A Footnote in Someone Else's Happiness (Pt 1)

This is so stupid, Rylee thought as she paced her brightly lit kitchen. She'd been cleaning the kitchen for the better part of an hour, something she'd often do when something was bothering her. She'd say it was like a theraputic thing, it helped her sort out what was happening. God, this is such a mistake. He's engaged to someone else for Pete's sake! That thought suddenly brought her into a giggling fit. She'd never thought of the phrase as using Pete's name in vain and it was absurdly funny. I'll have to remember to tell Pete and Ashlee that one, she thought, tossing the sponge into the sink. Rylee braced her arms on the sink and shook her head. This was stupid and naive, believing she could be involved with him. A celebrity dating a fan...a lesser being. Tears stung her eyes. That thought hurt. Her nose started doing that needly prickling thing that hurt when she was about to cry. She was every bit as human as him. The only difference was that he happened to play in a band....which happened to be famous the world over. And there was no possible way for a celebrity and a fan to work a relationship. Celebrities only dated other celebrities. It was a common ground and who could blame them? Unsure of all the wacko fans running around, it seemed like a safe haven for them to marry each other. Because, after all they were alike. Rylee didn't belong. She was just a fan. One priveledged enough to see behind the scenes all because of some genious stroke of luck (after all, what would fate have to do with it?). She was just in the right place at the right time. She walked to her bedroom and flopped down on her bed. She closed her eyes and thought back to that lucky night...1

Rylee sat at a table in the corner of the bar in the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, located West on highway 70. She was so bored that she'd resorted to hiding in the corner, pulled a pen and small notebook out of her black clutch and began writing. The men in the joint were so uninterested in her any way that she had grown tired with the same old song and dance. They'd approach her and idle in some chit chat with her, which eventually lead to asking about the availability of her 3 other girlfriends. As opposed to being the third wheel on her friends' good time, she'd hidden away in hopes no other guy would approach her with the same old routine. Who knew, maybe she'd actually be inspired by something going on that she'd have something good to show for her long hours out at the club and she could publish it. She'd just started in when a male voice said, "You're serious? Writing in a bar? Who does that?"2

She rolled her eyes and turned her head slightly to look up at the man the voice belonged to. He was young, about her age, give of take a few years, wearing a green and white striped collared polo-esque shirt with a pair of khaki shorts that had seen better days and a pair of brown suede high tops that looked fairly new. His reddish brown hair was peeking out from beneath a black hat. The young man was kind of tall, but a little on the portly side, with a beer cup in one hand and his other hand hiding in his pocket.3

"Look, dude. I'm not interested in some stimulating conversation right now. So, if you don't mind-"4

"I don't," he replied with a smart alec grin.5

She narrowed her eyes to him, clenching her jaw tight to the point it almost hurt. She wasn't in the mood for this idle whatever the hell he wanted. She pointed her pen to the three girls on the floor and glared back at him.6

"If you're wondering about my friends, they're right over there. All single, but none interested. Best of luck to ya and have a great night!" she snapped. Rylee looked back to her notepad and scribbled something indecipherable...a side effect of being bothered. She thought it read something like stupid ass or something in that ballpark.7

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm sorry. I thought I was just being the funny guy by trying to break the ice. I see I've hit a sore spot, so I'll just walk away while I still have my dignity," he said. He turned and started to walk away when her heart sank. She hadn't been very nice and perhaps he really was just trying to chat.8

"Hey, wait!" she called out. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I thought you were just trying to use me to get closer to my friends over there. I've been kind of dissed on by the guys all night who just wanted to get closer to them through me. I'm sorry, really."9

He turned back around and smiled.10

"First of all, I have no idea who or what you are talking about," he said. He motioned to the empty chair. "May I?"11

"Please do. I feel absolutely awful for ripping your head off like that," she said.12

He took off his hat and bowed his head, trying to be gentlemanly. Rylee saw that his hair was slightly thinning, giving the illusion he was balding. She thought he didn't look quite old enough to be losing his hair, but she knew nothing about him either. He took his seat .13

"Secondly, I thought I was the only miserable one here until I saw you and your pen and paper. Then I knew I wasn't alone and I had to come meet you," he said.14

Rylee pointed her pen at him and uttered an "a ha." He laughed a little while scooting his chair closer to her.15

"Don't get the wrong idea. I just don't think I'll last long yelling at you above this ruckus. Plus I just don't want to scream at you. You seem nice, so I won't scare you off just yet," he said.16

