Iris Rainbow

by Ilona Fridl

  “Fab car!” she exclaimed, opening the passenger door and sliding in. The leather seat squeaked as the new-car smell filled her nose.

  “One of the perks of getting a record contract.” Tim gazed at her over his glasses. “I hope you don’t mind meeting like this, but since the record contract, it’s hard to find any privacy. I don’t want you to think I’m some kind of weirdo. I don’t give my phone number to every chick I see. But I’ve seen you before. Say, would you like to go to the A&W down the street?”

  Teri glanced at him with a smile of relief. “Sure. Thank you.” As they started to the drive-in, Teri continued, “Then I wasn’t crazy. You were smiling and waving at me.” Take that, Evie.

  Tim chuckled. “It was kind of fun, watching you look around when I waved to you. I saw you the first night we played at the Scene in Alhambra, and I’ve noticed you at the clubs we’ve played, and the band contests.” He hopped out of the car and, a few minutes later, came back with two frosty mugs of root beer. As he handed her the mug, he picked up where he’d left off. “I always wanted to meet you, but you were usually gone by the time I had a chance.”

  “Curfew.”

  “Oh.” He seemed to go through some uneasiness. “How old are you?”

  The corners of her mouth curled up. “That’s all right, I’m eighteen.”

  “Well, I told myself if I had the chance, I would introduce myself. So at the press party I decided that was as good a time as any. When can I see you again?”

  Teri bit her lip. “I’ll be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks. I can see you after that.” She took out a slip of paper and a pen. “Here is my phone number.” As they chatted, she realized they had a lot in common.

  Their root beers finished, he returned the mugs, then drove back to Santa Anita. He got out and stepped to her side of the vehicle, offering to see her back to her car. When she turned to get out, he took her hand and kissed it, and she felt that same electric charge again at his touch. He grinned and waved to her as she ducked into her driver’s seat.

  ****

  Tim knew the contract for Virgin Ram was a very generous one. They were given an advance of five hundred thousand each, plus the Corvettes as a welcome-to-the-company gift. In return, they had to produce two albums and four singles within a year.

  With the new windfall, Tim and John moved from their small apartment and rented luxury apartments in the Hollywood Hills. John talked his girlfriend, Carol, into moving in with him when she decided to drop out of college for a while, and Tim rented an apartment not far away. He and John helped the other two move near the Strip, where Luke and Roy could hang out.

  The Monday following the press conference, Tim showed up at the recording studio in a very good mood. For Mondays, that was a little unusual. He strode over and slapped John on the back.

  “She called me yesterday,” Tim said with a grin.

  John looked up. “You mean the redhead?”

  “Yeah. Her name is Teri Darden, and she lives in Alhambra. Cool chick.”

  “Are you going to ask her out?”

  Hesitating a moment, Tim ventured, “Um…not right now. She’s a little busy.”

  “What sort of job does she do?”

  “She has senior finals. High school.”

  John regarded him in shock. “Tim, you’re going for jailbait?”

  “She’s eighteen. That doesn’t make her jailbait.”

  John rubbed his eyes. “I see trouble coming for you, man.”

  Setting his jaw, Tim stabbed at the air. “I’m going to go out with her.”

  Just then the producer called, “Let’s do the first take on the title track,” and Tim went to his bass and started tuning up.

  Chapter 5

  At the all-night graduation party, Teri sought out Evie. “I have to talk to you about something or I’ll explode.” The girls walked outside the gym and the cool night air made them shiver. Teri grabbed Evie’s arm. “Remember when we went to the press party for Virgin Ram?”

  “Do I ever!”

  “Well, when we were there, Tim gave me his phone number.”

  Evie looked like she had been shot. Catching her breath, she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “One, he didn’t want me to tell anyone, and two, I didn’t want my parents to know.”

  “Teri, you didn’t trust me?” Her expression was one of genuine hurt.

  “It wasn’t that. The less people who know, the better. But I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. Evie, I want to see him, but I know my dad won’t let me go out with someone so much older. What can I do?”

