Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)

“I can’t imagine anything to be a flop. You’re really great, have you ever been offered a deal?” Bethany’s enthusiasm makes the conversation interesting instead of one of those awkward conversations that end up turning everyone off.

A guy walking by pats Tate on the shoulder. “You rocked that Johnny Cash song, Ring of Fire. Will you be out here again?”

“Thanks man, they asked if I could come out in a couple of weeks. I have to check my schedule, but I’m pretty sure I will.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for the flyer. See ya,” the guy says and walks away.

Suddenly, people were all coming over and telling him what a great job he did and what their favorite song was. Tate is cool with everyone who talks to him. A couple of people offered to buy him a drink, but he declined. He never had a chance to answer Bethany’s question and I have the vibe he didn’t want to answer it. Bethany was happy to have the attention at our table. A couple of guys bought her a beer or two. Right now, I’m not the poor girl fighting to keep the electricity on. During our fourth trip to the restroom, the guy who Bethany was flirting with, came over to get her phone number. Suddenly, she doesn’t have to go to the bathroom as much as I do so I go without her.

Bethany isn’t where I left her and she isn’t at the table either. Sam is good at keeping tabs on her so I ignore it and to my disappointment, Tate and his guitar aren’t at our table. Great, everyone bailed on me the minute I was gone long enough to make the escape. Sam comes over and tells me Bethany is outside with that guy and she’d meet us at the car. He said Tate was talking to a group of people and he disappeared. Now, I’m the girl who can clear a room and the poor girl.

That guy and Bethany are sitting on the tailgate of the truck parked next to me and are drunk kissing. It isn’t pretty. They’re draped all over each other. It takes Sam a couple of times clearing his throat to get her attention. She looks up bashfully and not so discreetly, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. Bethany takes a sharpie out of her purse and writes her number on his wrist.

“Let’s go, Beth, I have a couple of people coming to the house for drinks,” Sam says and checks his phone.

“You do?” I ask.

“You’re staying for drinks too, don’t give me that look,” Sam says with a flash of his toothy smile.

“I can’t, I have to study for a final.” I haven’t told them the depth of my father’s issues. If they knew I am basically the parent and he’s the emo teenager, they’d label me a big loser. I’m not. When I have to parent my dad, I am. Sam rolls his eyes at me. “One day, I’m going to jab a toothpick in your eyes to keep them from rolling back in your head.”

“Violent much? Are you going home to torture kittens?” Sam opens the car door and climbs into the back seat. Bethany called shotgun so he gets to be crowded with his long legs.

“No, I only torture humans, kittens are cute.” I put my key in the ignition to start the car. A knock on my window makes me jump and scream. Tate is standing there with a shit-eating grin on his face. He motions for me to get out of the car to talk to him. Sam reminds me he has company coming over.

I step out and follow him to the back of my car. I inhale, and get a whiff of his cologne. Sexy cologne. The kind that makes me all mushy inside.

He has his hands in his front pockets, he actually looks vulnerable and that is sexy to me. I wonder what he’s thinking. On the trunk of my car is a small brown shopping bag that looks like a gift bag. The stamp across it says, Raven Bookstore. He picks it up and hands it to me.

“This is for you.” He looks down on the ground and up at me.

Inside the bag is the book of poetry I had on the table. I glance up and smile at him, dumbfounded that he bought it for me. “Thank you, that’s so nice of you.” I don’t know what else to say, a part of me wants to hug him, and the other part…the sensible one says, creepy.

“I thought you left and forgot to get the book since it was scooted over by me.”

“Oh, yeah, I did forget it. I’ve been hoping to get a copy for a long time. Every time I’m in the store, they’re sold out. If you thought I left, what were you going to do?”

“Funny you should ask. I was planning on showing up to your work and giving it to you. I saw Bethany and some guy so I figured you were still here so I stayed in the parking lot until I saw you. That sounds really stalkerish. Crap, I’m a stalker,” he smiles at me and I can’t stop from smiling back.

“Yeah, you’re a stalker. If I catch you singing outside my bedroom window, I’m definitely going to call the cops.” I try to sound flirty so he won’t think he’s scaring me.

“Mental note, no singing outside of Holland’s bedroom. During our brief time together, I notice you like lattes. I’ve actually never seen anyone drink so many and plan on sleeping. You do sleep, don’t you? You’re not one of those binge on coffee at night and sleep all day people are you?” We laugh as he dances around whatever he’s about to say. “There’s this great coffee place, it’s small, but they make the best coffee. I’m sure their lattes are just as good too. Would you like to go have coffee tomorrow?”

What the what? He just asked me out. The girl living inside of me is about to faint, I feel her teetering over. Thankfully, I’ve mastered the art of hiding her from the world. These bootie jeans are my lucky charm. I’m off all weekend except for making the bank deposit, I don’t have to clock in at all. “Coffee sounds great. Tell me where and what time and I’ll meet you there.”

“Give me your cell number and I’ll text you the name and address. How about one-thirty?”

“Let me have your phone and I’ll put in my number. One-thirty is good for me.”

He smiles and nods his head a little. “Cool, see you then.” I watch him as he walks away, he turns around and waves.

I practically jumped into the car. Sitting in my seat, I turn to Bethany and shriek. She shrieks back. The two of us shriek together.

“OH MY GOD! DON’T SCREAM LIKE THAT AGAIN!” Sam demands.

Bethany and I look at each other one more time and let out one final voice-blowing scream.

“This girl got asked out on a date!” I say pointing at myself. My cell phone vibrates.

COOL CAR. DRIVE SAFE ~ TATE

I read the text once to myself and once out loud. Best night ever.

***



Chapter Three. Kiss

After trying on every single pair of jeans I own and every shirt in my closet, I decide I don’t possess any date clothes. Especially without Andy to call and borrow anything from her closet. Andy’s mom called to tell me that she boxed up her clothes and wants me to have them. In my heart, Andy would want me to take her stuff, but in my head it makes it too final. I called her back and agreed to go over there tomorrow. It isn’t fair of me to disappear from their lives. I don’t want to upset her mom, so I’ve kept my distance.

I dig in my dirty clothes hamper, knowing my favorite jeans are in there. I hold them to my nose and sniff test them. The jeans reek like clove cigarettes. Sam was chain smoking cloves the other night. Without the energy to keep looking in my closet, I decide on a sundress.

Do other people test their clothes before going on a date? I dance around in front of the mirror to make sure I won’t flash my little bitty teeny panties from the mall. It passes the, oh I dropped my keys and have to bend over and pick them up, test. And the, oh my, the wind is blowing and I’m in full skirt alert mode. And the panty-line test. I’ve successfully spent two hours changing clothes and now to do my hair and make-up.