Page 20 of Dark Verse

KNOX

IT’S JUST past 8:00 pm when I see the front door for House Band Featuring opening, and the last musicians leaving, smiles on their faces. I’m too far to hear what they are saying, but their expressions tell me they feel they did well in there. Maybe I should be worried that we are up against eight other bands for two spots, but I’m not.

When I used to play with the band regularly, I would sometimes get this feeling of surety come over me. Like my body experienced a premonition of success. The last time I experienced that sensation was when we opened for Cinder and Cress years back at Soiree Theater. That night felt like our next big break, and I remember a feeling of lightness hovering over me the entire time we were on stage.

I got that same feeling tonight, the moment I started to sing.

Quickly finishing the drink I’ve been nursing for the last forty-five minutes, I toss the cup into the trash on my way out of the coffee shop. Hovering back near the outdoor seating for another few minutes, I see Raven leave for the parking lot.

I rush across the street, staying in her blind spot. As I approach, I move back into her line of vision, so I don’t startle her. I decide to go with the most innocuous of greetings, hoping it puts her at ease.

“Hello, Raven. Fancy meeting you here.”

She still jumps a little at my greeting, turning to me quickly. Her expression races through a half dozen emotions. Flipping her braids over one shoulder, her face at last settles into impassiveness. Last time I saw her, her long braids were ombre purple, clearly themed with the event. Now, however, they are a solid pink that hangs almost to her hips.

“Knox,” she says, her voice somewhat accusatory. “What are you doing here?”

I shrug, “Nothing in particular.”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware that the area was off limits to me.”

“No, I mean…” She scoffs, impassive, turning to annoyance. “You played hours ago. What are you still doing here?”

“We decided to grab a drink after the audition as a band. Give us a chance to discuss what went well.”

That’s only half true. The first coffee I had with Zeke and Via. The two after that were me killing time. Waiting. Hoping to catch her.

“You did fine. Like I said at the beginning, you’ll hear from Danica or me tomorrow after we’ve made the final decision. Goodnight.”

Turning away from me, Raven reaches into her bag to pull out her keys.

I scratch at my beard like I’m deep in thought. “You did fine. Not exactly the glowing review I was hoping for,” I tease.

“You did great, Knox. You should go home, get some sleep.”

“It’s still early. The sun hasn’t even completely set,” I observe, glancing in the direction of the mountains.

“Then don’t go home. Go wherever you like.”

“There is this one place I’ve been wanting to visit since I got in town.”

I smile.

“Good. Go there.”

“Hmm…happily.”

I lift an eyebrow before taking a step towards her. I take my time looking her body up and down. She’s wearing all black, her jeans hugging her round ass just as effectively as the dress she was wearing the night we met. She wears the same gold necklace as before, nestled perfectly between her breasts. The top few buttons of her shirt are open, and the metal catches the light, drawing my focus downward. Her eyes widen behind her glasses, understanding my implications.

“I have pepper spray,” she bursts out.

I actually chuckle. I can’t really blame her for thinking the worst. After all, I just spent the last two and a half hours waiting for her across the street. I questioned myself several times, knowing I might freak her out and get the exact reaction I’m getting in this moment. But each time I considered getting up and leaving, I felt my feet turn to lead, keeping me in the chair and ordering another latte. It’s been over a week since that night in the alleyway, and I still can’t stop thinking about that encounter.

“A sound life choice, I imagine, given the state of the world. But you don’t need pepper spray, Ven. Not against me.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s the last thing I’ll hear before the strong scent of chloroform takes over.”