This first of a three-part story set in the late 80s just before Prom. It features mild drug and alcohol use. All characters are fictitious and over eighteen. Thanks for reading. Part 2 should be out in the next week or so.
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The shrill ring of a phone started to rouse me back to life. My head pounded from a hangover over and I couldn't quite bring myself to move yet. The answering machine would kick in soon so why bother getting up? It wasn't like it would be anyone important. My folks still weren't talking to me and It wouldn't be work. As expected I heard the automated tone of the answering machine kick in.
"I know you're there Chris get up! Come on I need you it's urgent!" I heard a familiar female voice say.
Why the hell would she be calling me so early? Out of curiosity, I lifted my hand over the arm of the couch. I hadn't managed to make it to my bed last night. I fumbled around for the receiver before finally grabbing it.
"YO! You woke me up. Do you have any idea what time it is," I said down the phone as I rubbed sleep from my eyes.
"Yes, doofus! It's midday how are you still asleep?" came the cute voice of my cousin Nancy.
"Who is this?" I said in a raspy voice, my throat still coated in Jim Beam from the night before.
I wanted to try and wind her up a little. It was always fun to get her riled up. As an army brat, I spent many summers with her family. Mostly when my Dad was overseas and my Mom couldn't handle me.
"It's Nancy Barker! You know, your cousin," she said in mild frustration.
I was only a year older and we had been best friends since early childhood. Even during those drastic changes in your teens when people tend to drift apart we were still close. I turned into a metalhead high school dropout, who had dreams of being a successful musician. Nancy grew into the classic 80's valley girl. Lapping up the privileged, pampered lifestyle her parents gave her.
I wasn't an easy teenager to be around and engaged in a lot of rebellion against my parents. Especially against my father's plans for me to join the military. I knew he wanted what he thought was best. But It just wasn't for me. And through it all Nancy was there to comfort me.
I dropped out of high school in my senior year, took my van and drove to LA to become a rock star. I had a good voice and could shred on the guitar. As a dumb kid, I thought that was all it took. A year on I have managed to get a job in the music industry. But just as a session musician.
A few older guys I knew had dropped out of college. We pooled our college savings and brought a bar. My mate John was in his mid-twenties so could hold a license to sell alcohol. I put my money into the entertainment side of the business. We turned the bar into a rock venue that hosted small local bands. It was a huge surprise when it was a success and for the last year, we all enjoyed the perks that went with it.
One perk I enjoyed was easy access to bourbon and high-grade pot. Another was access to drunk and horny groupies flocking around the bands.
"Urgh! What do you want princess?" I said to my cousin with a grunt.
I had teased her mercilessly for years about her pampered, country club lifestyle.
"Bite me dick breath, I need your help! The lead singer of the band is a complete tool and we need a replacement. There has to be a band or the whole prom will be ruined. Hannah Welsh is telling everyone I've ruined everything..." Nancy blurted out. Exhibiting her habit of letting her mouth run away from her.
"It's too early for this shit Nancy I'm hanging up," I said with a smile, knowing it would infuriate her.
"NO!" my cousin shouted.
Then Nancy took her time to explain everything. She was on the planning committee for her senior Prom. One of her tasks was hiring a band to play for a few hours before the DJ. She eventually found a decent band but they had let her down at the last minute.
Their lead singer had been arrested and wasn't able to make it for the Prom this Saturday. There weren't any other bands available at such short notice. The original band were happy to play if Nancy found a replacement lead singer. I knew they were taking her for a ride. By rights, they should be the ones to find a replacement.
"No," I said. Enjoying having her squirm on a hook.
"Please, please, please! I'll do anything," Nancy begged.
"Just get someone from school to do it," I said reasonably.
"No! It has to be someone good. Everyone knows I booked the band. They'll be expecting the best," she said. I knew she was inflating my ego.
But I wasn't going to keep her hanging too long, I'm not that cruel.
"I'll see what I can do. Get the band to at least turn up early Saturday for rehearsal," I said. It was the least they could do.
I spent the rest of Thursday afternoon calling around to find anyone who was free. With no luck, I grabbed my Gibson and drove the five hours upstate to my cousin's. I pulled up to the huge house around nine. Walking up to the front door I noticed several cars parked in the drive.
The thumping sound of pop music assaulted me as I rang the doorbell. After a while, I started hammering the door with my fist. Nancy must have some of her little friends around. I didn't want to sleep in the van if there was an option for a proper bed. But being around a bunch of screaming girls wasn't going to help my hangover.
The door opened and I was greeted by the sight of a cute brunette. Long dark brown hair, and smouldering dark eyes. Like Phoebe Cates from 'Fast Times at Ridge-Mont High'. Except this girl wore a revealing blue bikini instead of a red one.
She glanced at me before looking down and counting a fist full of bills in her hand.
"Pizza's here!" She shouted behind her.
"So is there like a discount or something because you're hella late," the girl asked. She came to the end of counting the bills and looked up at me.
I saw her eyes taking me in properly for the first time. She gazed at my long messy mane of blonde hair, and the black bandana I wore to keep it out of my eyes. She couldn't help giving me a quick scan from head to toe. Checking out my sleeveless Van Halen t-shirt and ripped, skin-tight jeans.
"I'm not a pizza boy princess," I said with a smirk.
I don't know why I called her that, but it seemed natural to call her the same pet name I had for my cousin. I could tell she was cut from the same cloth. A privileged princess living off her parents' wealth. She seemed nervous at my response and didn't know how to respond.
"Is Nancy in?" I asked, putting the poor girl out of her misery.
"Nancy! Someone here for you!" the girl called behind her. She still held the door open and once again surveyed me with interest.
I took the opportunity to check her out openly. She was a gorgeous girl and I sensed she was aware of her effect on men. I smiled at her when she caught my eyes checking her out. Was there a hint of a blush on her tanned chest?
Another girl came to the door that I immediately recognised as my cousin. We shared the same perfect blonde hair from our mothers. Her pale blue eyes sparkled as they always did. Her naturally cute face wore a surprised expression. If the first girl was a ringer for Phoebe Cates, my cousin could be Elizabeth Shue from 'Karate Kid'. She wore a more modest bikini than her friend but still looked fantastic.
"Chris! What are you doing here!" Nancy said when she recognised me.
