Megan's wedding - Part 1
This is actually untitled... I'll think of something later. It's a short story with my Hideaway characters.
Untitled
Part 1
By Lori Finnegan
April 2016
Rick packed up his equipment from the club and helped his bandmates load it into their van. After he waved and said he’d see them later, he turned around to walk to his car, only to come face to face with two women.
They looked exactly the same. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t seeing double, but no, they were twins. “Er, hi,” he said, thinking they had come from the club. “How can I help you?”
“You guys are singing at my wedding tomorrow night,” the one on the left said. “And we need to go over some last minute instructions.”
Oh, so that was it… she must be Megan Ramsey. The band didn’t particularly enjoy playing at wedding receptions, but it paid well, and they hadn’t really taken off yet, so they took all they could get. “Okay…” he said, taking a step back. “What kind of instructions?”
The other one put her hand on her hip. “Under no circumstance are you to allow my brother and his girlfriend on the stage. They are not to have a microphone in their hands, and they are not to sing. For no reason should any of those things happen.”
“Okay,” he repeated. “And how will I know your brother and his girlfriend? Are they going to attempt to rush the stage?”
The first one held up a phone with a picture on it. “This is them. Memorize their faces.”
Rick took the phone from her and looked at it. It was a picture of Carly Callahan and Arthur Ramsey. But not something from a magazine; this was a snapshot. He blinked in surprise and then handed the phone back. “Are you saying your brother is Arthur Ramsey?”
She nodded. “Yes, and they’re not allowed to sing. Got it?”
“Okay, got it. But you didn’t say--are they going to rush the stage or something?”
The women looked at one another and then turned back to him. “Probably not,” the second one said. “But just in case they do, it’s not allowed. In fact, don’t let anyone else up there, but especially them.”
“Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Rick took a step away to attempt to end the conversation. He wasn’t sure why Arthur Ramsey’s family wouldn’t want their famous relative to sing at the wedding, but whatever. In fact maybe Rick could slip them the band’s demo. “I’ll see you both tomorrow then?”
The twins didn’t smile at him. “Yes,” they said in unison. “See you tomorrow.”
*****
Arthur Ramsey III woke up to his pillow vibrating, so he reached behind his head to pull out his phone. In the dark, he blinked at the bright screen. There were two text messages from his father.
Arthur let his phone fall to the carpet beside the couch and then turned onto his back. It was typical of his dad to text him from inside the same house rather than to have a real conversation with him. He had spent the night in the living room since extended family had taken up the guest rooms at the Ramsey house, and Arthur had let Carly sleep in his old room because his mother wouldn’t let them share a room under her roof. It had been all that was left.
Arthur couldn’t wait for the wedding to be over so he could get back to California with Carly. He was so used to waking up beside her that to not have her there, especially when he wanted to talk to her about something, was particularly frustrating. So he picked his phone back up to text her.
Arthur threw the blankets off of himself and got up from the couch, carefully tiptoeing across the carpet towards the stairs and then doing his best to step in just the right places so they wouldn’t creak and wake his mom up. He was pretty sure his dad was in his office on the other side of the house, but he wanted to be on the safe side anyway. He finally got up to the top floor and walked through the lounge, still being careful of his steps. The door to his bedroom was closed, but he opened it without knocking anyway.
Carly was sitting up in bed with her phone, but when she saw him, she smiled. “Decided it was worth the risk, huh?”
He grinned at her before crawling into bed beside her and pulling her close, his hands around her waist and his face pressed to her neck, breathing her in. “Not even a question,” he mumbled against her skin.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her hand tangled in his hair. “Besides being tired, that is.”
“Um… yeah. I guess. It’s just…” He reached to his pocket and pulled out his phone to show her the text from his dad. “It’s my dad. I don’t even know why he would think I would do something like that. Nothing has ever been about me in this family, so why would he think anything would change?”
She took the phone from him and looked at the text from his father. “Because you broke free from your chains and now he considers you unpredictable? What the hell--the Arthur Ramsey Show? Does he really think you’d do that?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned against her. “You’re probably right though--he thinks I’m unpredictable.”
