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Clayton
Guess I'm feelin’ competitive tonight. Not to be outdone by Vic, I make my public display of affection and start my set.
“Hey, everyone, I’m gonna be a little all over, but I think you all just might like it.”
I emulate the piano man himself, Billy Joel, and start with Just The Way You Are. Then These Arms of Mine, ala James Carr gets me feelin’ just a little romantic. A few people get up to dance, and I see Vic grab Abigail. She shakes her head, and without hesitation, Vic just picks her up, tossing her over his shoulder. I can imagine the sass she’s givin’ by the redness to her cheeks. Vic gets her on the dance floor and pulls her into him. She melts against him. No doubt telling him all the ways she’s gonna get her revenge. I push my vocal luck with the acapella opener to I See Fire, from Ed Sheeran. Vic wraps Abigail up in his arms, and they just sway watching me. It’s nice to see them like this, not tryin’ to kill each other. He kisses her cheek, and she leans into him. I guess the idea of someone coming between them was just what they needed to realize that they really do want one another. I was gonna do Country Boy but decided that Sunshine and Whiskey was the song needed. So Frankie Ballard takes me off the stage.
I get back to the floor, and they’re waiting on me. “This is what I like to see.” They’re still huggin’ on each other.
“I’m afraid if I let her go, she’s gonna attack,” Vic smirks. “Besides this way, she gets to, feel my love.”
“Punny.”
“Make him stop!” Abigail whines.
“Come on, let’s go get some food before the pregnant one eats it all,” I say, putting my arms around them.
We get back to the table and get a ring of applause and a waggy pup trying to kiss us to death.
“Wow, Vic, that didn’t completely suck.” Wayde snickers.
“I missed you guys like this.” Adam gushes as we sit.
Abigail plays with Chaos. She’s pretending to ignore what everyone is saying. I know it bothers her sometimes. The spread is good, and though I know I shouldn’t, I can’t help but watch her and every bite she takes. I count twenty-seven, and two pops, before she stops and just falls into the conversations. It’s not much, but it’s a start. Adam and Wayde are talking about how graduation is coming up, and she goes quiet again.
“Hey.” I nudge her. “You think maybe we should tell them about California?”
“Probably, but I don’t know how.” She whispers back to me.
“What are you all whispering about?” Vic leans into us.
“California,” I answer.
“You wanna tell them? Now? Here?”
“It’s as good a place or time as any.”
“I just thought- You know what, you're right.” Vic takes Abigail’s right hand, and I take the other.
I clear my throat. “I got into USC,” I announce. Talking stops and all eyes fall to us. I chuckle. “We’ve talked about it and have decided that after graduation, we’re leaving Kentucky and going to California.”
All the color drains from Wayde’s face, and Adam looks like he’s about to burst into tears. I look at Fred and Mollie. Mollie looks happy, though I think it’s more the pregnancy brain than it is for us. Fred is quiet, looking at his food.
“Say something.” Abigail pleads. This was her fear, telling Fred. Telling the only person she’ll actually be leaving, be missing.
Fred folds his napkin and looks up at us. “How are you planning to support yourselves?”
“I can get a job while the boys are in school,” Abigail says, watching for approval.
“I’ve talked to the coaches, and as a perk of my full-ride, they will give me a monthly stipend so long as I keep my grades high and play ball for them. I can also work weekends after football season. I’ve got some good offers on the house, so once it sells, we’ll have an idea of our budget better.” I add.
“We also wondered if the dynamic duo were interested in coming along.” Vic, to my surprise, smiles.
“California?” Adam purses his lips. “I guess I could look into Cal-Tec or something like that. I mean, I pretty much blew the curve with my SATs so I can go wherever I want.”
“Of course you can.” I chuckle. “Wayde?”
“Let me think. Stay here and be the lone token gay black guy, and be miserable or talk my old man into a loan for a start-up in sunny California? What do you all think?”
“Fred? I’m sorry.” Abigail is only paying attention to him.
“Nothing to be sorry for. This is what you need. Get out of here. I’m happy for you.” Fred answers, hugging her as she leans across me. Then pretty much climbs me to get to him.
“Ouch. Honey, watch your knee!” I say as she damn near cracks my nuts.
“So it’s decided, we five are California bound?” I shake my head. “It’s gonna be a helluva summer.”
“Just one question,” Mollie speaks up. We look at her. “Who’s telling you all’s parents?”
All eyes fall on Fred, but it’s not him who speaks. “I don’t care as long as it ain’t me. I’m not doing it, and y’all can’t make me.” Abigail says, pushing Vic out of the way to get out of the booth, again with the near nut crunch.
