Stripped (2 page)

She envisioned moving someplace small and quiet to write and have a simple life.  Somewhere in her mind she imagined that small town had the perfect guy waiting for her.  A perfect little life filled with love, much like the sappy romantic storyline she pushed as one of her pen names.

The cursor blinked at the end of a sentence.  Emily read the sentence three times and hated it.  She considered deleting it but that would mess with her head for the rest of the night.  Deleting something without replacing it would leave her feeling empty.  She’d feel like a failure.

The story had started out so good... so easy... but the conflicts came and never stopped...

She considered turning it into a series, but to do that she’d have to pitch it to her agent to pitch to the publisher.  They preferred the whole story in one shot so she could start working on the next book. 

Just one more thing that Emily felt powerless about. 

She hated feeling powerless and if she had to be honest with herself, going to stand in a club full of strangers to watch a band play would be the most powerless feeling ever.  Seeing those artists on stage, pouring their truth out to whoever would listen, now that was art.  Sitting hidden in a room typing away another romance book didn’t feel like art... at least not like it used to.

“Em, you ready?”

Emily closed her laptop and turned.  Ann was now dolled up in makeup.  Emily knew she was nervous tonight because of how much makeup grazed her face.  A good friend would tell her she looks like shit.  A great friend would smile and go along with it, to be as supportive as possible.

Emily stood up and smiled.  “Don’t call me Em.  Please.”

“Fine.  Be Emily.  It’s cute actually.  Sort of innocent.  You’re so virginal.”

“But I’m not a virgin,” Emily said.

“When was the last time you had sex?” Ann asked.

“I’m not answering that.”

“Unless you’re having your cake somewhere else, there’s no action in this bedroom unless it takes batteries.”

Emily swallowed hard as her cheeks burned red.  Her hands slowly moved to her stomach.  Did Ann have to make a cake comment?  Not that she meant it in a way to pick on Emily’s curves, but it just didn’t feel right. 

Changing the subject, Emily pointed to Ann’s bag.  “Have everything you need?”

“Totally ready,” Ann said. “This is pretty cool, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Are you kidding me?  We get to go to this show for free... we get to meet rockstars...”

“You get to meet rockstars.”

“If you would just wear a tank top and show off that chest of yours...”

“No,” Emily snapped.  “No.  I don’t do that.”

Ann rolled her eyes.  “Whatever.  All I know is that if I had a chest like yours, I’d be using them for anything I can get.”

Emily’s eyes moved to Ann’s breasts.  Comparing body type to chest size, Ann was holding herself just fine.  Plus, wouldn’t a guy rather perky handful size breasts?  Emily tried not to imagine her own large breast but couldn’t help it.  Everything about her chest was bigger.  Her curvy size probably added a little, but she was born to have big breasts.

“Ugh, I hate this conversation now,” Emily said.

“Why?  Because it’s about sex?  You’re going to get lost in one of them books you’re writing, you know that?”

Emily refused to answer because her roommate was right.

“I’m being honest, Em...
ily
.  You should try writing something flirty and sexy.  Make two people go at it like wild and see what happens.  Or better yet, use me tonight.  Tell some guy that you’re with a reporter from the magazine and get yourself some.  If we’re lucky, my buddy, Chris, might be the bartender.”

“Buddy?”

Ann smiled.  “Yeah?  So I fucked him a few times last year, who cares?  I drink for free now, don’t I?”

“Is that a permanent pass to drink?”

“Well, I have to do little favors here and there... but not tonight.  Tonight is business.  If he’s there, you’ll drink for free and you’ll take him home.  On my behalf.”  Ann looked at her phone.  “Shit.  My editor just emailed me.  Let me take care of this.  Then we’re leaving.”

Ann disappeared and Emily felt angry.  She threw the finger at the open door.

She felt ridiculous and even more ridiculous was the idea of hooking up with a bartender because Ann’s too busy to do so.  No way Emily was going to be the backup plan to anyone, especially Ann.  In some odd way, Emily loved her roommate, but then again, tonight she wasn’t dealing with Ann... she was dealing with Annie Crossfire.

“Crossfire,” Emily whispered as she left her room.

She knew it was going to be an interesting night,
no matter what
.

2.

The club was called D.  Literally.  D.  Outside of the place hung a large letter D, slightly tilted, with quite a few of the lights burned out.  Emily stared at it and wondered if it was done on purpose.

“Here, come with me,” Ann said as she reached for Emily’s hand.

They walked across the street and beyond a small line out front.  A few guys turned and whistled, either at the sight of two women holding hands or the sight of Ann in her clothes. 

At the side door to the building, Ann knocked.  A bouncer opened the door, standing about ten feet tall, looking too wide to fit through the door.

“Annie Crossfire,” Ann said and smiled.

