-Installment Three-
BOLD PRINT means it's Sierra's Viewpoint
NON-BOLD PRINT means Taylor's viewpoint
“Why does it always rain on me?” “Was it because I lied when I was seventeen?” I twirled around my room swaying around in unison to the beat pumping out of the speakers as I folded clothes and hung skirts up on hangers.
I was out of school for Christmas break, my parents had just come home from San Francisco, and the sweet aroma of fur trees and sugar cookies emanated from within the walls of my house. It was Christmas in the Quinlan household, and my parents wanted everyone in the neighborhood to know, through the white lights hung upon the rafters of our house, and the wreaths and candles planted in every window.
The pessimistic song ended as I flopped down onto my feather comforter, indulging in the warm feeling that I got from having everyone home in my house. What to do, what to do? I wracked my brain, to find something to do with this copious amount of free time that I had to frit away.
I gripped the arm wrest closely as the wheels of the plane came in contact with the asphalt of the runway. I exhaled slowly after the plane had stopped jumping and bouncing and cruised slowly to a halt. It was already dark at 5:10 in the evening, as I glimpsed out the tiny oval shaped window at the bundled up and scurrying bodies preparing to open the plane for my family and me.
The feeling was intense inside me. The feeling of knowing she was somewhere in this city, sitting or walking somewhere, in this very city gave me a profound sense of much more intense longing.
Grabbing my few belongings I pulled myself up out of the leather seat and exited into the brisk winter air of the east coast. We were now here for good. Here for a period of time that I could work with; that I could see her again.
I had pressed the idea of staying in Boston for Christmas upon my family so much that it seemed they’d given in to my idea and agreed to stay here for Christmas, supposedly to work more closely with our producer whose office was in the heart of Boston; I had different intentions. My mind was set upon the charity Christmas concert we were holding on Christmas Eve, and now that I knew her incredibly gorgeous name, I could contact her and invite her.
At this thought, a smile crept into my stoic lips, something that did not happen much anymore. I was rushed into a black Econo-van along with half of my family and we were on our way towards our “new home”.
“Baby!” I flinched at Ri’s voice pouring out of my receiver. “It’s vacation!” She continued to shriek as I silently signed online to check my email.
“Ri, I know!” I laughed through my clenched teeth. “What are we going to do tonight?” I asked half paying attention as I scanned through my new mail.
I barely listened to her spill about all the parties she’d been invited to, yet the mention of my favorite club’s name caught my diverted attention.
“Want to go to Banks’?” She asked as I told her that now that she mentioned it, we were definitely going. She laughed and then agreed, saying that she’d be over 30 minutes to get ready. I hung up speakerphone giggling as one email caught my attention.
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Live December 24th.
Tickets now on sale, general admission. $21.95.
“Is Sierra there please?” My cheeks burned red as I quickly picked up the phone, turning off the speakerphone. I replied hiding the excitement in my voice.
It was Skye Whitcomb. Skye was one of the artistic and sophisticated types, very intellectual and very good-looking. He’d never called me before now, as I carried on friendly dialogue with him.
“I was wondering, if well, if you knew Ben Harper?” I gasped at his question and then erupted in to laughter as I looked at the opened mail still on my computer screen.
It turns out he was calling to invite me to the concert! We chatted for a while until the encoded doorbell ring interrupted the conversation and I told him I had to go, but would definitely go to the concert even if I was on Christmas Eve.
I jumped at the sound of pounding on my door, pulling off the headphones covering my ears, as my brother and his new found “friend” entered the room. She was tall, skinny, and very perky in more ways than one, and I would’ve bet my career on it that Isaac had just met her and was going to invite me somewhere to meet some “cute and just as perky” girl that I could take back to the hotel with.
“Hey shithead.” He laughed sliding into the conference chair as I sat up on my elbows as his chic squealed at the sight of me.
“Hey Tay-Tay, I haven’t seen you in so long.” She laughed bouncing over to me bombarding me with a wet kiss on the cheek.
Confused I looked up at her, “Have we ever met before?” I asked skeptically wiping the red lipstick off my face.
Before she could think of an answer Isaac interrupted, “Hey Tay, no need to get all PMS-sy, we’re just wondering if you want to come to Banks’ with us. If you’re good, maybe I will buy you a drink.”
