6

I kept the bar open until sunrise the next morning. I barely had anything to drink; I was mostly entertaining the patrons with all kinds of CCR songs, and some improvised songs and sometimes just doing stupid songs like The Rattling Bog.

My folks were really annoyed when I turned up at around seven am, but pleasantly surprised when I grinned at them and joined them for breakfast on the veranda.

“Good to see you sober at this time of day.” My mother said to me.

“It feels weird but it really was a long night.” I responded and drank some orange juice.

“Guessing you were too busy to drink?” my father stated.

“Something like that. The cops were out in the parking lot the whole night. Didn’t feel like a night in jail. But I’m fairly sure I saw a couple of guys getting in the back seats.” I grinned at me dad.

“Perfect night to be a cop I think.” He replied and nodded. “Suppose you’ll be rotting in bed the entire day?”

“Just for a little while. Think I might catch up with some homework later on.” I replied and stood up.

“Miss Preston called yesterday.” My mother remarked suddenly just as I pushed my chair in.

“Yeah? What did she want?” I asked curiously.

“She suggested we get you a tutor to help with the homework.”

I raised an eyebrow.                                               

“What did you say?” I asked her, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

“Well, she offered so we agreed. She said she would be by later today.” My mother told me, watching my reaction carefully.

I pursed my lips and said

“Don’t think she’ll make it. Besides, I don’t need their help. I’ll do it on my own.”

I walked away from my parents, the good feeling I had the whole morning had disappeared. I silently cursed Miss Preston for meddling. I unlocked my flat made sure to lock it when I was inside. I had a shower and went to bed, hoping the uneasy feeling would be gone when I wake up.

I woke mid-afternoon to the sounds of Johnny Cash blaring from my sound system. I frowned, knowing very well that I had locked the door. I walked out to the sitting room to turn the music off. To my surprise the band sat there, each with a beer in the hand, all the while chatting to each other.

I used the remote to turn the volume down and asked irritably

“How’d you lot get in?”

“Your old man let us in. Since when do you look the door?” Jamie replied casually.

I frowned at him and took the closest beer from some one’s hand.

“Since I was accused of rape.” I replied moodily.

“Ah! About that! Apparently the same lady admitted in her very drunk state to the inspector that she had lied. She said she made it all up so that she could push her feelings aside.”

I raised a curious eyebrow.

“When was this?” I asked.

“Last night. Apparently the lady in question was falling for you.” Claude said with a massive grin.

“You’re lying.” I said in disbelief.

“He’s not. The cops were with your parents when we came in. She apologised and everything. Your mother said she should apologise to you.” Jamie gave me a wry smile.

I sat down next to Juan on the couch.

“You mean to tell me, she made my life an absolute living hell for an entire week, ruined my reputation, and nearly destroyed my life and all just because she had THOUGHT she had feelings or me? That’s bull shit!” I yelled in frustration.

“Calm down there August. It’s not going to help yelling about it.” Juan said and clasped my shoulder.

“Please don’t call me August. It’s Andy. I’m sorry but that is how I see it.” I sat back into the leather of the couch.

“Well, to be honest, I’m not sure why she thought she could get away with it.” Claude remarked.

“Was she arrested? Was her name dragged through the mud?” I asked bluntly.

“No, nothing of the sort. Your mother said she’ll talk to you and let you decide.” Juan put in a word.

“What do you think I should do?” I replied while drowning the last contents of the beer bottle.

“I’d say you are fairly equal aren’t you? All you have to do now is spread the word of her DUI and it’ll be fair. You are the one who called the cops on her last night wasn’t it?” Claude remarked pointedly.

“Not my style mate.” I replied and shook the empty bottle.

“You’re out.” Juan commented drily.

“Clearly.” I replied and stood up to go to the kitchen.

“You really are out mate.” Claude said loudly before I could go into the kitchen.

“You guys really cleaned out my fridge?” I asked annoyed.

“Oh come on! It’s not as if the fridge was well stocked!” Claude argued.

“I had two six packs.” I said bluntly.

“Yeah? That’s not nearly enough!” Claude argued.

“You are going to go get more. Now. I’m thirsty, its hot, I’m in a mess, I want to drink.” I said pointedly to Claude and Juan, the two biggest drinkers in the group.

“Your mother said we can’t stay long you need to do your homework.” Juan chuckled.

“You are such an ass hat. No way am I doing homework now.” I replied defiantly.

“We’ll get the booze, you get the fire going.” Claude told me with a triumphant smile.

At four pm we were getting drunk, the burning barbeque long forgotten. We were arguing about the next covers we were going to do.

For the first time Jamie piped up

“How about we do a George Ezra?”

“The guy that does Shotgun?” I asked in mild disinterest.

“Yes.” He replied.

“No.” I responded.

“His songs are great.”

