Chapter nine

Chapter nine

Julie

Holy Rafe! I must remember to include him in my prayers.

When I think everything is lost and Alan will kiss me in front of this crowd —and worse, in front of Danny, which would make things tenser between us—Rafe shows up to save me like a prince on a white horse.

When Alan held me, I panicked for two reasons. First, afraid that someone would see what they shouldn't, as the dress was short and the panties were missing. Second, the expression Danny had on his face when we were both just singing wasn't good already. I didn't even wanna fathom the explosion he'd have with a kiss on the mouth at the end of the show.

The moment Alan said I'd be his today, Rafe walks on stage and thanked the band for the show, interrupting my band mate's sudden romantics. Taking the cue, I thanked the audience and left the stage faster than a rocket. I didn't stop to talk to anyone. I pulled George, who was waiting for me backstage, and then we get out through the back door.

It's only when we're in the car, on the way home, that I realize I forgot my stuff in Danny's office. I didn't even bring my purse.

"George?”

"Yes, darling.”

"I left my things behind," I say, with a sad tone.

"I'll get them for you tomorrow, little girl.”

I nod and remain quiet, thinking about everything and, at the same time, nothing. Before long, George stops the car in our condo and accompanies me home.

"Do you want me to stay with you?” he asks, worried. I'm very quiet and he knows that's not normal for me.

"No, my friend. I think I need to be alone for a while. Thanks.”

He smiles, kisses my forehead and goes home.

I go straight to the bathroom, remove my makeup and take a hot bath. Just there, alone under the shower, I allow myself to think of everything that happened. I can't understand what led Daniel to act like that in the office.

I saw in his eyes a deep desire like I've never seen before. The look he gave me was like he wanted to devour me and he couldn't have enough of me. His kisses were much more intense than I imagined. The feeling of his lips on mine was perfect. His touch afforded me a pleasure like I've never experienced, but the memory of his frightened look at the end of it all makes me break into tears. I feel like my sand castle has been collapsed with a wave. He let me go suddenly and he seemed reluctant, as if touching me was the most horrible thing he'd ever done in his life. If I had any hope that we could have a future together, I think it died there.

When I just about cried everything I could cry, I close the shower, dry myself and put on one of the lace sweaters that George and I bought. It makes me even more depressed now that I feel like Daniel has escaped through my fingers. However when I look for something else, I see that my best friend threw away all my cartoon t-shirts.

I go to bed, haunted by deep green eyes and the total silence of the house next door.

***

Boom! Boom! Boom!

I wake up frightened with the noise of something knocking.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

I look at the watch. 04:30 a.m. Who’s knocking so hard at this time? The condo should...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Julieeeeeeeeeeeee !, someone shouts my name while the knocking continues.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Oh, my God! This noise is at my door! I get out of bed in a hurry and open the door before the rest of the neighborhood wake up with the racket.

“What the hell is happ...” I don’t end the sentence. I find myself face to face with Danny, drunk, holding the purse I left in his office.

Hold on, is he with a...black eye? Seriously?

“Daniel, what happened? You have a black eye and you smell like,” I pucker my nose, “cheap whiskey.”

“I had to brinc...” he starts speaking, in a drunken rolling voice until he is distracted by something. I follow his glance and realize that he’s staring at the lace sweater. I completely forgot what I was dressed on. And what’s worse is that it’s white and transparent. Oh, damn it!

Hmm...Or not.

“ Daniel !” I call him. “I’m up here”, I say, and he diverts his glance from my boobs and looks at my face again.

“Hey?” he mumbles and gives a tender smile to me. “You are shooo beautiful. I feeel like taking youuu tooo bed.”

“Absolutely not! You are totally wasted.” I turn into the house and go to my room to put on a robe and try to collect myself a bit more. As I go back, he sneaked in behind me, removing his shoe. “Hey! What are you doing? Stop that!”

“I’m gonna go shleeep hugging youuu.”

“Smelling of booze? No way!” I hold him by the arm and take him to his door. I pick the key in the pocket of his pants, open the door and shove him in.

He sits on the sofa while he pulls out the shoe and the shirt. I go to the kitchen to get ice to put on the black eye, while I go over my mantra of this early morning; I cannot take advantage of a drunkard. I cannot take advantage of a drunkard. I cannot take advantage of a drunkard.

“Julieeeeeeeeee!”

Jesus! He’s a really difficult case, this drunkard, hey?

“What is it?” I ask, as I come back from the kitchen with ice in hand, when he’s already lying down on the couch...in underwear!

I get closer to give him the ice, when he says:

“You’re shooo beautiful. How can I shtay away... And he falls into a deep sleep.