  Evie tapped her foot. “You could tell your dad Tim is the same age as you.”

  Teri shook her head. “That wouldn’t work. Both my parents have seen pictures of Virgin Ram. They would recognize Tim.”

  “How about having him pick you up from my house?”

  “No, your parents would tell mine.”

  Biting her lip, Evie was quiet for a moment. “Doesn’t your sister, Laura, have her own apartment?”

  “Yes, in Glendale.”

  “Maybe you could move in with her for the summer, before you start college. You’ll be out of your parents’ house, so what could they do to you? And you’re eighteen, so you can make your own decisions.”

  Teri hugged Evie. “I’ll call Laura tomorrow. Thanks for the idea!”

  “Well, what are friends for? Come on, let’s go back to the party. It’s cold out here.” As if hit by another thought, Evie stopped Teri. “What about David?”

  Teri took a breath. “That’s what bothers me the most. I have feelings for David, but not the way I feel about Tim. I have to see if this is just a crush. Otherwise, I’ll never know if I missed my one true love.”

  Back in the gym, David and Ken were waiting for them. Grabbing Teri, David steered her onto the dance floor. They moved to the music of a live band through the colorful streamers and balloons in a swirling kaleidoscope.

  “Was that a secret powwow going on between you two?” David squeezed Teri tight.

  “Well, yes, you might say that.”

  “Talking about plans after the party?”

  “Um…sort of.”

  Leading her off the dance floor, he headed toward the food table. Then he stopped for a moment and embraced her. “Does that mean I finally get you tonight?” he whispered, stirring her hair with his breath.

  Pulling back, she glared. “David, no, and quit asking me.”

  David grabbed at her hand. “Teri, I thought we had something special. I have loved you since seventh grade, but we didn’t go steady because of your father’s dumb rule.”

  Guilt and anger ran through her. “It’s not such a dumb rule. David, I’ve met someone else I want to date.”

  He gaped at her, then sputtered, “You’re kidding!”

  Teri’s lips tightened. “I’m very attracted to him and I want to see if I’m in love.”

  “Who?” he said with such venom she was taken aback.

  “As a matter of fact, it’s none of your business. I never said I was your one and only.”

  “Fine! Then you can walk home tonight, slut!”

  Teri slapped him hard, and after a glance of pure hatred at her, David stomped to his chair, grabbed his jacket, and strode out the door. She stopped for a moment, then ran after him.

  “David, wait! I didn’t mean to do that. I’m sorry, David!” But he glared and drove off.

  “I saw what happened,” Evie said, coming out behind Teri and putting her arms around her.

  In a few minutes, Teri pulled back with tears in her eyes. “Evie, I didn’t mean to hurt David like that, but I’m attracted to Tim, and I don’t want to have sex with anyone right now. What could I do?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s see what happens.”

  Ken came out and glanced around. “What happened?”

  Evie chewed on her lip. “Teri and David had a fight. He left without her. Could we take her
home?”

  Ken and Evie regarded each other for a moment, and then he took a breath. “I’ll get our things.”

  She bid Ken and Evie a thanks and goodnight when they dropped her off at her dark house. Good. My parents are in bed. They don’t have to know. She silently opened the door and slipped into her bedroom.

  A couple of days later, Teri and her parents sat down to dinner. Taking a deep breath, she started, “Mom, Dad, can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, Teri,” her mom said. “What is it?”

  “I called Laura yesterday and asked if I could move in with her this summer. She said I could, if you agree. Can I?” Keeping her eyes on the plate, she rolled a potato with her fork.

  “Why do you want to move out?” her father asked. “You’re starting college next fall, so you can take the summer off, if you want to.”

  She looked directly at him. “I want to get a summer job and earn some money. Laura told me that a bank a block away from her is looking for tellers. She has a two-bedroom apartment and said I could pay half. Please, let me move in with her?”

  Her parents studied each other, and her father finally said, “Let us discuss this, and we’ll let you know tomorrow.”

  Those twenty-four hours were the longest day of Teri’s life. When the family sat down to dinner again. Teri cleared her throat and asked, “Well, did you discuss if I could move in with Laura?”

