Love Resolution

“Cold Snake is playing at the Venue tonight,” Justin told Avery, leaning over the back of her chair while Marcus paid the bill.

“No way!” she exclaimed. “Why’re they playing at such a small place?”

“I heard they’re testing out some material for a new album.” He glanced at Marcus. “I was thinking of going and I wondered if you guys wanted to come with?”

“Go with him if you’d like,” Marcus said. “I’d rather not. I’ll spend some time with my parents. Take Ray with you, though.”

“I don’t want to keep Ray up that late,” Avery said with a frown.

Marcus sighed. “Avery, it’s his job to keep you safe.”

“I know but not twenty-four seven.”

He put his hand on top of hers. “Humor me, Ace.” He lowered his head and whispered in her ear. “It’ll make me feel better.”

“Ok,” she reluctantly agreed, turning her head to brush her lips across his. “Don’t wait up.” She pushed back from the table and preceded Justin out of the restaurant.

“Never gonna go to sleep…” Justin began.

“Always wanna dream,” Avery joined in. “Tonight you’re mine to keep,” they harmonized making the hostess smile as they walked out the front door.

“I love that song,” Justin said, opening the door of the Mercedes for Avery. She scooted in and made room for him to climb in beside her.

“It’s one of my faves too,” Avery commented and patted Ray on the shoulder. “We’re going to the Venue.”

“I know. Marcus already texted me. I’ll have you there in a few.”

“Thanks, Ray.”

“No worries.”

With a nod, Avery settled back into the back seat, rubbing her hands together. “It feels so cold tonight.”

“Lot colder than Los Angeles, that’s for sure,” Justin replied, gazing at her for a moment. He smoothed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You look just like her, you know.”

“Like Mom?”

“Yeah. More and more the older you get and with your hair shorter like this.” He glanced away, continuing in a quieter voice, “I still miss her.”

“Me, too. Every single day,” Avery whispered, tears threatening.

“She had this way about her when she was with you, that made you feel as if you were the most important person in the world to her. The center of the universe.”

Avery nodded. “Do you remember how she would always bake a special cake on our birthday?”

“Uh-huh.” His expression turned wistful. “The last one was a train cuz I liked them and it had Cinderella as the conductor because you were in your big princess phase.”

“And remember how she always made up a little rhyme and sang it to us. Today your eight, make it great…” Avery sang, stopping when her throat constricted with emotion.

Justin turned in his seat and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “She was a great mom.” He pressed his lips together and stared at her. “A real special woman,” he said voice low and intense. “Like you, sis.”

Avery closed her eyes and laid her cheek down on Justin’s shoulder. Justin smoothed her hair down and kissed the top of her head. A tear rolled down his cheek and in the mirror Avery noticed Ray’s eyes looked a little glassy, too.

Cars were at a standstill lining both sides of Granville Street as they approached the club. People spilled out the door onto the sidewalk and every available space around the Venue like an animate puddle.

“I’m not going to be able to get you even close to the front door,” Ray mumbled.

“That’s ok,” Avery said, leaning forward. She patted him on the shoulder. “We can walk.”

“Marcus wants me to go in with you.”

“I’ll be fine, Ray. I’ve got my brother with me.”

Ray gave Justin an uncertain glance. “I don’t know.”

“I’ll take good care of her,” Justin assured him, hopping out of the car.

Avery scooted down the seat toward the open door on Justin’s side. She looked back at Ray’s worried face. “I promise I’ll call if I need you.”

She followed Justin toward the long queue to get into the club. There were at least fifty people in front of them, all huddled together and shuffling their feet to try to stay warm in the freezing drizzle. As they took their spot in line, several people turned to stare.

Justin unzipped his red hoodie and handed it to her. “Here. Might want to put this on.”

“You’ll be cold,” Avery protested.

“I’m ok.” He leaned in. “Besides, I think you need it more. Looks like some people have recognized you.”

“Uh-oh.” She nodded. “I forgot my hat in the car.”

“Hey,” said a beefy tatted guy with skull capped brown hair standing in front of them in line. “Aren’t you Avery Jones?”

“Yes.” Avery smiled hesitantly and tucked her hands in the hoodie pockets. “How long have you been waiting?”

“I dunno. Don’t have a watch,” Skull Cap Guy replied, turning to his slightly pudgy companion. “How long we been out here, Joseph?”

“Two hours,” Joseph muttered, glancing up from a game of Fruit Ninja on his cell. “It’s bullshit.” His eyes widened when he saw Avery. “Say, aren’t you, Av…”

“Yeah, a*shole,” Skull Cap said in a loud whisper, knocking Joseph on the side of the head. “Keep it quiet. Can’t you see she wants to remain incognito?”

“Sorry, Matt.” Joseph ducked his head.

“No worries, guys,” Avery said shuffling forward with the rest of the line as it moved forward. Under the street lamp she noticed the misting drizzle changing over to intermittent snowflakes. She tilted back her head and stuck out her tongue.

“Avery Jones?” asked a man in a Venue jacket with a security band around his arm.

She nodded.

“Why the hell are you standing in line out here in the cold?” He threw up his hands. “Come on. I’ll escort you on in.”

“Sweet.” Justin stepped out of line to follow him, but Avery hesitated. He gave her a questioning look.

“I can’t leave my friends. Matt, Joseph,” she called. “You coming?”

Two sets of eyebrows rose with surprise. “Hell yeah!” Matt exclaimed, jogging up to her. “Later, popsicles,” he said to the people in line as they passed by.

