Ch 125 Even better

   

          “Tell me, Janet, is Luke Tramaine as good looking as I’ve heard?” asked Lydia, Troy’s mother.

          Janet laughed. “Definitely,” she said. “He’s very cute, but he’s super nice, too, so that makes him even better.”

          “Nice!” Lydia said turning onto the road the GPS indicated. “And you get to sing with him, huh? And possibly do other things?”

          “Mrs. Wellington, hasn’t Troy told you I’m dating his friend Wes?” Janet said pointing to the fifth house on the right. “The one with the red beech tree in front is Luke’s.”

          “Yes, he told me, but…I remember how it was in high school with gorgeous bad boys all over the place. Nice boyfriends take a backseat to them.”

          “That’s just it. Luke is gorgeous, but he’s not a bad boy. He’s got a girlfriend—a very nice girlfriend. Alana and I have become good friends, so even if I did have the hots for Luke—which I don’t—I would never move in on my friend’s guy.”

          “Wish I had friends like you in high school! Can’t even count how many friends of mine stole my boyfriends,” Lydia said, pulling in front of the house.

          “You needed better friends, I think,” Janet replied. “Anyway, thanks for the ride here. I really appreciate it.”

“You sure you don’t want me to pick you up after your rehearsal? I have some shopping to do after the dentist appointment…give me a chance to see this stud.”

          Janet giggled and shook her head as she got out of the car. “Thanks, Mrs. Wellington, but no. Luke likes to keep going until very late, until his mom makes him shut down the studio. He said he could take me home. You’ll just have to wait until Saturday night to see him.”

          “Rats!” Lydia said, with a wave.

          Janet watched as Lydia turned the car around and headed back the way she came. Janet then skipped up the meandering path into the backyard. As she reached for the door she could hear music. This wasn’t unusual, as Luke was always singing and playing something when she arrived, but this time there was someone else singing…a very young someone.

She very carefully and slowly opened the door and peered inside. She smiled when she saw Luke playing the acoustic guitar while his little sister, eight year old Rayne, sang and danced, with him doing backup.

          ♪ ♫… This thing (this thing) called love (called love), it cries (like a baby) in a cradle all night, it swings (ooh-ooh), it jives (ooh-ooh), it shakes all over like a jelly fish, I kinda like it… crazy little thing called love…♩ ♬     

          Janet covered her mouth to keep from laughing. It was the cutest thing she’d ever seen!

          ♪ ♫… There goes my baby, she knows how to rock and roll, she drives me crazy. She gives me hot and cold fever, she leaves me in a cool, cool sweat…♩ ♬

          Janet stood where she was so as not to disturb them and continued watching until they were done.

Luke set down the guitar and hugged Rayne. “That was awesome, Raindrop!” he said. “Maybe next time we’ll do a concert together.”

“At the children’s hospital like last time?” she said. “Everybody liked it when you sang the Lilo and Stitch songs.”

“Elvis,” Luke corrected. “Everyone loves Elvis.”

“I know I do,” Janet said, coming forward.

They turned and gaped at her. “When did you get here?” Luke asked, releasing his little sister and standing up.

“Just in time for the great performance,” Janet said. “Don’t know what you need me for when you have Rayne to sing with you.”

“I said the same thing, but Luke says I’m too little still,” Rayne said, making a pouty face.

Janet laughed and Luke shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Sooner than you know you’ll be old enough, Rainbow,” he said. “Thanks for the song. Now go on into the house and do your homework. Me and Janet have to practice.”

Rayne waved and left.

“She’s adorable,” Janet said.

“Yeah. Problem is she knows it!” he said, grabbing the guitar and hanging it up in its designated spot before turning back to Janet. “So, how ya feeling?”

“Good.”

He grinned. “Nervous?”

“Not right now. Ask me again on Saturday, though,” she said, making a horrified face.

He laughed. “This will be our last practice not counting the dry run we’re doing on Saturday morning, before the event.”

Janet’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? No practice tomorrow?”

He shook his head. “Can’t. Homecoming,” he said, as if that were obvious, but the look on her face told him otherwise. “The football game…I have to play in it. It’s the last one of the season. Surely, you’re going, too. Port Orianco verses West-Castillo. Everybody will be there.”

“I’d totally forgotten about it,” Janet mumbled, then shrugged. “I don’t keep up with sports, cuz I never go to them.”

“Kidding me?” he said. “Why not?”

She shrugged again. “Don’t like sports. I only go to Wes’ soccer games cuz…cuz he wants me to be there for him,” she said, frowning slightly.

