by Trynia Merin

This story takes place during What Happened in the Darkness, to fill in some gaps, and shows this story is continuing to be written and edited....

Disclaimer: KISS AND ALL ITS AFFILIATES MENTIONED HEREIN IS THEIR OWN DEAL. THIS STORY IS JUST FOR FUN AND NOT MEANT TO DEMEAN. Raina MacLaren is MY OWN CREATION, as is the fictional account presented here of Gene's first meeting with a certain Stanley. Rated R for sexual situations and language, so don't read this if you AREN't of AGE ok? Thanks to Eisencookie for help with this story!

Eventually the gnawing in their stomachs soon overtook the hunger in their bodies. Ray climbed into the shower as he moved off to fix something. When she emerged in his bathrobe, she saw him there in the kitchen, fussing over what looked like a coffee percolator on the stove. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, comfortable and casual. Raina realized she liked how he looked this way, far better then he did in a suit and tie. She smelled what she first thought were toast, and shyly wandered over to the small kitchen table.

"That bathrobe looks good on you," he laughed, turning his head at the sound of her nervous cough. Why did Raina feel so awkward now that they had shared what they had? Perhaps it was the sudden familiarity tempered with the realizations that there still was many things that Raina didn't know about him or him about her. Things they could discover in time. Why did Raina feel as if she left this apartment now that she wouldn't learn? Ray knew she didn't have to be anywhere, specifically. Surely, her parents wouldn't miss one weekly phone call. It would be another week and a half before they got back from their cruise. Another week and a half where Raina could get to know this man better. Did he want to? Or was this just a one-night stand? Either way she didn't regret him being her first. Raina couldn't have asked for a better introduction then he had given last night.

"I've got coffee... are bagels okay? That's all I've got... except for eggs... and I don't know if you'd be into my little experiments..."

"Bagels are fine," she said. Gene extracted two halves that had popped up from the toaster, and placed them before her with a container of cream cheese. He placed a glass of milk and a cup of freshly percolated coffee before her as well.

"Umm," she mumbled, slathering cream cheese and jelly on the bagel, covering in minute black poppy seeds. AS she raised the toasted bagel to her lips, a dozen seeds dropped onto her lap. Seeing her wince, Gene chuckled.

"Don’t be afraid of a mess doll," he grinned. "That’s what they invented brooms for."

"This is so domestic of you…" she commented, sipping some orange juice he poured for her, and sipping her coffee. "I like a man who isn’t’ afraid to cook for a woman."

"That’s me, unconventional," Gene grinned.

"And I still like you anyway," she winked, passing the sugar when he motioned for it, his mouth crammed full of bagel.

"Hmmm, come here," he said, beckoning with the crook of one finger.

"Why?" Raina asked, sipping hot coffee.

"C’mon over here… you have some cream cheese on your face…" he said, and Raina leaned towards him. His hand caught hers, and she suddenly felt his soft touch. He pulled her onto his lap squarely, and she felt his warm brown gaze entering hers. She felt his hot breath against her cheek as he licked something off her face with his warm tongue.

"You don't quit, do you?" she laughed, feeling the warmth of his lap under her.

"No, I don't. Not when I get what I want..." he whispered, his hand sneaking up under her robe. He untied the belt, rubbing his fingers lightly up her bare chest and down her stomach. She sighed and moaned, then noticed a bit of jelly on his cheek as well. Leaning forwards, she licked it away with her own tongue. As she drew away, Gene shot her an amused glance.

"I do have the teacher's certification exam in a week," Raina reminded him.

"How would you like to stay here till then?" Gene offered her. Raina was floored.

"But I have to take care of my parent's house," Raina spluttered.

"Well would you consider spending the rest of the weekend here?" he asked her. "We still have tonight, and Sunday... unless you have to go to church that is..."

"I can skip one week," Raina told him. "I'll just call them and say I have to study..."

