Chapter 5
“Khrystine, you aren’t giving me enough energy. I think this outfit is a bad idea too,” snorted Ashely the photographer.

“Because it doesn’t show enough skin,” snapped Khrystine.

The stylist had selected two outfits for the shoot, one a white leather mini with a lacy tank top, and the other, a white kimono with black roses. This was mainly Khrystine’s idea, who was fascinated with oriental clothing, and Asian culture. She had them give her dramatic slanted eyeliner, and fashion her hair in a chigon accented with a black rose.

“No, the look is just over the top. You are video vixen, but in this, I don’t know, you aren’t projecting,” added Ashley.

“Listen, I think she’s projecting fine. I think Khrystine is right with this one. She looks different, it’s classy, but it’s edgy and cute. She won’t look like any other girl in Young Lifestyle’s magazine,” added Mike.

“Yes she does look hot. Sexier Khrystine. Pout a little. Put on whatever music she likes, and just relax. Sensual pout,” he said at the same time directing his assistant and Khrystine.

She was easily able to project herself into a sexy mood by thinking about this afternoon with Dylan. Going to get pizza with Dylan was going to be extremely interesting. His curly wealth of dark brown hair glistened beautifully under the glow of the moonlight by the pool yesterday. The sincerity of his voice over the telephone, even the slight initial stammer was so adorable her heart fluttered just thinking about it.

“Khrystine. Focus. You’re having trouble focusing,” barked Ashley.

“Turn up the fury,” said Khrystine mimicking the music that was playing in the background, at the camera.

Everyone, especially Ashley laughed and it soothed the mood.

She wondered what Dylan did during these shoots. He seemed too authentic and earthy to pose, but she knew he had to. Everyone did. A delicious thought of an old picture she saw of Dylan, his guitar resting casually on his leg, eagle spread in tight levis popped into her head. She shook her head and Ashley murmured angrily-

“You blew that one. Is something wrong,”

“No, I’m alright,” stammered Khrystine.

She was unnerved because although she remembered Dylan from the early G-note days, she didn’t realize that picture had such a striking impression on her adolescent mind. Looking back, she could remember the tingle that arose in her body when she first saw the man who’d sung those wailing notes she’d heard on STAR 107 FM, and squealing how gorgeous he was as Monique shook her head. That was over five years ago. Funny how the unconscious mind could store memories in its corner and untuck them later at the strangest times. She felt sick to her stomach. Never did she want him to think she was a fawning groupie. After all she was only establishing herself in the business.

“I just. I need a diet coke,” she murmured softly and the assistant quickly handed her one with a straw before she could blink.

***

As he sloshed his cornflakes around in his bowl, Dylan pondered the reason he’d woken up so early this morning. He had to admit it was excitement over picking up Khrystine for pizza this afternoon. The last time he could recall getting excited for a date was when he was in high school.

Since his success with g-note, he didn’t have to woo the ladies, they seemed to make themselves available when he wanted, and seep into the background when he didn’t want them. He’d missed a lot of what he should have learned about developing relationships with women in the interim and he felt embarrassed. He hoped he didn’t act like a buffoon around Khrystine and he prayed that he acted the way she expected a man should act around a lady.

He was sincerely trying and didn’t know any better, just that she was beautiful, sweet, and funny and even if he only got to establish a friendship with her in the beginning, he wanted to know her better.

Later, when he was combing his hair, he knew something was wrong with him. He was acting like a girl and it bothered him. No man ever cared what they wore when they were going out on a date. Or did they? Was this a date? Would she consider it a date?

He had lots of clothes but they weren’t necessarily different options. Cut off jeans, cut off kahki shorts, he had some leather pants, jeans, and a wide assortment of leather motorcycle jackets. Probably he should break out his best Harley Davidson motorcycle jacket, boots, and leather pants. Couldn’t go wrong with something vintage, classy, and all American. But Khrystine didn’t look the type to dig a guy on a Harley.

