Haunted

by Merrill, R. L.

  My room was on the far right at the end of the gangway. When I walked inside the doorway, I was pleased. The natural light in here was amazing at this time of day. There were two windows, one to the back of the building and one looking down on Ursuline. The room was spacious, had a simple queen bed at the back corner and an elaborate drawing table had been set up for me under the other window. The ceilings were at least 9 feet with large support beams running across and two ceiling fans kept the air moving nicely. I heard a loud thunk behind me and I turned around to find myself face to chest with Devon, who had been absent from the BTR tribute moments before.

  “I brought your table. Would you like it set up?”

  I shook my head. “No, thank you. I won’t need it until we get started with the tattoos.” I couldn’t stop staring at him and I felt like a complete dork. But then I realized he was kind of staring at me, too.

  “Um, there’s a bathroom through here.” He pointed to a doorway on the left.

  I looked inside and there was a claw foot tub with an industrial showerhead rigged up. The bathroom was in a sad state, like someone had started to remodel and quit in the middle. I noticed a door at the other side.

  “An adjoining room?”

  Devon nodded. “That’s where I crash. The other guys’ rooms are on the other side of the rumpus room.”

  Daryl came in with the rest of my things. “Here you go, chère. You got what you need, yeah?”

  I nodded. “Thanks for getting me over here, I think. That was an adventure.”

  He chuckled. I swear I even saw the corner of Devon’s mouth turn up, but I couldn’t be sure.

  “It was worth it to watch you on dat ladder dere.”

  I raised my eyebrow at him, wishing I could look as fierce as I wanted to.

  “Here, let me give you back these ridiculous things.”

  I took off my hat and shook my hair out and then I unzipped the coveralls and stepped out of them. I handed them over to Daryl, who was trying really hard to stifle a laugh. I followed his eyes over to Devon’s, which were so wide you could see the entire whites! He made a choking sound and started backing out of the room, his cheeks turning a nice shade of rose.

  “Um, I'm just going to go let the guys know you are getting settled in and, uh, we’ll see you in a few. Uncle Daryl, thanks for bringing her over.” They shook hands and Devon hurried out the door, pulling on the collar of his white tee.

  “The boys might be harmless, chère, but you ain’t gonna be if you keep undressing in front of them. You better keep your clothes on, girl, or you be givin’ them heart attacks, you.” I socked him in the shoulder and he scooped me up in a big hug.

  “I’m teasing you, suga. I’m outta here. I’ll be around, but you call me if you need anything.”

  I kissed his cheek even though he was a rascal and I told him as much.

  “Can you swing by the shop a couple times and check on Mackenzie? Make sure Troy isn’t getting too comfortable?”

  He nodded. “Affirmative. I’ll take care of all that. You just take care of my boys here.” I nodded back and waved good-bye.

  I looked back at my room and decided to unpack my clothes into the chest of drawers and small wardrobe at the foot of the bed. I sat down for a minute to collect myself. I was really here. And I really needed to go out there and face them.

  I stepped out onto the gangway and walked over to the rumpus room, where they were all flopped on the huge leather couches, still watching BTR. Devon was sitting in a chair in the corner tuning an acoustic guitar.

  “So were you guys just practicing your boy band moves in case this whole rock n’ roll gig doesn’t pan out?”

  They all turned around and said hello, shaking my hand again and leaning in to kiss my cheek. Devon remained in the corner, looking up once and catching my eye. He nodded and that slight, slight smile was back. I just smiled back at him, trying not to get lost in his blue eyes again.

  “You don’t watch this show? You’re missing out. They’re fun! We actually went to their concert out in California last summer. They put on a good little show, they do.” Star was non-apologetic in his BTR admiration.

  “I’ve not seen the show before. I really don’t watch much TV.”

  They looked at me like I’d grown a second head.

  Mage started in first. “No TV? Man. Well, the show is about these four guys from Minnesota that audition to start a group and...”

  “Mage if you’re going to tell the story, tell it right.” Star was adamant. “Only James was auditioning for real, the other guys were just along for support, but when the producer chose Kendall, he said they all go or none of them go. Then they moved to Hollywood to become superstars!” He was quite proud of himself for getting the facts straight.