"I don't want to pressure you, but I really, really like you. And I'd like to think you like me too... and I want to see you... keep seeing you...."

"You can always come by my home," Raina told him, giving him a soft kiss on his warm lips. "Walk me home from school..."

"Mm I like that," Gene hummed in her ear, his hand slipping under her robe. Raina let out a gasp as he ran it steadily higher.

"Oh... and I like that... what are you doing?" she moaned, feeling him harden under her slowly and invitingly. Suddenly the hunger a very different sort crept over her, shivering from her loins up to her spine. Her face flushed beet red.

"What would you like me to do?" he whispered. Leaning over her shoulder Raina brushed her lips to his for a quick kiss. Gene seized her chin with his other hand, and captured her lips in a warm wet embrace that sent fire surging all over her body. Again Raina moaned as he teased her mouth open and let her into his as well, sharing one moist breath there. His fingers worked her into a giddy dance of pleasure.

"Oh god," she whispered. "That feels so damn good, Gene…"

"You want me to stop?" he teased, slowly untying the belt of the robe. He spread the halves back, feasting his eyes on her chest in broad daylight.

"Don’t you DARE!" she scolded. The mischievous twinkle in Gene’s warm inviting eyes seemed a challenge to Raina to just how daring she’d be. Her green eyes darkened with desire, and she reached between them to rub the growing stiffness prodding her.

"Hmm, you are a naughty girl," he said in a deep voice that shivered her all the more. In that instant this shy teacher had transformed into something immediately desirable. Strange for he was the same Gene she had met the day before, but the electricity betwixt them was slowly transforming and teasing her into wishing to do something beyond the confines of what a well brought up lady would do.

"And would a naughty girl do this?" she whispered, putting her hands on his belt as his tongue flickered over her bare breasts, softly kissing and teasing her.

"Umm, definitely," Gene hummed, his hair tickling her goosepimpled skin. "I can see the naughty wheels turning in your head… I’m corrupting you through and through…"

"You’re a bad influence on me, Gene Klein," she scolded, unbuttoning his pants and slowly tugging the zipper down as she backed away a bit onto his knees.

"I love being a bad influence on you, Ray MacLaren," he growled softly, his lip curling in desire as he guided her hands into his pants.

"I… can’t believe I’m doing this…" she moaned, feeling along his length. The low growling definitely wasn’t something she recalled the night before. Green eyes met brown ones; Gene’s encouraging her to continue. Grabbing her hips, he lifted her and thrust up inside.

"You’re so warm and so tight inside still," he winked as Ray’s mouth flew open, her eyes wide with the sensation of him inside her, skin touching skin.

"Oh my god…Mmm, oh… Gene…" she whimpered, feeling him staying perfectly still for a moment.

"People would talk if they could see us now, wouldn’t they?" he whispered, drawing his tongue along her earlobe and nibbling it.

"Then let’s give them something to talk about…" Ray grinned wickedly, rocking her hips.

"Definitely," he whispered, choosing a pace that slowly tortured her. Ray felt herself totally slip into his power, and wondered for a ridiculous minute if the chair would collapse under their combined weight. Nervous awareness flooded her about just what they were doing in a kitchen of all places, an activity that should have been relegated to the secrecy of a bedroom. Ray bit her lip and shuddered, stifling her moan. She buried her lips in his kiss, and Gene was more then willing to oblige as she twined arms around his neck and lost herself in the delicious combination of his tongue thrusting into her mouth, and the other activity happening below at the other end. Fingers hungrily twined in his hair, as the first wave of sensation crashed over her, and she felt herself reaching a giddy height.

"Can’t… stop…" Gene moaned. "Shit… you’re so good…"

"Please don’t you DARE!" she whispered, between clenched teeth.