I put the ice back in the kitchen and go to the room to fetch a sheet with a smile on my face. I cover him. I bend and kiss him on his lips. Hey! Don’t judge me, I couldn’t help it! I switch off the light and go back home thinking that all is not lost. Tomorrow, like George said, is the day to plot strategies and win allies.

***

In spite of the turbulent night, I wake up quite early. I’m determined to put my plan into action, but I will need George and Jo to come to the party. They will kill me because of the time, but I’m not waiting any longer. First I call George’s cell phone.

“Arghhhh....” he complains when answering the phone. “Little girl, was there a bomb explosion or the third world war started? Why are you calling me at 6:30 a.m.?”

“Emergency meeting, remember? Get your ass out of bed. I’ll be there by you in 20 minutes for us to go to Starbucks. Compulsory attendance.”

“Wow! We have a woman on a mission. Very good. I’ll be ready in 20 minutes.”

Jo doesn’t answer the phone. I try one more time. Six rings later, I finally hear her voice:

“Did something happen, Julie?”

“I need you at Starbucks within twenty minutes.”

“Oh, you mean that? What happened? You see, I’m sort of...” She can’t finish her sentence, as her attention seems to be cut off by the voice of a man in the back.

“Jo? Who’s there with you?” I ask, shocked. She’s not dating, nor is she going out with anybody. Who might be there with her?

“Nobody, it’s the TV. I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Kisses.”

And she puts the phone down on my face! I’m shocked! I finish getting ready and I get out, meeting George in front of his place.

“Little girl, what happened? You look frightened.”

“I don’t know...I’m wondering about something, but don’t worry. Let’s have our coffee.”

I think it’s better not to tell George about Jo, or he will make an inquiry until our friend tells us what’s happening. And I know, above all, that every now and then we need time to talk about certain matters.

When we arrive at the coffee house, Jo is already there waiting. We hug one another, request our usual cappuccinos with vanilla and sit at a table at the corner, away from the others.

I start telling what happened but Jo stops me, raising her right hand and grimacing at me.

“Please, please!” Save me from the... hmm...spicy details. He’s my brother! Gee!”

I open my mouth to answer, but I’m interrupted by George, who holds my hand and speaks in a conspiratorial tone.

"My dear, you can tell me every-little-thing. To the smallest detail, I don't mind at all.”

I roll my eyes and carry on telling —without the details, of course—including even that he came to my house at dawn.

"We need to draw up a plan of action. Before, I had doubts about whether I could have any chance with him, but after this early morning, I'm sure that if I act right, I can win him over.”

"And what are you thinking of doing?" Jo asks, seeming confused. As I open my mouth to answer, George does it for me.

"She's going to keep singing at the bar. Wearing those short, wonderful clothes. And she’s going to get a new boyfriend. One that's going to drive Danny crazy.”

"Boyfriend?!" Jo and I ask in unison.

“Yes. You're going to have an affair with Alan. A fake one, but Danny Boy doesn't need to know that detail, of course. "George breaks into the Cheshire cat smile. I get scared when he does that.

"I can't fool Alan!” I say, shocked.

"You won't. He's going to help you.”

"How do you know that?" I ask and Jo looks at both of us, seeming not to believe in the plan. I don’t believe it either. Do you?

"Let's call him right now," George asserts, already dialing Alan's number.

"George!" Jo and I speak at the same time, again.

But obviously, he doesn't give a damn.

"Alan? Honey, it's George. I'm waiting for you at the Starbucks close to home, with the girls, to talk about a subject of interest to you. Okay, perfect. Byeee. "He hangs up and looks at both of us" He's coming. Don't worry. It's going to be all right.”

He changes the subject, leaving us out n the cold about his plans, but we know there's no point in insisting that George won't tell us what he's going to do.

Half an hour later, Alan walks into the café and we let out a collective groan. His eye is purple, seeming even worse than Danny's. And he seems to be having some trouble to walk too. God, what happened?

"Hi, guys!" he greets us and sits next to me. "Babe, everything all right?

"Everything”, I answer and look at his black eye more closely. "What happened last night? “I ask, pointing to the bruise.

"After I left the stage, Daniel was waiting for me backstage. We had an argument and he punched me. I fought back and we got into a bit of a mess until the guys in the band and Rafe split us up.”

The three of us look at him with our mouths open.

He shrugs.

"You know I'm into you. I'm not going to accept an idiot telling me what I can and can't do. "He turns to Jo, raises a hand, winks at her, and says: "Nothing personal, kitty.

“She rolls her eyes in response.

"Alan, I need to be honest with you," I speak out, overwhelmed with everything he said. "I really like you. I think you're a great, beautiful guy, and any woman would like a chance to be with you. But I can't lie. I love Danny. I always have. He's the man of my life, even though he’s not convinced of it.

