July 16, 2007
Mitchell was packing up the last of the gear when Lyric approached the edge of the stage. “Got plans, or can you come be a practice dummy again?”
He perked up, trying to hide his grin. He loved being Lyric’s practice dummy; it was the easiest thing he’d ever had to do, and she didn’t care if he talked or not. Which of course meant that silence reigned.
“What’s the body part of the week?”
“One you’ll love,” she purred, sounding scarily like her porn-queen mom.
“You are so not getting near my dick,” he said, giving her a grin over his shoulder. He turned back fast so he could finish packing up. The others were already gone; they’d packed up and split while he’d been talking to some girls, trying to convince them to buy ShapeShifter t-shirts.
The’d finally decided to blow their cash on some weed and smoke it with Eric and Trevor. And him if he wanted, but given the choices, he’d rather go with Lyric.
“Not your dick, stupid,” she said with a laugh. “Your ass. Trust me.” She planted a foot on the stage and stepped up beside him. Not that it was a high stage unless you were short. It was the way she did it, like she belonged up there. That’s how Lyric was. Everything she did was cool.
Even though he was ready for it, he still jumped when she touched the waistband of his jeans.
“We start here,” she said, pressing a bit harder, then ran her hands lightly down his ass and the backs of his legs, stopping before his knees. It should have been erotic. It wasn’t. “And end here,” she said. “All of this.”
“What about my shoulders?”
“Throw in a t-shirt and you’ve got it.” She bent over and picked up the last three cords that he’d left on the stage. “I don’t need to pratice shoulders,” she said.
He rolled his. “Yeah, but maybe mine need it anyway.”
She laughed. “That is a different thing altogether. Best news of all for last,” she added, handing the cords over. Mitchell packed them up as he listened. “Mom’s out on a date and Harm’s at a sleepover. The house is ours. Well, except for Allegra.”
Mitchell grinned. This was setting up to be too perfect. Those two other girls could smoke weed all night for all he cared at the moment. He was going to be a practice dummy.
He fastened the case he’d just finished packing. “Let’s load this into the truck and head out.” He glanced around, trying to see if he’d forgotten anything.
“I need my shirt.”
“It’s in the truck.”
She nodded. “You’re driving, then?”
He eyed her. “You’re not?”
“Allegra left me here when I told her I wanted to see if you were up for some practice.”
Mitchell grinned. “She’s jealous?” A jealous twin was one of Trevor’s favorite things, no matter that in this case, there wasn’t much to be jealous of. Lyric needed to practice. He liked getting free service from her. It was that simple.
“She thinks we’re fucking,” Lyric said with a tilt of her head, like if it was anything, it was confusing.
“Lyr, no offense, but I wouldn’t do you.”
She clapped him on the shoulder and handed him the case. “It’s mutual, hot stuff.”
Mitchell didn’t ask the obvious question. Whatever this thing with Lyric was, they both understood it somehow. They’d never spoken about it, but they also didn’t need to. She’d made it clear when she’d proposed this deal what she wanted him for: a warm body to massage. All he had to do was put her on a permanent guest list.
He definitely got the better end of the deal.
Reminders: check out Rhian’s place for the rest of the Monday Poetry Train — and join on in! Also, the Summer’s Hidden Treasures contest is now in full swing. Are you reading and reviewing yet? Help spread the word… great prizes and great discoveries of new authors await you.
Rhian / Crowwoman
July 16, 2007 9:41 am
like this one and not just because you at least mentioned Trevor. You have gift for creating very revealing character dynamics in a very short amount of space.BR/BR/Also – i was a moron – i kept looking for the Train excerpt, seeing the top post but going no further. That’s why you may have noticed me coming back to your blog 50 times without commenting. I’m a maroon.
julia
July 16, 2007 10:00 am
Lyric is rather intriguing. Her insistence on a Tshirt and guest list access makes me wonder who she’s gunning for. Also her inherent coolness is a nice touch – it might seem she would be more of an insecure character if she didn’t have that aspect.
bunnygirl
July 16, 2007 10:07 am
Thanks for the reminder I need to schedule an appointment with my massage therapist! 🙂
Susan Helene Gottfried
July 16, 2007 11:29 am
Thanks, Rhi — for the extra hits (I’m getting near 20,000, so every bit helps my ego at this point!) AND for the kind words. BR/BR/Julia — wait. There’s a LOT more of Lyric to come, if you’d like to get to know her more. Just say the word; I really like Lyric. BR/BR/And Bunny, I need to call my massage therapist, too! I’m SO overdue, it’s not funny. And bad for my back. BR/BR/Party on, Groupies!
Sparky Duck
July 16, 2007 1:04 pm
Lyric sounds Hawt!
Rhian / Crowwoman
July 16, 2007 1:20 pm
holy shit! 20,000?BR/i’ve been preening to myself over my average of 150ish.BR/BR/at least now i know if i have something important to say to the world i need to post it on YOUR blog. grin!
Rhetorically Sterculian
July 16, 2007 4:16 pm
I too am a maroon.BR/I did the same as that rhian guy.BR/Is Allegra single?BR/Does she look like Lyric?BR/Who is this Trevor guy?
Susan Helene Gottfried
July 16, 2007 4:27 pm
Yes, Allegra is single. No, she and Lyric aren’t identical; she’s actually the prettier twin. As for Trevor… follow the link in his name. Or just search my archives. Trevor runs this joint.
Rhetorically Sterculian
July 16, 2007 4:43 pm
Ask Trevor if it would be possible for me to ‘make the beast with two backs’ with Allegra. BR/Her pulchritudinous visage is of no consequence though. Can she solve second order differential equations? Now that is hot! Rhian’s friend El can do it and right now she is my number one JOV. I am a fickle man though.BR/Nu?BR/Fraternal twins? BR/Vagina Dentata and me, Bilious C. Pudenda, are dicephalic twins.
T.A.Chase
July 16, 2007 5:31 pm
Susan,BR/BR/I love this scene. It definitely helps give definition and personalities to both Lyric and Mitchell.
Lisa Andel
July 16, 2007 8:30 pm
Really like the excerpt. :)BR/BR/Gotta say, Rhi isn’t the only maroon. I thought I’d entered a time warp when I first got here.
Bob-kat
July 17, 2007 8:48 am
This is a great scene. It says so much about the characters without actually saying it and in such a cool way :)BR/BR/Thanks for dropping by my blog 🙂
Joy Renee
July 19, 2007 3:01 am
i got fooled by the sticky post monday too. but that was before you paid your visit to me and I didn’t get around to trying again. shame on me.BR/BR/i love Lyric’s self-possession. Her ability to define who she is and what she is about and hold against both peer pressure and parental influence to the contrary.BR/BR/thanx for visiting my poem/lyrics and your kind words. i too love songs that tell stories. where ever i can find them. i’m not all that fond of Country Music per se and even as I wrote that into the post i was wondering how many written scenes would be affected if i decided to change the characters music genre.
Marcia (MeeAugraphie)
September 20, 2007 7:06 pm
I want to be at the better end of a deal…Oh, I have been. I think she may have a better end of the deal than he thinks. Am I wrong?
Susan Helene Gottfried
September 20, 2007 7:07 pm
Hard to say. I mean, she gets automatic guest list for all shows. But he gets a free massage!
Bethanie
April 29, 2008 8:56 pm
Susan, I’m sure it’s totally uncool to comment on posts this old, but the line “IHe/I was going to be a practice dummy.” made me laugh out loud. Brilliant stuff, girl, you rock.