Luke laughed. “You’re just like Alana. She doesn’t understand it, or so she says, and she mostly sits in the stands with her hands covering her eyes. Hates it when I get knocked down…says it hurts her more than it hurts me. I might believe it, but it is nice to know she’s there, almost watching me.”

“I guess,” Janet sadly said, looking around. “Speaking of Alana, where is she?”

“Won’t be here today. She has stuff to do with her mom.”

“Oh,” Janet said, disappointed.

“Afraid to be alone with me?” he teased.

“No,” she said thoughtfully. “Just…don’t tell Wes, okay?”

“Why not?” he asked curiously.

Janet sighed. “He’s a bit…jealous.”

“Of me?” Luke shouted. “Why? He knows I’m with Alana.”

“Yeah, but you’re the rock star, remember? You get all the girls drooling after you, you know, and I’m supposed to be one of them.”

“Not a rock star yet and as soon as you start drooling, I’ll throw you outta here,” he said grabbing her arm. “Come on, let’s sing. We’ll make a rock star outta you, then the guys will drool over you, too.”

She laughed. “Thanks, you’re a great friend. Wes won’t get jealous then, will he?”

“Hmm…didn’t think of that!”

“How will we know if we sound okay? Alana is always here to tell us,” she said, standing by the piano as she was intending to do at the gala.

“Let’s just assume we’re great,” he said, grinning up at her.

It only took a few songs before Luke could tell Janet’s mind was not on singing, although she appeared fine. Perhaps, he thought, she was more nervous as the time came for the gala than she was letting on. In the attempt to inject some fun into this session he played a funky little tune on the piano and asked, “So, should we sing this one at the Gala or the wedding?”

♪ ♫… I’m Henery the 8^th I am, Henery the 8^th I am, I am, I got married to the widow next door, she’s been married seven times before and every one was an Henery, never was a Willy or a Sam, I’m her 8^th old man, I’m Henery, Henery the 8^th I am, second verse, same as the first…♩ ♬      

“Huh? Oh, okay,” she said before she actually listened. Then she made a funny face at him. “Um…I hope you’re kidding.”

He laughed. “You think they wouldn’t like it?”

“I think you’re punch drunk, Luke!” she said.

“No, I was trying to see if you were listening and you obviously weren’t. What’s up, Janet? You are nervous, then?”

“No, I…I’m not really, but I guess I should be. There will be tons of people there, I guess,” she said, biting down on her lip.

“Many of them your friends and family. From what you’ve told me, every day someone else you know says they’re coming to see you sing, so,” Luke said grinning. “It’ll be like singing to all your friends, a very friendly crowd. No worries at all.”

She glanced briefly at him and forced a smile. “Yeah, you’re right. All my friends,” she said, biting harder on her lip, “except for a special one.”

“What do you mean? Who’s not coming?” Luke asked, before he realized he knew exactly who she was talking about, and that it was his fault. “Janet…”

“It’s Wes. I don’t think he’s coming to see me sing even though he knows I want him to come.”

“What…why… did he say why he won’t come?” Luke asked.

“He’s got this big proposal he has to finish by Monday morning and…” She wiped a tear off her face before looking up and shrugging. “Not gonna be the same without him there.”

“I’m sorry,” Luke said, folding his arms over the piano and laying his chin down on them, staring guiltily at her. “Do you know for sure he won’t make it? Could be he’s just…you know… saying he won’t go so you’re not too disappointed when…if he doesn’t show up. Or maybe…I know! He probably thinks he’ll make you more nervous if he’s there so he’s planning on staying away to help you out.”

“I keep telling you I’m not nervous! I mean…not very, and if I was, Wes would be the best thing for it. He’s got a calming effect on me,” she said, tears welling in her eyes again, but she blinked them away.

“Like Alana is for me,” Luke said, frowning. “Please, don’t cry, Janet.”

“I’m not,” she said, sniffing. “I just want him to be there.”

They remained silent for a few minutes, both lost in thought.

“How about I talk to him? I’ll make him understand how important this is for you. Or maybe,” Luke smiled and reached over the shiny mahogany to take her hand and give it a squeeze. “You could tell him I’m drooling over you and I may just lose my head and kiss you or something at the Gala. Jealousy usually works. Believe me!”

“Alana gets jealous?”

He shook his head. “Not her, me. She made me so jealous once. This was before we got together. Half my friends were trying to get with her. Made me crazy!”

Janet stared at him, astonished. “That is crazy. Couldn’t you tell she liked you?”