  “I had no idea. Well, the music is ok I guess, for a kid show.”

  They started singing again and I was just thrown by how adorable they were! No pretenses, no trying to act tough or cool. Not at all what I thought of a rock band. And they had all the vocal parts down!

  “They’re kind of like us, I guess,” said Jade. “We were all friends growing up and went to California together to make the big time, too.” The other guys got that sad smile going on again.

  Marcus came in with a basket and a small cooler. “Lunch, people. Come and get it.” He set the stuff on the large, square ottoman between the couches and the guys all grabbed for sandwiches and drinks. He slapped their hands away. “No way, dude. The lady goes first.” He smiled sweetly at me and gestured for me to take my pick of the spread.

  I thanked Marcus and walked around the couch to peer inside the basket. I pulled out a turkey, avocado sandwich and grabbed a Diet Coke from the cooler. The guys were watching me with big smiles on their faces, waiting for me to get settled. I took a spot at the end of one of the couches.

  “Thanks, guys. I appreciate this.”

  Marcus nodded at the others and they dove in. The tenacity with which their limbs were flying and the tangle of their bodies had me thinking about what a mosh pit looked like at one of their shows. Devon waited until they were through before walking over and taking what was left.

  With a mouth full of sandwich Jade said, “There’s a thocked thidge an thnackth downthtairth behind the bar if you get hungry. Help yourthelf.”

  He may have spit some of it on Mage, who was sitting next to him, but I was likely the only one to notice.

  “Yeah, and Mr. Daryl told us you like Diet Coke so we got a bunch.” Star at least swallowed before talking.

  They were finished with their sandwiches before I even came close to eating half. I wrapped the other half and set it down on the table.

  “I tend to treat my Diet Coke like others treat coffee, I’m afraid. Thanks for taking care of that.”

  "Anything for you, Miss Charles,” said Jade, who had left a cushion’s space between us on the couch.

  “Please, call me Jay, or Jaylene. The Miss feels kinda funny.” They looked to Devon and Marcus, who nodded, and so they agreed.

  “Ok, Jaylene,” Mage said, trying my name on for size, almost waiting to see if he’d get struck by some natural occurrence for not using the Miss.

  I thought it was very respectful how kids were taught in the South to call their elders Miss or Mister. But it felt weird on me, especially when they weren’t that much younger than me. It was almost as creepy as being called ma’am.

  Mage leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs and rubbing his hands together. “So when is your birthday?”

  I was startled by his question. “Um, why?”

  The other guys mumbled to themselves and Marcus even hung his head in his hands. “Here we go,” he muttered.

  “Oh, uh, just because I was wondering what your sign is? I was going to do your star charts, for you.” He looked at the other guys. “What? Is that weird?”

  Star slugged him in his thigh. “Dude, she just got here! You want her to bail on us?”

  “No, it’s
ok. It’s actually today.”

  They all looked at me, stunned. Mage especially. “Truly? And Friday the 13th even?” His voice was filled with wonder and I fought the urge to giggle.

  Just under 6’ I’d guess, Mage was exotic looking. He had a wide smile and full lips. His eyes looked not so much dangerous, more like always on alert, like he never really relaxed. He made you feel like he was always watching. It didn’t unsettle me; rather it felt like I was being watched out for.

  “Yes, why? I don’t really celebrate birthdays much so I didn’t even think about it.” I hadn’t even told Mackenzie, just didn’t seem like a big deal.

  They were still all looking at me. “So, April 13th is your birthday. Ok. Very interesting. Mind if I ask what year?”

  Marcus groaned loudly and Devon got up shaking his head and started walking out of the room.

  “Guys, this is serious. I’m not...What?” He looked around at them like he was afraid he’d just spilled the beans. “Oh no, am I being rude? Shit, sorry, I mean shoot. I forgot it’s not cool to ask women their age, or something.”

  This time I couldn’t help it, I had to giggle. “No worries, Mage. I was born in 1986.”

  He grabbed the pencil behind his ear and started writing something down and seemed very into whatever he was doing. Jade spoke up next.