“Mediocre at best.” I responded frankly.

We spent a good part of the day lounging around the pool. My folks came over at one point just to tell me they were going to the Shelly’s next door for a barbeque.

I raised an eyebrow before I drunkenly enquired if I was invited.

“You are, but you are busy.” My father replied with a dismal look on his face.

“Don’t want to go anyway. Who knows what crap I’d have done next according to her.” I snorted.

My folks just shook their heads and left, not even bothering telling me to behave. I clearly was beyond that point.

“Jamie, weren’t you saying something about your cousin of sister being home for the holidays or whatever they have in college?” Claude suddenly turned to Jamie.

“Both. They only came home to annoy the shit out of me.” Jamie turned to me, “My cousin said to tell you ‘Hi’.”

I turned my head slightly and asked, having only listened half way

“Claudia’s back?”

“Yes you idiot. Sammy said ‘hi’. But you better get Claudia out of you head. My sister isn’t going to put out for you anymore. Seems like college has gone to her head.”

“Wait, which one is the hot one again?” I asked confused.

Claude chuckled and then said

“They both are. You fancied Sammy more but then Claudia put out remember?”

I took a big drag of my cigarette and drank the last of my beer, thinking hard.

“Nope.” I said, popping the P. “Toss me a beer will you?”

Tom laughed at me and passed another bottle to me.

“I do remember Claudia saying it was the best drunk sex she ever had.”

“Shut up.” Jamie retorted quickly and threw my bottle cap at him.

“Admit it Jamie. Your sister wasn’t satisfied with any of us. It took a real rock god to satisfy her that night.”

“You lot just couldn’t keep it up.” I bragged.

“And you did?” Tom asked surprised.

“Dude! I play that thing like I do my guitar, flawlessly, with my hands.” I remarked amongst rambunctious laughter.

Jamie’s phone beeped in his hand and he sighed.

“What’s the matter?” Claude asked carefully.

“They want to know where I am. They want to go out.” Jamie replied miserably.

“Why don’t you tell them to come over?” I asked with roguish grin.

“They’re annoying!” he replied with a frown.

“Not to me they’re not.” I argued loudly.

Jamie glared at me but started typing furiously.

“I sent them a location pin. They’ll be here soon.” He said miserably.

“They bringing friends?” Claude asked with a crude smile.

Jamie shrugged and put his phone on the towel next to him.

“Let’s go for a swim. It’s sweltering and you lot sitting here turning into dried grapes.” He commented and stood up, taking his shirt off with one smooth motion.

“Raisins.” Tom corrected.

“It’s made from grapes. It’s a damn dried grape.”

“The word is still raisin.” Tom told him.

“Whatever.” Jamie replied and ran to the pool.

“I’ll go change.” I said and stood up.

I was gone for about five minutes to change into swimming trunks and a sleeveless t-shirt. On my way out I stopped in the living room and turned the sound system on and pop a second USB drive into its slot. When the music started to play I turned the volume up all the way before I walked out to the pool. I was about to dive in when a car horn sounded in the driveway and I changed my mind.

“Jamie!” I yelled and took my seat again under the shade, taking a good swig from my beer.

Jamie got out of the pool and went to the driveway. We waited for them for all off five minutes when he finally returned, a crowd of about ten people trailing behind him.

“They brought friends.” He said with a grin.

“The more the merrier mate.” I grinned and stood up to greet the nearing guests.

Two girls in front of the group immediately drew my attention.

“Claudia.” I said breathlessly when the blond came up to me.

I looked her over, smiling at her near nakedness, her skin painfully exposed by the tiny flower pattern bikini top.

Claudia came to a halt so close that our bodies touched. The only thing separating us was the polystyrene cup with a straw protruding from the top.

“Andy.” She grinned and kissed me softly on the lips.

She tasted of lip gloss and sweet red wine.

“Thought Jamie said college gave you bad manners.” I said husky.

“Think I might’ve forgotten how sexy you are.” She replied and then took a sip from the straw.

“Still drinking wine from a straw?” I licked my lips and grinned hungrily.

“Is there any other way to drink wine?”

I bit my lower lip and kept staring into her eyes, faintly remembering the last time we had made contact.

“Maybe later Sport.” She said and winked at me before sauntering away from me casually.

Next was Sammy, aged around twenty one, and tanned deep bronze and voluptuous curves that sent my mind spinning. She wore a black bikini with a tiny sash around her waist and flip flops. I could not keep myself from staring.

“You look…,” I was about to say divine but just caught myself in time “Simply gorgeous.”

“Good to see you to Andy. How you doing?” she asked and licked her luscious lips.

I shrugged and gave her a charming smile.

“Good, all things considered. Better now that you are here.”

She grinned at me and took my hand

“Glad to hear it.” She said and took my hand.

Tom stopped me by grabbing my shoulder.