Never had he met someone quite like her. And never was he at such a loss of how to behave and what to do. He wondered if she had that effect on everyone else.

***

They wrapped earlier than Khrystine had expected, the set was broken down and everyone was leaving. She’d told them all, she didn’t need a ride, she had other plans and they left.

She looked angrily at her watch and wondered what was keeping Dylan.

He’d said he would be there at 12:45, and she told him that the shoot ended at 1:00.

Now it was approaching 1:45. He seemed so nice and sincere over the phone, but now she wondered if he was really a jerk and didn’t’ really care about showing up on time. Perhaps he even wanted to see how long she would wait for him when he bothered to show up.

“I’ll wait for 15 more minutes. If he’s not here by 2:00 I’m out of here,” she murmured to herself.

If he thought she’d hang around just to hang all over her, he had another thing coming. Just when she thought she’d figured him out, and he’d even shown her some vulnerability, he went and pulled a stunt like this. He’d badgered her into going out and now he wasn’t even making an effort.

She breathed deeply, titling her head. Maybe she was jumping to paranoid conclusions. She’d still only wait fifteen more minutes, but he could have gotten caught up in traffic, or had some other urgent matter to take care of. She hoped so, because being this late to their first social engagement was downright rude.

***

Dylan hopped in his Cherry Red classic 57 Chevy. It was his dream car in his New Jersey home and it was one of the things he’d had flown to him to make his stay in California more pleasant. He looked at his watch.

Gosh, he was nearly an hour late because he was having a difficult time deciding what to wear. If this wasn’t girly behavior, he didn’t know what was. Usually the woman was late. He just didn’t want her to think that he was a slob, or only a hard rock biker head. And honestly, he was extremely nervous.

He wondered if she was still at the shoot. She said it might run late. He started to call her on the cell phone but he thought she might be a little angry at him. He didn’t realize how late it had gotten in the house and time had gotten away from him. She was probably the classiest woman he’d ever had company with and he was about to mess that up.

“I don’t deserve her anyway,” he muttered under his breath speeding toward the location of Khrystine’s photo shoot.


In seven minutes he was turning the corner to the set and he pulled around the back where the acts usually exited. It only took him two seconds to see Khrystine wearing black jeans, and a white tank shirt. It only took him two more seconds, when he pulled up beside her to see that she was very angry.

“Where the heck were you? I waited, and waited. You know? You are like almost an hour late. Everyone offered me a ride, heck I even told the limo service they could leave because I knew you would be on time,” she spat out this sentence as a long never ending stream.

“I know you did. I’m sorry. I bet never want to see me again. It’s stupid that I was late,” he added.

He hung his head in shame and this time, it wasn’t a ploy to get pity, he was genuinely sorry that he’d disappointed her.

“Well Dylan we did say 12:45 and I understand a couple of minutes but you are over an hour late,” she said with her arms folded.

He remembered from his childhood that a woman with her arms folded was never a good omen.

“We did. You want to know why I was late, the macho manly answer or the true reason?” he said stepping out of the car and leaning against the front door.

“Don’t try to make me laugh Dylan. You better have a good reason. You almost missed me. I was about to call the limo service to come back here,” added Khrystine.

“The real reason I was late is because, well, I was excited about taking you out, and I don’t have, well I have a lot of clothes, but I didn’t really think I had anything nice enough to wear out with you. I mean, I didn’t want you to think I was a slob, and I kinda thought well with the video that you would, I mean you always dress so pretty, I mean even in jeans, that you would think that I didn’t look nice or something,” stammered Dylan.

“Is that, Is that true. Is that really why you were late. Oh my god,” she said batting her eyelashes and grabbing a locket hanging loosely around her neck. She turned sideways so he couldn’t see her.

She kept shaking her head back and forth, and she wouldn’t look at him.

“My god I can’t believe this,” she muttered softly.

He thought he’d really messed up now. He wasn’t sure if that statement was to him, or if she was speaking aloud.