  “That was a really good year! Top Gun came out, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off...And of course...Master of Puppets, Peace Sells...But Who’s Buying?...Great year!”

  Boy, he sure knew his pop culture trivia.

  They all started buzzing. Marcus grabbed an acoustic guitar and started playing Sanitarium. Star grabbed his sticks and started banging out the beat on the ottoman. I wondered if they did this often, just burst into song. I admired that ability.

  “Yeah, I’m kind of fond of it, I guess.”

  Devon had come back in the room with a pack of guitar strings. He leaned over the back of the couch behind me, his breath hitting my neck as he whispered, “Happy Birthday, Jaylene.”

  I smiled up at him and he went back over to the corner and started restringing the guitar he had been working on.

  Jade started rubbing his hands together. “Wow, that’s awesome, it’s your birthday! We should totally celebrate! What’s your favorite food? We’ll order it for dinner. Devon’s mom cooks for us, and she’d be happy to make you whatever you want.” He was very insistent.

  “Oh, thanks, but no. You don’t have to do anything special for me. I’ll just have whatever she’s making. I’m sure it will be good.”

  Jade just looked at me like I’d spoken Swahili for a moment. “Not do anything special? For your birthday? What, do they not celebrate birthdays where you’re from?”

  Star threw a drumstick at him. “Hey, shut up! Maybe she’s like Jehovah’s Witness or something. Don’t be offensive, dickhead!”

  I giggled and said, “I’m not Jehovah’s Witness. It’s no big deal. I just never had much use for birthdays is all.” I had to change the subject fast. Mage was looking at me weird and continuing with his writing.

  “So, why don’t you guys start telling me a little about yourselves? I have to be upfront and tell you that before the past couple of days I hadn’t really heard much of your music.” They were all looking at me, confused. I tried to recover. “It’s good. I listened to some the day you guys came in. Uh, Mackenzie is a big fan.” Still the blank looks. “I don’t really listen to the radio, or anything.” I let out a big breath, blowing my bangs out of my face. Ok, this was going really smooth.

  “So which album did you listen to?” Marcus was leaning in, studying me.

  “I, ah, whatever was on your website? Burns Like Fire, I think?”

  He narrowed his eyes. He was sitting on the ottoman and he scooted over until he was right in front of me.

  “It’s Ice. Burns Like Ice.” He cleared his throat and lowered his voice a little, biting on the corner of his lip.

  I felt myself sinking back into the couch.

  “Which song did you listen to?”

  Ok, now I was feeling the burn. In my cheeks. There was no way I was going to start reciting lyrics. From the way he was leering at me, I was beginning to get the picture that Marcus was the primary songwriter and was trying to use his sexual assertiveness to get to me. I shifted in my seat.

  “I don’t really remember. It was something smutty.” I had to fight back, let him know he wasn’t going to get to me that way. Stand up for myself, that was my tactic.

  His lips peeled back into a very satisfied male kind of smile. “Smutty. Yeah, boys, I think she heard us. So it will take us a little work to win her over, that’s ok.” He leaned even closer, putting a hand on the couch next to my thigh, his knees touching mine. “I like a good challenge.”

  Oh, shit.

  “Knock it off, Marcus. She’s not here to stroke your ego. Or anything else belonging to you.”

  Devon had spoken up from the other side of the room but hadn’t looked up from his job. The other guys started to chuckle, hiding their grins behind their hands. Marcus gave me one last smoldering look and turned to them, standing up.

  “Hey, I’m only trying to find out what the lady likes. If we aren’t her cup of tea, perhaps she’ll tell us who is?” He smiled sweetly at me and I hoped I hadn’t pissed him off.

  “Well, I’m pretty much into older heavy metal and some of the stuff from the ‘90’s. I listened to a lot of Zeppelin and the Doors growing up, my stepmom was a fan. I love AC/DC, with Bon Scott specifically. Metallica I’ve seen four or five times in concert, Megadeth, Pantera...That kind of stuff. Oh, and I like 70’s and 80’s punk. Do I pass your test, Mr. Lambert?” I couldn’t help issuing a challenge of my own.

