Needing You Read online

  The band is now back up on stage and rocking it out. The crowd is still going crazy, I think they got louder if that’s even possible. Then Natalie turns and says get ready and hands me some Jack Daniels…I look down and I see seven bottles lined up of the stuff, what the hell. Before I have the chance to ask Natalie what I’m supposed to do with them, the lead singer whose name I learned is Parker tells everyone they better get their Jack ready because the songs coming up next. Next thing I see is lines and lines of people at the bar asking for one, two, three, up to ten shots of Jack. Holy shit! Before I know it, all the bottles I have are now emptied and finding their way down the throats of these drunken crazies. Parker starts singing a song about the liquor and everyone freaks out sucking down the stuff like its water. I have never seen anything like it before.

  The rest of the night flies by and before I know it the crowd is being told it’s time to go. I have never felt so exhausted. My feet are aching to the bone and my head is pounding from the blaring of the band. All in all, it is a great night. We quickly start to restock the bar before heading out for the night. Everyone chips in to help clean up the mess so we won’t have to do it tomorrow. The band stays for a little while longer and sits at a table and talks with Eddie. From what Natalie said, one of the guys is the nephew of Eddie. I didn’t catch which one Eddie was related to and I couldn’t tell by looks, but whatever.

  I continue restocking and Eddie comes up to the bar to talk to me. “So how are you holding up,” he asks me.

  I joked back and said “Oh pretty good, you know typical night.” He laughed at me, our banter was great! He continues to talk to me for a bit longer then heads back to his office to speak with Colin.

  “Well that was a freaking awesome night of tips,” Natalie says as she hands me and Marcus our shares.

  We each made over two hundred bucks. “Holy shitballs that’s a lot more than I anticipated.” I say excitedly.

  Next thing I know Marcus and Natalie are laughing their asses off at me…and saying “Holy shitballs…what the fuck is that?”

  Now they have me laughing. I need to think before I speak sometimes. After our laughter dies down, we say goodnight to the crew and the band because they are still there drinking with Eddie and we head out to go home. I’m feeling wide-awake, but know I need to get some sleep.

  As I start to walk home, Natalie and Marcus both stop and stare at me. Natalie asks “where’s your car?”

  “I don’t have one, I walked.”

  She looks at me like I’m nuts. Then she proceeds to tell me “You can’t walk home by yourself” and of course Marcus agrees.

  I just look at them “I do it every night, tonight’s no different, I’ll be fine, and it’s not a far walk.”

  Before I can say anything else a guy says “I’ll take her home.” What the hell, who is that guy. I will be damn if I will let a stranger take me home…I watched enough Dateline and First 48 to know about shit. Marcus and Natalie both say okay and say goodnight to me before they are off to their cars. I’m dumbstruck, what the hell just happened. “Come on let’s go,” the man says.

  Now I recognize him as the asshole who bitched at me in the alley, screw this. “I’m good I can make it home on my own but thanks,” I tell him and then start to walk in the direction of my dorm.

  Before I get five steps in he says “Look I’m sorry about earlier but it’s not safe to walk home after one of our shows, people tend to get crazy and do crazy shit afterwards.”

  I have no idea what to say, I don’t even know this guy. So what comes out of my mouth is “Well it’s either deal with the crazies or deal with you, either way you’re all strangers, so I figure I am best on my own.”

  Now Davie is out here and I guess he heard the conversation because he chimes in and says “Harp, let Declan take you home. He’s not a bad guy and he’s right, it’s not safe to walk home now.” Geez…ugh...I speak up and say “fine let’s go.”

  The ride back to my dorm is eerily quiet. I don’t know Declan and have no motivation to want to talk or get to know him. I give him the directions to my dorm and we head towards it. After a few moments of complete silence, Declan finally opens his mouth and says, “Look I am sorry about tonight, I thought you were a crazy fan following me.”