"Is it… can I?" he gasped, face tensing in what appeared to be pain. "I can’t stop… mmmmmmgggghhhh…"

"It’s okay Gene," she whispered. "Let it go…"

Hot stickiness suddenly erupted, and Ray leaned her head on Gene’s shoulder, as she felt his teeth sink into her neck and bite gently. Her mouth opened in a mix of pleasure and pain, her thoughts shifting to the movie Dracula of all things. How expertly he had lured her here to his lair, and now he was claiming her blood and soul for his own. The lunacy of such thoughts amused her as she reeled between overload and the best high of anything in her life, and she found it difficult to stifle her laughter from ringing in the room. Gene lifted his head from her shoulder, and the corner of his lopsided smile twitched in amusement. She wiped away sweat as he asked, "What’s so funny, huh, doll?"

"You bit me like a vampire!" she giggled, and Gene too laughed, as they held each other for a moment.

"Now you’re MINE!" he growled playfully. Just then, the phone rang, and Raina started in his lap.

"Excuse me a minute..." he said, and Raina shifted off his lap. Grabbing a napkin, he wiped himself off and quickly put himself back together as the phone continued to ring. An odd shyness settled in over Raina, feeling the aftereffects of what had just happened. Dizzy, she sat down in the chair that had creaked under their weight, and watched Gene mumbling in a language she was unfamiliar with. Suddenly shy, she tied the robe again around her.

Sighing with frustration, he answered the insistently ringing phone, "Hello? Yeah, Hi Steve... yeah I'm here... what's up?"

For a few minutes, he spoke softly with someone else on the other end. Raina wondered who it was, but it seemed as if it were someone Gene knew relatively well. Raina saw him glance in her direction for a few times, before looking toward his room with his guitar. "Yeah I do have a woman over here. Yeah really! No, I think she might like to... well let me get on with it okay? See ya!"

"Who was that?" Raina asked as he hung up the phone.

"One of my friends I jam with on weekends. Known him since college. He's Steve Coronel. We've been in a few bands together... used to be in a group we called Cathedral... and Long Island Sounds..."

"Interesting names," Raina said. "But they don't have that... finesse. They're not instantly recognizable you know..."

"True. Sometime I'd like to come up with a one-name moniker that everyone can remember..."

"Like Albatross or something," Raina giggled. Gene smiled and said, "Not a bad idea... but no... There's gonna be something better out there... say... Would you like to see us play later tonight, after dinner?"

"I'd love to..."

"That will give you most of the afternoon for me to work with you on a practice exam... and then we can go from there..."

"But I have nothing to wear..." Raina joked. "Unless I go in your clothes..."

"Your choice, baby," he winked. "You look better in them then I do."

"But if I'm going to meet your friends, I want to look presentable..." Raina blushed.

"We can stop by your home and pick something up on the way, can't we? Where do you live?"

"Brooklyn," Raina blushed.

"Okay, that's not too far. You can stop in, and get changed, and then we can go from there..."

"Sounds terrific," Raina smiled warmly, feeling on the verge of a New World, which she could have only read about in magazines before.
***
When she had put on a fresh change of his clothes, Gene couldn't help but tease her. Gene looked at her and chuckled, "How much trouble will I be in if I say 'Yes, it looks stupid'?"

She grumbled a bit, "It's YOUR fault, my dress got ruined with soda."

He walked over to her and poked her teasingly, "It's not like you HAVE to wear it all night. Besides... it's kind of... uh... cute..."

Unable to remain angry with Gene for long, she glanced down at the Hard Day's Night T shirt she wore, and giggled, "It doesn't quite go with my coat." The four faces of the Fab Four on the T-shirt peered upside down to her examining eyes. She suddenly asked, "Who's your favorite Beatle?"

"Guess," Gene smiled. "Who's the genius of the band?"

"John Lennon, Right?" she said.

"Bingo. The rest are just window dressing," he smiled. "And Paul is nothing but eye candy."

"I think Paul is cute," she stuck her tongue out at him. "And mayhap you're a bit jealous?"

"Yeah, I suppose, and he can write, but he's too damn pretty. No edge."

