How Many Goodly Creatures
Sunlight streamed through sheer blue curtains. Blinking, I tried to process how I'd gotten here. I was tucked into a bed that wasn't mine in a room that was painted with bright multicolored polka dots and studded with cheerleading ribbons.
My feet touched the floor, and I found myself dressed in an oversized shirt over my café uniform. I found my glasses beside the bed. I shoved them on my face hoping that might make things come back into focus faster. The smell of waffles wafted from the open door.
Where was I? My memory from last night formed from a sluggish haze. Nicki at the café. Letting her drive me home. Emma Kate giving her news. Then running. And Parker...
Heat crept across my face. I'd thrown up in front of Parker. He'd taken care of me, and I must have fallen asleep in his truck.
"Parker?" I called.
Instead, a familiar brown-skinned girl with her hair in a Crestview High School Drama Society hoodie stood in the doorway. I let out a sigh of relief as I recognized her as Parker's sister Shayna.
"You're awake," she said. "Parker ran out to get bacon for Aunt Layla. I laid some clothes and some towels in the bathroom for you. Get cleaned up, and then there's some world-famous waffles ready for you."
"No, no," came a woman's voice from the kitchen. "Genique said the girl needs to eat. The waffles are ready now, honey."
My legs protested the walk from the bedroom to the kitchen. My hair stuck out in all directions, and I smelled worse than the men's locker room. Shayna guided me to the kitchen, and a tall woman with cornrows set a big pile of waffles in front of me.
The world-famous waffles didn't disappoint. The woman, whom Shayna introduced to me as her Aunt Layla, added a pile of fruit salad and a huge glass of orange juice to the side of my plate.
"Soon as Parker gets back with the bacon, this'll be a well-rounded meal," Aunt Layla smiled. "We were mighty surprised when Parker showed up after midnight with a girl."
"Auntie," Shayna swatted her aunt's arm. "Thought you were going to teach summer school."
"Told them I'd be there by noon," Aunt Layla said. "Besides, I told Genique I'd keep an eye on you kids."
When my plate was empty, Aunt Layla set another in front of me. I had just dug into my fourth waffle when the door in the living room opened, and Parker walked in carrying a gray plastic bag that he tossed at his sister.
Shayna caught it and passed the contents to her aunt. It was a matter of minutes before the house was beginning to smell like bacon.
"Glad you're awake," Parker said. "You said to keep driving, and we had to stop sometime. I have a key to my mom's place, so we wound up here."
"Doesn't your mom live almost two hours from campus?" I asked.
"Yeah," Parker scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry about that. Don't worry about rehearsal. Emma Kate made it a theater tech day."
The waffles felt like lead in my stomach. I didn't want to think about Emma Kate. Her dreams were about to come true at the expense of ours.
I pushed my plate away and stood. "Think I'm going to shower now."
Shayna pointed me in the direction of the bathroom, and I locked myself inside. A pile of clean clothes and two big pink towels sat on top of the toilet seat. There was even a mini set of hotel toiletries.
The shower didn't take long to heat up. My hair was going to frizz when it dried, but there was so much sweat dried in it that I didn't have much of a choice but to wash it. The soap made the whole bathroom smell faintly like lemon verbena.
I got out of the shower before the mirror was fully covered in steam. I never took long showers. When I was a kid, we couldn't afford it, and I was still conscious about my imprint on the water bill.
Running my fingers through my hair, I tried to get out the majority of the tangles. The clothes Shayna had laid out weren't special. I only had to roll the bottom of the sweatpants up once, and the high school football shirt clearly belonged to Parker.
I emerged from the bathroom barefoot and tired. I never liked taking showers when I was upset. The solitude made it feel like the walls were pressing in.
"You okay?" Parker asked as I walked back into the living room.
"I'll be fine," I lied.
Everything hurt. It wasn't a sharp pain but a dull ache that came from somewhere guttural. Then every time I took a step, it was joined with a jolt of discomfort that made me grimace.
"You look better," Parker said.
Shayna rolled her eyes. "Smooth, big bro."
That made me laugh. Shayna was infectious. She had a big personality like her brother and the same caring heart.
