First Kiss (Heavy Influence) (49 page)

             
“I hate homework,” I said, taking her lips again. My hand slipped up under her t-shirt and her normally perky breasts were bound tight against her chest. “What the hell is this?”

             
I slipped my fingers underneath the thick elastic that wrapped around her.

             
“It’s a sports bra, silly.” She giggled.

             
“I had no idea these things suffocate your tits!” I laughed. “It’s like a ace bandage. That thing has to be uncomfortable.”

             
“It’s actually not.”

             
“I bet they’d like to breath.” I teased playfully, pulling at it.

             
She giggled. I loved her laugh.

***

              I could hear our familiar tune thumping and trilling down the hall the closer I got to our studio door. I stopped and popped another pill in my mouth before I stepped through the door, just so my hand or mood would bother me. Immediate silence greeted me as soon as I stepped in. They were pissed I was late.

             
“Dude.” Bobby looked at me bewildered and pointed at his watch. “Come on, an hour and a half? Really?”

             
Dump looked at me like he could kill me. “What the fuck man! We’ve been calling you. Where the hell were you? Oh wait, I know, you were with Aly. Right? Please tell me I’m wrong, Jake?” He shouted.

             
“I lost track of time, man, I’m sorry,” I said, looking each one of them in the face.

             
“We’re tired of your sorry’s, man!” Dump roared. “We don’t have time for your love sick shit anymore. There’s too much going on!”

             
I looked at Bobby to see his demeanor and he too was strong jawed.

             
“I’m here now. Let’s do this…”             

             
Dump stood from behind his drums so quickly his stool toppled over. “We’re done, man. What’d you think? You can just cruise in here whenever
you’re
done with
your
little girlfriend and we’re just gonna wait around for
you
?”

             
“Dude, you know what, I don’t need this shit…”

             
“Need this shit?” Dump repeated my words, louder.

             
Dump charged me so rapidly I didn’t have time to react. Or maybe I was just shocked with disbelief that he could move that fast. The weight of him forced me to stumble backward, and the full-strength of him wrapped around my neck. He was choking me. I could hear Bobby shouting for him to stop and Devon Weir, our fill-in guitarist yanked desperately at him to release me. I gasped for hair as Dump released my neck and pressed me against the wall by my chest.

             
“You little fucking shit. We put up with this long enough. I’m done. Have your chick play drums for you.”

             
He released me and I crumbled down, leaning on my knees. Dump apologized to the guys, grabbed his shit and left. I was beyond shaken by what occurred. I staggered going after him, slamming into Bobby and he steadied me.

             
“Jake, what’s going on with you?” Bobby asked. I didn’t know how to answer him.

             
“Dump!” I shouted. “Dude, please, I’m sorry!”

             
I stood at the door watching him walk away. I was in deep shit and didn’t know what to do.

47

Jake

              I really thought things with Dump would’ve blown over. Two days had gone by and I’d sent him a million apologies and a really long heartfelt email explaining myself and promised I’d get my shit together. I’d really meant it. I knew I’d been slacking. I knew I’d been taking way too many of those pills too. I swore to myself that I’d stop and took a stab at it the night before. I’d tossed and turned something fierce, finally giving in to snapping one in half. It didn’t really do anything.

             
I woke up to an empty house and late for school, again. I rushed onto campus just as the bell rang for break. I’d go to the office later after I met up with Aly.

             
I felt sick to my stomach.

             
“Are you ok?” she asked concerned as she walked up to me.

             
“Not really. This thing with Dump and the band is making me ill, I guess.”

             
“You’re perspiring, and it’s not hot. Are you sure you’re not getting sick?” she said, trying to place her hand on my cheek.

             
“No,” I snapped, and moved her hand away. “I’m fine. I’m just stressed out and I didn’t sleep good.”

             
“Fine,” Aly replied, holding her arms in mock surrender. “But you don’t look ok.”

             
“I have a headache.”

             
“Here, I have Advil and a Red Bull. These will work.” She smiled and dug in her bag taking out a little white bottle and the silver, red and blue can. “Here.”

             
I reached out and tugged her neck toward me, kissing her on the forehead. “Thanks,” I said taking the can of Red Bull. “But I think I’ll need something a little stronger than Advil.”

             
I reached into my backpack and took out my own bottle of pain pills, popping one in my mouth and washing it down with the insanely sweet energy drink. “There, that should do it.”

             
“What are those?”

             
“Vicodin”

             
“From what?”

             
“From when I broke my hand”

             
“Shouldn’t you’ve been done with those by now?” She asked, and more concern painted her face. “I mean you’ve had your cast off for forever now.”

             
“They help me sleep and take the edge off, you know.”

             
Aly looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “You take them everyday? Like everyday since you broke your hand?”

             
“No, not really…look it’s no big deal.”

             
She didn’t look convinced.

             
During my last class I didn’t pay any attention to the text from my mother, asking me to come straight home after school. She could wait. I had to pick up a new amp and I wanted to grab Aly when she got out of school. I’d barely made it to the school lot before the bell rang and I waited in my usual spot. I’d sent Aly a text, but she didn’t reply. It wouldn’t have been the first time. I spotted Nadine a short while later and she came straight to my truck.

