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Mick raised his drink at me; his other arm around his girl. I knew Rebecca was happy for him to be home for the summer. He’d been playing guitar as long as the guys knew him. Mick graduated a couple of years before Steven and Dean. He enlisted after school and was gone for a few years before returning to Cedarville and finding comfort in his guitar.
Howard didn’t look too happy to be here. I watched as he popped a pill from his pocket and took a swig of beer. Andrew wasn’t around, I’m sure he was at home with his family. The only one I hadn’t seen yet was Dean. I think I was happy about it.
Maybe.
I’m not sure I was ready to see Dean. I followed him around that summer, soaking up in any compliment he’d give me. He never saw me as anything but Steven’s little sister. Still, I liked to think we became friends that summer. I worked on songs with him when nobody else wanted to. Playing off of each other’s lyrics. I liked to think that I helped write that first album, not that anyone else knew.
I wasn’t the same person I’d been that summer; I’m sure he wasn’t either. Dean likely enjoyed the benefits any rockstar would, with groupies following them around everywhere. Hell, it was probably why Howard was practically pouting in the corner. Would Dean even be happy to be back?
I quickly downed the rest of my drink and debated on making a second. It wouldn’t be enough. My eyes glanced over at Howard, I bet he had something that would be stronger judging from the relaxed expression on his face. Steven probably did too, but he wouldn’t share. He wouldn’t want his little sister getting mixed up in “that stuff”. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Like Mom and Dad, they didn’t know I was already into the same stuff the band was.
Austin was a quick drive away and a growing city. It wasn’t LA, but you could party just the same. It was still early, maybe I could sneak away from this party and head somewhere I could cut loose at. I knew Dorothy would want to go. She wasn’t into the drugs, but she would love to hit up one of the new underground art and music scenes.
Times were changing, it was the only place you could find both hippies and cowboys. It felt like home though, it’s why I was saving up to move there permanently.
I walked over Dorothy. “Do you need a ride?”
“You know, I think I am going to call it a night.” She faked a yawn. My parents didn’t know better. Or, if they did, they simply pretended not to. “Night everyone.” Dorothy hollered out as we walked out the front door.
“Thanks, it’s just weird. I’m off tomorrow and just want to go away tonight. Feel like heading to The Roof?”
“You know me, Betty. I’m down for whatever as long as it’s a good time,” she said while we opened the car doors and slid in. “Too much?”
“A little, I just need to ease into it.”
She nodded in understanding.
I’d barely started the car when the back doors opened and three more joined us. “No, out!” I yelled as I glanced back to see Steven, Howard, and Dean.
Holy hell, it was Dean. In the back seat of my car. Looking even better than the last time I’d seen him.
“Sis, we’ve been away for a while. Take us to the party scene.” Steven pulled the door closed.
“I’ll take you to your bus, I’m sure it's a party scene enough for all of you.” I groaned.
“Come on, Betty,” Howard pleaded.
I glanced between Steven and Howard who both had grins on their faces as they attempted to convince me with sad eyes. My eyes flickered to Dean who looked a little too broody, did he even want to go with them?
CHAPTER FOUR
DEAN
I knew where we were before we parked. The buildings on this street were almost the same. Some fresh coats and a couple of recent additions, but just the same. We’d spent our share of nights partying here before we moved to LA. Hazy Summer was fortunate to play in Austin last year, it turned into three days of non-stop parties before it was time to leave for the next city. The entire tour had been a blur, but this place was part of home.
It’s grown since then. At a glance, you wouldn’t notice. It wasn’t until I paid attention, I realized, everything’s different. I was surprised this was Betty’s scene. It’s not like her. She’s not the same little girl I remember.
Long gone was the bright-eyed girl who followed us to Los Angeles. Sure, her green eyes were still just as big and bright, but she was different. The way she carried herself, it was hard to look away. Betty had grown up while we were away. It wasn’t just the way she dressed, because she could easily fit in with the women we were around with.
But fuck if it wasn’t also the way she dressed. It had me noticing her body in a way I hadn’t before. Steven would kick my ass if he knew the thoughts occupying my mind ever since I saw her come down the stairs at their parents earlier.
I didn’t recognize her at first. I was so distracted by the long, toned legs that when I saw the glimpse of blonde hair; it threw me. She’d had brown hair for as long as I could remember. It was dark like her brother’s. They looked even less like siblings now.
My mind immediately focused back on those long legs in barely there shorts. Images of them wrapped around me flooded my imagination. Her top did little to hide the body beneath it. She might as well have been wearing a bikini. Then, images of her in a bikini, all wet from the lake, crowded my mind. I’d had to bite my fist and look away.
I was torn between wanting to pull her into my arms and not let go or pull her up the stairs and force her to change into more clothes. Maybe both.
We walked away from the car and towards a line wrapped around the corner of the building. It’d been a while since we had to wait in a line like that. I wondered if whoever was at the door knew who we were. Maybe we could persuade them to let us cut and get in, or be bribed at the least.