"There's bacon," she skipped into the kitchen. "Mom said to make sure you got protein and a lot of liquids today."
"Is she here?" I asked.
I kind of wanted to meet Dr. Porter. She had two fantastic children, and I'd already met Parker's stepmother.
"She got called to the hospital half an hour ago," Shayna scooped some bacon on a paper towel and handed it to me.
It had been a long time since I'd had bacon. This was the thick-cut smoked kind too. That was expensive. I barely chewed before swallowing it was so good.
"So," Shayna looked at Parker. "What are your plans for the day?"
"No idea," Parker said. "No rehearsal, so we have some time to burn."
Shayna grinned. "Well, I'm going out to the Terrell garage around noon. The Rasping Whispers are doing a concert, and Jack planned a picnic."
"Did you tell Jack I'm here?" Parker asked.
"Nope," she popped the word. "But I can if you're staying."
Parker raised an eyebrow. "For the concert or forever?"
"The concert, dummy," Shayna said. "You know those guys worship you. Come on, please come."
"If Lexi wants," Parker said.
Shayna smiled. "Come on, it's fun."
"Who's giving a concert?" I asked.
"Our friends are doing a lunch event with free live music," Shayna said. "It's an invite-only concert, so it won't be too many people."
"Then how are we invited?" I asked.
"Because Mr. Popularity here has a standing invitation to Carson's gigs," Shayna said. "And he has a standing plus one that he's never used."
"You never wanted to come," Parker said. "But now you're Jack's plus one, so why does it matter?"
"We should go," I said.
I wasn't sure why, but it sounded fun. Not to mention I needed a distraction. The longer it took me to get home, the better.
Parker looked slightly surprised for a moment but recovered quickly. "What time is the concert, sis?"
"I'm helping with set up," Shayna said. "I was heading over there soon since I have to pick up Jack."
"We'll tag along then," Parker smiled.
"Let me grab my purse," Shayna beamed and ducked into her room.
"Sorry about her," Parker said. "I'm hoping the honeymoon stage in her relationship is over sooner than later."
I smiled. "It's nice to see you in your element for once, and your sister is great."
Parker's family welcomed me instantly. His aunt made me breakfast. Shayna had let me sleep in her bed.
Shayna popped out of her room carrying a set of keys and a small black clutch. "Come on, slowpokes. Jack is waiting."
She led us out to her car, parked in a lot below the apartment. Parker opened the door of the back for me, and I was surprised when he slid into the seat beside me instead of the passenger seat beside his sister.
Shayna cranked "Seize the Day" from Newsies and sang along as we drove down the highway. I knew the song, but it was more interesting to watch Parker drumming his fingers on the side of the window as he tapped his foot along to the tap dance number.
"Who got you into musicals?" I asked Shayna.
"Oh, our mom loves old movies, and my favorites always were the musicals," she said. "But my boyfriend Jack and his friends got me into the modern shows. Later this summer, Jack and I are headed to New York to see his uncle's fiancé in a revival of Chicago."
"A Broadway actor?" I asked.
Shayna grinned. "Pays to know Jamie Skylar. She's even letting us use her miles."
Emma Kate and I had watched Jamie Skylar's career since we were in high school. She was a triple threat, and she'd been in over a dozen shows.
"Jack's uncle met her when they were in a show together," Parker said. "I hadn't heard they'd gotten engaged, though."
"Hey, I'll introduce you if you want the next time she's in town," Shayna said. "I owe you since you introduced me to Xander Maddox's son. Now that guy is a big deal."
"Maddox is pretty cool," Parker said. "He's our main costume guy, and everything he makes is incredible."
Maddox was awesome, even if his father was stealing Emma Kate from us. He was loyal to a fault, and he was a brilliant improv host. If his father ever did manage to steal him from school, it would be an incredible loss.
Shayna pulled up to a small house with peeling yellow paint. An elementary-aged girl swung in a tire back and forth as an older girl pushed her.
"Shayna's here!" The older girl yelled.
The screen door of the house swung open, and Jack Garrison ran down the steps of the porch. He waved goodbye before jogging down the narrow driveway to the car.
He climbed into the passenger side, and Shayna gave him a kiss. Then Parker kicked the back of his seat, and Jack turned around.
