“Because I'm your personal slave, and I don't know how to tell you how mad I really am.”
I sent the text and bit the edge of my lip.
“What's up with you?”
Morgan stepped from her room looking gorgeous. Being with Brad was really doing wonders for her. Morgan was a big lady and had struggled with her weight in the past, but dating a gym junkie was motivating her to eat well and exercise. Her tall, curvaceous frame was stunning in her little black dress with high heels. She never usually wore heels that high. I raised my eyebrows.
“I know.” She cringed. “I'll probably regret it the second I walk out the door, but I felt like being brave.”
I grinned. “You look amazing.”
“I'm gonna be taller than Brad in these things.”
“Barely! You guys will look super-hot standing next to each other. Where are you going?”
“He's taking me to Bird's Nest for dinner then we're heading to Quigg's for a little dancing.” She wiggled her hips, making me laugh. “There's a band playing there tonight. Chaos. I heard them just before the summer break and they're amazing. They're only in high school, too. It's pretty impressive.” She clipped her purse closed and slipped it onto her shoulder. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I don't know.” I pouted. “I might get into my jim-jams and watch a movie.”
“What?” Morgan threw her arms wide. “It's Friday night. You can't just sit at home. Where's David?”
“Studying.”
“Again?” Her eyebrows shot north. This was extra ammo for her, and I so didn't need that.
“Come on, Morgan. He's got a really big test on Monday, and you know he wants to pass with an A+ average this year.”
“That is so ridiculous. He needs a life. I thought when you got here he might get better, but he's still obsessed with his plan.”
“It's a good plan.” I shrugged.
“Ella, good plans involve a little flexibility.” Morgan's hands were now on her hips. Not a good sign.
I looked away, scratching my right eyebrow and trying to bring the conversation to an end.
Morgan sat down next to me with a little sigh. “You know this band, Chaos, they do a mix of covers and their own stuff. They're really good if you want to come check them out.” She squeezed my knee. “You should meet us there at nine. We'll shake our asses on the dance floor.”
“I don't know.” My nose wrinkled.
“Oh come on, Ella Bella! Come have fun with me.” She made a face, the cute, adorable one that made her look like a little kid again.
I grinned. “Maybe.”
“You better.” She pointed at me, standing from the couch and adjusting her dress. “I'll be looking out for you the second I walk through that pub door, you hear me?”
“I hear ya,” I called over my shoulder as she walked out the door. “Have fun!”
Slumping back onto the couch, I gazed at the TV remote perched on the coffee table and pursed my lips. Staying here was easier; I hated going out on my own.
“I miss Cali.” I pouted again, like a stupid little five-year-old. I was so pathetic sometimes.
But I did miss Cali. If I was in Pasadena right now, Jody and I would be doing something fun together. She never let me just sit on my butt and feel sorry for myself.
Glancing at my watch, I quickly calculated the time difference and reached for my laptop. I dialed up Jody on Skype and tapped my finger, hoping her online status actually meant she was around.
“Ells Bells! What are you doing calling me?” Her bubbly voice reached me before her image did. I watched the dial spin and then up popped my blonde friend, her green eyes bright and cheerful.
“Hey, Jo-Jo.” I waved.
“Whatchya doin'?” Her straight white teeth appeared.
“Just hanging in my room.”
“What?” Her smile disappeared. “Ella, it's Friday night. Unless David is currently in your bed naked, you should be out right now.”
I giggled, feeling my cheeks heat with color. “David has to study tonight, so I'm flying solo.”
“Well, call a friend, go out!”
“Morgan's on a date. I don't want to play third wheel.”
“What about your other friends?”
“What other friends?”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Her mouth dropped open. “Ella Simmons, you have been there for over a month. What have you been doing with your time?”
“Studying.”
“That's it?” Jody groaned.
“David's taken me out a couple of times.” I sat up straighter, trying to stand up for my loser lifestyle.
“Honey, come on. You are hiding and you know it. When was the last time you wore makeup?”
“What has that got to do with anything?”
“Makeup equals going out, and going out means spending time with other people and having fun.”
“I...you know I'm not great at making friends. I'm too shy.”
“Stop hiding behind that excuse!”
“I always used to rely on you and Morgan. I'm not good at this stuff.”
“Well, get it together then. Practice makes perfect. Believe me, I know.” Her exasperated voice made me smile.
“How are rehearsals going?”
“They're great. They're fun, but I'm so tired. Between dance class, singing lessons, learning lines and rehearsals coming out my backside, I don't have a life at the moment,” she whined.
“At least you're hanging out with people you like.”
“That is true and if the cast weren't so damn cool, I'd be pulling my hair out in clumps.”
“The trials of being talented.” I tipped my head and winked.
Jody laughed at me before gazing at her watch. Her eyes bulged. “Babe, I'm sorry. I gotta go in a sec.”
“Okay.” I tried to hide my disappointment behind a broad grin, but I wasn't fooling anyone.
Leaning toward the camera, Jody's stern face filled the screen. “You have to promise me that you will go out tonight.”
I cringed.
“Ella, you have to promise or I'm not leaving, and then I'll be late and I'll get in trouble and it'll be your fault.”