She nodded and looked him over closer now. He kind of looked like a geeky guy, the kid picked last for dodge ball in the first grade kind of geeky. His body language signified classic shyness, head down, hands in the pockets, easily defeated ego all tell-tale. His type was different from that of any guy she'd ever been around. Most of the guys she dated were kind of loud and obnoxious, which was becoming somewhat of a pattern of hers she didn't want to keep repeating, so this change was sort of welcome. When he finally looked up, she could see his eyes where a deep blue grey, which suddenly had her attention.17

"My name is...my name's Luke and you are?"18

Rylee raised an eyebrow at his pause. She knew then he was either hiding something or drunk.19

"Forget your name there, Luke?" she quipped, trying hard not to laugh.20

He lifted hs cup and pointed. It was a gesture that said nothing and everything all at once. For all she knew, there really wasn't any alcohol in the cup, but she was willing to bet he was a little hammered.21

"If you're that drunk maybe you should call a friend to come pick you up. My conscience wouldn't rest knowing you're driving drunk," she said. 22

Luke pointed to a guy on the floor dancing like an interpretive dancer on crack.23

"There's my dd making an ass out of himself on the dance floor. Don't worry your pretty little head off darlin'. Now don't evade my question," he said.24

She stuck out her hand, trying to hold back a laugh at what she'd witnessed on the dance floor.25

"Rylee. Nice to meet you, Luke."26

He gripped her hand and shook.27

"Likewise, Rylee," he said, sipping his beer. "So tell, me, Miss Rylee, what are you writing?"28

"Nothing good," she began."That's kind of been the story of my life as of late."29

She watched him put down his beer and begin drumming his fingers to the beat of the song playing over head. Something about the way he was tapping out the beat made her wonder if he was a musician.30

"This is going to sound random, but do you play in a band?" she asked, putting down her pen. 31

He was a little taken back by her question, almost like he was trying to figure out where the question came from or how she'd even thought of asking it.32

"Well, so much for an air of mystery, but yes, as a matter of fact, I do. How did you know that?" he asked.33

She pointed to his fingers still thumping out the beat of the song.34

"Call me psychic, but my intuition would suggest the way your fingers keep in time with the rhythm and how you picked up on it quickly indicates you play an instrument. And in my experience, 8 or 9 times out of 10, someone who plays an instrument usually plays in a band," she pointed out.35

He stopped tapping on the table and smiled. His smile made her heart go all funny, like missing a couple beats and then speed up.36

"Beautiful and brainy. Not a combo I come across often," he said.37

"Oh, you...I'm just a sucker for a guy in a band," she admitted. He lifted his cup, toasting her comment.38

"Point for me," he said. "Can I, um, interest you in a drink?"39

"Promise not to drug me?"40

He laughed at her as he got up.41

"Not into passed out chicks. Besides, you're more interesting conscious," he joked.42

"Aw, a compliment. To the highest degree I believe," she said.43

"What'll you have."44

"My pathetic cocnut rum and coke, please," she said. "May not sound like much, but it gives me a buzz."45

"Hey, no judgement here."46

He walked to the bar, leaving her to her notepad for the moment. It didn't last very long as her friend, Anne approached the table.47

"Who's the guy?" she asked, plopping down in a chair.48

"An axe murderer. He thinks my butt looks cute in these jeans," Rylee joked.49

"Ha Ha, very funny. Is he getting you a drink?" she asked.50

"Yes. The way I figure it, if I start acting all drugged out, you guys'd ditch me and leave me to my doom. How's the mating ritual of the lame-os going?"51

"God awful. It's almost like the word no is a part of a foreign language to them," Anne said.52

"I figured as much. Hence why I disappeared," Rylee said. 53

Anne nodded.54

"One rum and coke. And I see I'm bad enough you had to call in reinforcement."55

Rylee shook her head and gestured her hand at Anne.56

"This is my best friend Anne. Anne this is almost-can't-remember-his-name-Luke," she said.57

They shook hands.58

"Nice to meet you, Luke. I just had to find out who was harassing my Rylee. Carry on. I wouldn't want to interrupt the courtship," Anne teased.59

Rylee shot her an unfriendly look from her glass green eyes. Anne raised her hands up and nodded.60

"Going now," she said and sauntered back onto the dance floor.61

"It's her thing. She doesn't want any of us left alone where we could potentially get hurt. You know, safety in numbers, that sort of thing," Rylee explained. "But don't worry, I told her you only took advantage of blondes, so I'm safe."62