"Mm, I COULD be persuaded to like Jon over Paul..." said Raina.

"But together... the two of them... shit ... they're magic," Gene agreed, taking down his leather jacket and slipping it on. It seemed and odd contrast to see him wearing such casual clothes compared to the suits she normally saw Gene wear.

"You need a partner," she winked. "Someone who can write like you can..."

He grumbled teasingly, "You're enough for me. That's all I NEED... another person telling me what the hell to do... what the crap to write..."

"Shall we go?" she asked, and Gene held out her raincoat. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and let him adjust it around her shoulders.

He grabbed his wallet and winked at her, "Suppose..."

"Oh that's a NICE jacket by the way..." she whispered, running her hands over the smooth texture of the lather.

"Hands OFF! Besides, isn't your outfit already weird enough?" he said, as he dodged from being hit by her. However, she managed to smack his arm.

"Owwww," he yelled playfully. Raina grabbed him around the middle and poked his ribs to tickle him.

"You're a horrible man," she pouted. Gene seized her wrists and pulled them in front of her.

"You're in a bit of a FIX, my dear," he leered playfully, exhibiting some future characteristics worthy of Bella Lugosi himself.

"Oh REALLY, Mr. Klein?" she asked, challenging him.

"I can write BETTER than Lennon/McCartney. SAY IT!" he said, teasing her with his snake tongue again. "And I'll let you go."

"Mm mm... What will you DO for it?" she asked coyly, batting her eyelashes at him. "And anyway, how can you be sure you write better then ME?"

So saying she tugged him toward the door, and he let her pull him along. He crowed proudly, "I can write better than ANYONE. At least in MY mind..."

"Hmm legend in your own mind?" she laughed, then leaned up to distract him with a quick peck on his shapely lips.

Gene tugged her wrists and pulled her close, leaning over to deepen the kiss into a truly delicious one that melted her inside. When they drew back, breathless, he asked, "Actually...if you don't
mind...I've got a bit of a mission I'd like to drag you along on tonight."

"Mmm I like the sound of that..." she said.

"Good," he smiled. "Now... let's go get your changes of clothes..."

He opened the deadbolts and pushed the door open. Moving out of the way, he gestured for her to step out first, then followed. Carefully he tugged the door shut and locked every lock securely. They trotted down the steep stairs to the lobby of his building, and Gene opened the glass door for her to step out onto the street. The fresh coldness of the New York morning hit her full in the face.

"Gene... where ARE we in NY?" she asked, glancing for some familiar reference points. "This looks like Spanish Harlem..."

"Bingo," Gene smiled. "It's close to work... and only a train ride from my mom's place.... MILES away from the world you're used to, I'm sure," he teased as he snuggled close.

"I guess so," she laughed. "Considering I live in Brooklyn..."

"So, we take the train to your moms...do a quick stop-off, then take another to Steve's."

"Yes," she smiled. He extended his hand and she put hers into it, enjoying the feel of his protective grasp.

"Hold this will you?" he asked, handing her the case. He fished for something in his left-hand pocket with his free hand, and pulled out a slim package, tugging a gum out with his teeth. For a minute he stopped, and let go of her hand to unwrap it and start chewing. "Gum?" he as he offered the package to her.

"Thank you," she smiled, taking a piece.

"Steve's in some SERIOUS need of practice. We've got a party to play next week and we sound like shit," he said, stuffing the package into his pocket and taking her hand again. Reaching around her, he took the bass from her again. Raina felt her toe catch on an uneven bit of sidewalk, and stumbled.

"Darn pavement!" she grumbled as Gene caught her hand.

"Damn, watch it!" he chuckled as he steadied her. "You need to get rid of those damn street walker shoes."

"Thank you," she breathed. "I have more practical ones at home."