“It just means he can’t control you anymore.”
He sighed. “I don’t even know how I’d make Megan’s wedding about me. I have a hard time making my own concerts about me.”
“He’s never really known you,” she said, handing his phone back to him. “You’ve only been what he’s wanted you to be for so long, that he can’t even handle the concept of who you really are. I sort of want to feel sorry for him, but not so much that I actually do.”
“I hate coming back here,” he said softly. “I dread it for weeks beforehand and then spend the whole time we’re here wishing we could leave.”
“I know,” she said, kissing the side of his head. And she did know--she had heard about it so many times before. “Tomorrow. I think I have to be back in California for an interview tomorrow night. You’ll have to come with me.”
“Not good enough,” he muttered. “It’s fine if you go, but they might want me to stay.”
“Okay, then… We both have an interview. Together. It’s for a magazine.”
“Which magazine?”
She was quiet for a moment. “It’s a new one. I forgot the name.”
“You’re too good at this--coming up with random stories to save our asses from this miserable existence…” He stared across the room at his old desk which still had an old computer sitting on it and a few pens scattered across the surface. It was weird to have Carly in his old room and in his old bed. All he wanted was to go home.
She laughed lightly. “It’s not so bad. We can have fun at the wedding, anyway. And don’t forget… Paul will be there. He’ll help distract you from your dad.”
“I sort of wished we had stayed with Paul. The floor in his one bedroom apartment sounds more appealing than anywhere under this roof.” He took in a breath and pulled her closer. “At least I’d be with you.”
He was just about to kiss her when there was a knock on the door, and they both froze.
“Carly? Are you awake?” A female voice said from the other side.
“Damn, it’s my sister,” Arthur whispered. “She’ll definitely tell my mom on me.”
Carly looked wide eyed at Arthur for a moment and then pushed him a little ways away. “I have to answer or she’s going to open the door anyway,” she whispered back. “Are you going to hide or something?”
He sighed and then quickly moved out of the bed so he could sit in the chair beside it instead. “Go ahead,” he said in defeat. “There’s no point hiding from her, anyway.”
“I’m awake,” Carly called to Arthur’s sister. “Come in.”
The door squeaked open and Lauren appeared. She still had her pajamas on, and her hair was up in rollers. Her eyes fell on Carly for a moment before they shifted to her brother and narrowed. “And what exactly are you doing in here?”
“Talking. Is that allowed?” He folded his arms over his chest and returned her glare. They actually had been talking, so it wasn’t even a lie.
“Oh, really?” Lauren pushed the door open the rest of the way. “At six-thirty--you’re in here talking?”
“Yes, really,” Arthur said. “Are you saying I’m lying?”
She stared at him for a moment and then looked back at Carly, probably deciding it wasn’t worth it. “Anyway, the hair stylist is starting. Do you want a slot?”
Arthur was about to answer for her. Like hell his sisters were stealing Carly away from him for half the morning. He would do her hair himself if he had to. It probably wouldn’t look good, but luckily for him, his girlfriend looked hot no matter what.
Carly must have been on the same page as him, because she shook her head. “No thanks. But thank you for thinking of me.”
“You’re welcome.” Lauren gave the barest of smiles to Carly and then stood in the doorway, staring at her brother.
“What?” he finally said.
“Are you coming?”
“Coming where?”
“Out of this room. Otherwise Mom might be interested to know where you spent the night.”
Arthur felt his temper rising. “I did not spend the night here. I’ve been in here for like ten minutes.”
She folded her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow at him. “If you expect me to believe that, you must think I’m pretty stupid.”
He grit his teeth together. He knew from experience that it was best not to argue with his sisters--he never won. “Okay, fine.” He turned to Carly, his expression softening. “Get dressed and meet me downstairs for breakfast. We’ll finish talking in the dining room. Okay?”
She nodded, still smiling softly. And before he could walk away, she grabbed his hand and squeezed his fingers. “Arthur--today is going to be fine. I promise.”
