But I wasn’t lying. It was magic. And the only thing more beautiful than her music was Sydney up in that balcony, jumping her little heart out to the roar of hundreds of fans.
After spying a group of near-naked girls, Chance bolted into the crowd. Fernando grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the bar. “Let’s get a drink. I’m nervous.”
We stopped in front the long concrete bar top, and Darryl gave me an acknowledging nod.
“Hey, Darryl, decided to change it up?” I asked as the steam punk bartender grabbed the whiskey off the top shelf.
He turned, glanced at Fernando with wide eyes, and grabbed three glasses. “Yeah, well, I fell asleep last weekend with my head gear on, and when I woke I’d nearly cut out my eyeball.” Turning to the side, he showed me a long gash next to his right eye.
“I guess clock gears should be left on the nightstand,” I said, pulling out my wallet. “Those old-timey aviator goggles bring out your eyes, though.”
He pulled the goggles down over his eyes and winked. “You think so?” He shook his shotgun peg leg. “Doctor told me to stop wearing this too.”
“What? No way.” I pointed down at his leg. “What if the apocalypse happens? You’re as good as ready, man.”
“Don’t I know it.” He nodded and glanced up at the balcony. “Your girl’s been on fire tonight. Hers is on the house, as always.”
Fernando and I made our way up the steep steps toward the DJ booth.
“I’m so nervous,” he whispered, taking a quick sip of his whiskey. “What if they hate me?”
Bullet, the bouncer at the top of the stairs (Yes, Bullet… God, these bouncer names) said a quick hello and let us pass. Just like Sydney’s first time up here, Fernando stopped, gaping at the crowd. At least four hundred people below were dancing in rhythm to DJ Sinister.
I watched Sydney for a minute. She was back in baggy jeans and a tank top, with her dad’s trucker hat on and a low ponytail down her back. As she danced, it swished from side to side, offering me a glimpse of my favorite tattoo. Creeping up behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist. Now familiar with my grasp, she leaned back and moaned, rubbing her hips suggestively.
“Bullet, really. I told you we can’t do this now. My boyfriend will be here any minute.”
I smiled and pulled her hair to the side, kissing just under her chin. “Bullet have moves like this?” I thrust my hips to her, and she laughed.
“No, he’s usually rougher with me.” She flipped around and wrapped her arms around my neck. “But he sure doesn’t kiss like you.”
I was in heaven for ten seconds, hungrily kissing the woman I hadn’t seen all day. Twenty-four hours was too long to be away from her.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Fernando interrupted, pulling a pair of black shades from some unknown crevice. “DJ Crazy Cruz is in the house.”
Sydney tore from my arms and pulled an arm across his wide back.
DJ Crazy Cruz? Fernando was an idiot. A happy idiot. But still an idiot that was about to get his ass handed to him in front of hundreds.
“Come on, Crazy.” She led him toward the booth, and I took a step back, watching her orient him to the controller. When he finally nodded, she gave him a pat on the back and grabbed the mic. “DJ Crazy Cruz in da club! Laying beats for the next seven minutes. Be nice!”
Fernando settled into whatever groove he has, and she turned, running straight into my arms. She jumped and wrapped her legs around my waist, and we moved into the shadows against the balcony wall.
“Excited to see me, Sinister?” I teased, running my hand over her tank top. I stopped when I felt something lumpy under her shirt. “What’s this?”
“Della sent it to me.” She pulled out a stone hanging from a chain around her neck. “It’s a moonstone. She said it’s for new beginnings and that everything—”
“Everything is a part of a cycle of change.” I finished her sentence, brushing my lips against hers. “She sent me one too. And it’s for happiness,” I added, grinning down at her.
“Yeah, and for easy childbirth,” Sydney said, exaggerating a shiver through her bones. “She could’ve left that description off the note.”
I nodded. Probably a bad time to tell her Mom’s already planning our wedding on Pinterest. “Yes, she needs a new hobby, but I also hear moonstones make girls agree to move in with their boyfriends for the summer.”
Sydney smiled and dramatically rolled her eyes. “I was going to say yes anyway. Now that Allison’s gone, it’s lonely, and Jack wants his own space. Apparently, he doesn’t need his big sister around anymore.”
Allison had moved into Kappa Delta. Under new leadership, of course. Somehow a scandalous sex recording was slipped under the dean’s office door with an anonymous note. The evil reign of Katharine DeSonna came to an abrupt end. She was kicked out of the Greek system. But she was still around, scheming in the shadows.
I had to admit, I was scared for Sydney after coming clean over the air, but the repercussions hadn’t been too bad. A couple of slashed tires (luckily, she had an extra set) and a few empty threats from the Panhellenic, but she managed to obtain something she refers to as their “emergency exits,” so they backed off.
Mainly, people congratulated her. They actually agreed with the things she said, with the exception of her claims against #24 Gray Peters, or so I’d like to think.
“Jack will always need his big sister, but when you have a girlfriend, especially as high maintenance as Allison, they seem to take over your life. You have to bring them coffee all the time. Buy them tampons from the st—”
“That happened once,” she whispered, narrowing her eyes playfully. “And you bought the wrong thing.”
She was right. Did happen once. I sat on the grocery store floor for a half hour, reading the labels on all the boxes. I was upset Sydney was at risk for something called toxic shock syndrome, so I followed an old lady down the aisle and she showed me female incontinence products. I thought they did the same job. Turns out I was dead wrong.
“The important part is I’d do it again, Sinister.” I brushed her hair behind her ear.
She laid her warm cheek against my chest. “I know.” Her soft voice was laced with emotion. Then she gave me a gentle squeeze. I knew that voice and I knew that touch, and I felt the same way.
Sydney was once my worst enemy but was now my best friend. She now was a regular at the middle school, teaching music to the kids while I taught art. She was my partner in crime and now in life… I know, cheesy.
“DJ Crazy Cruz isn’t half bad,” she said, reluctantly pulling away from me.
“That’s because he has a talented teacher.” I lowered her to the floor. “Who I happen to love. Think she’s cute. Has a nice rack. Enjoys horror movies and Pringles.”
“Always falls for dumb jocks,” she added, and I swatted her butt.
Fernando turned toward us and pointed to his headset, signaling the end to our seven minutes.
“Time to get back to the grind.” Sydney grabbed my hand, pulling me to the booth. “Gonna dance with me? You’re getting better. Maybe this time you won’t end up riding a cab all night.”
She laughed as I circled my arms around her waist. “I dunno, but I suppose it’s better than wearing an Iron Man costume all night.”
Wearing a fake frown, she poked me in the gut, but I saw that gorgeous smile tucked right underneath. I pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “But I love your devious mind.”
A full wicked grin erupted on her face, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, bringing me close for a gentle kiss. “And I love yours.”
The End.
Thank you for reading Devious Minds!