She stumbled again, and caught him around the waist. He steadied her tightly against him, and she realized she only came up to his shoulder. His hand gripped her hip, and he whispered into her ear, "Not that those aren't SEXY. They make your legs look super hot, but it's not worth skinned knees on the pavement," he whispered.

"Mm, you are sweet when you want to be..." she smiles, kissing his cheek as they walked along. His arm draped over her shoulder protectively, while hers remained around his waist.

"You SURE your parents aren't going to surprise us and show up tonight?" he asked, glancing around them at the afternoon pedestrians moving past them. Periodically they had to maneuver around people walking at a much slower pace.

"No they are on a two-week cruise... And they've only been away for three days."

Gene led her toward the nearest subway entrance, and they rushed down into the swooping rush of the underground platform. For a moment he let go of her hand and threw a few coins into the turnstile. They raced out to the platform, where a train already stood behind the clot of people waiting. The doors slide open, and moved over to step on. Gene positioned her in front of him, and used his other arm to elbow the others out of the way, as he helped her inside.

"Thank you," she smiled. As the door slid shut and she turned to find a seat, she felt his hand lightly connect with her butt in a playful slap.

"Ack!" she gasped in surprise, whirling around. Gene gave an innocent grin, which she saw right through.

"Dumb luck," Raina laughed. "This train being here the EXACT moment we showed up.

"Indeed. I make my own luck," Gene smiled. They noticed the train was filled with shoppers and other people pressing together for the Saturday afternoon rush. He fell silent for a minute, glancing around for a place to sit. A few older people noticed them, and they scowled at Gene's longer hair.

He winked back at them, leading Raina to one empty seat at the end of the car. Quickly he sat down, and then stretched his legs out a bit, then patted his lap. He set his bass case up to one side, leaning it against him.

"How gallant, Mr. Klein," she laughed, sitting down. She had not done this before in public, and the thrill was invigorating. He snuggled her close, as the older lady next to them sighed. As the subway lurched away from the station and clattered through the artificial night, he rubbed the top of her legs. Across his knees she settled, and wrapped her arm around his neck.

"This is, of course, highly illegal," he laughed into her ear. "I think it breaks every train rider rule in the book. And us being school teachers."

"Do tell," she laughed. "At least we aren't in the same school... Besides. You're teaching ENGLISH?"

"For a little while anyway," he said, looking out the window, distracted. She shifted on his lap to get comfortable, and Gene positioned his arms around her waist, folding his hands like an artificial seatbelt.

"I'm teaching science,' she said. "I mean that's what I'll be teaching... perhaps earth science or chemistry..."

"See, you're smarter than I. That's the way it should be," he smiled, as he patted her leg affectionately.

"I'm glad to be with a man who respects a woman's intelligence."

"And that's not ALL I respect," he said, as he nosed close to brush his cheek against her chest. She breathed into his ear a bit, excited at the attention. No other man she dated has been so comfortable around her or her around him.

"Bet they'd LOVE this," he smiled slowly.

"Love what?" she chuckled.

"Me coming over to your house unsupervised... them out of town.... You spending the night with me last night...giving it up like you did," he teased.

"You're a bad influence on me, Mr. Klein," she winked.

"Let me ask you something," he said, suddenly seriously.

"Yes?" she asked.

"What would you say if I told you I didn't want to do this forever...teaching, that is," he asked, face dark with seriousness. "What if I told you it bored the hell out of me?"

"I think you'd be very right in saying so..." she nodded.

"And that frankly I don't think those kids give a crap if I'm there or not," he added.

"Remember what we talked about last night?" she reminded him. "Gene, I've been thinking the same thing... what if I make a sucky teacher?"

"Ray, I can't imagine you as anything other than a brilliant teacher, but the real answer to that question is inside of you. Do YOU want to do that for the rest of your life?"

"No," she choked. "I want... to be something different... a great scientist, a great communicator... a musician, ANYTHING... but... I..."

