Blessed Tragedy(47)

“This is me,” I said opening the passenger's side door and helping her in.

“Wow... it's no wonder you're single if you try picking girls up for dates in this thing,” she laughed.

“Who said I pick up girls in anything?” I asked. Suddenly, I wanted it to be abundantly clear that I was single by choice. I didn't see the point in taking time away from my music for a girl who would drop me like a bad habit if I wasn't in the band. I'd had my days of endless * when I was eighteen and learned it really wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

I slammed the door shut and ran around to my side of the car. We didn't say anything on the short drive to Nan's Diner and that silence continued inside.

Finally, I was the one who couldn't take the silence any longer. “So, how did you and Travis meet? If you don't want to tell me, just tell me to butt the f*ck out and I will. But I get the feeling there's a missing piece of this puzzle somewhere.”

After staring out the window for a while, Rain folded her hands on the table in front of her and looked to me. “I don't know why it's a big deal, but it is to me. Travis is friends with one of my counselors from rehab. After she heard me playing the piano in the resident lounge, she started asking about my music. She said it would be a good outlet for me if I let it be.”

Her gaze drifted into the distance again and I knew she was trying to decide how much to tell me. “When it got close to time for me to get out, she told me she had a friend. Travis. And she told me she wanted to talk to him on my behalf to see if he knew of anyone looking for a singer. And I guess the rest is history.”





“Take Me Out” by Danielle A. Elwood

Coming Summer 2013

(this excerpt is subject to change through the editing process)



"Why does everyone stand up and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game when they're already there?"-Larry Anderson



Chapter 1

Letting Loose!

(Charolette)



I sat staring at the clock in my last class before a grueling week of final exams. Professor Anderson was going on about “taking the summer to explore the rich history our town provided”; something we have all heard since entering the doors of Boston University our freshman year. It was quite a bit tiresome by my junior year, especially as a history major. I leaned over to Jake and whispered “I am so glad we are hitting the town tonight” with a little nudge.



Jake was that guy all the girls loved but couldn't have, but not because he was unavailable. We all were simply the wrong gender. He had the bone structure of Tom Brady and the body to go with it. The way he carried himself you would never believe he had a gay bone in his body, but once he had a couple too many drinks, the jig was up. When Shay was too busy studying he was my other half.



“How in the hell did you get all those tickets?” Jake growled at me, almost grilling me like I was on the stand. I just smiled at him, and he knew one call to my brother Jon and I could have had any seat in Fenway Park for the night, or any night.



Baseball was my passion. Ever since I was a little girl the only place I wanted to be was on top of the Green Monster. The first time I sat up there with my father my heart skipped a beat and I had a feeling of passion like never before. I came alive.

My days started staring at the park and often ended listening to the crowded park singing Sweet Caroline in the distance, as I drifted off to sleep. It was my level of comfort.



“Quit daydreaming and let's get out of here!” Jake barked and snapped me right back into reality. I was free till Tuesday when all my final exams consumed my life, making my brain ooze directly out of my ear. “After you sir” I replied.



****



“Wooooooooo! A toast! To freedom and Fenway!” I screamed as we all saluted to each other with our plastic cups full of ballpark beer. “I'll drink to that” Shay chimed in as others shouted in agreement with us. She hated baseball, but hated missing a good time even more. With a smile on her face she was my date for the night.



We all made our way to our third base line seats as the stands started to pack in. It was damn near impossible to wade through the crowds when the stands were full without some guy trying to grab a cheap feel. I looked good tonight although not as good as the busty blonde Jake had on his arm. I would never understand why he toted around these trophy wives in training while all he really wanted was a Justin Timberlake look-a-like in his life. Maybe a bit of each?



I was sporting my favorite red sparkly Red Sox cap with my long brown pony tail pulled through the back of the cap, along with my favorite pair of worn skinny jeans and a white Red Sox tank top. Perfect for the beautiful Boston evening. I like keeping it casual, Lord knows growing up my mother packed me into every pink, crinoline infested, ladylike dress she could get her hands on. Some days I just wished I grew up poor. Which I always knew was a selfish thought.



I was too caught up in my own daydreaming to notice the two guys who sat down in front of us. One was the typical tall, dark, preppy, and handsome that I had been on oh-so-many dates with. Guys like him just bored me to pieces. The tales of pre-law or pre-med classes made me want to snore over my fancy dinners that never filled me up. But my father liked them and I felt like I had to be someone I am not just to get his approval.



The other guy though, there was just something about him that almost made me snap my neck staring. Shay immediately noticed my curiosity giving me an elbow to the ribs. “Don't hurt yourself there Charlie” she whispered.



He was tall, very tall. At least a foot taller than my short five foot frame, maybe more. But what I noticed the most was his arms. Visible muscles under a sea of colorful tattoos. “Am I going to have to pick your jaw up off the ground girl? Get your shit together before homeboy notices!” Shay looked at me like I was a ghost.



Tonight she looked impeccable. Her short black hair gently styled into a side bang, perfect smile that lights up a room, and her caramel mocha skin is completely flawless.



As soon as I started to break my stare he turned around and we were locked in an elementary school staring contest. His deep blue eyes paralyzed me. My stomach felt like it was full of butterflies, my panties immediately were soaked, and I felt as though I was losing my damn mind! No man had ever had an impact on me as much as this mystery man did in that moment. I felt like a pre-teen at one of those seven minutes in heaven parties. Did he know who I was? Damn near everyone in Boston did!



“Shay, join me to the ladies room?” I begged, just to get out of the uncomfortable situation I found myself stuck in. Since when did my sanctuary of Fenway Park become so uncomfortable? This was going to be a long night, and the only way I knew to comfort myself was with a full cup of beer at all times.

“Anything for you Charlie!”



As we made our way to the bathrooms I felt like all the blood had rushed out of my body, and I was floating on a cloud. My legs were Jell-O, and I tripped a couple times. What the f*ck was happening to me? When I finally snapped out of it I leaned into Shay, who was examining me just like I was some kind of patient of hers. “Do you think he knew who I am?”

“Who doesn't know who you are?” she laughed at me.

“A girl can hope right?” I giggled back like the school girl I had become. Immediately the mood had lightened which is exactly what I needed tonight.



My friends called me Charlie but my real name was Charlotte Ann Windsor. My mother a local historian and my father a world class pediatric surgeon who pioneered dozens of modern pediatric procedures at Boston's famous Children's Hospital. Philanthropists in the local community. Pillars of high society. Something I could walk away from tomorrow and never look back. It was a shadow I hated, because of the unwanted attention it brought. Scrutiny I learned to deal with, especially during my out of control teen years.



“More beer Shay?” I asked.

“You bet your ass! Tonight we celebrate!” Shay replied with gusto.

“Celebrate what?” I was confused as hell, what the hell was there to celebrate? The upcoming week of tedious testing? Or the fact that we had three days before the hell began?

“Your new found boy toy girl! Go gettem girl!” I couldn't help but laugh at Shay. She was always so optimistic! Acting like I was some kind of outspoken, confident broad or something.



As we giggled in the beer line making complete asses of ourselves the guy in front of us turned around annoyed at the bitches having way too much fun, and there he was again. Mr. Tattoo. Just staring at me with a look of oh shit, I sorry, in his eyes.



I wanted to ignore him until he turned around to actually speak to me. “Bentley Young, we can't seem to stay away from each other this evening” he said as he leaned in to shake my hand. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. To be honest with you, I am surprised I didn't hit the ground in that moment.