“Leave some for the rest of us will you.” He said, breathing heavy.

“I’ll try.” I said to him.

I woke up on Sunday afternoon with two naked women in my bed. On my left was Sammy, laying on my chest, to my right a red headed woman, Nadine I think her name was, with her back towards me. I heard hasty movement next to my bed. I turned my head a few inches and spotted Claudia hastily picking up her clothes and throwing other clothes around.

“You sneaking out on me again?” I asked her sleepily.

She turned around, clearly startled at my voice. She blushed and started putting on her clothes.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t do this again.” she muttered and threw me a dirty look.

I gently eased my arm from under Sammy’s head and sat up.

“What? Sleep with me?” I asked with an amused smile.

“Yes Andy! You get me every time. As soon as you flash that grin or pick up a guitar I am lost. And I don’t want to be lost like this. You are a rover. A wild rover. I just, I can’t all right?” she said and fled from the room as fast as she could.

I shook my head and stood up, looking for my own clothes I had discarded hurriedly. The purple vibrator next to the bed caught my eye. It was it seemed to me, a night that I should remember. I do remember parts of it, having my way with Sammy in the pool, then Claudia. What I don’t remember is bringing them to my room or how the third woman came to be in my bed.

I gave up in my search for my clothing and took out fresh clothes from the closet before I went to the bathroom for something for my headache.

I then made my way to the kitchen where I found Jamie, nursing a cup of coffee and staring pale faced at the phone in his hand, my phone.

“Hey Jamie.” I greeted before I made myself a cup of coffee.

“Hey yourself.” He muttered bluntly and slid the phone over.

“What’s this?” I asked him with a frown and took the phone.

“We’ve got a voyeur next door. That clip was sent to your phone, from the same woman who accused you of rape.” He replied bluntly.

I paled as I watched the video of myself in the pool, Sammy sitting in front of me, her legs over my shoulders.

“That’s not all. Fast forward it.” He said disgusted.

I did what he asked and stared amazed by what I saw. Clearly the entire band had been where I had been, including Jamie. I watched stunned as we took turns with Sammy, either screwing her, or watching the other one do it.

I pushed the phone away, feeling disgusted with myself.

“Did we really do that?” I asked, feeling very sick.

“It appears so. And it also looks like you were the instigator of it all.” He said and gave me a foul look.

“Fuck.” I muttered and ran my hands through my hair.

“Yeah. We fucked up.” He replied and pushed his coffee towards me.

“Fuck it man. I need something stronger than that.” I muttered and shook my head.

Tom came into the kitchen and gave us a worried look.

“Have you seen it?” he asked me in a soft tone.

“Yeah.” I replied, not knowing what else to say.

The other two members of the band came in.

“Claude, have you seen this?” I asked him as he sat down.

He only nodded, not saying a word.

“What have we done?” I asked shocked.

“What is done is done; we need to keep this away from everyone else.” Juan said softly.

I stood up and rounded up on him.

“Really Juan? We might’ve have hurt her real bad.”

I tried to keep my voice low.

“Only problem is, she wasn’t the only one.” Claude replied and gave me an odd look.

“What do you mean?” I asked him confused.

“You fucked your teacher. She’s sleeping at your mother’s house.” He dropped the bomb on me.

“How do you know that?” I asked shakily.

“She came around, rather drunk, asked to see you, we pointed her to you and she slipped her panties off. You fucked her in the sitting room on the couch. She passed out after that. Tom carried her to your mother’s house to sleep it off there.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“We had an absolute fucking orgy didn’t we lads?” I commented quietly.

“You did.” My father boomed from the kitchen door. We all jumped in fright.

“Dad, we didn’t know.” I tried to defend myself but it appeared my father was in no mood to listen.

I do believe that might’ve been the first slap my father had ever given me. It was the hardest I’ve ever been slapped before. My head snapped hard and I crashed to the floor.

“Your behaviour is disgusting! You all are disgusting!” he yelled at us. “What were you on? We come home to a filthy, disgusting, animalistic behaviour. Everybody’s screwing every one. Your own damn cousin!” my father got into Jamie’s face. Then he turned to face me “You better go clean that mess up outside. And this time, don’t come running when you get charged with rape again you got me?”

“Yes Dad.” I replied as I slowly got up from the floor.

We all stared in silence as my father left the house, banging the front door behind him.

“You guys should go.” I said quietly.

“We’ll go after we helped you clean up.” Claude replied and gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

The backyard was such a mess it took two hours to clean every single spot that we had touched. The guys then said their goodbyes, taking the two women with them. Sammy gave me a long kiss and thanked me for an unforgettable night. I nodded and turned my head away, the other woman just said “See you around August,” before getting in the car.

The silence was deafening when everyone was gone. I sighed feeling very lonely all of a sudden. I locked the door and went to bed.