Sold Out (13 page)

“No way!”

“Way!”

“How do you know?”

She looked pretty smug now. “He’s told me enough times.”

“You’re nuts.”

“No, you’re nuts. Especially if you don’t like him back. Man, Cesar is the coolest guy. Marissa will be seriously jealous though.”

“Have you heard from her lately?”

“No, but she knows we’re pretty busy this week. I told her we’d get together with her after Nashville.” Allie flopped across on my bed. “Ah, ‘Nashville,’” she sighed. “I just love the sound of that word.”

After I drove Allie home tonight, I thought about what she’d said about Cesar having a crush on me. All right, I’ll admit I used to think he liked me, and he hinted at going out once. Back before he became a Christian. But something seems to have changed since then. And not in a bad way. It’s just that he doesn’t seem so flirty, and he’s more serious. And really, I think he just wants to be friends now. But I guess I could be wrong.

This morning when Beanie dropped off the clothes she’d altered for us, I told her that she should think about becoming a fashion designer, and she said she’s actually considering it.

“It’s funny,” she said when we went up to my room. “At first I thought maybe that wasn’t such a great career for a Christian. But then I really prayed about it, and you know what suddenly hit me?”

“What?”

“Well, if Christians don’t get involved in the design world, then who’s going be in control of what’s going on in fashion?”

I nodded, then pulled the top that she’d taken in for me over my head. “Yeah, that’s a good point. I know that I, for one, am getting a little sick and tired of lingerie companies constantly shoving their stupid push-up bras in my face.”

“And the same thing goes with movies and music and, well, you name it. If we don’t get involved in these things, then we have no right to complain about our limited options.”

“Right on,” I said as I pulled up the leather
skirt she’d insisted was perfect for me yesterday. “That’s why I’m changing my major next fall.”

“Cool.”

“Speaking of cool.” Beanie stepped back and surveyed my outfit. “You look really hot.”

I turned around and studied myself in the mirror. “It’s kind of weird seeing my legs though. I usually wear long pants.”

“Well, you have great legs, Chloe. Why not enjoy them?”

I laughed. “Actually I do. They work pretty well for me.”

“I think you should wear tights with this outfit.” She got a thoughtful look. “Maybe something in eggplant.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’d look great next to the brown leather. And I think your Doc Martens are perfect. Keeps the urban thing going.”

“Good. And I really like this top; it fits great now.”

“Yeah, aren’t those laces groovy?”

I nodded. “It’s amazing. I don’t know how you could figure all this out.”

She grinned. “Maybe Caitlin’s right. Maybe it is a gift.”

“Oh yeah, it’s definitely a gift.” And I really believe that’s true. The way Beanie helped the three of us pull outfits together—really cool
outfits—was nothing short of amazingly miraculous. And each outfit suits our different personalities, and yet they all look good together too. Even my mom seemed suitably impressed. Oh, sure, it’s not what she would’ve chosen, but I know she felt it was an improvement.

“And who knows,” I told Beanie as I carefully set my new threads aside. “Maybe I’ll start dressing like this more often. It does feel more creative.”

She smiled. “Yeah, that’s how clothes should be—creative—an expression of who you really are.”

“But I plan to keep my hair like this, and I’m not touching my piercings. And I don’t really think I can give up the urban thing, not completely.”

Beanie agreed. “It’s who you are,” she said. “It’s not as if you need to go out and lose or even alter your total identity. You just need to go with your instincts and bring it to the surface more.”

Allie and Laura were as pleased as I was when they came to practice today and picked up their clothes.

“If we get a contract, we should hire Beanie as our fashion consultant,” said Laura.

“Yeah,” agreed Allie in a deep businesslike voice. “Sign her up. Put her on the payroll.”

I laughed. “Yeah, then we’d better get to work here, make sure we do everything possible to get that contract.”

“Watch out, Chloe’s getting out her whip now.” Allie got a sly look. “You know, when Beanie said she could see you in leather, I thought for sure she meant like black leather with big silver studs and probably a big whip just so you could beat us into shape.”

Laura laughed.

But I felt slightly hurt. “You really think of me like that?”

Allie shrugged. “Just lately.”

“It’s okay,” said Laura as she strapped on her bass. “Sometimes we need a hard taskmaster to keep us on track.”

“And that’s why I’m here,” called Willy as he came up the stairs. “Aren’t you girls even warmed up yet?”

“Just getting started.” I began tuning my guitar.

Then, as if to prove that he could be a far worse taskmaster than me, Willy had us work all afternoon, plus we had to do a couple of songs over and over until all three of us were getting totally sick of them.