  “What’s your favorite Doors album?” Mage was looking at me intently, tapping his pencil against his chin.

  “Has to be Strange Days I guess. But their debut was great as well. I love People are Strange.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good one. I loved the cover Echo and the Bunnymen did for that movie The Lost Boys. That was a great flick.” Mage obviously knew his 80’s trivia as well.

  “That’s a good movie. I’ve actually been to a lot of the spots they used to film that movie.”

  Star and Jade leaned in, interested in our conversation. “Us, too. We stayed in Santa Cruz once when we were touring out West. One of our early shows was at the Catalyst. You ever been there?”

  I nodded. “Sure, I saw Agent Orange there once.”

  “No way! I love them!” Jade started naming off other California punk bands and we seemed to like a lot of the same stuff.

  Marcus cut in then. “Ok. Well, at least you have good taste, even if it’s a bit antiquated. Our music is certainly influenced by the early Metal but we’ve tried to step it up a notch.”

  I caught Devon’s smirk out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t want to interrupt Marcus. He seemed like he was about to give a serious speech.

  “Our first three albums were very edgy for Metalcore, which is why expectations are so high for us. We have a lot riding on our next album, and I for one don’t want to be written off just yet.” He had his hands on his hips and almost seemed to be scolding the others. Tension started to build and I was getting a clearer picture of why they needed me.

  Devon spoke up next. “We do have a lot riding on our next album, Marcus, and that is why we need to be open to new ideas and influences.” He nodded almost imperceptibly at me.

  Perhaps he was trying to help me get a feel for the group dynamics. It was already apparent that while Marcus was the most outspoken, Devon was equally in charge and the other three followed them to varying degrees. I wanted to explore this dynamic more, but felt it safer to change the subject. I leaned forward and took Marcus’ arm in my hands, turning it over in the light.

  “Who did your tattoos? I’m seeing a lot of similar styles. Did you guys get work done by the same people?” Encouraging people to talk about their artwork could lead in a
ll kinds of directions and these guys were eager to share.

  He looked down at his arm distractedly, like he wasn’t happy about the subject change. “I got a few done when I was younger, around here, before going to L.A. But my arms were done at Six Feet Under in Upland. You heard of it?”

  “Corey Miller’s place, sure. They do good work there. The line work is really good here.” He had an intricate sleeve involving Gothic crosses and skulls with angel wings. I grabbed for the other hand and heard an intake of breath from him. I looked up to see him looking down at me with a sneer.

  “You want to inspect anything else?” It was obvious that this type of thing worked for him, but I was so not buying what he was selling.

  “Thanks, I’m just interested in what’s been done to your skin, not what you like to do with it.”

  The guys all laughed at that comment and it even got an appreciative smile from Devon. I was simply setting boundaries!

  Marcus chuckled, but I had the sense that we weren’t finished testing each other. Jade slid over next to me and started showing me his Traditional work, telling me stories about each of his tattoos. Pretty soon the four guys were all crowded around me showing me their work. Troy had done some of their work as well as a couple of other local artists. They’d also gotten work done in LA and the surrounding areas. Most of it looked great, but they each had an embarrassing tattoo story.

  “Star, show her your pinup!” Jade pulled Star’s shirt up. On his rib cage, he had a scantily clad pinup done pirate style. But the proportions were way off. “They put six fingers on her right hand.”

  I giggled, but hurried to reassure him.

  “Unfortunately, it happens. When I was still an apprentice, my mentor caught me before I misspelled ‘Independence’ on a guy’s chest. It was huge. It probably would have been the end for me!”

  Star nodded at me. “What about you? Who did your work?”

  They were looking intently at my arms but seemed hesitant to touch me. They would put their hand out and then bring it back. It was too cute. Even Marcus was looking from afar. I told them about the shops I’d been to back home. Most of my work, including my arms and a large piece on my thigh (which of course I wasn’t disrobing to show them) was done by my mentor Stephen Pierce at Black Heart Tattoo in Hayward. They asked a little about what an apprenticeship entailed and I told them I’d worked closely with Stephen for a year and a half before he made me an official artist in the shop.