Chapter 4
Melissa:
"Where are you going?" I asked as Durbbie put her stuff down and started
out the door of our apartment.
"To the coffee shop."
"But it's Wednesday."
"Good observation."
"Everything OK?" I asked. "You never go unless it's your night.
Did you switch with someone?"
Durbbie shook her head. "Nah. Just feel like going. You OK with that?"
Honestly, no. I wasn't. I wanted to stay home with Durbbie and tell her what
was going on with me. Brian was totally stressing me out. "Sure. Knock
yourself out."
AJ:
I wandered into the coffee shop and took a seat in the corner. I was listening
to the other performers when I noticed that a commotion was going on a little
ways in back of me. I turned my head to see what was going on.
Durbbie had entered the building. Everyone was fussing over her. It was distracting
and I know that she wasn't very happy with all the attention. She kind of shrugged
them off in the usual Durbbie fashion before coming over to me.
"Glad you could make it."
"Tell me about it."
There was an awkward silence. "Are you singing tonight?"
Durbbie looked at me like I had 5 heads. "No way. I'm scheduled for Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Fridays. Saturdays if I get lucky or something. Other than that,
I never come in here. Everyone fusses and stuff like they did before. It's not
for me."
"Is there any way I can get you back on that stage tonight?" I questioned.
Durbbie's back stiffened. "Excuse me?"
"Can I get you on stage tonight to sing?"
"I didn't come here on a date or anything, AJ. I wanted a good time with
a…a…you know…a…friend, I guess."
"I didn't mean it like that. You were amazing up there yesterday."
"No I wasn't. I went flat on one key change, sharp on another and who knows
what I did on the last set. It was a disaster."
We were disturbed by a man on stage with a clip board. "Our next performer
has requested that he not go on tonight. Durbbie, if you'll come up here and
sing for us?"
Durbbie:
"You've got
to be kidding me," I muttered. "This is not happening."
"Go on," AJ nudged. "I'll stay here."
"No way," I replied flatly.
"Don't be shy Durbbie. You'll still go on tomorrow," the announcer
egged on.
I grimaced and made my way on stage. "You guys have to forgive me,"
I said into the microphone. "I really wasn't ready for this. I'm not prepared
or anything." I let out a breath before continuing. "It must be a
conspiracy or something. Who knows any more? Let's just get this show on the
road." In the few moments I was rambling, I decided on an a cappella number
of 1 song. I started off really softly before picking up a little bit of power
before I let it all flow. I finished to a completely silent crowd. I guess it
was really bad if I made them so quiet. Then, one solitary person started clapping.
I looked over and saw AJ with a wide grin and clapping as others joined in.
The applause grew as people started standing. "Thanks," I said shyly.
I wasn't really one for stuff like this.
I decided it was time to get off stage and head to the door. Things were too
out of hand. I grabbed my jacket on the way out.
Melissa:
"I
can't believe you think that sucked!" I heard a familiar male voice say
as Durbbie and AJ came crashing into the apartment.
"I can't believe you made me go up there."
"What's going on?" I asked as I popped a piece of popcorn into my
mouth.
"AJ made me go on stage tonight. It was so terrible. I'm calling and canceling
for tomorrow. I'll never show my face in there again."
"Dude, don't listen to her," AJ chimed in. "Melissa, she was
amazing. She sang this one song with so much power. The entire place went silent.
You could have heard a pin drop."
"That's probably because the last note went haywire," Durbbie reported
form the kitchen. "Anybody want anything while I'm up?"
Melissa and I were both no's. "I'm telling you, that was so incredible.
I just don't know how to describe it."
"What'd you do?" I asked Durbs as she came back with a bottle of water
in her hand.
"I sang 'Love For Me' a cappella."
My jaw dropped. "And you didn't call me! You know I LOVE that song!"
Durbbie just shrugged.
Brian:
"You
seem distracted," Leighanne said as I zoned out again. "Everything
OK?"
I sighed. "We're working with Melissa and Durbbie again. I guess I've been
a little stressed."
"Wanna talk about it?"
I shook my head. How could I explain everything that happened in the two weeks
that changed my life forever? How could I explain Durbbie? More importantly,
how could I explain the kiss… Melissa. I needed to talk to Melissa about
it. They just picked up and left last time. Given they were traumatized by the
experience, but we never really duked it out verbally or anything. I only know
that she heard me on the phone with Leighanne afterwards and flipped out.
"I'm going out," I said as I got up and searched for my jacket.
Leighanne almost had a heart attack. "At this hour? Brian, are you crazy?"
"Maybe," I muttered. "Don't stay up. I don't know when I'll be
back."
I closed the door to my hotel room and took the elevator down into the lobby.
Who should be there but AJ on his way up.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"I went out to visit a friend. That OK?"
"Durbbie?"
"Listen man, why do you always assume that I'm with her? I don't see why
it's your business."
"Calm down AJ," I said calmly. We haven't exactly been civil to each
other lately. "I wanted to go to their apartment. I need to talk to them."
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