Fanatical Itch

I had been walking through the same streets for an hour now, waiting for the rain. I loved to walk in the rain. The sound of the large drops crashing onto the pavement helped me relax. Disappointingly, all I had was the cool wind blowing in my face, and a dark, overcast sky.

I went back into my apartment and closed the door behind me. Sarah was in Detroit for the weekend for her sister's wedding. "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride," she would say. Of course, I knew she was being sarcastic. She enjoys playing the field. It isn't that she’s afraid of commitment, but she knows that she can't stand being with the same person forever.

She's fun to be around, anyway.

I got a beer from the fridge, kicked off my shoes, and sat on the couch In front of the tele. Click. Click. Click. There's never anything good to watch on the weekends. Everyone should be out doing something. I, on the other hand, decided to wallow in my misery. No matter how many times I told myself that I was over her, my heart wouldn't let go. It's been three months now. That should be enough... but it isn't.

The phone rang. "Hi, handsome. What are you up to on this fine evening?" It was Sarah.

"Nothing much," I said, "I'm just hanging out at home watching TV." No need to tell her about the beer.

"But it's Saturday night. You should be out doing something, not sitting at home drinking beer."

Damn.

"Besides," she said, "it'd be good for you right now. I know you're still not over her, but I can guarantee that if you go out tonight, you won't be disappointed."

"How do you know for sure?"

"Because I'm sending all my good vibes your way, and they will definitely make your night unforgettable."

Okay, so maybe I should go out. What could it hurt?

I disconnected with Sarah and called Mike. "Meet me at Roy's Pub in 20," he said. "Dress to impress, bro."



When I got to Roy's, Mike was already at the bar ordering a couple of beers. It was more crowded than usual. There were a lot of punker guys, and girls who were wearing skirts that were a bit too short, even for my taste. Some of the regulars were still here, though, sitting in their usual place. I walked up to the bar and sat on the stool next to Mike.

"Hey."

"Hey, bro. You're just in time. The show's about to start."

"Show? I haven't heard anything about a show."

Roy and I grew up together, and out of all the friends I had in my youth, he was one of the few that I’ve kept in touch with. He was real down to Earth, and never gave anyone a hard time. If there were a show tonight, I'd have known about it.

Mike handed me a beer. "'Cording to Roy, this was a last minute sort of deal. Said he couldn't turn them down. It's really bringing in business, though." He took a sip of his beer, let the taste settle in his mouth a bit, and then gulped down about half of the bottle. He looked around as if he was waiting for someone. "Looking for anyone in particular?" I asked.

"Nah, bro. I'm just checkin' out the ass. Some nice lookin' heinas up in here."

I looked around, but nobody seemed to interest me. I still wasn't over her. I sighed, and looked down at my drink. Fuck her. I didn't need her. She can just stay in Amsterdam for all I cared... I wonder if she's thinking about me. I wonder if--

Mike elbowed my side. "Cheer up, bro. The show's starting."

I hadn't noticed the band walk on stage. They were dressed just as eccentrically as their adoring fans. The song started with the deep, drone sound of the bass. A low, rhythmic beat that got the attention of everyone in the pub. No real melody yet, but it entranced the audience. The drums kicked in gradually, calling little attention to themselves at first. Once it got to a normal volume, there was a pause. In four beats, the music blared. The drummer, a slim guy with shaggy blonde hair, was pounding away. There seemed to be no real pattern to his beat, but somehow it was complimented well by the bass. The bassist was another guy with a tall, lean body. He had the same haircut as his drummer friend, but his was black as ash. The guitarist initiated the melody, a catchy, hardcore tune. I found myself tapping my foot to the distorted, yet distinct sounds.

I looked over at Mike, who was smiling at me. "Not bad, huh bro?" he said with a cheesy grin on his face. I smiled and nodded, taking another drink and finishing my beer. I put it down on the bar and noticed that Mike was already on his third one. I used to be able to drink like that.

The music grew quiet again, and so did everyone in the bar. The single note of the bass lingered in the air, and then began the slight "tss...tss...tss" sound of the symbols.

Then to my surprise, the beautiful voice of a woman filled the venue. It was angelic! I looked up and saw this gorgeous girl standing center stage, gripping the microphone with both hands, and singing into it as though it was the only thing that existed in the room. There was some roughness to her voice, but it was still pleasant. Her long, black hair hid her face, but she brushed it aside and looked out into the audience with her bright, blue eyes. She reached down from the microphone and gripped the guitar with her gloved hand. She started the melody again, and her band mates followed her lead.

I heard Mike laughing and I realized that my mouth was open. I was in awe. "I knew you'd dig it, bro," he said, and handed me another beer.

I was in love.