CHAPTER FOUR


December 31, 1989

Their New Year's Eve concert completed, the members of the band along with their manager headed backstage while the high-spirited audience continued to clap and yell for an encore. Though they had already received one, they wanted another. None of the band members could explain how terrific that made them feel. They were wanted and that was such an awesome high.

Bursting into the large dressing room, J.T. sprawled in the middle of the couch placed against the wall with a huge grin plastered on his boyish face. His band mates Pirate and Diego followed, each taking a seat on either side of him while Jaden and Lucky occupied the other couch, which was separated from the guys by a coffee table.

"That was so fucking awesome!" J.T. bellowed, pushing hair out of his eyes for the hundredth time that evening. He needed a haircut. He always seemed to be in need of a haircut. Reaching into the pocket of his tight jeans, he pulled out a pair of flimsy red underwear, dangling them for his friends to see. "Some chick threw these at me!" He laughed. "I've seen it on t.v., but I've never had it happen to me. Too bad she didn't throw me her phone number."

Looking disgusted, Pirate pushed J.T.'s waving arm away from him. "Man, don't put those things near me. That's gross."

"No way. It's sexy as hell," the 25-year-old objected while he put the panties back in his pocket.

"Since when was hell considered sexy?" Lucky inquired, smiling slightly.

All eyes looked toward the door after there was a knock. Greeting them all, the owner of the club walked into the dressing room with a silver tray in his hand and a broad smile on his face. Thanks to the people in this room, he had received a lot of business tonight. He would be sure to book them for future gigs because if they kept weaving the magic they had tonight, they would surely make it big in the music industry.

"I just have to tell you guys again how great you were," the owner gushed. "The audience has never gotten that enthusiastic over a band. I do hope you'll come back. Here's a little thank you from me." Grinning, the owner placed the tray in the middle of the coffee table. Staring at the contents of that tray, J.T. was the main person salivating over them.

There were ten evenly spaced lines of a white crystalline powder and five small white tubes, which was now the only equipment needed to use the powder. "For myself I use some of the best out there and I've chosen to share it with you guys. Check this out--it's 75% pure," he smiled, obviously pleased with himself for finding a dealer who didn't skimp much on the product. After being thanked and telling them to enjoy, he left the room.

Before the door was fully closed, J.T.'s hand was headed for one of the tubes. His fingers had barely grazed one before the tray was pulled out of his reach. Frowning at the band manager, he placed his hand back on his knee. "What gives Lucky? It ain't yours. It belongs to everybody here," he argued, wanting to yank the tray from her hands, but not possessing the boldness to try.

"Act like a gentleman for once in your life and let the ladies go first." She shook her head in disappointment. "Damn, your mother didn't teach you any better?" The tray on her lap, Lucky turned to her girlfriend of two months. "Baby you wanna go first? I know you've never done this before, but hey it's New Year's Eve." Lucky grinned in spite of the younger woman's anxious expression. "Time for a celebration. You'll love it."

"It's fucking amazing," J.T. said, wanting to offer his two cents on one of his most beloved pastimes. "Jae, you've gotta try it."

Remaining wary of drugs, the college student shook her head in the negative. During the last couple of months she had witnessed Lucky, J.T. (mainly) and Diego using an array of drugs on what they called a recreational basis, yet she hadn't been tempted to join them.

"Come on Jae, just one line," J.T. persisted.

Annoyed, Pirate punched him the arm. "Man, back off. Damn!" Behind his ever-present aviator shades, he glared at the drum player, who was glaring back because of the pain Pirate's fist had inflicted. "She doesn't want any so just leave her alone."

J.T. rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, you're Mr. Clean now since you had that kid."

Pirate's hand clenched again. He really loved J.T., but often the punk just pissed him off. "My fiancée didn't have a goat, she had a baby and her name is Anna. Feel free to use it whenever you like."

"Fine. Ever since you had Anna it's like you don't know the meaning of fun no more."

"It's 'any' not 'no'. And you might find it hard to comprehend, but it's possible to have fun without the smoking, snorting, swallowing, or injecting of drugs. My daughter showed me that." Immediately after discovering that his girlfriend was six weeks pregnant, Pirate quit drugs cold turkey and also started attending meetings twice a week. As of a week ago, he had been clean for eleven months and the feeling he obtained because of it was amazing.

"Congratu-fucking-lations."

"Shut your trap before I shut it for you J.T."

The younger man snorted. "Bite me Henry."

His eyes narrowing, Pirate was about to punch the punk again when Lucky yelled for them both to shut up. "Stop acting like a couple of children." Her gray eyes trained on Pirate. "You're supposed to be the mature one, so don't you go sinking to his level." Diego, who was the poster boy for the strong silent type, let out a small snicker at his manager's statement. J.T. turned his glare on him, but Diego ignored it.

Smirking, the 27-year-old replied, "I'll be good from now on." A look at his watch telling him that it was 11:35, Pirate grabbed his bomber jacket from a nearby chair and headed toward the door. "I'm calling it a night guys. If I hurry, I can make it home to kiss Shelia before midnight. Be safe." After everyone except J.T who was still sulking wished him a good night, he walked out.

"Jaden, you sure you don't want any?" Lucky asked her, holding out a tube just in case she had changed her mind.

Not heeding the small voice inside her head, which advised her to keep saying no, Jaden slowly pulled the tube from her girlfriend's hand. She watched as the tray was placed in front of her on the table and thought about what she was going to do. A great part of Jaden realized that partaking in this activity was foolish and could be potentially harmful, but she didn't have it in her to deny Lucky any longer. She would only try it this one time. Lucky was right. It was New Year's Eve and they had just rocked the house with their short concert. They could celebrate. They should celebrate.

Since she didn't need any instructions because of her observations, Jaden leaned close to the tray. She would only do one line, although once she saw J.T. snort four within a couple of minutes. Closing her left nostril, she inserted the tip of the tube into her right. Her eyes closing, Jaden sharply inhaled as she moved the other end of the tube along a line, the powder disappearing into it as though it were a vacuum. The tube slipping from her fingers, she leaned back as the unfamiliar substance soared through her body. Barely ten seconds had passed before Jaden felt the effects from the cocaine. She had grown wings because she was flying high. Very high. And she hoped that she never had to land.