             
“Hey, have you seen Aly?”

             
“No, I thought she’d come out with you…”

***

              I bolted home and as soon as I came through the door my heart stopped. Everybody I didn’t want to see was gathered in my living room, waiting for me. I looked straight at Dump. “Really?”

             
“Jake…” Notting said, and stepped forward.

             
“What the hell is this?” I broke in, looking at my mother. “This is all you, isn’t it?”

             
“Stop it.” My mother stood up. “This isn’t about just you anymore, Jake.”

             
“Where’s Aly?” I said, looking at my mom and Notting, then at Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, who I couldn’t believe were sitting in front of me. “This is really out of control. Nothing is going on with Aly and I, if that’s what this is about.” I looked straight at Aly’s parents.

             
“Jake, take a seat…” Mr. Montgomery said firmly. Those were the last words I wanted to hear and he cleared his throat. He stood up and stretched taller to make a point. That irritated me more, making my heart race faster. I felt like my blood would pour out of my ears any second. “I want to know what’s been going on here,” he said and stepped behind his wife placing his hands on her shoulders. Mrs. Montgomery stared at me like I’d hurt someone, with her eyes sad and her brows twisted with concern. Really?

             
“Frank. Let’ me explain,” my mother said and with that our whole perceived relationship, by my mother’s account, spilled out all over the floor.

             
“You’re making this sound like it’s a bad thing!” I countered, raising my voice. “Ok, look, I know the whole Arizona thing was not the best idea. I’m sorry, we were just excited to see each other and I didn’t think it was
that
big of a deal seeing we’d be home basically the same day. But the rest of it? It shouldn’t be a bad thing. We wouldn’t have to sneak around if you’d see that we’re not getting into trouble,” I stated, desperately looking at each of them in the eye. “Why is hanging out with Aly such a big deal? I don’t get it! And no matter what you say, I’ll never understand it. It’s ridiculous!”

             
“Jake. It’s one thing to come over to the house.” Mrs. Montgomery chimed in, “It’s another thing to be taking her all over Los Angeles without us knowing were she’s at, and staying the night together? This is just not good news, not good news at all. Now, I know that’s not entirely your fault. She’s to blame for lying about where she’s been and whom she’s been with, but you
knew
she wasn’t allowed to do those things.”

             
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything you guys think is wrong.” I slumped deeper into my seat. “I don’t know what else to say. I love her and I know she feels the same way.”

             
My words didn’t mean anything to them. They all just stared at me with bobbling heads. My future was laid out in front of me as my mother paced back and forth behind Aly’s parents. “Jake, you’ll no longer be going to Seaside. You’ll be enrolled into home schooling immediately,” she said firmly and then looked at Aly’s parents. “We’ve been discussing this for a long time because of the band, but seeing our new circumstances here, it’s definitely time.”

             
I swear I could have been dreaming.

             
Finally, to my surprise, Aly came through the door. She’d been crying, her eyes were puffy and her nose was red. As soon as she saw me she began to sob and I didn’t care who was in the room, I got up and went to her.

             
That was the last time I touched Aly.

             
I’d completely lost it and went off on my mom for the whole world to hear. She was the one who went knocking on The Montgomery’s door. I was conflicted about my outburst. I’d cracked open the door to so many unanswered questions, but it was too late. The longer I thought about what I’d revealed to everyone, the more I regretted my explosion –
“…you need to stop butting into my business and worry about Notting! Before he leaves your sorry, stuck in the past ass! Dad wasn’t the man you thought he was! So get over yourself and me and Aly!...”
– Shit. What did I do? The whole house erupted like a Wall Street sell-off.

             
I lay on my bed hearing every word Mr. Montgomery had spoken, like he was sitting next to me in an easy chair. It was as if the God’s were against Aly and I. At every turn someone was there to keep us apart. Not only did Aly’s parents get a rap on the door by my mom, they got a call from Aly’s volleyball coach about her being placed on probation for missing too many practices. That vary same day Dump and Bobby met with Notting about the band and gave him an ultimatum, and boom, it all rained down shit balls. I remained in my fossilized state thinking about how and when I’d be able to see Aly again.

             
This had to blow over, I told myself.

             
School was no more. I was full on enrolled in online homeschooling.

             
Aly was ultimately off limits. We were officially broken up.

             
I received a text from Nadine, but it was Aly and my heart sprung to my throat.

-
 
HEY, IT’S ME, ALY

-
 
WOW, I WAS WONDERING WHEN & IF I’D HEAR FROM U

-
 
I’M DYING WO U

I started tapping out
I love you
and stopped. I’d never told her I loved her.

I did love her. It was now or never, right?

-
 
DITTO – ALY, I LUV U & WE’LL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS

I hit send and waited for her reply. I didn’t get one for about 5 minutes.

-
 
UR MY EVERYTHING, JAKE. <3

-
 
WHEN WILL I SEE U?