His offer was tempting, I had to admit. As much as I loved that club, and wanted to just let loose and get completely wasted, I shook my head in decline.
“Whatever dude, you can sulk here, but we’re going to go have some FUN!” He said pulling his bitch out the door behind him, as I flopped back down on the bed replacing Ben Harper over my ears.
Banks’ was an upper class swanky type of club where you were guaranteed to find well-groomed guys. That’s why I liked it so much, plus they played absolutely phat techno without the Ecstasy.
When we arrived I could feel the electronic beat from the sidewalk outside, and that familiar drunken feeling overcame my body, as I was about to enter the club. The only way we were actually allowed in was Ri’s older brother’s best friend was the bouncer and had been for years now.
He greeted us, and pushed us into the abyss of strobe lights and pumping beats. Bodies, just black silhouettes were all Riley and I could make out as we dropped off our stuff and jumped into the mass of dancing bodies and faces. The night was just beginning.
I pulled myself off the dance floor as sweat dripped down my body. I was hot and needed water badly. I mumbled hello to a few familiar faces as I stumbled up to the bar and accidentally bumped into a woman a little older than me who was holding a mixed drink of some kind. I looked apologetically as she glared at me.
Her boyfriend turned from his conversation with the bartender and looked surprised to see me, as I felt the same for him, for I knew I had seen him somewhere. He had short blond hair and a skinny cute face. I knew I had seen him before.
“Watch where you’re going okay?” The woman spat at me in a catlike fashion as she sipped her drink snootily.
I nodded and turned back to her boyfriend, “I am sorry, but do I know you from somewhere?” I asked politely as I turned to the bartender asking for water.
He looked at me closely, perusing my face and replied,
“I think so. But I don’t know from where….”
Before he could finish Riley bounded up to my side, “Sierra!!!! This is our song!!!” She giggled pulling my arm as I told her to wait just two seconds, and the bartender handed me my water.
I turned back to the couple, “I am sorry but I have to go now, you two have a fun night okay?” I laughed and allowed Riley to pull me away as I felt both of their stares burning into my back.
The sun broke through the drapes at a peculiar angle, just enough to fall right across my face, as I sat up vexed and overtired. It was 11:39 in the morning and someone was pounding at my hotel room door. I yanked open the door wearing only my boxers as my dipshit of a brother came tearing in the room.
“Isaac, what? What are you doing?” I asked rubbing the sleepys from my eyes, as he paced across my room.
“Tay I saw a girl last night, at Banks’.”
“Yes Isaac, I bet there were girls there.” I laughed, mocking him.
“No, it was someone I have seen before. Someone you know maybe?” He sputtered sitting down into the same conference chair.
“Well Isaac, I know a lot girls. Does it really matter all that much?” I moaned, cranky from jetlag.
“Well, don’t get mad at me okay? This is for your own good.” I eyed him, confused by his words, but let him continue,
“Ya know that picture you have.” My veins ran cold. He saw the picture?
I nodded as blood reddened the vessels of my cheeks in embarrassment.
“I think I saw that girl. Last night. She bumped into Dina.” My breath halted in my throat, was he talking about……… about…about Sierra? Who else runs into random people like that?
“What?” I finally questioned, “You mean this picture?” I said pulling photo from my jeans that were lying on the floor, and he took one look at it and nodded, sending a sickening shiver over my whole body.
“You saw her?” My voice cracked in inflection and disbelief. He nodded, studying the picture carefully as tears flooded my eyes.
”Tay I talked to her.”
“Are you sure, Isaac?” I asked biting my bottom lip. He nodded in affirmation,
“Her name is Sierra right?” I was overflowing with contrite as I swore under my breath.
“Yes her name is Sierra Tope Quinlan.” I said as my voice shook.
“Why didn’t I go?” I asked myself rhetorically hiding my face in my hands.
“Are you alright?” My brother whispered with sincerity and I nodded.
“Tay,” His voice cut the awkward silence and I looked up, “I saw her, and all I could think was God, she’s beautiful.”
I shut my eyes at his comment as all the repressed feelings and memories that I had had, flooded to my brain.
“I know.” I said, “And I wonder if I’ll ever see her again.” I whispered
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