Inside the club the temperature was as balmy as the tropics. Avery immediately shed the hoodie and handed it back to Justin. He raised a brow but tied it around his waist. Glancing around the interior, Avery felt like she had stepped back in time. The set up was very similar to Club Indigo in New York. A huge mirrored bar took up a lot of space near the entrance. Drum chandeliers with bronze accents dangled down from the black ceiling, casting muted light onto high backed crescent booths which lined each side of the interior. The stage at the back was definitely the centerpiece along with the forty foot light display board that hung above it.

Cold Snake was well into their set, playing their number one hit, “Party at the Gate.” The heavy beat of the bass saturated the air and pulsated through Avery’s bones. Ty, the platinum headed lead singer, took a sip of bottled water and then poured it over his head during the guitar solo before returning to the center mic. Joel, the guitarist, joined him there belting out the closing lyrics.

Avery grinned at Justin and started cheering along with everyone else when they ended the number. He smiled back and took her hand, threading his way through the press of people out onto the crowded dance floor.

“You guys want some more?” Ty shouted into the mic.

The crowd in front of the elevated stage went nuts.

“Alright then, let’s go.” Ty gestured to Joel. The guitarist opened with a wicked fast guitar riff that held Avery enthralled until it finished, but the frenetic tune that followed inexorably drew her into motion.

The flame haired, emerald eyed twins began to bounce up and down with the rest of the crowd. The noise level made hearing each other totally impossible, but irrelevant. They communicated their shared enjoyment with smiles instead.

Avery’s hair soon became drenched with sweat and her skin was so damp that her sweater stuck to it. Eyes closing, she swayed back and forth.

“Sis,” Justin warned leaning in. “Everyone’s taking your picture.”

Avery opened her eyes only to be momentarily blinded by the spot light that suddenly focused on them.

“Avery Jones.” Her head snapped up as Ty spoke her name into the microphone. “Hey guys,” he said to the audience while looking right at her. “We have Avery Jones in the house.” The people all around her turned to stare. “Come up here. Play something with us,” Ty demanded and the crowd began to push her toward the stage.

At the base of the platform, she found herself swept off her feet and lifted up on stage mosh pit style. She stumbled toward Ty smiling weakly back at the audience. Ty came over and draped his arm around her. He stretched his arm out to hold the mic away and whispered in her ear, “Heard you like oldies. Wanna do ‘Shoot to Thrill’?”

Before she could refuse, Joel walked over with a black Gibson SG that he placed in her hands. The drummer started playing some filler while she located an amp to plug into and strummed a couple of notes to check the tuning. Satisfied, she gave Ty a thumbs up.

“Ok guys. Give a big Cold Snake welcome to Avery Jones of Brutal Strength.”

Avery strutted out to the front of the stage immediately playing the highly recognizable opening riff to the infamous AC/DC song. She then shook the whammy bar to draw out the effect before replaying the opening riff again. The drummer and Joel joined in. Her body rocked back and forth to the beat, her right knee slightly bent and her right foot tapping in time in front of her. By the time Ty came growling in on the lyrics every head in the Venue was bopping.

Avery and Joel played off each other throughout the four and a half minute song. He did the mini guitar solo toward the end and she improvised with a complementary descending riff to close the song. The subsequent roaring of the crowd was almost as earsplitting as their combined guitar work had been.

Avery slapped Joel on the back and started to unstrap the guitar. The crowd began shouting, “One more. One more.”

Ty smiled sidelong at Avery and spoke to her through the mic. “What do you say, Miss Jones? Would you play one more song for us? A Brutal Strength number maybe?”

She shook her head.

“Ah come on,” he cajoled with a raised platinum brow.

Avery took a deep breath. She didn’t think Marcus would like her doing a BS song, but he probably wouldn’t mind if she did one of her own. She caught Justin’s eye before crossing the stage and whispering in Ty’s ear.

He nodded. “Ok guys. We’re gonna take a fifteen minute break and when we come back out Avery and her brother, Justin Jones are gonna do their stuff.”

The crowd thinned out a bit as a third of the people headed to the bar, outside to smoke, or to the restrooms. Justin came forward and extended an arm and Ty pulled him up on stage. They all gathered together offstage behind the speakers and assorted electrical equipment.

“So cool to meet you guys. Justin and I are huge fans,” Avery gushed with a smile.

“No, it’s an honor to play with you,” Joel threw back while giving her a visual once over.

Justin frowned.

“We didn’t put you too much on the spot, did we?” Ty asked.

“Nah, it was great,” Avery said. “You sure you’re ok with us taking up more of your set time?”

“Of course.” Ty grinned. “Besides, I think the fans would tear down the place if you backed out now.”

“Ok.” Avery made eye contact with Justin. “Let’s do ‘Broken.’ After that,” she turned to Ty, “we’ll get out of your way and go watch the rest of your show.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to do that,” Joel spoke up, running a hand through his black spiky hair. “They’ll never leave you alone out there now that they know who you are.”

Avery hadn’t thought of that. She shrugged. “Guess we’ll call it a night, then.”

“No. Don’t do that,” Ty protested. “Why don’t you guys hang out back here and when we’re done tonight we can all go back to the hotel, stack up some amps and jam for a while.”

“I don’t know.” Avery twisted her black armband around on her wrist.

“We’d love to do that,” Justin said decisively. He turned to Joel. “Can you lend me an acoustic?”

“Sure, man,” Joel replied, crooking his finger. Justin took a couple of steps to follow him and then glanced back over his shoulder. “Come on, sis.”

Avery walked out on stage and pulled up a stool next to the center mic and Justin. He clipped on Joel’s acoustic, strummed it and nodded. She tapped the mic as the crowd drifted back toward the dance floor. “I’m Avery Jones. And this is my brother, Justin. We’re gonna go unplugged for this number. We wrote it together. It’s called ‘Broken.’ We hope you like it.”

After the opening applause died down, Justin strummed the opening chords of the slow melancholy melody. They leaned in together to harmonize on the first verses.