  So being the nice person that I am, I tell him “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” That pretty much ends the conversation in the car. He pulls up to my dorm and I thank him for the ride and get out of the car and head inside. I was thankful for the ride because damn my feet and legs hurt. I want to take a hot shower, but shit I just want to lie down. Once I get a whiff of myself, I decide a shower it is. Ew, I am gross, between the sweat and the alcohol and the cigarettes I wreak. After the shower, I plop down in bed and its lights out.

  Chapter 3

  I have one week left until my first semester of college starts. Things are getting busier by the day around campus. Now that the holidays are over, people are coming back to school. Working at PowerTrip on Christmas Eve and day was pretty fun. I was amazed at how many people came out to drink on a freaking holiday, but hey more money for me! With the money I’ve been making and saving I bought myself a television for my bedroom. I figure I spend most of my time in my room I might as well have something to watch while I’m in there. I also picked up a few more knickknacks for around the apartment. Lucky for me I don’t have to share this apartment with anyone until the summer session. I could not be more excited. Things are finally all falling into place.

  I decide to go for a run. I haven’t run much since I’ve been out here and I need to get back into the habit. I put my running gear on and head out the door. I figure three miles should be enough but depending on how my legs feel maybe more or less. The first mile isn’t so bad, but damn if the second one isn’t rough. My legs feel like they are Jell-O and I keep thinking they are going to give out on me, but the burn oh how I missed that burn. So I keep going, eventually the pain subsides. It’s a beautiful night out and I feel free. I only have a little bit left until I’m home, I have my jams blaring in my ears and enjoying that last leg of the run until somehow next thing I know I am on the damn ground. “What the hell,” I yell.

  The man beside me now keeps saying, “Oh shit, I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there.”

  I get up, wipe myself off and turn to Mr. I-didn’t-see-you and stop dead in my tracks. Now I want to tell him that he can run me over anytime, but not the right thing to say. This man is fucking delicious. He’s around 6’3” I think, has short wavy brown hair, the brownest eyes I have ever seen, and he looks fit, like very fit. By the way his short sleeves are hugging his biceps, I would say he works out a lot but who am I to know. He apologizes again and asks if I’m alright. I tell him, “I’m fine, just watch where you’re going.” Then I continue on my way. I get home, get showered and now all I can think about is that brown-eyed man, who was he, why did he run into me? All the questions I will never know because I got up and left quicker than shit.

  I don’t see mystery man again for the rest of the week, which I am not too surprised considering I only saw him that one time. I head into work, there’s a band playing tonight, it’s the last Saturday before classes starts. I am looking forward to going to school but not on cutting back some of my hours here, but I don’t have a choice, I am not sure if I can keep up with everything. Eddie told me not to worry because he will work out something with me even if I only end up working weekends. Some of the other staff is in school too, so he said it will work itself out. That makes me feel a little better; at least I don’t have to quit my job. This place is so much fun and I get to have a bit of a life even if I am behind the bar.

  The bar is so packed tonight it’s crazy but a good crazy. The band sounds amazing, the group is called The Craft and boy do they like their piercings and body art. I would say this band takes it to a whole new level, but it looks good on them. This group has five people in the band, four guys and one girl who sings sometimes with the lead si
nger. I must admit I am digging this band. Maybe not as much as King Dread but they are hard to beat. I’m consistently busy but it keeps my mind from wandering, which is good. When I serve the next customer I swear I saw Mr. Brown eyes and don’t get me wrong he could be in this bar, it is a bar after all. I serve my customer and then walk down by Natalie to see if it was indeed mister brown eyes. Natalie asks me what I am doing and I try to swing it off as nothing, but clearly she sees past me.

  “Who are you looking for?” she asks.

  “Oh no one, I thought I saw someone I knew,” was my quick remark.

  “Nice try, you know no one here so clearly you were looking at someone, who is it? Is he hot?”

