Whose Girl Is She?

1

Whose girl was she? Like many girls who were attracted to the band, she appeared one day among the crowd of cheering fans as we performed. We were all taken by her, and it was clear that she was taken by us. Our music, kind of contemporary rock, attracted an audience generally from the ages of twelve to thirty or so. Casey was twenty-one. Anyway, we all loved her and she loved us.2

I was the lead vocalist of a five member band. There was JD and Brendan on guitar, Maxim on drums, George on Bass, and myself, Shane, and I did the vocals. Casey was almost like a member of the band. She was always around.3

"What do you think about Casey?" JD asked me while we were working out the chord progression and rhythm of a new song I had written. 4

"I think she's cool."5

"All of us have dated her."6

"I know, she kind of belongs to the band," I said. "Try G7 there." I sang through that part of the song.7

"Yeah, that works. How do you think she feels about us?"8

"I think she loves us all," I answered. "I don't know who's her favorite. Does it matter?"9

Distracted, JD played for a few minutes on his guitar.10

"Does it matter?" I asked again.11

"Do you think she's a tease?"12

"No, not really. I think it's just her way of being a part of things. I also don't think she wants to hurt anyone's feelings."13

"I think I love her," said JD.14

"I love her, too."15

"No, I mean, I think she's the one."16

"Well, we all love her," I said and it surprised me that I was actually feeling jealous of the idea of Casey belonging to any just one of us. I didn't mind sharing her, but I wasn't prepared to lose her. I thought about her dark hair, clear blue eyes, and her slender figure. She always seemed to smile and was the most out-going girl at any party. She was a joy to be with, one of the guys; but at the same time, all girl.17

"Have you talked to her about this?" I asked him.18

"No, I wanted to talk with you and the guys first, see if anybody objected."19

"Well, I'm not sure. She has quite an effect on me, too."20

"Are you saying that you don't want Casey and I to be an item?" asked JD.21

"I kind of like it the way it is. I don't want it to break up the band."22

JD looked somber and said, "Neither do I."23

"Well, talk to the others, and then get back to me," I said. "Then I'll have a talk with Casey. I want to see how she really feels." I was sort of the leader of the band.24

For me there was one problem with Casey, she was too much of a party girl and she did like to play. This made her a lot of fun, but it also made her a distraction, perhaps even a danger. Sometimes we would party into the early hours of the morning and I'd wind up drunk as a skunk, although I'm not sure what a drunk skunk would be like. Casey in that sense was something of a bad influence. It was hard to stop partying when she was around.25

The next day JD came over to my place. "Well, I talked it over with the rest of the group. They said that they would go along with whatever you decided."26

"Well, I think it mostly depends on Casey. Do you really feel that she wants to have an exclusive relationship with you?"27

"I hope so."28

We played later that night and then we partied afterward at Poor David's Pub, having a great time as usual. When it was over, I told Casey that I'd take her home. The sky was blue as the sun was rising. I was pretty polluted, but I felt I could drive.29

"JD is really hooked on you," I began. "I think he wants you to be his, and his alone."30

"Is that why everybody seemed different today?"31

"Yeah, we're trying to decide what to do about it?"32

"Don't I have a say?" she asked angrily. We were both sobering up.33

"Of course. How do you feel about JD?" We were nearing the state line and about to enter North Carolina.34

"Well, I love JD. I love all the guys, but I love you most."35

That was not good. I could see that if she and JD didn't at least try to make a go of it, the band would probably splinter apart and die. The band was most important.36

"JD cares more about you than I do," I lied. "I think for the sake of the band, you and he need to try to make it together."37

"Do the others feel this way?"38

"Yes."39

"I can't do it," she said. "I don't want to be JD's girl. I'd be your girl or the band's girl, but though I love JD, I don't love him enough."40

"Then for the sake of the band, you'll have to try or stop hanging out with us."41

Suddenly I rear ended the truck in front of me. I hadn't realised that it was slowing down. We crashed pretty hard. Both of us were knocked unconscious. I had a dream that I was walking away from alcohol and this party girl. Then I came to and realized that the truck had driven away. Casey was okay, but she was dazed. I tried the key, but the car wouldn't start. I got out and looked at the damage. We needed a wrecker, but both of us had too much alcohol in our bodies to call the police. So, I called information and asked for the wrecker service in the nearest city. The wrecker came and took us and the car into the city.42

Casey called her father and he picked her up and took her home. I caught a bus back. The car was expensive to repair, but it was better than a DUI. Casey quit coming to our performances and I didn't see her again for more than a month. 43

I had two decisions to make: First I needed to stop drinking so heavily, maybe to quit entirely; and second, I needed to decide what to do about Casey. I felt that if I were to get in the car, I would I'd be on my way to North Carolina, I'd wind up on her doorstep. So much I wanted to say to her, but there was JD and the rest of the band.44

I got in the car, my direction was predestined. I had to see her. I would square it with the others somehow.
Arriving at her house, she came outside when she saw me pull up. Walking slowly, she smiled hesitantly and said, "What brings you, wanderer? I hear you latest record is a success."45

"Did you like it?"46

"What makes you think I bought it?"47

"Well, didn't you?" I asked.48

She couldn't hide her smile. "Of course I did, silly. Did you come all this way to sign it?"49

"I came because I've missed you. We've all missed you."50

"But you said that you didn't want me around unless I'd be JD's girl."51

"Casey, it doesn't matter. Nothing matters except having you."52

"What about JD? What about the others?"53

"I'll figure out something," I promised54

She threw herself into my arms and said, "I've missed you, I've missed you all so much. It's been so hard not being able to be with you guys."55

"I think we're going to have to make you a part of the band," I said.56

"As long as I'm with you, everything will be all right."57

"You belong with me. You belong with all of us," I said holding her tightly, kissing her.58