"Hey man," Parker said.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked.
"Long story," Parker said. "But we're all going to Carson's place."
"Cool," Jack said. "And you brought Lexi too. Good to see you again. You've come at a great time. Carson's concerts are legendary."
"I mean, you are a little biased," Shayna said, pulling the car into a turn lane. "Carson is your best friend and former next-door neighbor."
"I suppose," Jack said. "But the music they make is top-notch."
Five minutes later, we pulled into a rich neighborhood where every house looked custom-made. Shayna parked in front of a big glass and metal house on a short cul-de-sac. We all piled out of the car and followed her into the open garage.
A band was setting up equipment. A guy with short dark curly hair slapped hands with Jack and greeted Parker like an old friend. I guessed that was Carson.
"Lexi Thaxton!" A girl with honey-colored hair streaked with pink barreled towards me and gave me a big hug. "OMG!"
The force almost knocked me off my feet. I didn't know this girl, but she was beaming when she released me.
"I'm sorry," I said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Rissa Lopez," she said. "I've been to a dozen of your shows. I'm Kayleigh Alvarez's cousin. She's told me a lot about you."
I vaguely remembered Lorne bragging that he and Jude were taking Kayleigh to see her cousin's band, I just hadn't linked Parker's friends with Kayleigh. The world really was a small place sometimes.
"Oh," I said. "It's nice to formally meet you. I didn't know you were in this band that Parker keeps talking about."
"Well, I hope you have a good time," Rissa smiled. "Lunch is in the kitchen, and it's going to take us a little longer to get our instruments set up."
"How can we help?" Parker threw his arm around my shoulder.
My entire body was sore, so I wasn't sure how much help I'd be, but there were other ways to help. Jack and Carson were putting together a drum set in perfect tandem. Shayna was setting up music stands while a girl with long dark hair, I guessed, was in the band and looked over a sheet of music.
I ended up helping Parker with the electric keyboard. We set the stand up together and made sure all the screws were tight before Parker set the full weight of the keyboard on it.
"Careful with my baby," Rissa said from the corner where she was plugging in an amp. "That keyboard is the soul of this group."
"You all play?" I asked.
"Everyone but Foster," Rissa said. "He's drums. Eileen plays during performances since Carson and I switch on and off on vocals."
"I always wanted to learn piano," I said.
I could play a little, but I didn't have any way to practice, and my family couldn't afford lessons. Everything I'd learned came from YouTube.
"Maybe Kayleigh can teach you," Rissa said. "My cousin used to give lessons before she started that silly modeling gig. She's going to have to give that up soon anyway, so maybe she'll go back to piano."
So, Rissa knew her cousin was pregnant. Kayleigh's family had thrown her out, but Rissa seemed sympathetic. If she was still in high school, there wasn't much she could do to help her cousin.
"Have you talked to Kayleigh lately?" I asked.
Rissa's perfect smile dipped. "My mom sided with her sister to cut Kayleigh off. The family is following their lead, but I've still been texting her. I know she's been staying with Parker. How come she isn't with y'all?"
"This wasn't a planned trip," I said. "It's... complicated..."
Because anything was better than dealing with the present. I wasn't sure how I could face my friends when we got back. I'd run away, and they'd all looked for me, and then I'd run even farther away in response.
Rissa nodded. "No judgment. If you want to talk to someone, Jack Garrison is the king of complicated."
I looked across the garage at Jack. He was searching on the floor for a fallen felt pad to cushion a cymbal. He didn't look like a guy with a dark past. Then again, maybe I was wrong.
Sometimes it was easier to spill your guts to a relative stranger. Or at least I could sort things out before Parker started demanding answers.
Hey friends!!! So Lexi wound up at Parker's place. I had a lot of fun with this chapter since I got to incorporate a lot of elements from my last book. What do you think of Kayleigh's cousin? If you're interested in why Jack is "the king of complicated," head over and check out Before Opening Night before the next update. I'll do my best in the next chapter not to spoil Jack's story, but the characters are going to at least mention a few things. That'll be up next Saturday. Vote if you liked this, and let me know what you think.
--- Eliana
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