“He tilts his head to the right side and seems to consider what I said.

"It's obvious that you deserve someone who really loves you and wants a relationship." He shudders, seeming bitter just from uttering the word. "If you want to be with me, I promise we'll have some amazing times, but... I don't want commitment.”

"And I don't want a casual relationship that's not going to get me anywhere. I want Daniel”, I say, convinced, and he laughs.

"What is the problem with men today who don’t want commitment?” Jo asks, seeming bored.

Alan shrugs and breaks that sensual smile that makes women sigh. Including the ones now on the table. I'm in love, but I'm not blind, right?

George straightens up in the chair, leans slightly forward and tells him, in a serious tone:

"Well, since you got along, we have a business proposal for you.”

I look at him mortified. My God, what's this madman going to propose?

"Of course, George," Alan replies. "What are you looking for?”

"For you, basically.”

"For me?” he asks, with his eyebrow raised, seeming curious.

"We need a fake boyfriend for our girl to shake things up with Daniel.”

"I don't want to help that guy."Alan crosses his arms, looking like a little boy acting up.

"You're not going to help him, you're going to help Julie.”

"And what do I get out of it?”

"What do you need?

“Alan seems to consider it for some time, while Jo and I watch this quick negotiation as if it were a ping pong match. It would be funny if it wasn't tragic. As much as I wanted a way to win Daniel over, it was strange to see the ease with which George and Alan discussed who, when and where I would kiss him for the next few weeks. I'd basically have a surrogate boyfriend.

"I want a new guitar and a bass.”

“I give you the guitar, the bass is too much.”

"Then it has to be a Red Gibson Firebird X.”

"I'm only giving it to you at the end of it all.”

"And I have the right to kiss Julie when I think it's necessary.”

"No tongue.”

"Can we make out?”

"No make out, nor sex.”

“All right. We have a deal.”

The two of them shake hands, looking into each other's eyes, as if they had sealed world peace and not a ridiculous deal regarding a fake boyfriend for me.

Attempting to regain control —which now I realize I've never had in this situation — I say:

"Alan, you're going to need to be stuck with me for a few weeks...”

I'm still too dazed by the conversation between the two of them.

"Babe, I said I didn't want a relationship, but I never said I wouldn't like to have you in my arms, “ he winks at me. "I'm going to enjoy seeing that idiot Daniel swallow his pride,”

He turns to George and says:

"I promise I won't take advantage of her.”

"Perfect," George raises his hand to Jo, receiving a high five, as if they had hit a home run.

Alan turns to me.

"You know, babe, I would have done it for free just so I could kiss you.”

"Then why didn't you?”

"Well, besides your kisses, I got a guitar. You win Daniel, and I get something to comfort myself.”

I let out a laugh.

"You make it sound like there won't be a line of girls around the corner from After Dark to comfort you.”

"Oh, but I'll be sad for having been kicked and being left with a broken heart. I'll be deserving all the comfort I can get, besides the chance to play sore loser songs on an angry guitar. ", he blinks in a seductive way.

Damn it, Danny better make up his mind soon.

"Now that you've settled it," I say, pointing to Alan and George, “let's draw up our plan of action.”

We crowded the table and started discussing the details. Oh, God, I just hope this works out.

Three hours later, we left the café. George and Jo say goodbye to me and Alan, and each go their own way. The handsome guitarist offers to take me home.

***

We go to my condo. Along the way, our conversation obviously turns to music, and we're pretty excited talking about musical instruments when, unexpectedly, Alan stops me, tucks my hair behind my ear, touches my face and leans over, brushing his lips on mine while muttering:

"If I wasn't the kind of man who likes freedom, I could fall in love with you. The guy standing next door is a lucky guy.”

Oh, my God! Danny's over there, watching us. I have no reaction, but Alan takes control of the situation and deepens the kiss. Then he stops it as unexpectedly as he started, and speaks in a tone loud enough for Danny to hear:

"I'm coming by around six p.m. for our first dinner as a couple, babe. "He gives me a kiss, blinks at me and leaves.

I barely take two steps towards my door when Danny comes to me.

"Julie, what does that mean?”

"That what? “, I ask, playing innocent.

“That guy kissing you.”

"Alan? He asked me to date him and I accepted.” He goes pale below the black eye.

“Date? You accepted? After yesterday?”

“Yesterday? What’s with yesterday, Danny?”

“Us...”

“What us, Daniel? You took me against your office door and then dropped me as if I have some contagious disease and sent me away. There’s no “us”. You don’t want me, Alan does. Now let me go as I need to rest for my romantic night.”

I follow my way home, leaving him standing there with an open mouth.

Julie 1 × 0 Danny Boy.