Lennon's Jinx by Chris Myers Page A

take it.”
    The
bouncer snags our arms and shoves us to the side exit. Iz’s dance partner
notices but doesn’t try to rescue us.
    “Rena,”
Iz yells.
    The
music blares too loud for her to hear us. This really bites. Damn Iz.
    As
the bouncer escorts us outside, some of the patrons stare at us. It’s
embarrassing to be kicked out of high-class joint like this one. Outside, it’s
even colder than it was earlier.
    “How
long before they miss us?” Iz asks, rubbing her arms under her thin jacket.
    Anger
bubbles inside me. “I hope not long. We’ll be frozen soon.”
    “Rena
won’t leave with Byron in there.”
    I
hope Iz isn’t right, though it’s not like Rena to ditch us. That’s more Gabby’s
style. If a cute guy comes along, it’s sayonara sister.
    We
stamp our feet, trying to stay warm. It’s not helping. I hand Gabby’s jacket to
Iz while I fold Rena’s around the front of me. I hate being split up from them
because I’ll have no one to help me with Iz or prevent me from killing her for
getting us thrown out.

 
Tortured Soul
Words and music by Lennon Tyler
     
    Music
exposes the heart of a tortured soul
    It’s
hard to breathe, hard to wake
    Hard
to face the coming day
    With
one kiss, girl, you can take all the pain away
     
    Chorus:
Put your hands all over me, girl
    Make
me whole, give me your all
    Don’t
let me down because it’s right
    It’s
only natural for us to feel this way
    If
only for the night
     
    One
more night, one more gig
    Each
one with new faces, new places
    I
look at her. She looks at me
    Baby,
it’s only a heartbeat away
    So
come on over and bring me your rain
     
    I
put her upon my shoulders
    Tickle
her nightmares away
    If
only they’d go and never come back
    Everything
will be okay, this is my life, this is my way

 
     
CHAPTER
NINE
LENNON
     
    Though it’s ladies’ night,
Sammy’s isn’t packed yet. The bouncer nods me in. I haven’t gotten carded since
I turned fifteen. Clive and Danny have older siblings who gave them copies of
their IDs. Susan turned twenty-one last month.
    As
Clive gets our cover charge, guilt gnaws at me over Bailey. I tried to find her
backstage after the recital to see if she wanted to meet us at the club. The
only problem is she’d probably like me to take her as something more than a friend.
It’s not that I mind buying. It just feels so permanent to drive a girl
somewhere, and I can’t really bring her home. Mom’s a handful as it is.
    I
order the first round of beers for the guys and a sea breeze for Susan. Clive
and I only let Danny Boy buy every other two rounds for us. We get a table in
the back, so we can talk over the band.
    “Bailey
coming?” Susan asks.
    I
work on the label of my beer. “I couldn’t find her backstage to let her know.”
    “It
wouldn’t hurt to ask her out,” Susan says, “and you could’ve texted her.”
    “You’re
right,” I say, guilt working into me.
    Danny
Boy puts up a hand like a cop stopping traffic. “Don’t.”
    “It’s
okay,” I say. Susan means well. “I can’t bring her home. You know why. I have
to take care of Currie. It’s not like I’d make a great boyfriend anyway.”
    “You’re
hopeless,” she says, throwing a balled-up napkin at me.
    “Probably
so,” I say, scoping the dance floor for an interested party. A few girls are
watching me.
    “It’s
just a phase,” Clive says. “Some girl will knock your shorts off, then she’ll
rip out your heart.”
    “You’re
not helping,” Susan says.
    “Neither
are you.” Clive tips his beer back.
    He
had a girlfriend for a few months his sophomore year. She let him take her to
all the spring dances, then she ignored him afterward. He spent a small fortune
on limos, dinner, and flowers. He barely got a good night kiss for his efforts.
    I
could tell Clive really liked this girl because he chased after her. It
could’ve been the thrill of the pursuit, but he went out of his way for her. He
hasn’t done that for anyone except