“I might have if I used my head. The heart is rarely rational, Janet. I wanted her but I didn’t think she wanted me. It worked out eventually, but…” he shook his head. “You should know how that is, being the yenta and all.”

“You would think, but no. Love stuff is too complicated even for me, especially for me, since I don’t believe in it half the time,” she said, breathing deeply.

“Don’t believe in love? You’re kidding, right?” he said, astonished.

“Never mind that. We should get back to practicing or Alana will freak.”

Luke opened his mouth then thought better of it and forced a smile instead. He played the next tune all the while making a mental note to talk to Alana about Wes and Janet.

******

He couldn’t take it anymore. Wes had to see Janet—even for just a few minutes—or he was going to blow a gasket. If he left now he could catch her just as she was dropped off by Luke at her house. He could spend a few minutes with her before she went inside and then he could stop thinking about her. Okay, not exactly stop, but at least for a while he could relax.

He wouldn’t admit it—not even to himself—but he still didn’t much care for his girlfriend hanging out so much with Cool dude Luke fricken rock star Tramaine. She was bound to fall under his spell sooner or later, but he hoped to stall it permanently by keeping in her line of vision. Hey, it was all he could do!

He knew he was acting like a drug addict being deprived of heroin, but he didn’t care. He just wasn’t going to be able to read, work, sleep, do anything until he saw her, held her, kissed her. He needed his Janet. He wished she would need him too, but she seemed thoroughly okay about not spending time with him. That was so not okay with Wes!

Before giving it another thought, he closed over his laptop and sprung out of his room. He took the stairs at break-neck speed, grabbed his keys off the half-moon table and had just been about to open the door when his dad walked out of the living room with an empty mug in his hand.

“Whoa! Where do you think you’re going at this time of night?” Donny asked.

“Janet should be getting home about now. I wanna see her before she’s in for the night. Please, Dad, I’ve barely seen her all week.”

“Wesley, don’t you think this is getting a little obsessive? She just a girl,” he said.

“And I’m just a guy. What’s your point?” Wes snapped.

Donny’s eyes narrowed and he stepped closer to his son. “Don’t take that tone with me,” he said in a low dangerous voice.

“I’m sorry,” Wes said, semi-frantic. “I just wanna see her, Dad. It won’t take long. Ten minutes to get there, ten minutes with her and ten minutes back. I’ll be back in a half hour, I swear!”

“No good comes from teenagers being out so late at night, Wesley. You know that, especially when you’re all jacked up like this. You’ll end up speeding. It’s better if you stay home, forget this foolishness and get to sleep. You’ll see her tomorrow at school.”

“Come on, Dad! I’ll be careful. I always am,” he said, gripping the car keys so tightly they dug into his hand.

“Why didn’t you take her to rehearsal like you had been doing?” Donny asked. “Did you have another fight?”

“No, no fight. It’s just…it’s complicated. Can I explain it to you later? Please, Dad. I’ll be careful. Really, I’ll be back in thirty minutes!”

Donny stared at him frowning. “Your mother died at night, you know.”

“Of course I know. I will never forget that she was killed at night by a stupid drunk. I have no intention of letting anyone kill me. That’s why I’m always careful,” Wes said, just barely controlling his anger.

“You can’t just talk on the phone with her like everybody else in the world does?”

“Please, Dad!”

“Fine, but if you’re not back in thirty minutes, you’re grounded for a month,” Donny said. “And that’ll mean no Janet for a whole month. Can you take that?”

Wes nearly swallowed his tongue, but he glanced at his watch, nodded and left. He backed out of the driveway most carefully-- because he knew his father was watching-- and he even went down the street at a very sedate pace. As soon as the house was no longer visible, however, he gunned it and was at Janet’s house in seven minutes. Now he counted the minutes and waited for her, hoping she wouldn’t be late.

Just as he looked up at the house three minutes later checking out Janet’s window and wondering if she might have gotten home early and was already in bed, he heard the loud roar of a motorcycle. He saw it coming straight at him. He jumped out of his car when he recognized Luke riding it with a girl—one who he’d bet anything was his Janet—holding on tight to him.

“Gonna kill that sonavabitch,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

“Wes, what are you doing here?” Janet said, stepping off the bike, removing the helmet and staring at him as if he was a ghost. Luke raised the visor on his helmet and took the helmet from Janet. He hooked it on the handle bar before grinning at Wes.

“Hey, Dude!” Luke said. “How ya doing? Coming to the game tomorrow?”

“Game?” Wes absently said, staring at Janet. He held his hand out to her and waited for her to take it, but she looked annoyed.