  Glancing at each other, they smiled. “We’ll miss you,” her father said.

  “Oh, Daddy! Thank you!” She jumped up and gave them each a hug.

  Teri moved into her sister’s small two-bedroom apartment the following week. She had no trouble getting the teller’s job, and it looked like her scheme was working.

  That evening, when Teri called Tim to give him her new phone number, Tim laughingly remarked, “I hoped you would call. I wondered if you forgot me.”

  “No, I was just finishing school and getting a summer job. I’m living with my sister, Laura, sharing her apartment in Glendale. I’ll give you the address.”

  “Would you like to go out to a favorite club of mine, on the Sunset Strip, Saturday? I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  “Sure, that sounds like fun!”

  “Only one thing I have to warn you about. There are members of the press out and about, and it would be wise not to give your real name to them.”

  “Why?”

  “They hound people who are out with celebrities. If you value your privacy, you won’t let them know who you are. Okay?”

  “I understand. See ya, Saturday at seven.” Teri smiled and hung up the phone. Her sister came into the living room.

  “Oh, do you have a date on Saturday?”

  “Yes, he’s picking me up at seven.”

  “Are you going out with David?”

  Teri hesitated. Should I tell her? “No, I met someone new.”

  Laura looked puzzled at her reaction. “Who are you going out with?”

  “Will you promise not to tell anyone?”

  Laura’s eyebrows crinkled. “Sure, why?”

  “I’m...going out with Tim Olson of Virgin Ram.”

  Laura’s jaw dropped. “How did you meet him?” Teri told her about the press party and the many times they had noticed each other at the clubs. “Do Mom and Dad know about this?”

  “No, and don’t you dare tell them. Tim is twenty-four, and I know Dad would forbid me to date him if I still lived at home.”

  Laura chewed on her lower lip. “So that’s why you wanted to move in here. Teri, I feel very uncomfortable about this.”

  “I feel I’m right about Tim, and I want to show everybody I can take care of myself.” With that, Teri walked into her bedroom and sat on the edge of her bed. Oh, god, I hope Laura doesn’t blow this. I’ve planned this too carefully to let it go now. Laura isn’t the confidante she used to be. She wrung her hands. I’ve never done anything like this behind my parents’ backs before, but I want Tim so much. Teri didn’t sleep well.

  Saturday found Teri dressing in a leather-fringed top and a purple mini skirt with a gold chain. Putting on a hairband to hold back her long hair, she admired herself in the mirror. “Not bad.” At a knock on the apartment door, she called, “I’ll get it,” and ran to answer it. Teri gripped the knob hard to keep her hand from shaking as she opened it.

  Tim was in what he referred to as his “ordinary people clothes,” looking very handsome in a blue paisley shirt and beige corduroy pants. His hair was tucked up under his cap, and he had his dark glasses on.

  “Come in for a minute. I’m almost ready.”

  Taking off his glasses, he walked into the room. Oh, those fab green eyes!

  Laura came in, and Teri nodded toward Tim, saying, “Laura, I’d like you to meet Tim Olson. Tim, this is my sister, Laura Darden.”

  Tim held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I see good looks run in the family.”

  She took the offered hand, but for a few moments couldn’t speak. “P-pleased to meet you too.” She smiled and blushed.

  Teri slipped her shoes on. “We’d better go.”

  Laura asked, “When will you be home?”

  Tim grasped Teri’s arm. “I’ll try to get her home before midnight.”

  “Well, see ya tomorrow, sis.” Teri waved as she closed the door.

  After a beautiful ride over the tree-and-flower-coated hills into glittering Hollywood, they went into a popular little club on the Strip. A multitude of psychedelic lights waved colors on the walls, and a strobe light on the ceiling made slow motion of the dancers. The floor was crowded as they wound their way to a little table near the far wall, where Tim’s band mate, Luke Knoll, sat with his date, whom he introduced as Cindy. Introductions complete, Tim and Teri sat at the table also.

  “Hey, Tim! Why don’t we order drinks around?” Luke shouted over the music.