  Well there is no way I am getting out of this one. I do spot mister brown eyes and I ask her if she knows him and I let her know where to look.

  “Oh no, stay the hell away from him,” she says, “He’s bad news.”

  Hmmm interesting, he looks all prim and proper. “Not that I am interested, but why is he bad news?”

  Natalie continues, “He doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself or his frat buddies. He uses every girl he gets his hands on, and trust me honey he gets his hands on a lot!”

  “So he’s a male slut,” I say easily enough.

  Natalie continues to stare at me then says in an all serious tone, “Harp he ruins girls. I should know he ruined two of my best friends. One night with him and they were never the same.” She states with an angry tone.

  “What the hell does that mean….does he have some super powers that he’s changing the way they are?” I am so confused.

  Our conversation is cut short because more people are waiting for drinks; maybe we will continue this another time if not o-well. It’s not like I’m going to get swooned by the deviled brown-eyed man myself.

  The rest of the night is a blur. I never did get to talk to Natalie and ask her anymore about the brown-eyed devil himself, but o-well, it’s probably for the best. Before I know it we are closed and I am headed home. It’s a little chillier tonight but it feels good against my burning skin. By the time I get home, it is shower and lights out.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Well today is my first day of college and I could not be more excited yet nervous at the same time. I have no idea what to expect, but I can’t wait to find out. My schedule is a little hectic because clearly I do not think things out thoroughly. I took some AP classes in high school that earned me a few college credits. So here I am in a boring history class, no idea why I scheduled this sucker as my first class. My second class is English which is fine, I don’t mind writing, and my third class for the day is some Psychology course. I love the human mind so that should be an interesting course.

  The day flies by and it’s just a typical first day, receive the syllabus, listen to the instructor talk and talk and talk and then head out for the day. Well that was easy enough. I decide I will go over the course syllabus for each course just so I know what I am getting into through the semester. Tomorrow, I have two more classes. I am excited about the two classes tomorrow; it’s a human genetics and another psychology class. Both of those go hand in hand with my major being Psychology. I want to learn why people do the things that they do. Actually, it’s more of a need to know than a want to know but then again Psychology is fascinating. I am off work until Friday night, which is good because I have so much reading to do that it is gonna take me forever. Unfortunately nothing exciting happened to me today, which I didn’t figure it would. I lead a pretty boring life but boring is good for me, it’s safe now, comforting even.

  After reading through each teacher’s instructions I decide I need to go for a run, I need a break badly. So I put my gear on and head out the door to free my mind for a little while. I decide on five maybe six miles today and turn my jams up on my iPod and start my run. I’m about three miles in when all of a sudden someone starts running alongside of me and this makes me a bit nervous. I forgot my damn pepper spray at the dorm, shit shit shit. I never forget my pepper spray. I take a chance and glance over at the person who is running next to me and then stop dead in my tracks. Go figure it would be the sexy brown-eyed devil that is beside me. My stomach does little flip-flops, but then the things Natalie said spring to mind.

  “Can I help you with something?” I ask.

  Mr. Sexy says in a sexy voice that should be illegal, “I saw you running and thought you might like some company.”

  Oh he’s good, real good. As much as I would love company, its best I don’t, I would probably end up tripping over my own two feet just stealing glances at him.

  “I would rather run by myself but thanks anyway,” I state and then start my running again. Too bad it doesn’t look like he takes the hint, what the hell. So I stop again and say a bit irritated, “Look, I don’t know what you want but I’m not interested so why don’t you save us both the time and beat it.”

  Now the sexy devil has a damn smirk on his face, truth be told it’s a pretty sexy smirk. Then the little shit has the audacity to say, “Oh I think we’re both interested, but I appear to be the only one with balls to come out and say it.”

  Wow, seriously are all guys this presumptuous. What a douchebag!

  “Look asshole, you are right you are the only one with balls but go figure you are a pompous ass, and you are wrong, I am not interested.” Let’s hope he can take the damn hint now.

