Feeling This Read Free Page B

get. Idiot.
    A band sets up on the makeshift stage and
begins playing. I can’t keep track of which band is which anymore. We seem to
have a different one each weekend, garage bands at their finest. Becca strolls
up and squeals to me as I make her drinks at the service bar, “Do you see him?
See the drummer, that’s Tyler.”
    I ignore her, pretending like I didn’t hear
her but she persists,”Kimber, did you hear me, Tyler is up on stage, check him
out. He’s so sexy.”
    Yeah okay, that is her dumb response about
every guy that passes through this place. I glance up to appease her and spot
the drummer. Typical, long haired, big and bulky, no shirt, ripped jeans,
probably in his late twenties with nowhere to go in life but here. Oh boy,
who pissed in my drink tonight ? I put on my best smile and tell her, “Oh
Becca, nice.”
    She nods and grabs her drinks but before
she turns, she quirks, “Hey, maybe I can set you up with one of the others. The
singer seems pretty cute.”
    Oh God, really! I glance over just so she’ll leave. The singer actually isn’t quite
bad. He scans the audience as he sings some catchy upbeat song I’ve never
heard. His gaze lands on mine and he winks. I quickly look away and catch Becca
staring at me, smiling.
    “Shit Becca, you already said something to
him, didn’t you?
    She giggles, “Guilty.” I roll my eyes and
turn away because if I don’t I’m liable to say something and hurt her feelings.
    A high pitched whistle rings from the other
end of the bar distracting me from Becca. I turn ready to let someone have it.
I am not a dog at anyone’s beck and call. But I spot the culprit down at the
corner where the L turns to meet the wall closing the bar off from patrons. A
wide smile spreads over my lips at the sight. I nod at her finishing the drinks
I’m making for the customers in front of me. A few minutes later I’m hugging my
big sister, Jenna, over the bar. She is true to form, short black bob, nose
pierced and tattoos sporadically placed on her arms and shoulders. Her sheer
pink tank showcases a black bra underneath and a regular customer next to her
is looking up at her shirt with googly eyes.
    “Hey girl, where have you been?” I already
know the answer to this. She can’t stand to stay in one place. She reminds me
every time she comes to visit that I would do the same if I were smart.
    She smirks, “Can’t a girl get a beer around
here?”
    I trek back down to the tap and pour a mug.
Derek leans in, too close for my comfort, I can smell cigarettes on his breath.
“Hey, is that your sister? Can you hook a brother up?”
    I back up and laugh it off, “Uh, no! And
when did you become a brother?”
    I turn on my heel having no patience for
him tonight. My sister is concentrating on her phone, as I place her mug down
in front of her.
     “Hey, my car’s not doing too hot, I might
need to catch a ride home,” I confide.
    She looks up from her phone suddenly
interested in what I’ve said, “No, Kimber, you know I can’t go there.” Her face
first registers fear, then sorrow. I knew she wouldn’t want to help but my
other choice is Derek, definitely not, or Becca, yeah, no again.
    “Okay sis, just stick around, please, just
in case my car doesn’t start.” She ignores me, her attention diverted to the
phone again. I’m not even going to ask why she’s home. She strolls back through
town sometimes. I like to think it’s to check up on me and make sure I’m
surviving but I’m not completely convinced.
    I make my way down the bar to help Derek
out and I notice he is staring at Jenna. He seems enamored with her. His attention
is diverted from me for once. Great , let my sister be the focus for once
with this guy.
    The night speeds by which makes it that
much sooner I will be able to collapse into my bed. Around midnight, the owner
of this fine establishment, Jared Duck, yes his last name is actually Duck, makes
his nightly appearance. He is short and round with