The Wolf and the Cougar - Ch 7

(Back to Ebony’s POV)

GermanGott says: hey will!
GermanGott says: how’re you?
ReapersMysteries says: SAVE A DRUM! BANG A DRUMMER!!! XD
GermanGott says: o.O
GermanGott says: I see you’re feeling better
GermanGott says: did I miss something?
ReapersMysteries says: ya but nah-save a drum.
ReapersMysteries says: I lost a bet-bang a drummer.
ReapersMysteries says: and my price is to do this at least five times to the next person I talk to- Save a drum, bang a drummer!!
ReapersMysteries says: and you’re that lucky person! Save a drum, band a drummer!
GermanGott says: and where did ur twisted friend get the idea???
ReapersMysteries says: I’m not rly sure- save a drum.
ReapersMysteries says: I think it’s from t shirt she saw- bang a drum!
ReapersMysteries says: plus she kinda is in love with drummers cause they hit it hard! XD SAVE A DRUM! BANG A DRUMMER!!!
GermanGott says: that was 6 times.
GermanGott says: o.O
ReapersMysteries says: lolz!
ReapersMysteries says: I kno
ReapersMysteries says: it was mah big finalleh!!
ReapersMysteries says: XDD
GermanGott says: ur crazy o.O
ReapersMysteries says: y thnx 4 noticin! lmao!
GermanGott says: *shakes head sadly*
GermanGott says: btw, I’m curious
GermanGott says: wats ur natural hair color???
ReapersMysteries says: it’s exactly like…

I quickly minimized the chat window and opened an internet browser. I decided to go for irony and looked up a picture that I knew would hold my exact hair color.

“There we go,” I mumbled, copying the link to a picture of my brother than had been taken at a photo shoot a couple days ago. Bringing the chat up again, I pasted the link and waited.

GermanGott says: do u kno who this guy is??
ReapersMysteries says: ya
ReapersMysteries says: do u?
GermanGott says: well ya
GermanGott says: it’s Georg from the band Tokio Hotel
GermanGott says: do u like the band???
ReapersMysteries says: meh
ReapersMysteries says: I like the music and a couple of the guys
ReapersMysteries says: u?
GermanGott says: I think they’re pretty cool
GermanGott says: wat do u thik of the guitarist? Tom?
GermanGott says: think*
ReapersMysteries says: …
ReapersMysteries says: idk
ReapersMysteries says: he seems like he’d be a jerk towards girls
ReapersMysteries says: I mean
ReapersMysteries says: he’s such a playboy after all
GermanGott says: I dunno
GermanGott says: he seems like a cool dude
GermanGott says: besides, I play guitar too so I can’t help it.
GermanGott says: + his style is so gangsta yo! XD
ReapersMysteries says: *rolls eyes*
ReapersMysteries says: he’s a gangster wannabe
ReapersMysteries says: but, hey, w/e, u like it = dat’s cool
GermanGott says: w/e
ReapersMysteries says: so how r things goin w/ Carol?
GermanGott says: she’s bein a bitch as usual
GermanGott says: luckily if we’re not fightin she’s been quiet
GermanGott says: like “dumped by her bf” quiet
GermanGott says: I dunno if I should be grateful or scared o.o
ReapersMysteries says: well. best of luck.
ReapersMysteries says: who knows, maybe she’s sick of fightin?
GermanGott says: I hope so
GermanGott says: she fuckin hits HARD!
ReapersMysteries says: poor baby!
ReapersMysteries says: lolz!
GermanGott says: o shut up!
GermanGott says: have u ever been hit by a chick?!
ReapersMysteries says: ya. it’s called a bitch fight
ReapersMysteries says: I’m the queen o bitch fights!
ReapersMysteries says: *cheers like race winner*
GermanGott says: yea yea yea
GermanGott says: chill out
GermanGott says: ur too hyper!
ReapersMysteries says:
ReapersMysteries says: u luv my energy!
GermanGott says: okay…
GermanGott says: I admit it’s a little addictive
ReapersMysteries says:
GermanGott says:

And just like that, we began to flirt.

