Nick awakens from a dream that had started with hearing Noreen on a radio program, or maybe she was the program, as a very hip big city jock just dishing it out between tracks, killing at every turn, but then, he could feel her, for the first time in, well, months, to be fair. Since the fall kicked in they were really not as close as at first, but then, it seems everything went as planned. Even if history were to judge they had been using each other in some ways, it never felt that way.
Sometime late summer he was over there during the week and she needed something from Bart’s empty house, as they were doing something with the kiddos. While there, Nick had the strong notion to instigate just a good snorkely once-over, to make her feel good, a surprise, but yet, the timing wasn’t - and she kept looking here and there for whatever it was, something from the paper, and he was just about to put his hands on her sides from behind then she flips around, “Got it!”
And then they watched TV, relaxed after a long day all around she dozed off, then he drove home, and now, he can’t help but wonder if he should have made a move that night, just another night, one he can’t have back, with a gal who’s now in another dimension. Seems like he owes her so much.
And then a few days ago while flipping around the car radio dial he hits Stevie Nicks belting out Gypsy and nearly has to pull over, he hadn’t heard it since that summer day after the fair. Leave it to Deej to catch on and pry it out, then push back,
“Okay, sweetie – that’s all fine, I get it and you know what? She’s feeling it even worse, just let me help you through it.”
And so this has churned up some angst, which, in earlier days he would have worked out, to help process, sure, that works, but alas, he’s not alone. A certain Sam had spent the night to work on music with Irene, her new favorite aunt, evidently Tim’s room was too hollow so she’s curled up in the bedspread from that room between him and the wall.
He’d also realized of late that since fall term had started, he and Noreen were often going through the motions physically, not that it wasn’t meaningful, but it was more a release for its own sake, had they been, well, helping each other use each other, to an extent?
What bugs him most is that he doesn’t know how to sum it up. For that matter, he doesn’t know if it even can be summed up.
And then...well, that damn Polaroid of a certain brunette, with the back view, has lent itself to fleeting notions of landing on top of her for, this n’ that. The thing is, the vibe hints that she could be persuaded into a clandestine encounter, one that would fuck up everything right in their lives. And for that fleeting moment Nick can’t help but imagine he could get away with just about anything in that situation. And so, yeah.
But, what works is that April is more of a vicarious friend through the Eversole sisters and so we’ll go with that.
The sun isn’t out yet and the only sounds are faint classical and the steady breathing of a scrawny blond, now with an asymmetrical haircut that, the more he sees it, really works for her, in a creative-punk kinda way, fits her attitude at least. Does his mom have any idea the mouth this kid has on her, coupled with her highly unconventional, improvised approach at life in general, but somehow embraces certain conventional role models with all her soul, makes her probably more enigmatic than anyone he’s ever met.
Just as Nick is finding some consciousness she stirs and toots daintily.
Before passing further judgment he takes a few breaths but thankfully the offense remains contained. Her breathing was no longer that of rhythmic sleep so he tries,
“You’re excused, by the way.”
“I owed you one.”
“Eat it.”
This gets a giggle so he leaves it at that.
And he would certainly swap this one out for her sister in half a heartbeat, but that will have to wait, Eversole the Elder is at Brenda’s for a sleepover that’s not for minors, there were hints of wine coolers (gasp). The plan was to bug, well, Noreen until she wore down and agreed to join them, and Deej even went to her office and got a promise, sworn on sisterhood, as the story goes. Evidently there might be some Mel Gibson movies involved, or who knows.
Nick was beat after a hectic (but rewarding) week and took a customary chill night, even after Sam was dropped off after supper while he soaked.
And so the latter part of the evening was spent messing with the radio while Sam sat there playing solitaire after resetting the game to standard rules, which started some argumentative banter so classic he wishes he could have taped it. Somehow, their mutual introvertedness doesn’t seem at all draining; they get to remain in their own worlds. Sam’s the kind who expects to be ignored but thinks the world of anyone who gives her a chance.
