Learn to Fly by Heidi Hutchinson Page A

frown deepen.
    Luke shook his head
slightly, as if he didn't believe what he was about to say. He
rubbed his face aggressively with one hand and chuckled sardonically
at himself. “When I look at Lenny...I feel like I finally know
what those songs are talking about.” He pushed back in his
chair and closed his eyes, “Do I sound completely crazy?”
    Mike held back a
smile and answered quietly, “No, you don't sound crazy.”

    ***

    Lenny left the bus
early while everyone was still sleeping. She had a lot of time to
think throughout the night as she watched over Blake. She was still
disappointed that they had lied to her, but this wasn’t her
first experience with a bunch of guys hell bent on getting messed up.
She had three older brothers, after all. And that didn't even cover
half the things she'd seen grown men do when testosterone got
involved.
    She went across the
street to a local fast food restaurant and ordered copious amounts of
greasy hash browns, breakfast sandwiches and coffee. She had one of
the employees help her transport her large order, promising him a
free CD in return.
    Carl was waiting in
his usual spot for coffee. It was a relief to Lenny because she
wasn’t sure how mad he was at her from the night before. She
handed him his coffee and waved him into the Red Bus where she
deposited the rest of her bundle. She thanked the employee for his
help and gave him the CD.
    “ Aren’t
you the girl who tried to knock out Travis Cline last night?”
The kid asked, referring to the lead singer of Juniper Highlights
that Lenny had attacked outside the bar. The kid had stars in his
eyes; he was acting like he had just met a celebrity.
    “ Were
you there?” Lenny asked, eying him suspiciously. He looked too
young to have been at the bar.
    “ Nah,
my buddy sent me the video in my email.” He held up his phone
and showed Lenny a grainy replay of her outburst and Sway throwing
her into the back of the van.
    She tried to feign
indifference. “It’s not what it looks like.”
    “ C’mon,
that was awesome! ”
The kid argued. Carl gently grabbed the young man’s elbow,
unsuccessfully trying to hide his smirk.
    “ Take
your CD, kid. Thanks for the help.” He turned him over to
security at the bottom of the stairs to continue his exit.
    “ I
thought we should have a family meeting,” she started to
explain, ignoring what had just happened with the internet video as
she unpacked her purchases on the table top.
    “ I’m
not mad at you, Lenny.” Carl got her to look at him.
    “ You
have every right to be, Carl. I let you down.”
    Carl gave a lopsided
grin, “No, actually, you didn’t.” Lenny frowned at
him and he continued. “I watched all the media coverage of last
night’s incident and no one has video of Blake’s ‘King
of the Castle’ speech. But there is video everywhere of a
blonde bad-ass attempting to take out Travis Cline.”
    Lenny’s face
fell, “Oh, no.”
    Carl laughed, “It’s
alright, Len. You saved the day.” He laughed again at her
horrified expression. “I’m just glad Sway got to you
before you could do any real damage and I had to bail you out of
jail.”
    Lenny finally saw
the humor in it and let out a small laugh herself. “Yeah, I
woulda hurt him pretty bad.” What she didn't say, was that her
reason for panic was two-fold. If she was identified in that video
it could cause even more trouble. I'm sure the sponsors would
love that kind of publicity.
    They heard a groan
from Blake’s bunk, interrupting Lenny's thoughts and she went
to help him up.
    “ What
the f-.” Blake was holding his head and trying to sit upright.
    “ C’mon,
your Majesty,” Lenny helped him up and to bathroom.
    When she heard the
toilet flush she reminded, “Make sure you wash your hands.”
She was talking too loudly on purpose and Carl chuckled.
    Blake staggered out
of the small bathroom and Lenny led him to the booth of waiting food.
His face turned up at the smell and he tried to