Bad Rep (9 page)

I pushed open the outside door and almost collided with Jordan, who was coming inside.  “Sorry,” I mumbled, my good mood evaporating instantly.  It sucked that when I looked at him, lust warred with embarrassment in my mind.  Embarrassment over what might have been had I not found out how close I came to being “the other woman.”

“Hey, Mays.  How's it goin'?” he asked, holding the door open for me so I could step out.  I really needed the nicotine, so I ignored my discomfort and stepped around him to get to the milk crate and have a seat. 

“It's going good,” I replied shortly.

I could see Jordan out of my peripheral as he hesitated.  He still held the door open, as if unsure whether to go inside or not. 
Go inside.  Please, just go inside.
I pleaded silently.  My Jedi mind trick clearly wasn't working, because Jordan let the door close and sat down on the stoop beside me. 

He watched me as I smoked my cigarette.  Finally I looked at him and arched my eyebrow.  “Can I help you with something?” I asked snidely.  Jordan smirked, as if amused by my bitchiness. 

“Is this how it's going to be between us now?” he asked.  I looked at him, refusing to drop my eyes.  No sense in him seeing how much he had screwed with my head in the short time I had known him.

“Well, how do you expect me to act?  I mean, it's not every day the guy you
may or may not be
interested in, asks you out, but conveniently forgets to inform you that he has a girlfriend.  It puts a bit of damper on things, don't you think?” 

Jordan raised his eyebrows at me and smiled.  “
May or may not
be interested in, huh?” he teased and I could smack myself for my monumental slip up.

“It doesn't matter how I feel.  This...” I gestured between us with my hand,  “is off limits.” I finished, not liking how this conversation was going.  Jordan looked down at the ground and kicked a rock. 

“Why does it have to be off limits?” he asked quietly.  It was my turn to smirk. 

“Do you even need to ask?'  I questioned in disbelief.  How could he be so dense?

Jordan cleared his throat.  “What if it wasn't?  Off limits, I mean. What if...”  He was cut off by the kitchen door opening and Jaz and Leo came out, immediately lighting up their cigarettes. 

“Maysie, you just got sat,” Leo told me, taking my seat as I stood up. 

Jordan got to his feet as well and he was still watching me as I picked up my lighter.  It annoyed me that I was curious by what he had been about to say.  What did he mean about not being off limits?  I met Jordan's eyes again but dropped his gaze a second later.  Without another word, I turned and went back to my section.

Chapter Five

I successfully avoided any further contact with Jordan for the rest of the night.  I was proud of the fact that I had resisted the urge to check him out behind the bar.  Which, was a feat unto itself because I hadn't been sure I was capable of such self-restraint.

The crowd in Barton's started to thicken as the night wore on.  Devil's Stone started playing at 8:00.  They were clearly a local favorite, though I didn't really enjoy their screaming rock.  The noise volume was deafening and I was fighting a killer headache but my tips had been stellar!  Jaz and I did a little happy dance as we stood waiting for drinks at the bar. 

“I've made $250 already!  And I still have another two hours on the clock!” Jaz yelled over the music. I grinned at her, pushing back my sweaty bangs. 

“I know!  I've made almost $300!  It's insane!”  Jaz gave me a pout. 

“That's not fair.  The new girl should not be getting more tips than me!” She tried to come across like she was teasing, but I knew her well enough to see the irritation on her face.

“Well, when you look like Maysie, guys will throw money at you.” Jordan said as he brought our drinks over to us.  He smiled at me but I quickly looked away.  Jaz did not like his comment at all.  She huffed. 

“Well, thanks Jordan.  You sure do know how to make a girl feel good,” she sulked.

Jordan reached over the bar and squeezed her arm.  “You know I think you're pretty, Jaz.”  He grinned at her and Jaz instantly melted.  She wore a goofy smile as she turned back to her tables.  I rolled my eyes to try and cover the flash of jealousy I felt at the compliment Jordan had given her. 

I yanked my tray off of the bar, my annoyance obvious.  “Hey, Mays,” Jordan yelled from behind me.  I grudgingly turned back around, my back straight and my face blank. 

“Yeah?” 

Jordan cocked his head to the side, his eyes burning into mine.  “Jaz may be pretty, but you're fucking gorgeous,” he called out loud enough for me to hear over the thumping base of the band.  He grinned at me and then he freaking winked.  I
hated
and
loved it
when he did that.

I couldn't help but blush at his flirting.  We held searing hot eye contact for what seemed like an eternity until someone called out Jordan's name and he turned away from me.  Damn, he was going to be the death of me!  How the hell was I going to stay disinterested and unaffected by him when he said shit like that?  The obnoxious thing was he
knew
he got to me.  Just like he knew he got to every girl he came into contact with.  I hated like hell that I was just another chick in a long line of flirtations.  It hurt and it sucked that it hurt.

I had to rein in the anger that reared up.  I painted a happy smile on my face as I continued to tend to my tables.  Things stayed steady while Devil's Stone played.  I was able to forget about Jordan Levitt and his endless mind fucks as I was lost in the Barton madness.  And I was relieved when the band finished around 10:30.  The lead singer's screaming was driving me nuts!

Fifteen minutes to 11, there was a ripple in the atmosphere.  A noticeable elevation in mood around the restaurant as a group of three guys came in the front door, rolling amps and guitar cases.  Tables had been moved back in the large dining area to create a make shift stage. 

