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Start here: Let it Rock Chapters 1 & 2
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LYNN
It took me a second to realize what I was seeing. It's definitely our music teacher, Mr. Lee, but also, it's totally not.
His purple shirt looked soft. I wonder if it's made of silk? Oh my gosh I can't look...he's got it unbuttoned almost all the way. I resisted the urge to cover my eyes and gave him a thorough review. After all, this could be important. When solving a mystery, anything could be a clue. Even an exposed belly button.
He didn't have a six pack, or anything, but he looked really good, for a teacher. Red leather curled around his knees and hips. His long blond curls weren't tied back in a neat ponytail like they had been for each class, but instead made a cascade over his shoulders. Sexy. Did I just think that about a teacher? Gone was the tweed and the necktie, and motorcycle boots replaced his loafers. He was wearing purple lipstick that matched his shirt. This was a man dressed for a night out, not for the classroom. He looked hot. Her friend Tracy back home would have fainted at the sight of him. Heck, I'm getting a little weak-kneed.
Mr. Lee was standing near the stage, and his hair reflected the spotlights. It's dark back here, so he probably can't see the three of us. He was smiling and talking to a woman dressed in a very similar outfit; silk shirt and leather pants, with more decorated boots. She was standing on the stage, so she must be in the band.
Angie abruptly grabbed me and Kanu, and pulled us away. When we finally were clear of the crowd and she let us go, she wore a toothy smile, like a kid with a new toy.
She squealed. "EEE! Can you believe him? That shirt! Those pants! I mean, Mr. Lee! REALLY!" She made a noise that was half-giggle and half scream.
Kanu was staring at Angie open mouthed. She closed it and said, "I agree, I do not believe it. Is that our music teacher? I did not recognize him at all!"
"Yes, it's him. Definitely." I said, as I nodded. "I think we found his alter ego."
"So, what do we do now?" Angie asked me. "I didn't see anyone who looked like that photo of Jim. Did you see him? Is he here?"
I looked at Kanu and said, "I didn't see him, did you?"
"No. Perhaps he is near the stage? I did not look closely, I was distracted by our music teacher." Kanu made air quotes around "teacher" when she said it, and let out a giggle. "I can not believe that anyone would dress in such a manner, who is also teaching students."
"Really?" I snapped. "He looks pretty normal to me. He's dressed perfectly correctly, I mean, for someone at a rock show. He looks different from when he's at school but," I finished, "I think he looks hot, actually." I put my hand on my hip and cocked my eyebrow high.
"Oh, yes, the great and mighty Lynn, knowing everything," Kanu replied. "Clearly he is normal, and it is I, Kanu, who knows nothing." Her face was turned down in a scowl. "He is NOT normal and it is not appropriate for a teacher to dress..."
I couldn't believe her! Who does she think she is? "What gives you the right to tell him, or to tell anyone for that matter, what to wear?" I stomped my foot, and some of the nearby bar patrons turned around to look at me. "You are so stuck-up, Kanu! Do you judge me, or Angie, for what we look like or how we dress...?"
Angie interrupted. "Are you two going to make this a habit? I wish you would both just knock it off. People are starting to stare." She looked around, and motioned us to a nearby corner. "Let's go over there, please?"
Kanu and I threw eye-daggers at each other, but we meekly followed Angie to an out-of-the-way alcove by the bathroom.
Kanu started right where we left off. "You think that I am stuck-up, do you?"
I stared Kanu down, and said, "That's right. I do." Angie gasped.
"Fine," said Kanu.
"What?" Angie said. "What do you mean, "Fine"?"
"Fine. That is perfect for me. I do not need your help. I will look for Jim myself. He is clearly not here." She waved her hand as she said this, dismissing me, Angie, and the whole bar at the same time. "Perhaps he went to the movies. I will check the theater now. You can do as you like." I saw determination, anger, and unbelievably - pain in her eyes, just before she turned and stormed toward the exit.
Angie was in shock, but just for a moment. She said, "Wait, what just happened?", then left me standing there and followed Kanu.
I leaned against the wall to wait.
Great, I'm glad she's gone. Total bitch wasn't helping, all she did was make fun of me and laugh at me. Damn, this is ridiculous. I'm not getting any closer to finding my brother.
My head started to throb, just as another song started on the jukebox.
This is Joan Jett. I heard that someone from the Rolling Stones did guitar on this one. I'll tell Angie when she gets back, she'll like to hear that.