But back in reality, things had been going pretty well since Gustav came and comforted me. Apparently Bill and Tom went at it for a few hours after the interview. When Bill finally gave up on his hard headed brother, my brother had a go at him. I heard a bit of it one night while sneaking out for food. Georg was using Tom’s small but true status as the big bro of the twins against him.
I’ve taught him so well.

The day after my “reunion” with Gustav, I told Bill what happened, having begun to venture into the bus again, and he just maintained a knowing look that I could quite decipher. I just figured that Gustav told him first. So things were pretty good.
Gigi was super exited because I told her we were going to be in Seattle the next week and I still hadn’t told her what band she was going to see. I planned to send her the tickets the day before we arrived. I decided to play it safe. I knew she was an insane Tokio Hotel fan which made it even funnier the night I logged on and she reported having epic news for me.

SkatinSeattle says: Nini! OMG GUESS WHAT!!!
ReapersMysteries says: OMG WHAT!!!
SkatinSeattle says: did you hear about the mystery girl that’s touring with Tokio Hotel?!?!?!
ReapersMysteries says: oh… ja
ReapersMysteries says: i heard about her…
ReapersMysteries says: wasn’t there some big interview a few days ago when she answered questions from the audience and finally announced her name or sumthin?
SkatinSeattle says: omg yes! did u see it?! it was insane!
SkatinSeattle says: did you kno that she has the same name as u?! her name’s ebony!
ReapersMysteries says: crazy. o.O
ReapersMysteries says: so i see ur keepin up on ur tokio news.
SkatinSeattle says: hellz ya!
SkatinSeattle says: apparently she and Tom fuckin hate eachother…
SkatinSeattle says: i don’t get it… he’s fuckin hawt!!!
ReapersMysteries says: *shrugs* who knos? maybe they secretly luv eachother!
ReapersMysteries says: lolz!

I typed that and instantly internally gagged. I wonder if she would figure it out? I mean, she knew that I didn’t get along with the guitarist of my bro’s band and this girl and I shared the same name… I just hoped she wouldn’t so that the surprise would still be just that. Then again, this is Gina, she can be a bit… airheaded? I guess that’s the right word.

Then something hit me just as Gina typed it.

SkatinSeattle says: isn’t ur bro’s band comin around the same time as tokio hotel?

Oh crap. Knowing her, she was going to go out and buy tickets asap! How was I going to get her to not buy the tickets?

ReapersMysteries says: ja
ReapersMysteries says: hey, nini? y don’t u just let me get u the TH tickets so u don’t have to worry about overlapping concerts?
ReapersMysteries says: that way u can see tokio hotel and my bro’s band.
SkatinSeattle says: O.O omg! Nini I luv u forevur!!! I owe u big time!!
ReapersMysteries says: no big
ReapersMysteries says: i have them right here. o and I’m sending a backstage pass so u can come hang wit me and the band after the concert, kay?
SkatinSeattle says: ur the sweetest person i kno!!!!! *squeezing-life-out-of-nini bear hug*
ReapersMysteries says: lolz! i luv u too!!
ReapersMysteries says: crap, I think someone’s trying to break down my door.
ReapersMysteries says: ttyl!
SkatinSeattle says: ttyl! have fun! luv u much!

And it was true. Georg nearly broke down my door when he came in to tell me that all the guys were going out to a club and I was getting my ass dragged along with them. And, simply put, that’s how I landed my butt on a spinning bar stool, sipping on a classic Coke and rum. It didn’t take long for Tom to start giving my crap again.
So much for the truce.

“Aw, need a Coke to water down the alcohol? Guess straight rum is just too much for you,” Tom said. He’d just returned from the dance floor to plop onto the stool next to me. I just ignored him and took another drink.

Tom just scoffed at me and ordered some kind of hard liquor. Luckily, just as Tom was about to say something, Georg dropped into the stool on the other side of me. I could see from the grin on his face and the hand in his pocket that he’d scored some phone numbers in hopes of a lay.

“I see your little friend is feeling lonely!” I shouted over the techno pulse, teasing my brother.

Georg just laughed and shouted back, “Why don’t you hit the dance floor? There are a couple guys and a really hot chic that have been checkin’ you out for the last half an hour! Go make a friend and loosen up!”