Luke pointed to her hair and Rylee pulled the blonde streaks in front of her eyes.63

"They're just streaks. They don't count, it's not natural!" she squealed.64

"Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say," he chuckled, sitting back in his chair.65

She giggled back. Something about him made her comfortable. It bothered her to think it even a little, but dare she say that she kind of liked this guy? He wasn't exactly her type, but he had the kind of personality she really needed. And he was funny to boot. Sweet, but on the shy side. But it didn't matter. He was gentlemanly, so she was definitely game.66

"You look lost in thought. Care to share?"67

"Just thinking that it's funny how things happen. I mean you know, we ran into each other here and we're hitting it off...somewhat. I just wondered if we hadn't met here yet, would we meet else where?"68

Rylee wasn't about to admit she was crushing on him. He swished his cup around, careful not to slosh the beer out and then took a swig. 69

"That's kind of a sad thought. I mean waiting longer to see your pretty smiling face or the possibility of not seeing it at all. I am just really glad I met you tonight."70

Rylee's face felt hot and flushed. He was flirting with her and she could see it wasn't an easy feat for him. No one had really ever said something that sounded as sincere as that. It made her insides twist a little bit. It was like an ache for something that had been missing inside her. Luke scooted his chair a little closer.71

"I feel like myself when I'm around you. Like I can do anything at all and there's no critical eye, no judgement at all. I'm able to show you who I am," he said, his face inches from hers.72

Her muscles tightened all over and she felt a tingling wave rush through her stomach. He was close enough he could just lean in those last extra few inches and press his lips to hers.73

"Why wouldn't you feel like you around me? I don't want you to play like your someone else."74

She felt his breath hot on her face as he leaned in closer to her ear. She felt the tickle of his breath on her neck and her body wasn't able to sit still. She was shaking, slight enough he couldn't see it, but hard enough she could feel it.75

"It's sort of complicated," he crooned in a deeper voice. "You see, Rylee, there's something I need to be honest about with you."76

"Oh," she said, trying to hold herself still. She felt as if she would burst through her skin at any moment if he didn't do something soon. 77

"I have a confession. But it's something I'd prefer be kept between us," he started. She turned her head slightly, just enough she could see his face, mostly his eyes. She watched his eyes as he glanced to her lips. He started closing in the gap.78

"I'm not who you think I am."79

Her lips quivered and she bit down on her lower lip gently to subdue the quivering.80

"Who are you then?"81

"Dude! We've gotta go! I'd love to stay longer, but it's almost one and we've got to get up early!" a voice called out. Luke and Rylee looked up to see his dd standing there. Rylee's heart sank. They'd bee so close to kissing and now the moment may have been gone.82

"Rylee, the Pedro. The Pedro, Rylee."83

Luke didn't look any happier that the moment had been ruined.84

"It's nice to meet you doll. I'm sorry I have to pull Luke away but we have a big day tomorrow."85

Rylee shrugged, indicating the apology wasn't necessary.86

"It's okay, I understand," she said.87

"I'll be waiting out front. Don't be long," the Pedro said.88

Luke gave a thumbs up to him and rolled his eyes to Rylee as the Pedro walked away.89

"I'm sorry, I have to make this quick. He hates waiting on me," Luke said. He pulled out his cell phone and clicked some buttons. He handed it to her.90

"Would you do me the honor of gracing my cell with your phone number? I'd love to um, chat more, if that's ok," he said.91

"I'd be offended if you didn't," she said, putting her name and number in his cell.92

"What's too late to call?"93

"I have a strict no time is too late policy. You can call day or night."94

Luke nodded and put his phone in his pocket.95

"I'd love to chat face to face more, but I gotta go. Um, shall we say until a quarter to 2?"96

"Only If I won't keep you up."97

He smiled. 98

"I almost never sleep anymore anyway. Multitasker," he said as he pointed a thumb at himself.99

She nodded.100

"Can I get a hug?" he asked.101

"Of course,"she said, practically leaping from her chair. He wrapped his arms around her while she interlaced her arms in his. The pulled back slightly again. His face slowly came closer to hers, kind of like in the movies just before the guy kisses the girl. A vibrating sensation from in his pocket startled them both as he pulled it out to look.102

"It's Pedro. I gotta go. But I'll be calling you soon."103

She nodded and waved to him as he walked away.