Rock Revenge: Alex's Story

“Hey, want to know some other exciting news? Gina’s pregnant.”

“To Jackson?”

“Of course to Jackson, you dick. Who else?”

I didn’t really think Gina’s pregnancy was on the same scale as my band getting signed but, since I’d been trying to downplay my success, I couldn’t really bring up the deal again. I’d really been expecting everyone else to make a fuss for me, so I could be the one who was cool and unaffected.

Before I could say anymore, Dee walked in. My breath caught in my chest. Even if I told myself that I needed to stay away from her, my body had an entirely different response. The sight of her was like a punch in the guts.

There was something different about her. I was so used to seeing the rock side but she seemed somehow softer than usual. The eyeliner was less intense, the clothes less black. Was the change in image because of me? I didn’t see what she hoped to achieve with it.

I tried to fade back into the shadows of my corner, wanting to observe her unnoticed.

“How’s the new job going?” Carlie asked.

She seemed to have gotten awfully friendly with Carlie in such a short time. That would make sense. Violet had been Carlie’s best friend but she’d left the club months ago and, since Gina and Jackson had gotten together, Jackson had quit drinking, so they rarely came into the place. The absence of Jackson always left a hole at the bar, a sense that something was missing. He’d propped up the bar for so many years.

Anyway, that would’ve left Carlie without many friends. And Dee had a job?

“You know, it’s a job. It pays the bills.”

“Do you get free clothes?” Carlie asked.

“Not really but if you come in, I’ll get you a discount. We’ve got these fantastic boots in stock at the moment.” She raised her leg to show them to Carlie. Then caught sight of me and lowered it again.

“Hi,” I said. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything to her but figured it’d look weird if I didn’t.

She nodded her head. “I should get upstairs to sound check.”

She smiled but that smile was directed at Carlie, not at me. I would not go upstairs and watch them. I’d ignore the sound check and I’d ignore them playing. Knots tied in my stomach but I’d ignore them too. I had important things to do. I’d go home and read over the contract again, rather than give her one thought.

Dee

Even with the stupid woman coming in five minutes before closing and wanting to try on everything in the store, I still made it to rehearsal on time. Maddie, the other girl I worked with, said she’d do close up, and I ran like the wind.

I’d intended to find work in a cafe when I started job-hunting but, when I’d seen the sign up in this shop, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. It was actually the awesome pair of cowboy boots in the window that had caught my eye. That was love at first sight. Thinking if I got the job, I’d get a discount on the boots, I walked in full of swagger.

The owner had been so cool.

“You’ve got no retail experience but you look the part, so come in Tuesday and start work.”

The place was dangerous, though. Dangerous to my wallet. There were about fifteen t-shirts I wanted to buy and a bunch of dresses. I’d gotten the boots with my first pay cheque.

The owner, Bindi, had warned me to go easy on the rock chick look.

“We want to be alternative but not scarily so. If some kid from the suburbs wants to come in and spend their money here, we want to make it easy for them. Cool, but not unobtainable cool,” She’d smiled and I totally got what she meant.

I arrived at the rehearsal studio, out of breath from the run. When I got into the place, I saw no sign of Pete and Ferdie. Damn it, I could’ve run a bit slower and not gotten so hot and sweaty.

There was sound coming from the other room. Shit, Alex was here. I could wait for the guys outside. That would avoid any awkward meetings.

After seeing Alex in the bar the other night, I couldn’t help but look for him at our gig. I was sure he’d be there and I’d prepared my attitude, cold and aloof. Not giving him the time of day. That would be me. Once I’d started playing though, all thoughts of Alex were long gone. The buzz of being on stage drove all that away. It was only afterwards that I realised he hadn’t been there. All that carefully prepared attitude had gone to waste.