"Midnight, gettin' uptight. Where are you?
You said you'd meet me, now it's quarter to two
I know I'm hangin' but I'm still wantin' you."
A few moments later Angie was back, and she was alone. "Great, Lynn, just great.". She was panting, clearly out of breath. "Kanu is gone, she drove off. I couldn't stop her. Hahhhhh."
I just stared at Angie and said, "Yeah, so?"
"So? Hahhh...Do you even realize what you said, what you did? Hahhhh....Or are you just standing here listening to the music and ignoring everyone around you?" Angie looked at me in desperation. "Did you think about me, hahhhh...did you think about anything other than yourself?" She turned to lean against the wall next to me and tried to slow her breathing.
The music seemed to get louder, filling the space between us.
"I hate myself for lovin' you..."
"Look, sure yeah, I was listening to the music just now. But I don't know what you are talking about. She was being a bitch."
Angie was breathing normally again. "No, Lynn. It was you who was being a bitch. And generally overreacting. You are my friend, so I'm trying to be straight with you. Or would you prefer I lied?"
"No, no. Angie, please. It's not that bad, is it?" What did I do wrong?
"Yes. Yes it is. Not only did you chase away Kanu, a really nice girl and someone I was hoping to be a new friend, but you also chased away Kanu, the girl who was helping us look for Jim, and our ride home."
"I hate myself..."
"I didn't think about that," I said, feeling bad now. The song was telling me I should hate myself, and now I did. "I know she was mad at me, but I didn't think she'd take it out on you too." My chest tightened. "I'm sorry, Angie. I'll figure out some way for us to get home, I promise." I paused. "But you understand, right? I mean, she was telling me what I could wear, and that if I didn't dress the way she wanted, that I was the bad guy."
"NO, Lynn, maybe that's what you heard but I wish I had a tape recorder. That's not what she said. We were talking about Mr. Lee, not you." She paused. "Just think about it, please."
For a few minutes we both stood there, leaning against the wall and letting the noise and the colors of the rowdy bar send waves over us.
Okay, I'm thinking about it. Sure, it was the teacher and not me, but it amounts to the same thing, right? Ugh. Maybe not. Maybe I should think about Kanu. She wants to find Jim, just like I do. So what if she didn't like the teacher's outfit? We don't have to like the same stuff, right? Do I want to be friends with her, or not? I mean, she's my brother's girlfriend, so I should be. But she keeps pushing all of my buttons! What is it about her that keeps sending me into a tailspin?
The song ended. A new song began and ended. Then I heard the screech and long whine of an amplifier being turned on.
I couldn't wait any longer. I said, "I'm sorry, Angie. I messed up."
"You did. You should be," she replied, and leaned into my arm. "Hopefully you can work it out with Kanu later."
"Yeah."
A woman's voice came over the mic,
"Good evening, Stonyfield! We're The Flamingos!"
"It sounds like the band is starting. Should we go watch?" I levered away from the wall.
"Yeah. We're stuck here, anyway, right?"
"Yep, " I said. "Let's go."
----
By the time we got back to the stage and the crowd, Mr. Lee was gone, and the band had started their first song.
A few tunes in, I started zoning out a bit. The Flamingos were pretty good. Most of the songs reminded me of their one hit, "Heartbreak", based on a heavy blues riff, fast guitar, and some straight forward drumming. Nothing particularly spectacular, although the singer was kind of interesting. She used her entire body onstage; dropping her shoulders and clutching at the microphone, leaping and jumping from one side of the stage to the other. Her voice was really deep and almost magical, and that depth didn't come through over the radio. I felt her more than I heard her, a kind of thrum thrum thrum sound that hit me right in the gut.
Listening to them made me feel everything. I still felt kind of bad, about Kanu. Why did she react that way? Why did I? I wish she had stayed, so we could have worked things out.
"Okay, dudes and dudettes, this is gonna be our last song. Thank you so much!"
What...what's up with this last song? They sound funny. Was this rock, or not? It sounds like..something else. Whatever it is, it's not good. Plus, there were no vocals, and that was the best part. I closed my eyes to try to understand it, but had to stop. I wanted to put my fingers in my ears, it was that bad. I turned to Angie, about to ask her if we could split early. Shoot, no, we can't! We've got no ride! I guess we're stuck here until we figure out a way home.
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Janet