” Jimmy exclaimed while reaching into the front seat and grabbing the end of the USB cord.
Even though everyone was worn out from a full day at the beach and none of us had the energy to talk or move, Jimmy found a way to engage us.
“I’ll try! She said as she walked away, try not to lose you!” Everyone but myself screamed along with the music. I merely nodded my head to the beat while memories of Val played in my mind. I had to stop but I didn’t know how.
Zacky turned off the stereo, earning a car full of groans and objections.
“So, who is gonna’ pick up Brian and ‘Chell from the airport? They should be getting in later tonight.” Zacky said while turning into Leana’s apartment complex.
My head perked up.
“We do!” Lacey spoke for both her and Johnny. He glanced at his woman and shook his head with a smile.
“I guess we’re going.” Johnny spoke while removing his seat belt.
Tiredly, I made my way out of the Tahoe as Jimmy nearly knocked me over as he skipped across the parking complex. All of our attentions were focused on the shirtless drummer as he approached a white truck.
Gena sighed, “This can’t end well.”
We made our way over to the scene unfolding in front of us.
“And there it is,” I smirked.
.:.:.
“What’s the matter, Jimmo? Stick your head somewhere it shouldn’t be again?” Leana teased.
“Only this time I don’t think there’s a prescription that can help Jimmy out of this situation.” Johnny added getting a good laugh from us all.
Jimmy frantically tried pulling his head from the window before I heard a female’s voice yell from inside the truck.
“Listen here, you lanky fuck. If you so much as put even one scratch or one fingerprint on my truck, I’m going to have to kick you so fast and so hard that you travel into the past. And when you do, tell your mother to fucking suck it up and swallow so that she makes the future a better place. Do you understand me, shithead?” She threatened.
Everything went quite for only a second before our whole group laughed harder than before. Our chuckles continued as Jimmy was free of his trap. He stumbled a bit as a woman emerged from the vehicle.
She closed the door and began scratching at her forehead. “I would have gladly rolled the window down had he given me the chance. Is he always this dramatic?” She questioned.
Leana began to answer but I completely zoned out as my focus tunneled in on this girl. I’ve glanced at my share of women since Val gone away three months ago but they were merely looks. This was the first time I actually studied and took in another female’s appearance.
.:.:.
She was around Zacky’s height, maybe an inch or two shorter. My gaze smoothly scrolled over the woman and I was thankful for my aviators at this point. Freshly dyed black hair hung loosely in a side braid that fell halfway down her bicep. Her sunglasses lifted and revealed her sharp green eyes surrounded by a light layer of makeup. The look of pale white skin with very soft, tan freckles across her nose softened as she scanned the group. I’d be lying if I said she was anything but curvy. Her features were very proportionate with the thick frame of her body though she would probably look good with losing or gaining ten pounds.
Was that a back handed compliment?
Her look meshed well with ours; a black cotton button up shirt with rolled sleeves paired well with a black undershirt and dark blue jeans. She had the piercings but I wondered if there were any tattoos as well.
She looked at me with a changed expression. Curiosity? She turned back to the group and touched her forehead again with a small smile. I couldn’t help but smirk at that.
“I should be going now, it was nice meeting you?” She sounded uncertain before waving and turning away from us.
Lee broke away from Jimmy as she hopped after the woman.
“Sunglasses or not, I know you couldn’t take your eyes off her.” Zacky glanced over.
I pulled my cigarettes from my pocket and set one between my lips while offering one to him.
At the same time, we both lit up and too a drag. I stared at the smoke lifting away from the end of the cigarette in my hand.
I started, “It’s nothing, Vee. I still need Va-…” Even I recognized the complete denial in my voice as I began my demurral.
“Cut the shit, Matt. We both know she isn’t coming back, no matter how badly she’d want to. Despite what happened, that pain is too much for anyone to bear. You have to let her go.” Zacky flicked the end of the cigarette a few times with his finger to ensure it was extinguished.
Sympathy was present in his voice but it didn’t overshadow the sternness in his truth. Or what he thought was true. I shifted my attention to the new girl and Leana hugging.
My demons refused to let her go.
Jimmy, Zacky, and Johnny took off running, leaving me behind the pack of girls leading us back to the car. I knew what the guys were up to. Being friends with them for such a long time left ‘predictable’ stamped across all their faces. And right on queue I heard it; the curse words and high pitched screams radiated through the streets along the PCH.
Gena and the other girls clung onto their swim tops as their men took off. I shook my head and dropped the lighter back inside my pack of smokes and slipped them in my pocket. The warm smoke filled my lungs before I sighed it back out. I was happy for them and the relationships they had but I couldn’t help but be envious. Everything that was “Matt” yearned for his Valary back. Her sister and Brian had left to visit the twin sister’s family for a while and I couldn’t wait for the day I’d see her again, hoping I wasn’t being too hopeful.
Everyone had already begun to load into Zacky’s SUV by the time I reached the end of the street.
“Shads has to ride in the trunk!” Jimmy poked his head through the window from behind the driver.
That fool was going to have his neck pinned between the glass and frame someday.