I poked out my tongue at her. She pressed her lips together, squashing her grin.
Relenting with a sigh, I finally said, “Morgan asked me to join her and Brad at this pub to go dancing.”
“Perfect! You love dancing.”
“Not in front of people.”
“But you're so good. Screw your courage to the sticking place, girl.”
“Throwing Shakespeare at me is not going to get me off this couch.”
“Your butt twitched when I said that. I can tell.” She pointed at her camera.
Giggles shook my tummy, but I held them at bay.
“Forget your inhibitions, Ella. Stop watching people live out these awesome lives on screen and go and do it yourself!”
“What if I get lost?”
“You won't. What's this place called?”
“Quigg's.”
“Google it. Use Google maps.”
“I can't read maps.”
“You don't have to. Google maps will show you which bus or train to take…or just get the address and grab a cab.”
I knew she was right. I wasn't that stupid, but I wanted to be. It would have been the perfect excuse to get out of this.
“What if Morgan and Brad don't show?”
“Then introduce yourself to someone new, dumbass.”
I snickered and scratched my forehead, running out of options. It looked like I was going out tonight.
“Now stop stalling and go suit up! Wear something that makes you feel sexy. I don't care that David's not there. You turn heads tonight, girl.”
“Love you, Jo-Jo. Wish you were here.”
“So do I.” Her tender smile made my eyes well with tears. “Go make me proud. I expect a selfie on my phone within the next two hours. I want proof that you did it.”
“Okay.” I winced, making Jody chuckle as she hung up on the call.
I closed the laptop and felt the silence descend around me. Looking across the empty room, I let out a slow sigh before rising from the couch and walking to my room. Pulling open my closest, I scanned my row of neatly hung jeans and shook my head.
“Turn heads, not be invisible.” My lips twitched. “But I like being invisible.”
I put my hand on my hip and dropped my shoulders.
“Get a life, Ella.”
Hangers banged against one another as I flicked through my wardrobe and finally came to a stop by my one pair of black leather pants. Morgan called them my Grease gear and started singing “You're The One That I Want” whenever I put them on.
“I got chills, they're multiplying,” I sung with a chuckle.
Pulling them out, I quickly undressed and wiggled into them before I could change my mind.
Forty-five minutes later, my lashes were lacquered, my lips were glossed and my torso was wrapped in a purple V-neck shirt. My necklaces clinked against each other as I clipped my way to the door. I double-checked that Quigg's address was on my phone screen before drawing in a deep breath and braving the unknown.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
COLE
“Hand me that mic stand.”
I passed it over to Jimmy before lifting the amp and placing it next to Ralphie's bass guitar.
“Thanks, man.” The sixteen-year-old crouched down and plugged in his beloved instrument.
“We nearly ready for a sound check, guys?” Jimmy, the lead singer, turned to the rest of the band and waited for confirmation from each of them.
Nessa, the cutest drummer this world has ever seen, adjusted her seat and banged the bass pedal a couple of times. “Nearly.” Her little button nose twitched as she shifted her kit into exactly the right position. She finally looked up with a nod.
Jimmy adjusted the microphone, strumming his guitar once. Satisfied, he turned back to Ness with a short nod.
“Okay, here we go.” She banged her sticks together and launched into “Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard.
They sounded good, and I couldn't help grinning as I stood next to their loyal tech man, Quinn. He came to every gig, helping them out on the sidelines. I slapped him on the shoulder and nodded my approval.
Chaos seemed to be getting better and better. I first heard them play last year when Jimmy's older brother invited me along to the school talent quest. I didn't usually go to that kind of stuff, but Troy and I had been close in high school, and he was trying to rally as much support for his kid brother as possible. I was so glad I went. Hearing those kids rock the stage was inspiring. The next day, I asked Malachi if they could play at Quigg's sometime. Their age made him reluctant, but he eventually conceded, and he let them play a couple of lunch gigs. It pulled a pretty big crowd and this year, Malachi agreed to make them monthly regulars.
The pub was already filling up. People had come early for dinner and were enjoying the sound check, getting excited about the entertainment to come.
“Make sure some of those tables are pulled back so there's a little dancing room,” Nina shouted into my ear as she walked past. I nodded and did as commanded, getting Frankie's help to shift the two empty tables back a notch. The dance space was pretty small, but it'd be enough for people to move around.
Flick, the other guitarist, cut the check short. “Just give me a sec to re-tune.”
He began to fiddle while the rest of the band made their own last-minute adjustments. Jimmy walked over to Ralphie, chatting about the playlist, and I tuned out. I needed to get back to the bar in a second; it would be a busy night and I wanted to be on my game.
“Hey, Cole.”
I spun around at the soft voice, not sure whom it belonged to. I stared at her. There was something familiar about the way she was looking at me, but it took me a minute to place her. The napkin. The phone number. That was it.
I forced a bright smile. “Oh, hey, Candace. How's it going?”
“Good. Just thought I'd pop by and see ya again.”
I pushed out a laugh. “Yeah, well, I'm not sure I'll have that much time to socialize; it's gonna be a busy one tonight.”