“Listen if you are mad and you’d still be willing to go out some other time I understand and know that I’m sorry for,”

“Dylan. That’s the sweetest thing someone has said to me in a long time. You were late because you were nervous. Oh Dylan, I can’t picture you being nervous about anything. And that, that shows you care, which makes up for not being on time. You aren’t a slob, don’t think that. Just don’t use your sweetness as an excuse to be late all the time,” she said.

“I didn’t realize the time in the apartment, I will never, ever be late again. You look beautiful, the jeans and the tank top are just perfect,” added Dylan softly.

“Harley Davidson is perfect too. Dylan your eyes are honest. I can see that you care,” she added softly.

“This is a very nice car Dylan,” squealed Khrystine looking over his shoulder.

“Do you really like this,” said Dylan, looking at his boots.

He took great pride in his car, and was embarrassed to actually look at her, for fear she would see how much it meant to him.

“A 57 Chevy? Of course I love it. I never had the pleasure of riding in one, but I love the lines of this car, always have. An American beauty,” added Khrystine.

Once again he’d assumed too much at face value. He never imagined her to be the type to appreciate classic cars.

“I think I’m looking at an American beauty. I did all this work on her myself,” added Dylan proudly.

“All yourself? Then, you must be good with your hands,” said Khrystine softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

She was unconsciously sexy and it drove him mad with longing.

“Oh Khyrs- Khrystine, I’m really handy, with cars. My dad taught me everything he knew,” he added bashfully looking at his feet.

“He taught you a lot, and well, it looks great,” said Khyrstine brightly.

“Well lets not waste any more time standing around, it’s hot, and you are probably tired,” said Dylan.

He ushered her around to the passengers side of the door. He longed to put his arm around those broad yet feminine shoulders of hers, but he didn’t know how she would react to him just yet. He didn’t want to turn her off the way he did backstage, and his awareness of the fact that he cared about her state of mind brought a warm glow to his heart.

He opened the door for her.

“What a gentleman you are Dylan? No one opens doors anymore, well no one but- Nevermind, anyway, it’s nice to see someone still does,” she said grinning at him.

This was the broadest grin he’d ever seen her smile at something he said, and boy was it beautiful. She could have easily done her own Colgate commercial with the bright beautiful gleaming teeth she had.

“It’s hard not to be a gentleman around you,” he said smiling at her.

“This looks really nice inside Dylan,” said Khyrstine.

“You want to see some pictures of what she looked like before,” asked Dylan reaching in his back pocket for his wallet.

He produced a picture taken when he first got the car, it was rusted out in several places, stripped of paint, no hubcaps on the wheels, and a large gash where the scoop of the hood lay.

She shrieked.

“This looked like that? And you did all this yourself? Gosh Dylan, you are talented in more ways than one,” she said.

Her wide eyed gawking expression made his heart flutter, he was embarrassed, but he felt like a little boy thrilled that he’s impressed his favorite teacher.

“It’s really nothing. I’ve got an Impala I’m restoring. I could let you watch sometime,” he added brightly.

What was he saying? What kind of magnetic hold did that woman have on him? He never let anyone in the garage while he was working, anymore than he liked having others around when he was first fleshing out a song. And yet with Khrystine the prospect didn’t seem bothersome, it actually felt like fun to think of having her oversee parts of the restoration.

“An Impala? No kidding? My father had one of those restored, one of the models from the glory days of his youth, back in the B.C.E era,” joked Khrystine.

He liked her quick silly wit, and he laughed hard in spite of himself.

“Don’t you mean before the evolution of man? Just don’t forget that one day we’ll both be old, and our bratty children will be referring to us the same way,” chuckled Dylan.

“You just watch your mouth. I should still be singed that you are late,” teased Khrystine.

“Well lets get on our way to grab some pizza before you change your mind,” said Dylan.

“I’m not changing my mind. I’m here now, and so far enjoying the company,” smiled Khrystine.