I walked to the car and flicked the cigarette butt into the trash can on the sidewalk. “There are seven seats, Sullivan. Or does your long neck need the extra room?” I chuckled.
“That’s not the only long thing on me.” Jimmy batted his eyelashes.
.:.:.
The surrounding scenery began to slowly move as we made our way back to Lee’s. We all knew how lonely she was since her roommate left but she would never admit it. She was always the perky one in the group and we all adored her for it. She and Jimmy really were the perfect match. Just watching the way Jimmy cradled her head in his lap was, dare I say, cute? Then again it wouldn’t be a Jimmy/Leana relationship if he didn’t ruin the moment by sticking a saliva covered finger into his unsuspecting girlfriend’s ear. A fit of laughter overtook our drummer as she glared a million daggers at him.
“I think we should listen to us!” Jimmy exclaimed while reaching into the front seat and grabbing the end of the USB cord.
Even though everyone was worn out from a full day at the beach and none of us had the energy to talk or move, Jimmy found a way to engage us.
“I’ll try! She said as she walked away, try not to lose you!” Everyone but myself screamed along with the music. I merely nodded my head to the beat while memories of Val played in my mind. I had to stop but I didn’t know how.
Zacky turned off the stereo, earning a car full of groans and objections.
“So, who is gonna’ pick up Brian and ‘Chell from the airport? They should be getting in later tonight.” Zacky said while turning into Leana’s apartment complex.
My head perked up.
“We do!” Lacey spoke for both her and Johnny. He glanced at his woman and shook his head with a smile.
“I guess we’re going.” Johnny spoke while removing his seat belt.
Tiredly, I made my way out of the Tahoe as Jimmy nearly knocked me over as he skipped across the parking complex. All of our attentions were focused on the shirtless drummer as he approached a white truck.
Gena sighed, “This can’t end well.”
We made our way over to the scene unfolding in front of us.
“And there it is,” I smirked.
.:.:.
“What’s the matter, Jimmo? Stick your head somewhere it shouldn’t be again?” Leana teased.
“Only this time I don’t think there’s a prescription that can help Jimmy out of this situation.” Johnny added getting a good laugh from us all.
Jimmy frantically tried pulling his head from the window before I heard a female’s voice yell from inside the truck.
“Listen here, you lanky fuck. If you so much as put even one scratch or one fingerprint on my truck, I’m going to have to kick you so fast and so hard that you travel into the past. And when you do, tell your mother to fucking suck it up and swallow so that she makes the future a better place. Do you understand me, shithead?” She threatened.
Everything went quite for only a second before our whole group laughed harder than before. Our chuckles continued as Jimmy was free of his trap. He stumbled a bit as a woman emerged from the vehicle.
She closed the door and began scratching at her forehead. “I would have gladly rolled the window down had he given me the chance. Is he always this dramatic?” She questioned.
Leana began to answer but I completely zoned out as my focus tunneled in on this girl. I’ve glanced at my share of women since Val gone away three months ago but they were merely looks. This was the first time I actually studied and took in another female’s appearance.
.:.:.
She was around Zacky’s height, maybe an inch or two shorter. My gaze smoothly scrolled over the woman and I was thankful for my aviators at this point. Freshly dyed black hair hung loosely in a side braid that fell halfway down her bicep. Her sunglasses lifted and revealed her sharp green eyes surrounded by a light layer of makeup. The look of pale white skin with very soft, tan freckles across her nose softened as she scanned the group. I’d be lying if I said she was anything but curvy. Her features were very proportionate with the thick frame of her body though she would probably look good with losing or gaining ten pounds.
Was that a back handed compliment?
Her look meshed well with ours; a black cotton button up shirt with rolled sleeves paired well with a black undershirt and dark blue jeans. She had the piercings but I wondered if there were any tattoos as well.
She looked at me with a changed expression. Curiosity? She turned back to the group and touched her forehead again with a small smile. I couldn’t help but smirk at that.
“I should be going now, it was nice meeting you?” She sounded uncertain before waving and turning away from us.
Lee broke away from Jimmy as she hopped after the woman.
“Sunglasses or not, I know you couldn’t take your eyes off her.” Zacky glanced over.
I pulled my cigarettes from my pocket and set one between my lips while offering one to him.
At the same time, we both lit up and too a drag. I stared at the smoke lifting away from the end of the cigarette in my hand.
I started, “It’s nothing, Vee. I still need Va-…” Even I recognized the complete denial in my voice as I began my demurral.
“Cut the shit, Matt. We both know she isn’t coming back, no matter how badly she’d want to. Despite what happened, that pain is too much for anyone to bear. You have to let her go.” Zacky flicked the end of the cigarette a few times with his finger to ensure it was extinguished.
Sympathy was present in his voice but it didn’t overshadow the sternness in his truth. Or what he thought was true. I shifted my attention to the new girl and Leana hugging.
My demons refused to let her go.
Notes
Just a short chapter to keep the ball rolling. Comments, ratings, and suggestions are greatly appreciated. So, I wonder why Val left?
Well damn! ;) glad you’re back!
6/2/19