Heading back to the bar, I ducked beneath it and popped up on the other side, glad to have the wood between me and the blonde bombshell.
“You never called.” Her upper teeth brushed her lower lip and I felt a little bad.
“Yeah, I'm sorry about that.” Clearing my throat, I reached for a towel and flung it over my shoulder. “I'm pretty swamped with school at the moment.”
She shrugged. “I get it.” Her gaze was sad, which only made me feel worse.
Although the school thing was actually true. This final year was turning out to be a real bitch. I hated studying and was forcing myself through each lecture. A huge part of me wanted to quit and just get on with setting up my own pub. My inheritance was healthy. I had full access to it now, but Nina made me promise to graduate first and I knew I couldn't let her down.
I pursed my lips, feeling awkward that Candace was still standing there gazing at me.
“Well, I better get on with it.”
“Yeah, see you 'round, Cole.” She turned away with a little pout, and I looked to the ceiling. I hated hurting her feelings, but I seriously was not interested in what she had to offer.
My mind had done a complete 180 since that day in the shower. Casual flings were no longer good enough. I wanted an actual relationship now, and it bugged the heck out of me. I had been trying to talk myself out of it, reminding myself that only full-blown lunatics thought this way, but I just couldn't seem to shake the need. I felt ready to move on with my life and take that next step into adulthood. It was frickin' absurd.
I blamed it on my songbird. Her voice had stuck with me, following me into my dreams. I shoved the image out of my mind and Ella appeared instead. Ella, the sweet, quiet girl who'd somehow filtered into my thoughts more than I'd wanted her to over the last month. I didn't want to think about her. I shouldn't have been thinking about her. She was in a relationship. Not just any relationship, but a committed one with my roommate. If any girl on campus should have been considered off-limits, it was Ella.
I had bumped into her a few times, but we'd never really had time to stop and chat...which was a good thing. As much as I liked the idea of a friendship with her, I knew it'd be more than challenging.
If only I could find shower girl.
It wasn't from a lack of trying. I'd returned to the shower the same time every morning for over a week, hoping to catch her. After that, I switched it up, squeezing in a shower whenever I could on the off-chance she might have been there, which she never was. There was of course the possibility that she just wasn't singing back, but I didn't like to entertain that thought. Surely she'd been affected as much as I had. I wasn't trying to be arrogant, just hopeful, I guess.
My spirits had slowly deflated with each passing day. I'd been keeping my eyes peeled whenever I walked the third floor of my dorm, but the only thing to really catch my eyes was Ella.
I tried to convince myself that there were plenty of other college girls just as pretty as Ella, and who knew what my shower songbird really even looked like. She could be missing a freaking limb or her two front teeth. She could be bald. Worse than that, she could be a total bitch. I was a fool to think that two songs could tell me everything I needed to know, but damn, it’d be cool to find out. Something about her sweet sound kept me veering back to this new course I'd insensibly set for myself.
My depressing reverie was cut short by Jimmy.
“Hey, everybody. We're Chaos. Thanks so much for coming out to hear us tonight. We hope you'll have a little fun!” He raised his arm and Nessa kicked in with a thumping beat that grew to a kick-ass version of “So What” by Pink.
A grin stretched across my face. Troy would be so proud right now. Jimmy had been a bit of a train wreck before Troy bought him a guit
ar. The wild child had been tamed...sort of. Grabbing my phone, I raised it above the cheering crowd and snapped a picture, texting it to Troy in L.A.
Slipping it back into my pocket, I turned to the sound of a drink order and got to work.
I was soon pulling beers and pouring tequila shots, checking IDs and having a blast behind the bar. It was so much easier to shove my troubles aside with this much noise in the room. Placing a beer down, I grabbed the money off the counter and thanked the guy, looking over his shoulder as the door pushed open.
My easy smile faltered as Miss Off Limits slipped into the room, looking so damn hot my lips actually parted.
Holy shit.
Was that even the same girl?
Her big, hazel eyes scanned the room, her lips pressing together as she gently shut the door behind her. Her straight teeth caught the edge of her glossy lip and I grinned. Oh yeah, there she was.
I couldn't help it. A slow smile stretched across my face as the sexy little thing took a tentative step toward the bar.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ELLA
I did it.
I made it, all by myself. I was so incredibly proud, which only made me feel ridiculous. So I'd managed to catch a cab and give the driver an address. How lame was that.
The music was thumping from the pub, an instant beat running through me. I loved the sound immediately, my spirit lifting as I opened the door. It didn't seem to matter what kind of music was playing; melody did things to me, made me feel alive.
Closing the door gently behind me, I scanned the room, hoping to see Morgan's blonde hair above the crowd, but I couldn't spot her. I bit my lip like I always did and took a cautious step toward the bar. In spite of my heels, I still went up on my tiptoes to see if I could find her, but she wasn't there.
Crap! What the hell did I do now?
Nerves got the better of me as I inched my way into the room. I couldn't leave before taking a selfie or Jody would never let me hear the end of it. Maybe if I just perched my butt on a bar stool, took a quick shot and then left. I could get away with that.
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