"Shelly talk to you?"
Dani looked up from what passed for a salad in Rio Flaco High's cafeteria to see Inferno's bass player. Up close, he looked a lot like the singer.
"Not since Friday." She wasn't at church. Hadn't answered the phone. Wasn't in Art class this morning.
"Guess I'll have to then," he said.
"Bell's any minute."
"I'll talk fast."
"Can bass players do anything fast?"
The bell rang. He snatched her books. "Thompson's English, right? C-wing?"
Dani suppressed a smile. "Don't you have your own class?"
"When's the last time you saw a bass player come in on time, anyway?"
She had to give him credit. In the two minutes it took to get to room C-17, he got out all he had to say. Bobby hurt his hand and was out for a couple weeks. Would she sit in on Inferno's gig next Friday? She reached out her hands as they reached the doorway.
"So you'll play?"
"I don't even know your name."
"I'm hurt."
"Well, Hurt," Dani lowered her voice, "I don't think my dad would like that."
"Wasn't asking him," he called after her as she slipped in the classroom, and the tardy bell rang.
* * *
Late that afternoon, Dani leaned against the tool cabinet and looked on as Greg pulled the 426 Hemi from the Superbird.
"Your brother's good at making promises."
"Since when did you complain about overtime?"
Greg shrugged.
"Got plans? A girl?"
"Not the right time for that." A tint came over Greg's face. "Got my eyes on one, but…"
A buzz announced the door's opening.
"We're closed," Greg called over his shoulder.
Shelly hunkered into her stonewashed jean jacket in the open doorway.
"What happened to your eye?" Dani walked over to get a closer look.
"You know me, I'm a klutz," Shelly said, pulling away and teasing a strand of hair over the purplish bruise. "You give Cal an answer yet?"
"Who?"
"Bobby's bass player."
"There's no way Vic'll let me play at a bar."
"Who's telling?"
"Not hearing this." Greg put his hands to his ears and headed to the office. "Plausible deniability."
Dani could feel her pulse race. "Vic can't find out we were at that party. I'd be dead. And if Kari ever found out…"
"C'mon, Dani, it's just one show."
"If Daddy finds out I'm hanging out with that crowd, I'll get a one-way ticket to my grandparents' farm. In Iowa."
"Bobby's hurt, and they need someone who can play."
They needed someone who could play anyway.
"Why me? Wasn't Bobby mad last time?"
"He's afraid the band will kick him out if anyone else fills in. Says there's no way they'd make you permanent."
"Kari would kick me off the praise band if she knew we were even listening to the stuff they play."
"This is a big deal. There's gonna be some big shot promoter there." Shelly flashed a conspiratorial smile. "Little birdie told me the Jon's got the hots for you."
"Who?"
* * *
Two days later, on Wednesday night, Dani packed up her hot pink Fender Strat—last year's Christmas present—and slipped a Petra cassette into the car stereo, cranking the dial as she headed out. By the time she reached Shelly's house, her friend was already coming out the door. Her eye looked better.
Amazing what a little makeup will do.
"Have fun at youth group," Shelly's mom called from the doorway.
"Sometimes I feel a hesitation—is it me or is it you?"
Shelly giggled as she slammed the GTO's door. Dani forced a smile.
"I only need some kind of clue—I just need an indication…"
"Ugh! Is that all you have?" Shelly popped the cassette out, fiddling with the radio dial. "You might as well have kept the 8-track player in this bucket."
"I never get away with anything," Dani said, squealing the tires.
"Maybe tonight's your night." Shelly pulled a fifth of something clear from her jacket pocket, shaking it.
Brakes.
"You promised you'd stop."
"We're not even to the corner yet. My mom's gonna see."
Dani feathered the gas. "I don't need this." She popped the cassette back in as she pulled to the intersection.
"It's not hard to miss a turn along the way…
I know I've missed some in my day…
And now I'm at another crossroad…"
Dani bit her lip and turned the wheel right, toward the church.
"C'mon, you promised you'd play. And this," Shelly said, putting the bottle back in her jacket pocket, "is for Bobby. I won't even have any."
"And I don't know which way to go…
My steps are ordered, and I know I'll find the way…"
Dani gave her the eye as she hit the gas.
"When Your Word lights my path and I…"
Shelly turned the stereo off. "We're gonna be late."
"Youth group starts at seven. We've got plenty of time. What you want to bet Kari talks about the dangers of liquor and rock 'n roll?"
Shelly looked around, pouting. The coast clear, she tossed the bottle out the window. "Happy?"
"Still shouldn't be doing this." Dani pulled a U-turn and gunned it.
Fifteen minutes later, Dani pulled into the same house where they'd had the party last week—the drummer's house, she'd since learned. No one was there but Bobby, sitting on the stage trying to light one cigarette off another with his wrapped hand.
He tossed Dani a cassette and a crumpled piece of paper. "Set list. Think you can play 'em?"
Dani gave it the once-over, jingling her keys. "Legs" by ZZ Top, "Panama" and "Runnin' with the Devil" by Van Halen, a couple of Mötley songs, Cinderella, Poison, an older one by The Knack. A half dozen titles she didn't recognize, probably Inferno's originals. None of it was allowed in her house.
"Looks simple enough."
"Guys will be here in a few minutes." Bobby headed out the door. "Don't hurt yourself trying to nail my solos."
Shelly smiled at Dani. "Your keys?"
"Not part of the deal."
The door slammed.
"Look, Bobby only agreed to let you sit in so we could have some time alone," Shelly said as the GTO horn blared.
"Thought it was because he hurt his hand. Nailing his solo." Dani unpacked her guitar case, tossing her keys down. "I'm only here for you."
"And Jon?" Shelly nudged her.
"Maybe a little, but…"
"C'mon, me and Bobby really need to talk."
"Cars-Are-For-Dri-Ving," Dani sang out as she checked her tuning. She adjusted the A-string. "Ving… ving."
"Alone," Shelly said, reaching for the case. "Away from the band and Marc's parents."
Dani shielded the keys.
Shelly sighed. "C'mon, you know we've been having problems."
"You've been going out three weeks."
Crocodile tears.
"Don't let him smoke in my car." Vic's going to kill me if he finds out.