  “Oh sweetheart that’s where you’re wrong, I saw you checking me out at the bar last weekend.” He continues to speak with a smug look on his damn face.

  Oh I want to punch him. If I thought he was sexy before now, he’s just a douchebag.

  “I have no idea what the hell you are talking about, but clearly you got me confused with another girl. I have no interest and I have no problem with telling you that. If you don’t mind I would like to get back to my run ALONE.” I practically yell at him. I start to run again and this time he doesn’t follow. Finally, took the smug shit long enough to get the hint.

  Damn that sexy brown-eyed devil. I keep running but now he has ruined my run. All I see is that damn smug smirk on his face and those sexy brown eyes. Clearly he is trouble and I need to stay away, but wow if he isn’t fine eye candy. Oh the things he said, who says shit like that other than cocky conceited assholes that always get what they want. Well not this time, that man will not get me, no one will get me. I will never allow someone to get close to me in any way. God knows I have enough secrets of my own.

  I finally make it back to my apartment, time for shower, dinner and then bed. Too bad my mind keeps racing; hopefully a little reading will help and put me to sleep. Finally after hours of reading I fall into a peaceful slumber.

  Chapter 4

  I wake up screaming and soaked in sweat. I flip the nightstand light on and check the time, 3:34 a.m. Damn it, I haven’t had a nightmare like that in a little over a month, why now. Why is it starting again? The images, the fact it was so real plays over and over again. I can’t say it’s just a bad dream because it’s not. It’s reality of what the hell happened that my mind can’t get past.

  See, that’s why I’m going into Psychology so I can learn how to block shit out and move past it. The vision of my sister this time plays over and over, how things were great. My sister was my best friend, she was everything to me. I looked up to her and then boom shit happens and she’s gone. But tonight it was the look in her eye that I cannot get out of my head. I cry for a bit because that’s what I always do. I know sleep is a lost cause now because no way am I shutting my eyes again. I decide to head to the little diner that’s open all night and get some coffee. I just need out of this apartment right now.

  I walk to the diner and sit down and order a coffee. In my stupor I didn’t even see Declan and their band sitting in the corner. Declan comes over and asks if he can sit. “Sure why not,” I say. Company is best at this moment anyway; it can get my mind off that damn nightmare.

  “So how have you been?” Dec
lan asks.

  “Okay, just busy with work and school, how about you?” is my stupid response. I hate the typical type conversations but here I am engaging in one.

  “Oh yeah that’s right, you started classes, I forgot. What’s your major again?” Declan asks.

  Weird I spoke to him once before and I never told him anything about me let alone my major.

  “Umm I never told you I was in school or what my major was, how do you know stuff about me?” Okay so I am getting a bit bitchy but what the hell, don’t ask around about me.

  Declan looks flustered a bit but then says “Oh Eddie was telling us who’s all going to school. Someone asked your major and I thought that Eddie said what it was but I can’t remember. Don’t worry I’m not checking around on you. If I want to know something important I’ll just ask you myself.” He seems so self-assured but I guess he usually gets what he wants too; he is in a band after all. Plus he is pretty hot too. If you like that rock star image type thing he’s got going on.

  “Oh well that makes sense then, I’m majoring in Psychology. Did you guys have a gig tonight?” that was my way of taking the topic off of me and putting in on him, let’s hope it worked.

  “No just practice but it ran pretty late so we decided to come out and have some breakfast. You can join us if you want, our food should be out shortly.” Declan offers.

  “Thanks but I’m good right here, enjoy your breakfast though!” I say nicely.

  Declan says okay and then heads back to his table with the guys. Before I know what is happening, Parker sits across from me and just looks at me. He finally speaks up after a few moments of silence and reaches his hand out and introduces himself. I shake his hand and introduce myself. How weird!

  Parker then states, “So we aren’t good enough to have breakfast with you?”