He wasn’t sure how she could promise that, but he squeezed her fingers back anyway. He supposed it could be worse. She could have stayed in California and then he would have to brave his family alone. So, maybe she did know, after all. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
Untitled
Part 1
By Lori Finnegan
April 2016
Rick packed up his equipment from the club and helped his bandmates load it into their van. After he waved and said he’d see them later, he turned around to walk to his car, only to come face to face with two women.
They looked exactly the same. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t seeing double, but no, they were twins. “Er, hi,” he said, thinking they had come from the club. “How can I help you?”
“You guys are singing at my wedding tomorrow night,” the one on the left said. “And we need to go over some last minute instructions.”
Oh, so that was it… she must be Megan Ramsey. The band didn’t particularly enjoy playing at wedding receptions, but it paid well, and they hadn’t really taken off yet, so they took all they could get. “Okay…” he said, taking a step back. “What kind of instructions?”
The other one put her hand on her hip. “Under no circumstance are you to allow my brother and his girlfriend on the stage. They are not to have a microphone in their hands, and they are not to sing. For no reason should any of those things happen.”
“Okay,” he repeated. “And how will I know your brother and his girlfriend? Are they going to attempt to rush the stage?”
The first one held up a phone with a picture on it. “This is them. Memorize their faces.”
Rick took the phone from her and looked at it. It was a picture of Carly Callahan and Arthur Ramsey. But not something from a magazine; this was a snapshot. He blinked in surprise and then handed the phone back. “Are you saying your brother is Arthur Ramsey?”
She nodded. “Yes, and they’re not allowed to sing. Got it?”
“Okay, got it. But you didn’t say--are they going to rush the stage or something?”
The women looked at one another and then turned back to him. “Probably not,” the second one said. “But just in case they do, it’s not allowed. In fact, don’t let anyone else up there, but especially them.”
“Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Rick took a step away to attempt to end the conversation. He wasn’t sure why Arthur Ramsey’s family wouldn’t want their famous relative to sing at the wedding, but whatever. In fact maybe Rick could slip them the band’s demo. “I’ll see you both tomorrow then?”
The twins didn’t smile at him. “Yes,” they said in unison. “See you tomorrow.”
*****
Arthur Ramsey III woke up to his pillow vibrating, so he reached behind his head to pull out his phone. In the dark, he blinked at the bright screen. There were two text messages from his father.
Arthur let his phone fall to the carpet beside the couch and then turned onto his back. It was typical of his dad to text him from inside the same house rather than to have a real conversation with him. He had spent the night in the living room since extended family had taken up the guest rooms at the Ramsey house, and Arthur had let Carly sleep in his old room because his mother wouldn’t let them share a room under her roof. It had been all that was left.
Arthur couldn’t wait for the wedding to be over so he could get back to California with Carly. He was so used to waking up beside her that to not have her there, especially when he wanted to talk to her about something, was particularly frustrating. So he picked his phone back up to text her.
Arthur threw the blankets off of himself and got up from the couch, carefully tiptoeing across the carpet towards the stairs and then doing his best to step in just the right places so they wouldn’t creak and wake his mom up. He was pretty sure his dad was in his office on the other side of the house, but he wanted to be on the safe side anyway. He finally got up to the top floor and walked through the lounge, still being careful of his steps. The door to his bedroom was closed, but he opened it without knocking anyway.
Carly was sitting up in bed with her phone, but when she saw him, she smiled. “Decided it was worth the risk, huh?”
He grinned at her before crawling into bed beside her and pulling her close, his hands around her waist and his face pressed to her neck, breathing her in. “Not even a question,” he mumbled against her skin.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her hand tangled in his hair. “Besides being tired, that is.”
“Um… yeah. I guess. It’s just…” He reached to his pocket and pulled out his phone to show her the text from his dad. “It’s my dad. I don’t even know why he would think I would do something like that. Nothing has ever been about me in this family, so why would he think anything would change?”
She took the phone from him and looked at the text from his father. “Because you broke free from your chains and now he considers you unpredictable? What the hell--the Arthur Ramsey Show? Does he really think you’d do that?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned against her. “You’re probably right though--he thinks I’m unpredictable.”
“It just means he can’t control you anymore.”
