Part 3 - Tequila Round

At that time it never occurred to me that a rock star can fall in love, nor that he believed in love at first sight.

I did what Cynthia told me to do at the lunch – I acted professional and a little distant, especially towards Dany, then said my goodbyes and climbed in the limo that was to drive us to the hotel and then to the airport.
Jayden was sad to see me go and he begged me to stay for a few days more. I promised I would come visit him in England first chance I get and he cheered up a little. Eric gave me a hug and slipped a guitar pick in my hand “for luck.” Glen made a little joke and said I’m the best journalist he’s ever worked with. Dany was the last to say goodbye. I was surprised how cold he acted, considering what had happened a few hours ago. The butterflies in my stomach were still dancing up and down in a spiral every time my eyes met his, but Cynthia’s voice and my determination overcame them, eventually.

Maybe that day I was a little sad to part from someone who I already felt so close. On the way to the airport my eyes filled with tears as we drove by the billboards with the faces of Dany, Eric, Jayden and Glen. I swallowed to keep the tears away and I still remember the sharp, bitter taste they had. To this day I haven’t tasted anything like it.

Few more hours later I slipped into my favorite cotton black dress, I put on my too-high-to-be-walked-on shoes, topped the whole look with smokey eyes make up and a lace bow-tie in my hair and headed to Citylite. The owner was a friend of Cynthia and there was always a quiet (as much as you can find quiet in an overcrowded bar that plays the best music and has the best drinks in town…) table for us. When I arrived Cynthia still wasn’t there. It was her trade mark to be late… for everything. I slid into the couch and ordered a Tequila Round and a Mojito. Just as my ice-cold glass of the latter landed on my table, the familiar riffs of Staring at the Sun caught my attention. The waitress went away and I saw Cynthia approaching, in her electric blue dress and strapped heels, cringing at every drum beat. She waved a hand and the song stopped immediately. A roar of unhappy voices raised, but the owner quickly announced that due to a VIP guest’s request no Vicious will be played tonight. We probably cost him a little fortune that night…
Cynthia sat down opposite me, looking at me like I didn’t call her to tell her Dany Johnson had occupied my mind. She patiently waited for the waitress to bring her vodka and then the Tequila Round I ordered, then her friendly face melted into what I called The Bitch. It was the part of her that always tried to protect you, but I can bet you will be scared at first when you see her like that.
“Tell me now, what happened?”
I told her everything, starting from that pub in England and Jayden and all the way to the breakfast Dany had taken me to and the lunch later that day.

“My, my…”
She put some salt on her hand, licked it off, downed a shot of tequila and looked at me.
“So what are you going to do? It would be easy to get in touch with him, but should you?”
“I know it’s not right. And besides, I’ve been down that road and things didn’t…”
“Please don’t remind me about that prick! He stole one of my best journalists.”
I smiled. Cynthia still couldn’t get over a crush I had back when I was fairly new to the whole journalism business.
“I suppose if I let it blow off, I’ll be over Dany Johnson in no time.”
“And he’ll be the poster guy you had a crush on. Nothing more. Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Now, I think I saw a few cute guys all by themselves at the bar. Since this tequila won’t drink itself, how about we invite ‘em over?”
And with that Cynthia got off, tossing her blond hair and headed to two guys at the bar that later joined us.

I did exactly what I told Cynthia I would do – I let everything blow off and in no time I was back in track with no lead-singer-crush.
Or so I thought, until one day, while browsing the latest news feeds of bands, I found one entry listed under www.vicious.com. Ron had reassigned Vicious exclusively to me, since I got that impossible interview in Paris, so I was the only person at the magazine who stayed in touch and received the latest hype from them.
I read it over and over again and I couldn’t believe it: “The band is happy to announce that next month their new single ‘Anya’ will be released. The release dates are as follows:
16.09. France;
20.09. UK;
25.09. rest of Europe;
30.09. rest of the world;

Jayden Lang (drums) describes the single as “fragile, beautiful and mysterious. Just like the woman it is named after.” Further information, cover artwork, full set-list, video as well as interviews with the band will follow in the next few days.”

08.08.2010
Replica