“I’m glad. I’m enjoying yours too. You ever been to Sal’s?” grinned Dylan.

He whipped down a few side streets and out onto the freeway.

“Nope. Never. You are just gonna walk into the pizzeria?” asked Khrystine.

“How else are we gonna get the pizza,” joked Dylan.

“Well I mean, wouldn’t you get mobbed I mean, I’m not as famous as you are, but don’t people just run up to you? They run up to me,” added Khrystine softly.

“No they don’t. It’s probably because I just look like any old guy on a motorcycle. You look like a princess. People take a second look at you and they recognize you because you are so beautiful and perfect. Me, I’m just an ordinary guy and people look once and look away. People come up every now and then, but not all the time,” added Dylan.

“Beautiful? Perfect? You must want me to treat huh?” joked Khrystine.

“Not at all, I’m being sincere Khrystine. I really don’t know how to be any other way with you,” he said glancing out of the corner of his eye.

She was blushing, he could see it, and yet she was trying to hide it behind her two hands pressed to her lips. God she was adorable, her shoulder length black tresses blowing everywhere as the wind whipped about the convertible. Luscious was a better word to describe her, she smelled like peaches, and he had to wonder what her kisses tasted like. Everything was perfect, on down to ten immaculately polished brown toes. He felt guilty for wanting her, because he didn’t know her that well. He’d never felt any tinge of guilt from wanting to know a woman. However he surmised it was because she was so special she seemed like a prize that needed to be earned.

“Well, you are probably the only guy alive right now who only knows how to be sincere,” she joked.

“You give us mere mortals, men, a hard time Khrystine. I think you’ll like Sal’s Khrystine,” said Dylan bringing the car to a halt when he saw a parallel parking space.

It was all he could do not to put his arm around her as he backed his ride into the space. But he refrained from doing so because he knew how distant she could be at times and he didn’t want anything to ruin the great strides he’d made with her since yesterday.

Briefly he wondered whether taking her in Sal’s was a bad idea when he opened the fingerprint smeared ancient glass door to the pizzaria. He’d forgotten how shabby it would probably seem to a woman as classy as Khrystine. But when she stepped in side she remarked.

“Looks cozy. Looks a lot like the greasy spoons we used to stop at when I was on my first gig with Eddie,” added Khrystine.

He was delighted to discover that they had the same taste in pizza too, just simple double cheese. He’d started to order a diet coke for her after he ordered his beer, but she piped in that she wanted what he was having.

“You drink beer,” said Dylan genuinely surprised. She didn’t look the type to enjoy beer.

He was beginning to like Khrystine even more already.

“I’m not a heavy beer drinker, but I really have acquired a taste for Mexican beer,” added Khrystine.

“Well you certainly don’t look like you’d be a heavy beer drinker, but it’s nice to be with a beautiful woman who can appreciate a good brew,” he said grinning at her softly.

“Well it’s nice to be with a man who appreciates a good brew and has good manners,” said Khrystine.

She asked him to get her a paper cup to pour her beer in. He started to ask what she needed the cup for and she had a bottle, but it was a classy woman thing he supposed. He’d never known a woman in his life as classy as she was and he found it intriguing, particularly now that she was starting to let down her hair in spite of her regality.

“Hey why….why waste a good pie in a dump like this huh? I mean the food’s great here but let’s take it some place with some better scenery,” added Dylan.

“Sure, sounds good to me,” said Khrystine.

He opened both the door to the pizzaria, and the door to his car for her.

“There’s a nice spot a little ways up from here, where we can see a view of the city,” added Dylan.

“Cool. Just don’t get me off the beaten path and get up to something no good,” she said looking at him in a playful stern manner.

He was beginning to wonder how much of her was really stern and how much of Khrystine was being playful while still trying to keep her distance.

“I am always on my best behavior around you,” he said whipping down side streets on his quest to find the little nook that would allow them to glance high above LOS Angeles.

- posted by Mahogany @ 8:04 PM