“Ha!” I shouted back, turning to face Georg better. “You know me, I don’t dance! Even if it is good music!”

Georg shrugged and ordered himself a drink. “If you say so! Even Bill, who never goes out with us, is having a grand time out in the crowd somewhere! I mean, for crying out loud, Ebony! You’re nineteen! Have some fun!”

I rolled my eyes and turned on the stool to lean back against the bar. I scanned the club quickly before saying, “It’s not my type of fun!”

Tom, now to my left decided to open his big mouth and put his useless two cents in. “Yeah, seriously, Ebony! I haven’t seen you have fun once this entire tour! When are you going to live a little?”

I was prepared to smack him again. How could Georg and Gustav deal with him all the time? Hell, how could someone as kind as Bill be so closely related as to be his twin?! Must be one of those polar opposites sort of things.  

I rounded on Tom, sick of his stupid cracks. “Why the hell do you care? I have fun; I just don’t dance, okay? Get over it.”

I decided to say screw it and turned to try and find Gustav to see if he could save me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find him and apparently my words just pissed off Tom even more. God he was such a hot head!

“Obviously, I don’t! There’s only one girl who isn’t a family member that I give a damn about and she’s a hell of a lot nicer than you!” Tom retaliated.

My eyebrows went up in surprise. Sure, he usually had girls all the time but that was only ever for one night. Did he actually continually care about someone? She was one damn lucky girl. Behind me, I could swear I heard Georg mutter a short ‘shit’ before he slipped off to places unknown.

I shrugged it off and didn’t pay much attention and instead focused my attention on the arrogant dread head in front of me. “Excuse me? I’m only a bitch to you because you were an asshole to me before I even gave you a reason!”

“And since then you haven’t given me a single reason to be nice!” Tom shot back. “You think you’re all that when you’re really not!”

“Oh yeah?” I asked, getting more and more irked by the minute. “Well then I must be pretty damn good for you to feel so threatened by me! You must think that there’s nothing you could beat me at! And at this rate, I agree! You even suck at arguing! I don’t see how you can possibly get girls to sleep with you! But I do see why they never last more than one night!”

“That is it!” Tom shouted. I was beginning to think that I’d pushed him over the edge but, at the moment, it was more of a victory than anything else. “I challenge you to a drinking contest! Right here! Right now!”

“Fine! Bar tender!” I turned to the poor bar tender who had been listening to the whole argument. He didn’t need anymore prompting and set us up for a shots competition. I didn’t care what we were drinking. All I knew was that Tom was going to lose. “Loser pays for the drinks for the game and for everyone else in the band for the rest of the night.”

“Deal,” Tom said and we shook on it. Georg reappeared with Bill and Gustav in tow. With our first shots in hand, I knew that the others knew what was going on.

“Uh, Tom?” Georg said uneasily. “Man, think about what you’re getting yourself into. Didn’t I warn you?”

“Shut up, Georg!” Tom fired back. “I need to prove myself.”

“No you don’t!” Bill interjected. “C’mon Tom. You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone! Please! Georg told us just how well she can hold her alcohol. Don’t do something stupid!”

“You should listen to him, Tomi- boy,” I smirked, feeling a little smug. “After all, we don’t want you getting totally shit faced. There is a concert tomorrow.”

“No,” Tom said quietly but deadly serious. “We are doing this here and now.”
I just grinned, knowing that we were going to be bringing a very drunk and very poor Tom back to the hotel that night. “Alright, suit yourself. First shot.”

And so it continued. A dozen or so shots into the game and I could see the effect it was pulling on Tom. I could also see how hard he was trying to hold it in and not show it. But it didn’t matter. Everyone could see how drunk he was. After all, we had both consumed an almost pass out drunk amount and I was only slightly buzzed.

It only took another two shots before Tom’s head hit the bar, face down. I smirked and stood. Everyone around me seemed to jump, as if expecting me to stumble and fall. “I win.”

I could see Bill standing off to the side looking panic stricken. I motioned to Tom and said, “C’mon, let’s get him home. He’s really going to hurt in the morning.”

Bill simply nodded and, with Georg’s help, hauled the passed out guitarist out to the van. Gustav hung behind to wait for me, still watching his friends go. I pulled out my wallet and dumped the money for the drinks on the counter for a very happy yet slightly worried bar tender.

