Chapter #9Songs About Flirts by: rugal b.   Back inside the club, the same stifling atmosphere hits you once more and you nearly bolt back towards the door you just came through. However, you decide to power through it because you're running more on emotion than brains. That girl, K.C., said she'd give you an incentive to stick around and that's one hell of an incentive. She's probably just messing with you of course but... well, you can still feel her lips pressed up against your cheek and you instantly feel goofy.
You go back into the middle of the crowd trying to find Umeko but are as unsuccessful as you were before and you half wonder if she was just trying to stealthily ditch you after that disaster at the coffee shop. Getting separated in a packed club is a plausible excuse for losing touch after all.
Giving up, you see the band start to come on stage. There's K.C. at the keyboards and the other girl, Zoe if you remember right, on bass. You don't recognize the drummer though with his facial piercings he stands out. You'd guess he was the guy K.C. was talking to as she was coming out back earlier. Picking up the guitar is someone you do recognize though only in the vaguest sense: Jelena Petrovic, a fellow Westside student. You don't really know her though you do share a lunch and you often see her with the likes of Fatima Zahedi and, your heart skips a beat, Andrea Varnsworth.
"You all should know us but we're Slow Fast Hazel," states K.C. sardonically, "and if you don't know, now you know. This is False Impression."
The music begins playing and you're not sure what to make of it. It's definitely not the type of music you listen to that's for sure. There are lots of synths, some distortion and it's all very droning. But as you listen you find yourself becoming somewhat entranced. That's mainly due to K.C. You're not sure what she's actually singing about but it's sung in an airy lilt that, with Jelena's own voice backing hers, sounds very pleasant to your ears. She's not outwardly energetic on stage but there's a confidence in the way that she does move as she hits keys and she seems to go from note to note with a feathery lightness.
You can't explain why but you do find yourself drawn in and try to push your way up to the front and by the end of the first song you find yourself cheering loudly in spite of yourself. You continue to stare up at the stage just trying to figure out what it is that's captivating you. At one point during the third or fourth song you notice K.C. scan the crowd and for a brief second you think she looks in your direction and it causes yet another flutter in both your chest and stomach.
You start to suspect why you're feeling like you are but just as quickly dismiss it as, obviously, it just makes no sense. So you continue to enjoy the show and it's in-between songs when you're snapped out of the trance you've been. You feel a tug on your shirt sleeve and a voice, barely audible, call out to you.
"There you are," it comes in an adorable high pitch. "We're gonna get out of here once this set ends or else we're both gonna get in trouble, that okay?"
You turn towards the voice's direction and, not surprised by its owner, simply give a curt acknowledgment. Though your attention is taken away when you find said owner clasping tightly to your arm.
* * * * *
"So they've got a new fan," Umeko teases as the pair of you head out into the parking lot.
"W-well it's not my style of music but," you reply nervously, "I don't know it was nice though."
"So I take it you enjoyed it," she asks. "Way better than a coffee shop right?"
"Yeah, I guess so," you answer. "I guess it's good I'm not claustrophobic though. I felt really squeezed in inside of there."
Umeko laughs lightly at that. "You get used to it," she says.
"Really," you ask. "Because that's not what..."
"Hey, so you actually did make it out," calls K.C. from behind the two of you. You at first think she's talking to you but realize that makes no sense. That means she's talking to... "Oh, hey uh, Will you said? You know Umeko?"
"Uh, yeah she's my... my cousin," you answer nervously.
K.C. eyes you, then Umeko, then you once again and simply shrugs.
"But you guys know each other too," you ask.
"We've got a few classes together," Umeko states. "Plus parties and, well, gigs."
"Oh! So you're a college student," you ask K.C. "Your guitarist, she goes to my school, so I kind of thought you all were around the same age."
"It's not like twenty's that much older," K.C. says in a rather amused tone. "Sis is the one who stands out if anything."
Sis? Is Jelena her sister or is that just some kind of nickname? You decide not to concern yourself with it however.
"Are you friends with Yell or something," Umeko asks you.
Again more confusion though it's easy to guess that one is actually a nickname for Jelena. "Uh, no, I've never really talked to her actually," you say as you shift nervously.
"He was out back when I took a smoke break," K.C. adds. "Said he just sort of stumbled back there. Seems like a nice enough guy." With that she walks over and drapes an arm around your shoulder which causes you to tense up. "Kinda thinking about taking him back and giving him groupie privileges if you catch my drift," she states and gives you a wink.
You feel your entire face catch fire.
This causes both her and Umeko to snicker even more though it's Umeko who speaks. "Will, don't take it seriously. She's just messing with you," she states with a grin. "K.C., don't mess with Will."
K.C. leans in a bit more and you notice a slight drop in her voice. "Maybe I wanna mess with him. You wouldn't have a problem with that, would you Umeko," she asks in as seductive a tone as she can manage before pulling away with a laugh when she notices Umeko make a face. "I'm just kidding. Besides, you do the same thing to Yell."
"K.C.," Umeko exclaims and quickly jerks her head in your direction.
"What, you mean he doesn't...." K.C. starts before quickly zipping up. "Oh, well he should. You probably need to."
"I actually need to get going," Umeko replies, "otherwise my parents are gonna be real upset. Will too, his are even stricter."
"That sucks," comes the disappointed reply. "We haven't had a post-gig hang out in a while. But I guess I better get back to. Kurt can be such a prissy bitch when I skip out on loading up the equipment."
With that she bids farewell to Umeko but it's almost a repeat of the alley as she comes up to you and gives you another quick peck on the cheek. "Another incentive to keep you coming back hopefully," she grins before heading back into the venue.
You're going to say something but Umeko waves it off. "She's just flirty. Really flirty. Don't give it too much thought," she replies. You've noticed a bit of a souring in her mood and though you're curious you decide it's best not to press the issue as you yourselves exchange farewells.
* * * * *
But try as you might to follow Umeko's advice, you can't help but give what happened too much thought which leaves you feeling a bit spacey during school the next day.
At lunch you relay your story to Caleb--and make sure to emphasize just how much you enjoyed trying to talk biochem with your cousin--and Keith. Caleb, of course, doesn't believe you because, as he says, he knows you. Well he believes the part where you were a stuttering and muttering mess with Umeko. Keith doesn't because you know he doesn't want to know you're getting any action, or even close to getting it, before him.
But you don't pay much attention to the rest of the conversation because you're busy playing lookout for somebody else. That somebody else you find when you see Jelena get up from the table she's sitting at with her friends to toss some food and trash.
You can't get K.C. out of your mind despite Umeko dismissing it as simply a quirk of her "flirty" personality. You very much want to know more about her or at least make sure you know when her band is playing so you can make it to more of their shows. Obviously if anyone can help you with that then it's Jelena.
The problem is that saying you've spoken ten words to her throughout high school would be an exaggeration. She doesn't know you in the least and as well gives off something of a cool aura that feels intimidating. She'd be your best source of information but at the same time you can't help but think of how potentially disastrous approaching her could end up and start down the road of dissuading yourself entirely.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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