The bouncer looked at Emily.

“She’s a big fan,” Ann said.  “A really big fan.”

The bouncer smiled.

Emily wasn’t sure whether to feel embarrassed or not, and she didn’t have a choice because the bouncer stepped to the side and let them in.

“What are we doing?” Emily whispered.

“Backstage for a few minutes.  I like to see before the show.”

“Are we allowed?”

“Who cares?  I’m the press.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re with me.”

Ann pulled Emily.  There was one door down the small hallway and Ann burst through it like she owned the building. 

The sight was sudden shock and awe for Emily.

There stood four men, all but one had long hair.  The one without long hair had no hair at all and sat in a chair with a pair of drumsticks, practicing on a black pad.  A guy with blond dreadlocks sat on the arm of an olive green couch playing notes on a bass.  The other two stood face to face, one with black hair holding a small plate while one with blond hair had his nose to the plate. 

He inhaled a long line of cocaine and then threw his head back, put his arms out, and smiled. 

“Fuckin’ a...”

“Hey,” Ann said, calm and cute.

Emily’s heart pounded in her chest.  She’d never seen anything like it before.  Backstage at a concert, even a small venue. 

“Hey, love,” the blond said as he wiped his nose. He wore a ring on every finger and had several bracelets on his wrists.  He wore no shirt and while he didn’t have much muscle definition, he looked good.  Sexy in a bad boy way.

“I’m Annie Crossfire,” Ann said.

“Ah, yes, the beautiful Ms. Crossfire,” the man said.

He reached out and took Ann’s hand.  He kissed the back of her hand and then forced her pointer finger straight.  He touched her finger to his lips and he gently nibbled on it before laughing.

“This is Rex,” Ann said to me.  “He’s the lead singer for Dying Desires.”

“Hey,” Emily whispered.

“And these guys are the band,” Ann said.

“To hell with the band,” Rex said.  He looked and laughed at his band mates.  The man with the black hair was already taking his turn with the drug filled plate.  The bass player continued to play and the drummer continued to jam. 

Something told Emily that they were all stoned. 

“You only need to worry about me,” Rex said.

“Is this cool?” Ann asked.  “I know you don’t go on for another hour but I like to meet the band before all the press bullshit starts.”

“Oh, snappy tongue,” Rex said.

“You don’t want to know what I can do with this tongue,” Ann said.

Rex slithered his way towards Ann as though a song was playing.  His hands touched her hips and he thrust at Ann.  It forced Ann to grab his arms and hold on tight. 

“We can discuss tongue techniques in a little bit,” Rex said. He slowly turned and looked at Emily.  “What’s up with you, love?  Did that pussy cat get your tongue?”

Emily opened her mouth but had no words.  This was insane, wild, and Ann was okay with it all. 

Before Emily could find any words, the man with the long black hair offered her the plate.  She’d never done drugs before, or at least drugs this hard.  She had her occasional fun back in high school and college like anyone else.

“Rock it or pass it, babe,” the man said.  He had a deep voice and his eyes were just as deep and sexy. 

Emily started to feel dizzy.  She didn’t want the drugs but she didn’t want to mess up Ann’s game.

“We’re set for now,” Ann said.  “Is that cool, Rocko?”

“It’s always cool,” black hair - Rocko - said.  He put the plate down and stood staring at Emily. 

Emily looked at Ann who now stared back at Rex.

“Did I hear you say pussy?” Ann asked.

Rex laughed.  “One of my favorite things.”

Ann came forward and kissed the tip of Rex’s nose.  She licked it and said, “Mine too.”

“Well, isn’t that a wonderful treat?” Rex asked.  He looked at Rocko with a devilish grin.  “Maybe we can have ourselves a good time tonight.  The reporter and her quiet friend... going at it.”  Rex reached out and touched Emily’s face.  She shuddered and blinked fast.  “I bet we can find a way to loosen you up, love.”

Emily smelled alcohol on Rex’s breath, which was the least concerning thing that was happening backstage.

In the far distance a voice announced a band taking the stage.  After a few clicks of drumsticks, a song started.

“Oh, damn,” Ann said, “that means we have to go.”

“Those bar bands are terrible,” Rex said. 

“You were a bar band once,” Ann said.  “Started playing any venue that would take you.  And when there were none, you played empty warehouses.”

“We played on whatever stage we fucking wanted,” Rocko called out. 

“We created all we have,” Rex said.  “We do.  We take.  We enjoy.  We leave.”

“My kind of band,” Ann said.  “And my kind of man...”

“You’re not going to put this in our interview, are you?”

“Do you see my pen and paper?  My recorder?”

“No, but I do see a set of cute little lips that are probably good for a number of things.”  Rex’s finger grazed along Ann’s lips.