Gene saw her press her lips tightly together in sudden silence, as if the last few words were a taboo subject. He knew he had to discourage this sudden limitation in her thinking, so he said, "But what? You don't feel confident that you can let go and make it work?"

"No," she said, shifting in his lap uncomfortably. "Because... my parents... wanted me to be a teacher... and well... who would take a woman scientist seriously? I know it's almost the seventies..."

"So basically you're doing this because mommy and daddy EXPECT it. What a good little girl you are," he said, with a hint of sarcasm, which caused Ray to look away from him in shame. "Talented as you are, you have so many damn options."

"I wish I had the courage to tell them off..." she whispered.

"Do what you WANT to do, Ray, not what your parents expect of you."

"You're the first person to tell me that," she said, looking at him. "Other then Gloria..."

"Why do you need courage? Just tell them how it is. If they don't like it... come stay with me."

"Gene..." she gasped, eyes wide. "You'd... do THAT for me?"

"I have a full refrigerator...and I don't have fleas," he started. "Just keep your comics on YOUR side of the room and I'll keep MINE on MY side."

"Gene, this is our stop," she said. "We have to transfer..."

"Shit," he mumbled. With a squealing of brakes the subway slid to a stop. She blushed and shivered with a strange thrill, climbing off his lap. She waited for him to get up, and they spilled out of the subway car into the mess of people it disgorged. Hand in hand they rushed up the stairs and headed to the next platform. She walked next to him, shyly.

"This is our train ... move it..." he said to a guy standing in his way. Glancing at Gene's guitar case, the man sneered and moved for them. Ray shrank down next to Gene, hiding behind him as they slipped into the next subway train. This time there were enough seats for them both to sit down next to each other for the second part of their trip. He was able to set the case on the seat alongside them.

"Jerk," she mumbled. "Some people."

"F**cking New Yorkers," he laughed. "Idiot just STANDS there. Lucky we didn't miss our damn train."

"Thank you," she smiled at him, and then squeezed his hand.

"See... it's like that. You've got to be tough in this world, because people aren't just going to hand you things, Ray."

"I know," she said firmly. "I need to stand up for myself..."

"I didn't come half way around the world to let people stomp on me," Gene said proudly.

"Gene, may I ask... where are you from?" she asked.

He grinned at her for a moment. "Israel. Sand country."

"That's so cool," she smiled.

"Somewhere you couldn't picture in your wildest dreams."

"I wish I could."

"Maybe some day," he said as he squeezed her hand.

"I'm... well... from HERE... but my ancestors are from Scotland," she smiled.

"Let me guess, they've been here for GENERATIONS, so they're practically indigenous?"

"Since after the Jacobite rebellion," she said. "At least my father's family. My mom's came here in the nineteenth century..."

After the brief history lesson, they walked down the streets that were so familiar to Raina, she could navigate blindfolded. For a moment, she glanced at Gene's expression, wondering what preconceptions he was juggling in his mind. It was very clear what was going through his head, and she was frightened that he would let it be an impediment to their fledgling relationship. Just how could it be defined, she wondered, considering it had suddenly blossomed from a friendship into a full blown sexual partnering.

"You'd look sexy in a kilt..." she winked.

He laughed loudly, "Oh, crap."

"You have the sexiest legs, Mr. Klein," she laughed. It was a nice neighborhood, with wider streets and front lawns.

"Let me guess. You come from the RICH part of town," he said, indicating the fenced in yards before some of the homes. The irrational fear of rejection arose in her, and she felt as if she had
to apologize for who she was.

"Middle class... upper middle class..." she corrected him. "Dad's a principle... And mom's a teacher... of math... I guess you could say he's done well..."

"So I can see where this progression ends. They begot a teacher, and SHE begets more teachers, and they follow the pattern, and so on."

"I..." she said, then bit her lip.

"And pretty soon there are 10-friggin-thousand McLaren teachers," he continued.

"Now WAIT a minute," she snapped, suddenly grabbing his arm. "That is NOT funny! I didn't comment about YOU did I?"