  Teri yelled at Tim, “Just order me a Coke.”

  Luke nudged him. “She doesn’t drink booze? Is she too young?” He gaped at Tim with mocked shock. “Are you robbing the cradle?” Luke’s date, Cindy, sneered at Teri.

  While glaring at Luke, Tim asked Teri if she wanted to dance. She nodded, and they moved through the crowd to the dance floor, but before they made it, Tim was stopped by a graying middle-aged woman, looking out of place with her dark mink and diamond jewelry.

  “Darling, I’m Rita Powers of the Hollywood Reporter,” she called over the music. “When is your album going to be out?”

  “We’re working on it. Can’t give you a date yet.” He tried to go on, but she gripped his arm.

  “Are there any films in your future?”

  “You’ll have to ask our manager.”

  Turning her eyes on Teri, the woman stared down her nose. “And who might you be, my dear?” she purred.

  Teri half-smiled. “Iris Rainbow.”

  Grabbing Teri’s hand and saying, “Excuse me,” to the pushy newswoman, Tim pulled Teri onto the brightly lit floor, laughing out loud in her ear. “Iris Rainbow? Couldn’t you come up with anything better than that?”

  Teri gave a sly grin. “I’ll bet she never finds me,” she hollered back. Swinging into “Twist and Shout,” they did the best they could in the crowded hall. With the Doors’ “Hello, I Love You,” Teri was thrilled when Tim held her tight. She found herself comparing him to her former boyfriend. David never left her tingling just at a touch. They danced through several numbers, then, breathless, went around the dance floor to the table, finding Luke heavily involved with Cindy.

  “I don’t think they want company,” Teri said, glancing at Tim.

  As he eased behind her, Tim put his arms around her waist. “Let’s go to my apartment,” Tim said in her ear.

  “I don’t know if I should.” This is moving fast.

  “Then let’s go and get something to drink. Cokes?”

  One bar stool stood empty, so Tim directed her to it and ended up leaning around her, ordering two Cokes. When they received their order, Tim
said in Teri’s ear. “I just thought we could go to a place where we could talk and get to know each other without shouting.”

  Her Coke was going down fast, because she was thirsty, but she didn’t want to make a decision yet. Do I really want this? She leaned back on Tim and he kissed her. In a blurry spin, she made her decision. Yes, I do.

  He held out his hand. “Shall we go, then?”

  Biting her lip, she followed him. At his place, he led her to an entrance from the garage and into the apartment. Going down the stairs into the huge living room, Teri saw a breathtaking panoramic view of the lights of Los Angeles. The apartment was tastefully furnished with an overstuffed couch facing the window, and a lovely plant-lined patio.

  “It’s beautiful here,” Teri said as she sat on the couch.

  “Would you like some wine?”

  Hesitating a moment, she realized she wasn’t in a public place now. Wine was something she had been allowed at home on special occasions since she was sixteen. “Yes, I’d love some.”

  Tim took out a record album from the rack by the stereo. “Do you like Glenn Miller?”

  “Yes, I do. I really love all kinds of music.”

  Tim grinned at her. “You’re one of the very few girls who even know who Glenn Miller is.”

  “My parents have a lot of his music, and other big bands, too.”

  Putting the record on the turntable, he bowed. “I’m impressed.”

  He went into the kitchen and brought out two glasses of wine. “Here’s to us.” He toasted, raising his glass.

  Teri followed suit and took a sip. The wine had a warming effect on her, and she relaxed.

  “Shall we dance?” Tim stood up and held her tight. They swayed to “Moonlight Serenade” and before long, as they swayed, he was kissing her. Every nerve awakened as his mouth moved down her neck to her shoulder before he guided her to the couch, where they sat with his arm around her. Giving a little shudder, she looked at him tentatively. Was it the music or the wine? She had never felt this way with David. Teri snuggled into his touch and he kissed her neck again. His fingers lightly settled on her left breast, and he gazed at her as if to ask permission. She put her hand on his, and then, underneath her leather top, her nipple hardened. A thrill shot through her.