“Port Orinaco’s Homecoming, everybody will be there,” Luke said, watching them both.

“He can’t. He has work to do. His all-important proposal,” Janet said, irately.

“I never said it was all important,” Wes retorted. “That’s why I’m here, Janet. You’re more important to me than stupid work.”

“I’m sure Wes can come to the game with you tomorrow, Janet,” Luke said. “I think we all could use a break.”

“What do you think, Wes?” Janet asked, finally taking his hand.

“Should be fun,” Wes said, tugging her closer so he could put an arm around her.

“And the Gala?” Janet asked, looking up at him.

“I…I don’t know…yet,” Wes said, glancing at Luke. He regretted the words when she pulled away from him. “Janet, please!”

“See? I knew it. You’ll go to the stupid football game, but you won’t go to the gala. Tell me why I have to go to your games when I don’t know the first thing about hat tricks and off sides but you can’t come to a once in a lifetime thing like me singing at a gala?”

“It’s not going to be a once in a life time thing if it goes well, which it will,” Luke said, although he doubted anyone heard him.

“And while you’re at it, Wes, tell me again why you’re my boyfriend? Maybe I should try and steal Luke away from Alana. He would make a better boyfriend!”

“Janet, no!” Wes said, desperately looking to Luke, then back at her. “It’s not my fault I can’t go.”

“Hey, stop that! You don’t mean that, Janet. I’m sure Wes can make it to the gala…at least he can make the end of the second set,” Luke said, pointedly. “Right, Wes?”

“What?” Wes said, tearing his eyes away from Janet.

“You’ll come to the gala and see the end of the second set, right?” he said. “Janet wants you there. You’re her rock, you know. She won’t be nervous if you’re there. Okay?”

Wes stared at him, astounded. “Are you sure?”

Luke nodded and put the visor down on his helmet. “We want you there, so get the report or whatever it is done by the second set. All right?” he said. He smiled, gave the motorcycle a little rev and roared down the road.

They watched him go in silence. “Could that guy be more cool?” Wes irritably muttered once the noise died down.

“No, I don’t think so,” Janet said, folding her hands in front of her. “What the heck was that about?”

“Whaddaya mean?”

“You and Luke…like he’s giving you permission to go to the gala, and only the second set. What the heck is going on?”

“I…I dunno,” Wes said, grinding his back teeth until they hurt. He hated lying to her.

“What aren’t you telling me?” she said grabbing his jacket and giving him a shake—or trying to.

“Janet, don’t worry about that. Do…do you want to go to this homecoming game?” he asked. “I’d love to spend time with you.”

She stared at him baffled. “Depends if you have enough done on your proposal,” she said, Before she knew it, he took her into his arms and held her tightly. She would have pushed him away, but she just didn’t want to. She didn’t want to be angry with him. “Will you come to the gala then?”

“I will, I swear it!” he said.

“Even if you’re not done?”

He shook his head. “I’m done with that if it means you hating me.”

“I don’t hate you, Wes…I just want you to come…to the whole thing. I come to see you in your soccer games even if I don’t get it. If you really love me like you always say you do…”

“You know I do!”

She stared up at him then frowned. “Why did Luke say only the end of the second set?”

“Uh…he doesn’t want you distracted maybe?” he said.

“By you? That doesn’t make sense,” she said. “Did he tell you not to come?”

“No, not him,” Wes said, evasively.

“Then someone did?” she shrieked. “Who?”

“Alana.”

Janet’s mouth fell open. “Why would she do that? I thought she was my friend!”

“She is. Don’t blame her. It’s me. I’m not good for you,” he said, before he could stop himself.

“Not good for me? Whaddaya kidding? You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Am I?” he said, stunned and delighted.

She blushed and shrugged.

He kissed her then, for a good long time. It was as good as her saying she loved him. When he pulled back he took out his smart phone. “Gimme your phone and let me share this with you. The first I took, the second Alana took when I wasn’t there. Look at those, before you say I’m good for you and that you want me at the gala.” He glanced at his watch and cursed under his breath. “I gotta go or I’ll be grounded for a month and then I won’t see you like ever again!”

She smiled. “I’ll climb a ladder, sneak into your room through the window and hide in your closet if that happens. Okay?”

He grabbed her again and kissed her hard. “I couldn’t love you more if I tried. See you tomorrow, Janet. I’ll dream of you tonight.”

She watched him jump into his car and roar away. “Me, too,” she whispered. She frowned at her phone and headed to the house. Maybe now she’s understand what all this was about.

©2013 Glory Lennon All Rights Reserved