“Maybe we’re just tired,” I finally suggested.

“Yeah, we’ve been working really hard every single day,” added Laura. “My fingers are sore.”

“And I’ve got to be at the Paradiso in half an hour,” said Allie.

“You girls quitting on me?” He looked slightly irked.

“Just for the night.” I sighed and set down my guitar.

“And I was going to give you girls the day off tomorrow,” he said.

“Well, it is Sunday.” Laura reminded him.

He nodded with a look of realization. “Yeah, maybe I am getting a little too obsessed here. Sorry ‘bout that, ladies. I just want to see you at your best.”

I walked over and patted him on the back. “It’s okay, Willy. We know it’s only because you believe in us.”

He brightened. “Yeah. And before I forget, you girls were looking pretty good earlier anyway-looking like you were really happy—”

“We were happy then.” Allie picked up her pack. “But now we’re tired.”

“I know.” He looked at his watch. “Guess I lost track of the time.”

“Anyone wanna give me a ride to the Paradiso?” asked Allie.

“Sure.” Laura snapped her bass case shut. “If you’re ready to go right now. I’ve got to get home in time to change—I’ve got a date with Ryan at seven tonight.”

Allie rolled her eyes at Laura. “Hey, don’t rub it in.” Then she turned to me. “Why don’t you stop by the Paradiso tonight, Chloe? Cesar’s probably going to be there.”

Of course, I could hear Laura questioning Allie about Cesar as the two of them headed down the stairs before us. I wanted to strangle Allie.

“Got a boyfriend?” asked Willy.

I shook my head. “Only in Allie’s imagination.”

He grinned. “Well, I imagine you girls are going to have all kinds of boys wanting to be your boyfriends before too long. Success can really mess with your head, you know. You girls will have to learn to watch out for who’s for real and who’s not.”

I laughed. “Hey, you’re our manager, Willy. Aren’t you supposed to deal with that when the time comes?”

“No problem. I’ll just start packing my baseball bat whenever you girls are out in public.”

“You’d really-?”

“No, I’m just pulling your leg.”

But Willy did get me to thinking again. Not about my relationship with Cesar, because in all fairness, he’s been my good friend long before our band became a reality—and besides, we’re not really dating. Well, not yet anyway. But some other things happened tonight at the Paradiso
that got me a little worried. It’s as though I was watching something unfold that could become a problem. But I hope, I really hope, I’m wrong.

It was pretty busy when I arrived at the Paradiso, and so I decided to help out a little. I do this from time to time, and Mike always appreciates it, plus it kind of makes me feel more like I belong there. And I have to admit I was a little jealous when Allie started working there this week, and I was thinking, “Why didn’t I take that job?” But on the other hand, I think it was right for me to stay focused on my music, and I’m sure I’ve written about six new songs just this week alone. Okay, they might not be good songs, but at least I took the time to actually write them down.

A lot of my songs begin really simply. Many of them start out as these poems, right here in this very diary. Hey, if I ever become famous this diary could become valuable. Or not. But so many of the songs just spring out of my life and how I feel about things. Then I take the lyrics to the next level, putting them to music. Some words just seem to want to sing—it’s like they can’t help themselves. I’m not sure how else to explain it. To me it’s all very simple. I realize that most people think it must be so difficult, but for me it’s almost as easy as breathing. I guess that’s what makes this whole thing a gift.

But back to the Paradiso tonight. Anyway, I’m
making myself useful by taking the orders out to tables while Allie works the counter, and I notice Taylor Russell and a couple of his buddies waiting to place their orders. Nothing strange about that. But unless I’m imagining it, it looks as if Taylor is actually flirting with Allie.

To appreciate this, you need to understand that Allie is really in her element working at the Paradiso. It’s like she totally fits in. And tonight she’s wearing this new blouse that she found when we went shopping with Beanie. It’s peach-colored and lacy and looks pretty spectacular with her beaded earrings. And I can tell that she’s just eating up Taylor’s attention. I’m sure he can tell too. And I’m making a mental note to tell Allie not to act so eager. It sends, I’m sure, the wrong message. But really, what do I know about such things?

Finally, the place settles down a little and I spot Cesar, Jake, and Marissa sitting down at a table by the window. I notice an empty chair and go over and ask to join them, still keeping an eye on Taylor and Allie.

“Sit down.” Cesar smiles and actually pulls out the chair for me. He’s such a gentleman.

