Journey

JOURNEY

It's Friday night and the bar is packed. Of course it is . Word has gotten around that Butch has been scheduling the guys every weekend and the amount of people that come to sing along with them, only grows each time. That's the best part about working here at Foggy Goggles, watching the bands that are worth it, hit it big. There have been a few over the last couple years and of course many stories of countless others.

But this band is different.

This band means a little more.

And yes, I want them to make it big. I want them seen and getting the recognition they deserve.

But I don't want to lose him .

And it's not fair for me to say it, to speak out an ultimatum or a wish that I can't have. Just like it's not fair for him to force me to go on the road with him, or even expect it to happen.

We've been tap dancing around the ‘what if' for days now.

Days.

How strange that your entire life and the way you view it playing out, can change in a matter of days.

"!" At the sound of my sister's voice, I gasp.

"What are you doing here?" I run over to her, my excitement to see her again for the third time in a matter of weeks pours out of me.

"My loser husband wanted to see what all the fuss is about here at Foggy Goggles." I laugh and look over her shoulder, dropping her hold quickly before launching myself into Jason's arms.

He catches me, spins me around, and gently places me back on my feet. "You've really got to stop calling me a loser." He tsks me and I shrug.

"She wasn't supposed to actually tell you I call you that. But I mean, isn't that what sisters do? Give their favorite brothers a hard time?"

"I'm your only brother." He replies dryly.

"All the more reason to do it, then."

"What's happenin' over here?" Freddie's voice washes over me and the smile that appears on my face can't be stopped. "Faith! Nice to see ya again!" His tone is laced with sarcasm.

"What's going on? Did you invite her down here again?"

Fred shrugs and throws his arm around me, pulling me in close. "Maybe. Or maybe she's just a groupie that can't get enough."

"My wife is no fucking groupie." Jason grumbles out with no malice whatsoever. And when he and Freddie fist bump each other, I just about fall over.

"Jason Honey. Nice to meet ya, man."

"Freddie Menotti. And likewise."

I study both men. "Am I in the twilight zone?"

It's Jason's turn to give me some razzing. "I've been following this band for the last few months. And when I found out this is the guy my sister's been falling over, I had to come see him for myself."

"Jason!" I cover my face with my hands but Freddie just chuckles, pulling at my hands.

"It's okay, J. I told him I was fallin' for ya, too." He whispers in my ear, before turning my face toward him and kissing my lips. "I have to go get the band ready. We go on in ten." He gives me a quick spank before shaking hands with Jason and kissing my sister on the cheek.

"Sister. You've got it bad." Faith remarks.

"I don't know when it happened, Faith. I really don't."

"And that's the best kind of way." She reaches for me, giving my hand a squeeze.

"Okay, let me run some orders, you guys take a seat and I'll be back in a few minutes." I quickly run a few beers to my tables before grabbing a few more orders. Coming back around behind the bar, I stand with Butch as he makes the next couple of drinks. A commotion from the front door grabs my attention and upon seeing who has just entered the bar, I drop the glass I was holding. It makes a loud shatter as the glass breaks on the floor.

"! Ya okay?"

My eyes are wide and my heart is pounding and the sudden bile in my throat is enough to have me swaying where I stand.

I watch as Michael Murray, my old professor and ex boyfriend, enters the bar as if he owns it. He glances at everyone inside as if he's looking for someone specific.

And I want to run. I want to run as fast as I can out of that bar. This city. But when I turn to leave, Butch is there blocking my path. I'm trying to calm my breathing as best I can. I'm suddenly sweating and I can't get my heartbeat to return to a normal pattern.

"Move." I bite out.

Butch's eyes are wide with worry. "What's goin' on? What happened?"

"Why is he here?" I growl out.

"Who?"

"Well, well, if it isn't Channing." My body locks up in fear and I hold my gaze with Butch. And suddenly he knows exactly who this is. "I didn't believe it when I saw it. But it's really you, . You look beautiful. I've missed you."

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I turn on Michael and can feel Butch's presence behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my sister and her husband step closer.

"I saw a video online and had to look up this band. Then I heard a voice in the background. I knew it was you. You have such a distinct tone. I said there's no way she is out singing again." He eyes me. "But here you are."

"What video?" My mind is swirling right now. Did someone film us? Or worse, did Freddie film us?

"It was posted on social media. I saw a very grainy video of a guy with a girl at a piano. I couldn't tell who it was, only that it had the ‘Under Rhaps' hashtag on the post. But the voice." He has an evil grin that spreads across his face. "I knew who it was instantly."

That same bile from a moment earlier threatens to make itself known.

"I'm looking to sign Under Rhaps with my agency. And with a female lead voice like yours? I'm all in."

I don't know what I'm hearing. Nothing makes sense. Freddie approaches the front of the bar and Butch steps closer. When Freddie and Michael clap hands with each other, my stomach drops. "Hey man, glad you could make it."

"Wait, you two know each other?" My body locks up tight once more and my blood runs ice cold.

"Well, just through phone calls. He reached out to me online."

"Do you know who this is?" I throw my hand out toward Michael.

"Yes, . Do you ?" His eyes are wide, almost as if he's trying to get me to keep quiet, and to not say something out of line. That feeling of being alone and afraid comes rushing right back.

"Oh, I know who he is. He's the worst of the worst and I can't believe you want anything to do with him!" My shock over what's happening is written all over my face.

"Oh Fred, you didn't tell her?" Michael's voice is dripping with disdain.

"Tell me what?" Freddie looks confused too. ", what's wrong with ya?"

"When I saw how close you two were, I just assumed she would be coming on tour with you." Michael says with snark.

I snap my eyes to Freddie and watch as his face pales. "What. Video." It's not a question. I feel completely violated right now.

Freddie visibly swallows, looking nervous with every word that is spoken. "Someone filmed us singing that night at Kyrie's bar. I saw it on social media but I didn't say anything. Figured if ya saw it, you'd talk about it. But I didn't want to upset ya."

"Fred. I told you my story! And you used it against me! Why on earth would you bring him here?"

"I don't understand! I didn't use it against ya! I didn't even send it! What is goin' on?"

"This is my professor! My ex-boyfriend. The reason I stopped singing to begin with. And now you've just done it to me all over again." I screech out and run past them standing at the bar. I swear I hear Michael laugh an evil laugh and every memory I've run from four years ago, comes right back to the forefront of my mind. "I can't do this!" I've got to get out of here. I've got to get away from them all.