Jordan hopped over the bar and went up to the three guys, giving them a fist bump, guy hug thing.  These must be the other members of Generation Rejects.  I watched Jordan interact his band mates and could see the easy comradery between them. 

Jaz stopped and saw what I was staring at.  “The guy with the tattoo covering his head is Mitch.  He moved to Bakersville a few years back.  The guy with the long blond hair and guitar case is Garrett, he's a townie.  Then there's Cole.  He's the lead singer, though Jordan sings sometimes too.   Cole is a bit of jack ass.  He plays the whole lead singer thing up a bit.  But they're all cool,” Jaz told me.

The guys started hooking up their amps and began sound testing the equipment.  There was a buzz of anticipation as people started crowding around the band.  I handed my last two tables their checks.  The kitchen closed at 11:00, so the crowd started clambering around the bar for drinks.  Lyla was slammed, as she was the only one left with Jordan now out front.   Jaz, Damien and I made our way to the bar to wait for the show.

Around 11:15, Jordan sat down at his drum kit and did a quick run.  I couldn't help but be impressed by his obvious talent.  Moore had come out from the back and grabbed himself a beer.  Cole took the mic and turned it on, a squeal from the amp cutting through the noise of the restaurant.  Everyone got quiet as the guys took their spots.

“Thanks to everyone who has come out to see us tonight.  My name is Cole and we're Generation Rejects.”  And with that they launched into a metal version of the Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter.  I watched riveted as Jordan beat the hell out of his kit, sweat already dripping down his face.  Cole's voice was almost a scream as he sang about war being a shot away.

The crowd soaked it up.  Girls had jumped up and started dancing to the music, yelling out the names of the guys playing for them.  I had been to a fair number of live shows, but this was awesome.  The vibe was intense and the band played like their lives depended on it.

And Jordan was...well, he was the sun in the middle of it all.  It was impossible to ignore his presence behind the drums.  Even though Cole was technically the lead singer, it was Jordan's voice that I focused on as it melded with the music.  He was flipping fantastic.

They played three more covers, choosing obvious crowd-pleasers.  Everyone ate it up.  Jaz and Damien joined the dancing fans but I chose to stay in my seat, enjoying the view uninterrupted by swaying girls in halter tops and too tight dresses.

After they finished a rowdy version of Bob Dylan's Rainy Day Women, the music came to a sudden halt.  Cole held the mic between loose fingers and swayed his hips as he peered into the crowd.  “I'd like to introduce you to the rest of my mates.  On bass, Mitch!”  The crowd cheered.  “And my man Garrett on lead guitar!”  The crowd continued to roar.  “And on the skins, the fucking bandit, Jordan!”

The sound was deafening. I could hear “I love you's” and “Marry me's” interwoven together in the chaos.

“This next song is one of ours.  Written by our own lyrical genius, The Piper, Jordan Levitt!  I hope you like it,” Cole yelled into the mic.  The Piper?  Then without any further preamble, Jordan began to pound out an intense beat.  His body heaved with the wave of music that poured out of him.  The guitar picked up and then the bass, mixing together in an intoxicating blend of sex and love and pain.

Then to my surprise, Jordan began a raspy hum that made my nipples harden.  My panties had become instantly wet, I was so turned on.  His voice was unbelievable.  The noises he made were erotic.  I watched his rippling forearm muscles as they beat against the skins in an almost violent passion.  The sexy claustrophobic press of bodies and heat of the room caused sweat to drip between my breasts.  The noises, the hot, suffocating pressure in the air aroused me in a way I didn't think was possible.  And all I could imagine was Jordan making that same low rumble as he pounded into me. 

My heartbeat hitched up a notch and my breathing became shallow.  Was it possible to orgasm just from listening to someone sing?  I was so lost in the spell he wove that it took me a moment to realize he was staring at me.  He continued to beat his drums mercilessly but I knew he was watching me.  And for a moment it felt like we were the only two people in the room.  And I knew that the song was for me.  Just for me.

And then he began to sing.

Desire drips off your tongue

Legs tangled and abused

Smoldering in the aftermath

Bodies tired and used

Your eyes hold a secret

that you will never tell

The fire inside consumes me

I will embrace your hell

Touch me,

Tease me,

Need me,

Hate me

In the silence of your arms

I almost know who I am

You destroy my soul, you open me wide

You crumble me in your hand

Touch me

Tease me

Hold me

Want me

Gutless and hated

Ruined and sated

Lost and jaded

Breath barely bated

My biggest regret is your face

The lie overcomes the truth

Shadowed and lonely I crawl

At the wasted feet of my youth

Touch Me

Tease Me

Need Me

Want Me

Hate Me

Love Me

Fuck Me!

Fuck Me!

Fuck Me!

My eyes widened in shock as Jordan screamed Fuck Me into his mic.  And not once did he take his eyes off of me.  The song was dark and powerful and I absolutely loved it!  I felt like I was witnessing a side of Jordan that I had no idea even existed.  He was deep and mysterious and full of an intensity I couldn't even fathom.  Everyone in the room responded to that song.  The girls undulated their bodies and the guys pounded their fists in the air.  Jordan held everyone in his sway and we were all powerless to stop it.