“Think I might need some ice.” I moan, grabbing the boys.
“Like you’re always tellin’ me. Walk it off.” Vic gets up and positions so he can see the stage.
There goes our girl again. She looks a little nervous. I’ve been showing her how to play the piano since Christmas. It’s been like physical therapy. Another way for her to relieve stress. She sits down, and the opening for Warrior by Demi Lovato starts. I hear the hitch in Mollie’s breath, and Fred holds her. I watch her and the crowd. There are a lot of glares going into Harmand’s direction. Abigail belts her little heart out, and the tears fall all around.
“This is one for any who may be going through something or has been through it. It’s a battle, but you can overcome anything with the right people behind you.”
Back to the guitar, she slings it over her shoulder with a slight wince, her song? Down That Road. The Alisan Porter rendition. Jake Worthington’s Have a Little Faith In Me, is the straw that breaks Vic. He’s the one who’s been fighting us so hard. His fingers lace into mine.
“I’m glad you ignored me showin’ my ass.” He puts his head on my shoulder.
“You’re just lucky I don’t mind seeing it from time to time.” I give him a little kiss. I hear Fags from behind me and turn my head. There’s Harmand and what’s left of his crew. Before I can say another word, I hear Adam.
“You ought to get used to seein’ it since you’re gonna be somebody's bitch after Monday.”
I hear the next song as I and Harmand stand. Teenage Dream a piano version.
“You want to push this?” I say with a growl. “I will fucking end you and not give a shit about you or your rich daddy.”
Harmand’s eyes narrow, and he takes a step toward us. Fred stands, followed by Vic, Adam, and Wayde. Looking at the group of us, not a one under any circumstances planning to back down. He huffs and downing his drink he takes another foolish step.
That gets halted as Mac appears. “I warned you Amel, one more outburst and I wouldn’t serve you or your buddies.”
“You think you can afford that old man?” He hisses.
“Try me, get the fuck out of my place.”
Harmand drops some cash on the table and walks off just as the bouncers get to him. “Lay off!” He jibes, getting grabbed by the arm and escorted out.
“I’m sorry,” Mac says.
“I’m sorry it came to that.” I nod.
“Money ain’t everything.” He winks and with his baseball bat heads back to the bar.
I don’t hear the opening riffs of Abigail’s last song at first. Then I turn my attention back to her. She’s been working on this. I’ve heard her hum it, play with the guitar for it. It’s her song.
“I’m told that I’m crazy, and that I’m downright insane.
Listening to all these whispers, calling out my name
I know I need to quit listening, yet I can’t afford it
Because I hear whispers...
I hear whispers, calling out my name, I hear screaming, just more of the same.
Just more of these rumors breaking my good name.
Hearing forked tongues speak, just to make me weak.
She’s just like her momma, a tramp that’s gonna sleep around, and she’ll never make it out of this God-forsaken town.
She’ll never amount to nothing, it’s their broken game.
I hear screaming.
I hear whispers, calling out my name.
I hear screaming, just more of the same.
Just more of these rumors breaking my good name.
I can’t help but lose my way.
Turned by the whispers in the hallway.
Cut by the screaming at home.
All calling out my name.
I know I need to quit listening, yet I can’t afford it.
Because I hear whispers...
You’ll never amount to nothing, you’ll always be like me.
Just a little whore and always will be.
Cracked out on drugs, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
I can’t break free!
I hear whispers, calling out my name.
I hear screaming, just more of the same.
Just more of these rumors breaking my name.
I’ve always tried to ignore it, said it was just claim.
But I can’t take any more of these whispers of my name.
They’ve made me who I am.
One day I’ll get lost down some old back road.
With the whispers in the hallway.
Or the screaming from my home.
Then I’ll no longer hear whispers, calling out my name.
I hear whispers, calling out my name.
I hear screaming, just more of the same.
Just more of these rumors breaking my name.”
Adam is recording her; hell half the room is! She’s got her eyes closed. Just feeling the song, letting the heartbreak of it ebb from her. It seems tonight she’s bent on ripping out the heart of everyone in town. Everyone who’s made her feel inadequate, inferior. All these fuckers who have made her feel small and insignificant. This song is her cry, her last breath. It’s all that she left when she tried to leave us.
I’m at the stage with Vic right behind. He knows it too. She’s gonna need us, even if she doesn’t want us. Finishing the song, she looks out into the silenced crowd, not seeing us at first.
“Baby girl?” Vic calls, and her head rips toward us. She’s off the stage and in our arms in seconds. Mac opens the back door, letting us out. It’s time to go home.