“You mean you actually want to sit with the riffraff?” Marissa speaks in what seems a slightly aggravated tone. And I remember her ongoing crush on Cesar. Does she suspect something’s
going on between the two of us? Not that there’s anything to suspect.

“Real funny.” I give her a look as I sit down, then suddenly remember I forgot to order a cappuccino for myself.

“Do you work here too?” asks Jake.

“Nah, just helping out.” I study him closely. I know something’s different about him but can’t quite put my finger on it. Finally I ask, “What’d you do, Jake, change your hair or-something?”

He sort of smiles, then rubs his lower lip. “My rings…they’re gone.”

“Oh yeah. But why’d you do that?”

Cesar laughs. “They were freaking out my mom. She thought Jake looked like a vampire. She was calling him Varapiro Roho—the redheaded vampire.”

“Did you mind taking them out?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Not really. It’ll help me to get a job too.”

Just then Allie comes up and plops a big cappuccino in front of me. “On the house, from Mike.” Then she leans over and whispers, “Did you see him?”

“Huh?” I look at her. “You mean Mike?”

She shakes her head then bends down again. “I mean Taylor,” she whispers.

I glance over to where Taylor and his buddies are sitting then nod. “Yeah, I saw him.”

“What’s up, Al?” asks Cesar curiously.

Then she giggles—something she should never do in public. It makes her look like a total airhead. She shrugs. “Not much. Better get back to work.”

“What’s with her?” asks Marissa, still seeming to be irritated.

And suddenly I want to ask, “What’s with you?” Instead I say, “I think Al’s just getting excited about Nashville.” Not entirely untrue.

“When do you guys leave anyway?” asks Jake.

“Monday.” I sip my cappuccino and keep a discreet eye on Taylor. He is most definitely flirting with Allie. And she is flirting right back. And the whole thing makes me feel very uneasy.

“See, it’s happening already,” I hear Marissa saying.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“You.” She points at me. “Already you have your head in the clouds. It’s like you’re so caught up in this whole music thing that you don’t even know we’re here.”

I look directly at her now. “That’s not true. I was just thinking about something else.”

“Yeah, like becoming a superstar snob.”

I glance at Cesar, hoping for some moral support. And thankfully he comes through. “Chloe has a lot on her mind right now.”

“Yeah,” says Jake. “If she wanted to be a snob,
she wouldn’t be sitting with us, would she?”

Marissa doesn’t respond to this.

“You know, it’s not easy for us either,” I say as I glance over to Taylor, who’s now standing very close to Allie, towering over her and looking at her like—well, like something not very nice. “And everyone’s treating us differently. Like the people who used to ignore us have suddenly turned into our best buddies. And then there are others who we thought were real friends, and they’re starting to act like they hate us now. It’s pretty confusing, you know?”

“Yeah.” Marissa rolls her eyes. “I feel so sorry for you.”

“Lighten up, Marissa,” says Jake in a sharp voice. “You’re really becoming a drag.”

Cesar nods. “Yeah, you should be happy for Chloe. She’s worked really hard to get here, and she-”

“You’re both doing such a bang-up job of being happy for her.” Marissa stands abruptly. “I don’t know why she needs my help.”

“Marissa,” I begin, hoping to smooth this over.

“Forget it!” She takes off.

“Man.” Jake exhales. “That chick is just way too heavy for me.”

“I think she’s frustrated,” I say, remembering something. “And I think I know how she feels.”

“You feel like that?” asks Jake.

“Not right now. But I used to. It’s like she’s caught between two worlds and isn’t sure which way to go—you know?”

Jake nods. “Oh, yeah. I guess I wasn’t looking at it like that. I was just thinking this girl has a real attitude. Now, I feel kind of cruddy for razzing her.” He glances out the window to where she’s standing on the sidewalk smoking a cigarette like she’s in some kind of a puffing marathon. “Maybe I should go talk to her.”

Cesar shrugs. “Probably wouldn’t hurt.”

With that, Jake takes off, and now it’s just Cesar and me.

“So, how are you doing really?” Cesar looks into my eyes as if he can detect something there.

“The truth is, I’m feeling a little worried for Al at the moment.”

“For Al? Why?”

“It’s probably dumb, but Taylor Russell is here tonight. And, well, Allie’s had this stupid crush on him—”

“Like half the other girls in school.”

“Yeah, but now I can tell that he’s noticing her back. It’s like he’s coming on to her and…” “And?”

“Oh, I’m not really sure. And I don’t like to believe gossip. But something about this whole thing just bugs me.”

He nods now. “I can understand that.”