“Why?” Gustav asked simply. I slid my wallet into my pocket and looked and my old friend.

“Because he needed to be taught a lesson,” I replied simply.

I began to head for the door and Gustav trailed after me. “That’s not what I meant,” He said seriously. “I mean, why did you pay? I thought it was the loser’s job to pay. That was the price. So why?”

I stopped just outside the door and looked Gustav dead in the eye. “Because he learned his lesson.”

Neither of us said anything else as we headed for the van where the others were. I could tell Gustav was ready to burst with more questions but I wasn’t going to answer. The ride back to the hotel was very on edge for everyone. I simply stared out the window at the moon that was nearing full.

Saki asked for no explanations and received none in return. This left the journey to the hotel silent as the tension pooled. I brushed it off and didn’t notice it, climbing out of the car quietly when we pulled up in front of the luxury hotel. While all the others piled into an elevator, I headed for the stairs, wanting the time to think.

I still needed to get the ticket for Gina for the concert next week. I didn’t think it would be a problem. With my mind on MSN, I thought about Gerard. I hoped he would be online. Maybe I could talk to him a bit. Lately, it seemed like we had been talking non-stop when we were online. I was really starting to like him, which was a first for me. Maybe there was someway I could meet him face to face. That probably wouldn’t happen until we got back to Germany though.

I was still pondering Gerard and what he looked like when I stopped in front of my door. It only took me a moment to fish my key out of my pocket. But that was all the time it took for Gustav to catch me.

“Hey, Ebony?” Gustav asked timidly. I looked up to see him poking his head out of his room across the hall.

“Yeah?” I asked, getting my door open, but not yet setting foot inside. I turned to face Gustav fully.

“Can I… um, talk to you? Just for a minute?” Gustav asked. I simply smiled and backed into my room before stepping aside so he could follow. He stepped inside very timidly. I didn’t know what Gustav was so afraid of, though. “Thanks…”

“Sure…” I said. I closed the door and followed Gustav over to where he had sat on my bed. “What did you want to talk about?”

Gustav fidgeted where he was sitting, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “Well…” he started, seeming at a loss of what to say. “Earlier you said that Tom had learned his lesson. What was it?”

I sat for a moment, thinking of how to answer that. “Well, you probably figured out that I wasn’t teaching him not to mess with me because he was going to do that anyway. I guess I just wanted to teach him that I have no mercy for those that have none for me. Does that make sense?”

Gustav sat in thought for a moment before slowly saying, “Yeah, it does. But I also have another question.”

“Shoot,” I said, getting up to grab a bottle of water out of the mini fridge.

“Well, would you…” Gustav stumbled on his words. I leaned against the counter, head tilted in question. “I mean, is there any chance that… you would have a boyfriend again… in the future… Like a long term one…?”

I had to stop and think about that. What exactly was Gustav getting at? Did someone put him up to asking me out for them? And I wonder who.

Taking a sip from the plastic bottle in my hands, I voiced my thoughts.

“I just know someone who really likes you… And they were wondering if they would have a chance,” Gustav said, continuing to shift and fidget. I made a quiet noise of thought, immediately thinking of the past couple days of conversation with Gerard. He was a really nice guy. I began to wonder if I would get a chance to meet him face to face.

I was pretty sure that my wandering thoughts were apparent on my face when Gustav sent me a curious look that said he wanted to know what was going on in my head. I just waved my hand in a sense of dismissal.

“Hey, Gustav?” I said, turning to face him fully. “How about this, tell this someone that I’ll have an answer after the concert in Seattle. Oh yeah! Could I get an extra ticket and a backstage pass to that show?”

Gustav’s eyebrows shot up at the bipolar change of topic. “Uh, sure…” he said unsurely. “I’ll get those tomorrow.”

“Yay!” I said, bouncing over to Gustav to give him a sideways hug before bouncing onto the bed next to him. “I told my friend Gina that I wanted her to come see my brother’s band and she’s an insane Tokio Hotel freak! And… she also happens to fancy you over the others.”

“Oh…” Gustav seemed to look off into space, sinking into his thoughts.

