Page 9 of Firecracker

I look around at what looks like it used to be an office, but they knocked out half of the wall that is joined with the main lounge. Kind of like a bar, giving the DJ privacy but is able to interact with the crowd. They can’t get in here or touch her, but they can talk to her if she wants to chat.

Feeling better, I stand up and see that the small dance floor is packed with people, with more people standing around their tables moving to the music as well. When she pulls her headphones down around her neck, she looks to me with a smile and then out to the crowd she starts to giggle. I hear a beat I don’t recognize, but with Izzy, you always have to wait for her to drop the chorus to figure out what the song is and sure enough, “How I Could Just Kill A Man” by Cypress Hill, drops in the song. I laugh out loud. The song has obviously been remixed but sounds great.

Izzy laughs over her shoulder. “I knew that would get you laughing.”

I start to dance to the song, moving my upper body side to side to the beat, bobbing my head. I unzip my huge parka jacket that goes all the way down to my knees. I laugh because now that they’ve said it, I do look like a marshmallow. I’m still moving my body to the music while fixing myself as much as I can. My hair is crazy wild since I didn’t do anything to it but wash it today. I try to tame it down, but without product, the waves will stay wild.

I never did have the good hair like Izzy. She has beautiful blonde hair that styles perfectly, and then you have my sandy blondish brown hair that has wild waves to it, so styling it is a mission. I usually try to straighten it or curl it but as of late haven’t done anything to it. The last six or so months, I barely got out of bed let alone styled my crazy hair. Nope, it’s been buns, and ponytails for this girl.

Izzy turns around and smiles. “There’s my girl. Jesus that jacket was swallowing you up.” She laughs and begins dancing over to me, where we begin to bounce around each other singing the lyrics like we did back in the day.

“You know I don’t do well with cold. Um, hello, in SoCal it’s never this cold. I had to get something.” I laugh.

Izzy moves to hug me. “That you did girl- that you did. I’m so glad you’re here. You doing okay? How was the ride here?”

I hug her back, feeling the warmth of her surround me before we both sit down on the couch. “It was good. That guy Quick is a mouthy little shit isn’t he?”

Izzy throws her head back laughing. “That he is,” she states. “Quick’s one crazy fucker, but I love him.” She pauses. “I have a couple more hours to play. Remember me talking to you about Ginger, the one I went on tour with? She’s out there in VIP if you want to hang out and get some drinks, or you can stay in here. Either way is fine with me. I just want you to have a good time and relax.”

I can see the worried look on her face, but I smile and reply, “I got this. I just needed to get my bearings. I need to fix my face and check in back home, but then it’s time to drink.”

Izzy’s face lights up. “That’s my Ruby Rube. I’ll have Gin come in here so you two can officially meet. Her man, Shy, and cousin, Mac, own this place. The boys are on strict orders to watch over you tonight.”

Izzy gets up moving over to the door, opening it she leans out saying something to whoever is standing outside of it. I grab my purse and fish through it for my makeup.

“Do I look okay? I have on Uggs.”

Izzy turns around. “You look super cute. That sweater hanging off the shoulder is sexy.”

I start to apply makeup while Izzy moves around the small area. I try to hold in my nervousness, but when I see a drink come into my view, I laugh. I thank the gods above for this woman right here, as I grab the glass from her. No matter how much time has passed between us, she knows me better than I know myself, and alcohol is the one thing I need right now.

Izzy states, “I think you need a couple of these right now before you do anything.”

I smile standing up. “Iz, you know me so well. God, I love you.”

She raises her glass to mine. “To finding you and to making new memories. Cheers biatch.”

“Cheers biatch,” I reply.

I slam down the vodka Red Bull. Goddamn, that’s strong.

* * *

After I made my phone call home, talking with Isabella and downing another vodka Red Bull, I was feeling pretty good. Izzy’s friend Ginger came in and took charge of me. Dragging me around the bar introducing me to everyone she talked to. We hit it off right away. She’s sarcastic, full of hell and doesn’t take any shit from anyone.

God, I used to be just like her. I want to be like this again.

I’m sitting in the VIP area buzzed from all the drinks everyone keeps handing me. I’m sitting next to Ginger and her man. I learned he’s the president of the motorcycle club, called the Wolfeman, which Gus and Quick also belong to. Ginger is very friendly and keeps me up-to-date with who is who that walks by us. Izzy has mentioned a few of these people but nothing in detail. Usually, when we talked on the phone, it was where she was, how music was going, Bella and just overall updates on our life. Short and sweet, that way I didn’t have to deal with Brody bitching. Brody didn’t like how I acted after chatting with Izzy, saying I would be bitchy or sad. Probably because deep down I wasn’t happy and talking to Izzy just reminded me of all the things I was missing out on.

Gus has been hovering around me but not saying too much. He gives me head nods here and there, but that is all. Most of the guys stand around the VIP area bullshitting and watching the crowd. The last hour I’ve been people watching myself and love it. It is so different here compared to back home, that it draws me in.

The one person I haven’t seen since we got here is Quick. I’ve been scanning the crowd, but with so many people here it is impossible to find anyone. Especially with how short I am, being a little over five foot has always been an issue. I can never see anything when we’re in a crowded group. I look to the booth and see Izzy smiling back at me. She has been killing it on the decks tonight. She’s changed so much since the last time I’ve seen her, and I can’t even remember the last time I've seen her perform. We have always loved music. I feel that’s what brought us together all those years ago. She was the rich kid who was running from her parents, while I was on the poor side pretending to be rich. She has always been so beautiful but never acted like it.

I wipe the tear that falls just thinking about all the good times we used to have and how much I’ve missed her.

When Shy, Ginger’s man, gets up to move behind us to chat with a group of guys, Ginger grabs the bottle of vodka and moves closer to me. She takes this opportunity to let all the gossip start to spill. She pours us both a drink and dives in telling me about all the craziness this past year has been. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t know it was this bad. I didn’t know someone was killed and taken. Shocked, I slam the rest of my drink.

Jesus and here I am feeling bad about my shit these past few months, and they lost a friend.

---