Paper Thin

I cranked my engine, knowing I needed to get over whatever this funk was. My sister was marrying Dawson. So what?

I backed out of the driveway, and started down the street. Distance and time. Those were the two things I needed most. Maybe they would both allow the shock to wear off, and the next time I came home for a visit I wouldn’t feel so damn heartbroken at the sight of them together.

SADIE BARELY GAVE ME enough time to get through the door before she forced me to brush my hair and apply more eyeliner. There was a local band made up of college guys she wanted to go see playing at one of the bars downtown. Apparently, the drummer had given her an invitation backstage, and she had been dying for me to get home so we could go.

“They have the best long island ice teas, and I’ve heard the wings are good. Please don’t get them though.” A disgusted look crossed her face. “There is nothing more disgusting than someone with barbeque sauce discoloring their teeth.”

“Yeah, there is. Someone with it crusted over their cuticles, trying to lick it off,” I added.

She made a gagging noise that sounded real, and a visible shiver slipped through her body. I laughed. Grossing Sadie out had always been too easy, and way too much fun.

“Anyway, no wings. Order fries or whatever else they have, but no wings.”

“Got it.” I applied a little eyeliner, and then searched the room for my jacket. The rain had yet to let up, and I knew I would be cold if I didn’t bring one with me.

“Here.” Sadie handed me the one I had been searching for. Sometimes I swore she could read my mind. It was sort of creepy at times.

I grabbed my jacket from her, and pulled it on. “I’m ready when you are.”

She was looking at herself in the mirror above her dresser, smoothing a finger beneath her eyes. “I’ve been ready all day for this.” She locked arms with me, and started toward the door.

“Wait. I forgot my phone.” I darted back inside to grab it. Once I found it, I checked to see if Emma had responded to my text yet. She hadn’t.

I’d sent her a message earlier, letting her know I’d made it back okay, but she hadn’t replied. Generally, she was quick to respond, but not this time. I wondered if it was because she was too busy enjoying herself with Dawson. My nose crinkled at the thought.

“Find it?” Sadie called from the doorway.

I held it up. “Got it.”

“Let’s go, then!” Excitement bubbled through her words, and she flashed me a contagious smile.

“All right, let’s go.” I slipped out the door, pausing in the hall, while I waited for her to lock it behind us.

“Move those feet, sister!” Sadie pushed me from behind until I was walking down the hall at a pace she felt was acceptable.

“So, how did you meet this drummer guy?” She was always meeting guys in the most random places.

“In the laundry center.”

“Seriously?” That was not the first time she’d met someone there. I didn’t understand how she always found sexy, available guys there when all I ever spotted where fat, pimply ones with shirts ten sizes too small.

“Yeah. I was folding my clothes at one of those tables when he walked up to use the washing machine behind me. He asked if I had any soap he could borrow, because the machine on the wall happened to be out, and the rest is history.”

I hated how easy it was for her. Sadie had all the guy finding luck. Maybe it would rub off on me tonight, and I would be able to find someone who could put Dawson out of my mind for good. A girl could hope anyway.

“Crazy thing was, the machine wasn’t really out of soap. I checked.” She smirked.

“You would.” I laughed.

“He thought I was sexy folding laundry, and couldn’t think of a better way to talk to me.” She flipped her red hair over her shoulder with attitude.

“You are so full of yourself.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, but that’s one of the many reasons you love me.” She locked her arm through mine again, and laughed.

Sadie drove us to Throttle. I had no desire to be behind the steering wheel again, much less crammed into a car after my long drive, but going out sounded fun, which was something I needed. When we pulled up in front of the place, I was shocked to see how many people had showed up to hear the band.

“Wow, this place looks packed.” I skimmed over the people standing outside.

“I figured they would be. Black Bash is seriously up and coming.”

“Black Bash?” She hadn’t mentioned their name before, and now that I’d heard it, I wasn’t so sure it was anything I cared to hear. Heavy metal music was not my thing.

“Yeah. Don’t freak out, but they are a little more rock than they are roll.” She pulled into a parking space near the back of the lot, and cut the engine of her car.

“Meaning?” I prompted her to continue.

“They’re more head banging than swaying hips.” She opened her door, and stepped out into the rain. “I know you’ll like them, if you give them a chance.”

“Awesome.” I let sarcasm have its way with the word as I bolted across the parking lot behind her. There was no way I would find anyone to get Dawson off my mind in there tonight. “So, you went from Jeff, who was a little weird for my liking, to a grungy, heavy metal guy?”

“He’s not grungy. He’s hot,” she corrected, slipping under the small awning covering the doorway to the building. The line at the door had nearly disappeared while we’d been searching for a parking spot.

“Right, you met him in the laundry center. He can’t be that grungy, I guess.”

Sadie slapped me on the arm. “Stop. Enjoy the night. Have a drink. Dance. You deserve it, because it sounds like you survived a weekend from hell.”

She had no idea. “Fine. I’ll attempt to have a good time.”

We stepped inside. The sound of an electric guitar screeching out a tune was the first thing I heard. If this was the type of music playing all night, I was bound to walk out of the place with a killer migraine tonight. Glancing around, I realized I was dressed in the preferred choice of color—black. I was so glad I’d went with my favorite pair of ski

“Isn’t this place great?” Sadie shouted in my ear over the music. Her words seemed to vibrate with excitement. “I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

“Me either,” I shouted back, leaving off the fact I never had a desire to either. People in places like this creeped me out.

My eyes skimmed over those who had decided to be here for the night as well. Some were playing pool, while others sat at the bar or stood around talking. There were a couple tables along the far wall, and a dancefloor in the center of the space where no one seemed to be dancing, just head banging. Everyone looked so hardcore and biker scary. Even the women, dressed in skimpy clothes and biker boots or hooker heels, radiated the same vibes.

I noticed a girl who couldn’t have been much older than me or Sadie walking our way. She had a determined gaze that made her dark brown eyes seem harsh. Dressed in a skin-tight leather miniskirt and a barely-there top that showed off a set of abs I would kill for, she didn’t seem like someone to mess with. It wasn’t as though she had huge muscles, but that she had an air to her that let you know she didn’t play around. No fear. That was what oozed from her. I could sense it the second she stopped in front of us.

“Sadie, right?” She skimmed her heavily made-up eyes over Sadie. I wondered how she knew her name.

“Hey, Natasha,” Sadie greeted her with a smile. The girl never smiled back. “This is my friend, Charlotte. I hope it’s okay I brought her along.”

“It’s a bar. No invitations go out. People come and go as they please,” Natasha stated without any emotion in her voice.