He sighed. “I don’t even know how I’d make Megan’s wedding about me. I have a hard time making my own concerts about me.”
“He’s never really known you,” she said, handing his phone back to him. “You’ve only been what he’s wanted you to be for so long, that he can’t even handle the concept of who you really are. I sort of want to feel sorry for him, but not so much that I actually do.”
“I hate coming back here,” he said softly. “I dread it for weeks beforehand and then spend the whole time we’re here wishing we could leave.”
“I know,” she said, kissing the side of his head. And she did know--she had heard about it so many times before. “Tomorrow. I think I have to be back in California for an interview tomorrow night. You’ll have to come with me.”
“Not good enough,” he muttered. “It’s fine if you go, but they might want me to stay.”
“Okay, then… We both have an interview. Together. It’s for a magazine.”
“Which magazine?”
She was quiet for a moment. “It’s a new one. I forgot the name.”
“You’re too good at this--coming up with random stories to save our asses from this miserable existence…” He stared across the room at his old desk which still had an old computer sitting on it and a few pens scattered across the surface. It was weird to have Carly in his old room and in his old bed. All he wanted was to go home.
She laughed lightly. “It’s not so bad. We can have fun at the wedding, anyway. And don’t forget… Paul will be there. He’ll help distract you from your dad.”
“I sort of wished we had stayed with Paul. The floor in his one bedroom apartment sounds more appealing than anywhere under this roof.” He took in a breath and pulled her closer. “At least I’d be with you.”
He was just about to kiss her when there was a knock on the door, and they both froze.
“Carly? Are you awake?” A female voice said from the other side.
“Damn, it’s my sister,” Arthur whispered. “She’ll definitely tell my mom on me.”
Carly looked wide eyed at Arthur for a moment and then pushed him a little ways away. “I have to answer or she’s going to open the door anyway,” she whispered back. “Are you going to hide or something?”
He sighed and then quickly moved out of the bed so he could sit in the chair beside it instead. “Go ahead,” he said in defeat. “There’s no point hiding from her, anyway.”
“I’m awake,” Carly called to Arthur’s sister. “Come in.”
The door squeaked open and Lauren appeared. She still had her pajamas on, and her hair was up in rollers. Her eyes fell on Carly for a moment before they shifted to her brother and narrowed. “And what exactly are you doing in here?”
“Talking. Is that allowed?” He folded his arms over his chest and returned her glare. They actually had been talking, so it wasn’t even a lie.
“Oh, really?” Lauren pushed the door open the rest of the way. “At six-thirty--you’re in here talking?”
“Yes, really,” Arthur said. “Are you saying I’m lying?”
She stared at him for a moment and then looked back at Carly, probably deciding it wasn’t worth it. “Anyway, the hair stylist is starting. Do you want a slot?”
Arthur was about to answer for her. Like hell his sisters were stealing Carly away from him for half the morning. He would do her hair himself if he had to. It probably wouldn’t look good, but luckily for him, his girlfriend looked hot no matter what.
Carly must have been on the same page as him, because she shook her head. “No thanks. But thank you for thinking of me.”
“You’re welcome.” Lauren gave the barest of smiles to Carly and then stood in the doorway, staring at her brother.
“What?” he finally said.
“Are you coming?”
“Coming where?”
“Out of this room. Otherwise Mom might be interested to know where you spent the night.”
Arthur felt his temper rising. “I did not spend the night here. I’ve been in here for like ten minutes.”
She folded her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow at him. “If you expect me to believe that, you must think I’m pretty stupid.”
He grit his teeth together. He knew from experience that it was best not to argue with his sisters--he never won. “Okay, fine.” He turned to Carly, his expression softening. “Get dressed and meet me downstairs for breakfast. We’ll finish talking in the dining room. Okay?”
She nodded, still smiling softly. And before he could walk away, she grabbed his hand and squeezed his fingers. “Arthur--today is going to be fine. I promise.”
He wasn’t sure how she could promise that, but he squeezed her fingers back anyway. He supposed it could be worse. She could have stayed in California and then he would have to brave his family alone. So, maybe she did know, after all. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll see you downstairs.”