I waved my hand in front of his face, trying to bring him back to earth. “Gustav? Hey, Gustav? I can’t lose you buddy!”

Gustav’s face snapped back to reality and he turned to gaze at me with a forlorn look that I didn’t quite understand. He licked his lips and said, “I gotta get to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ebony.”

“Hey, Gustav!” I stopped him. He froze, hand on the doorknob and turned back to me with an expectant look.

“Yeah?” He asked. I jumped up and made my way over to him.

I smiled gently and kissed him on the cheek, my lips lingering slightly longer than some would say they should. “Thanks,” I said in a deeply sincere tone. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Gustav said, sounding like he wasn’t here anymore. He turned and opened the door, trudging back to his room. I closed the door after him, shaking my head at his odd behavior. With my back against the door, I sank to the floor. After a moment, I squealed very unlike me and dove for my computer which sat at the head of my bed.

I logged on quickly and scanned the list of online friends. Sure enough, there he was.

ReapersMysteries says: OMG!
ReapersMysteries says: I NEED TO BURN ENERGY!!!!
ReapersMysteries says: any ideas?!?!?!
GermanGott says: lol!
GermanGott says: hi!
GermanGott says: I have a few ideas *smirks & plays w/ lip ring*
ReapersMysteries says: u never told me u had a lip ring!
ReapersMysteries says: fukin sexi man… *licks lips*
GermanGott says: and i kno how to use it 2
GermanGott says: i don’t wanna sound lik a stalker but…
ReapersMysteries says: but…?
GermanGott says: well, im travelin right now too and i waz wonderin where u were gonna be next tues-thurs?

I sat back and thought about the tour schedule. If I was remembering correctly then we would be in Portland, Oregon. I remembered that that was our stop before hitting Seattle. I bit my lip, realizing what he was asking for. Did he seriously want to meet me? Apparently I was taking too long to think because my computer pinged in complaint.

GermanGott says: r u there?
GermanGott says: did i scare u off?
GermanGott says: im really sorry…
GermanGott says: i shouldn’t have asked…
ReapersMysteries says: WAIT!!!
ReapersMysteries says: sorry, i was thinkin…
GermanGott says: …
GermanGott says: bout wat?
ReapersMysteries says: r u gonna be in Portland OR next tues-thurs???
GermanGott says: i think so…
GermanGott says: wanna meet up somewhere???
ReapersMysteries says: sure
ReapersMysteries says: but i don’t kno the area AT ALL
GermanGott says: leave the loca. to me
GermanGott says: i’ll find somewhere pub and if u don’t like it we can meet somewhere else
GermanGott says: kay?
ReapersMysteries says: kay
ReapersMysteries says: wat about a local restaurant or pizza place??
GermanGott says: I kno!!
GermanGott says: last time i visited me and my bro went to this awesome place! wat was it…?
GermanGott says: brb, im gonna go ask my bro.

I sat back again and looked around my room. I was finally going to meet Gerard in person. At this point, I didn’t care if he was cute or not, he was sweet and actually had a brain. Something I didn’t think was possible for teenage boys. I smiled at the thought of having lunch with this guy. Would the guys actually let me go meet a stranger?

GermanGott says: back!
GermanGott says: the place is called the Kennedy School. it was a school but got shut down and now it’s a haunted McMenamins restaurant.
GermanGott says: here’s the place:
GermanGott says: www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?l…
ReapersMysteries says: me likey!
GermanGott says: how bout noon on wed?
ReapersMysteries says: deal
ReapersMysteries says: meet just inside the main entrance?
GermanGott says: sure, then we’ll hit the restaurant together
GermanGott says: my treat
ReapersMysteries says: thanks
ReapersMysteries says: sorry but i gotta go to bed
ReapersMysteries says: night!
GermanGott says: okay, fine
GermanGott says: sleep well
ReapersMysteries says: i will, thinkin of u.
ReapersMysteries says: and same to u
GermanGott says: u said yes
GermanGott says: that’s all the good rest i need

I smiled to myself and logged off. Shutting my computer down and stashing it under the bedside table, I flicked of the light and lay down. As my pillow came in contact with my head, I sighed in content. Little did I know, someone else was doing the exact same thing in another room.