* * * * *
“Nicky, she cried some, I made her talk it out, she’s already cried with her family some but I think she needed this.”
Nick just stares at they head to Taco Bell.
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah, just had a weird dream last night.”
Deej pauses. “Oh, about…her?”
“Yeah…kinda, mostly just her voice though.”
“Well, we can talk about it later -”
“It’s OK, go on hon.”
“Well, that’s about it, but I feel better about it all now, and after that she got into the dumb games -”
“Mmmm hmmm”
“WHAT?”
Nick just grins.
“Hey it was fun, something your type doesn’t understand.”
“We have fun.”
“That we do, but it was really good, I got to know Brenda better - OH, can you keep a secret?”
“Who would I tell?”
“Yeah really, well, she finds you…intimidating.”
“Please.”
“She does, she doesn’t feel smart, and hates computers.”’
“Well I barely tolerate the damn things, I’ll tell her everything I know, won’t take long.”
“Well I think she’ll warm up to you more now. She really likes Vance, if you can believe it.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, she really wants to settle down and thinks they have a shot, and April is totally cool with it, she’s got a new outlook, gonna grow her hair out some, she’s really turned a corner, you know, since -”
“Since the rocket ride?”
“NICHOLAS!”
“Weren’t those your exact words?”
She doesn’t respond so he looks over to find her staring out window shaking her head, then keeps driving.
Before long she leans back in the seat in the Celica. “Where are you taking me?”
“Still Taco Smell?”
“Hmm, can we do pizza?”
No answer, but he glances over to get one of her grins, a slightly condescending “good boy” kind of affirmation, but he’ll take it. She’s been trying for more greens lately and next to the salad bar they still do by the slice till 3, pretty affordable too.
As they finish up a slice and salad (something Nick realizes he needs to try and arrange more often) Deej wants to check out The Hideway, out toward the freeway exit.
“Are you sure?” He prods.
“Yeah, I hear they have some crazy stuff in there and might come in handy for gifts.”
“But, don’t they have, like…<almost whispers> roll papers papers and weed pipes, that shit?”
Deej rolls her eyes, “you afraid of getting busted?”
So despite his reservations he tries to join her rebellious spirit and they head that way, and it doesn’t help matters there’s an armed guard near the door.
Once inside and near the incense rack she whispers, “Maybe they’ve had problems with holdups being near the freeway.”
“Great.”
So they take in the wall of irreverent t-shirts, and some with bands, - ooh, Black Crowes is tempting so he gives her a hint in case she’s got a hook in the water. The place smells nice, must be the candles and incense. There’s a selection of lava lamps, which he thinks would be nice to have on with the TV, but then,
Deej whispers again, “Oooh howbout we’re all alone with nothing on but a lava lamp?”
Without a beat he fires back, “Note to self…”
She giggles and jabs his ribs, to which he jumps and sends her into further hysterics.
Nick tries to ignore it and peer into the adults only section, just when a manager type asks,
“Can I help you find anything?”
Nick whips around and immediately pulls out his billfold to show his ID, “We’re legal age.”
The manager grins, “Did you come in just to mess with me?”
Nick tries to play it off as his ears get hot, then notices Deej facing him, mouth covered and about to fall over laughing as she opens the door.
They proceed into the grownup novelty section, and yes, the bongs and such, but she takes his arm and pecks his cheek, still a bit teary and giggling as they take in all the things shaped as various body parts.
* * * * *
Later on as he sets up an orange lava lamp he suggests they work on that song she and Sam started, but she hates to sing alone so he plays it best he can while she watches approvingly.
With their families at home group at this point of the week, Nick earnestly tries to make this time together more than the inevitable, but there’s one thing he’s been wondering, that obscure Krokus track, from way back, so he fishes out the tape.
“OK tell me if you would have dug this at all back around freshman year…”
So he starts the tape and joins her on the bed, and after the first chorus, let’s just say she clearly answers the question, in the affirmative sense, without any room for doubt, and then the answering continues, in one form or another, until after the tape clicks off almost 45 minutes later.