"Easy sweetheart, I was only teasing you," he held up his hands.

"Then WHY do I suddenly feel like I have to apologize for who I am?"
she asked bitterly.

"Ray, I didn't mean it like that," Gene apologized, stung by her angry words. "I want to get something STRAIGHT with you... I'm only stating fact and what I've seen... and it DOESN'T mean I respect you any less for who you are. I merely amused at the whole situation you're in... trying to make you see that you have options... instead of following the damn lemmings off the cliff. You HAVE a choice. You ALWAYS have a choice..."

His hands on her arms were protective, reassuring as his soft brown gaze. He fingered her cheek softly and exhaled deeply, as if adding nonverbal to his previous apology. She forced back the hot tears of anger, and accepted Gene's hug. Softly he kissed the top of her head and stroked her back.

"Tell me what YOU want to do,' Gene said, rocking her for a moment. "Like you did last night. Is being a teacher and having a white house with a picket fence what you dream of, or what your
PARENTS dream of on your behalf?"

"What if I told you I was seriously considering NOT being one the rest of my life? What if I go get my Ph.D. and become a real scientist?"

"That'd go against the laws of nature wouldn't it?" he said with a smile. "Or do what was intended and play your ass off in front of stadiums of fans."

"Or even that," she firmly.

"You're at least as talented as me, Ray," Gene said, serious.

"Thank you," she smiled and leaned up on her toes to kiss him. He kissed her back, and she parted after she realized they were very close to her home.

"Something wrong?" he asked. "I know the odds are shitty, but hell, we're in New York City. That's one point in our favor..."

"Here's my home," she said, pointing to the house a few up from them. They walked to the front steps, and Gene noticed the front porch with a few potted plants hanging from it, and the nicely
manicured flowerbeds.

He looked up in admiration, "Damn, so THIS is where you come from?"

"Yes," she said. "Well this home... my grandparents helped my dad get it..."

"That explains it," he chuckled. She fished her keys out of her purse and slipped them into the brass keyhole on the brass doorknob plate. Beveled glass panes blurred the view of inside. He admired the house as she opens the door.

"After he got back from WWII," she said. "In France..."

"Honey, I'm HOMMMMEEE!" he yelled loudly as she opened the door. Ray jumped and dropped her purse.

He chuckled as she jumped and breezed past her into the silent home. He set his case down on the floor beside the coat rack. Quickly she stepped in and slammed the door shut. Gene turned to her with an arched eyebrow but she pointed at the black and white cat grooming itself on the front stair. Another cat, a red mackeral striped tabby, padded up to her, rubbing itself against her ankles.

"Pumpkin, you SCAMP..." she to the red cat at her feet.

"What's this fine fellow's name?" Gene asked, as the tuxedo black and white lazily stepped down the stairs and walked a half circle around Gene. He reached down to let the cats sniff his hand, then rubbed them under the chin.

"Socks," she smiled. Socks arched his back and bumped his nose under Gene's hand. Pumpkin purred like a motor, rubbing against Gene's ankles with his tail pointing straight up. Another point in his favor, he was a man who liked cats.

"Let me guess, you named them," he winked. "And you've taken care of them since they were kittens..."

"Right on both counts," she said. "And now the REAL reason they're so glad to see me..."

Gene followed her to the kitchen, accompanied by her mewing retinue. He smiled appreciatively at the full sized kitchen they reached thorough the spacious dining room. "Very... uhhhh... homey," he said, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"It's... a bit of a mess," she chuckled, grabbing the box of dry catfood from the second shelf and bending over to pour a generous portion into the two plastic bowls at her feet. Mewing and rearing on their hind legs they quickly attacked the cat food.

Gene watched her replace the dry cat food, and then puzzled why she was reaching up to grab something from the top shelf. "Damn... too high." She complained. Effortlessly he grabbed the can of cat food and handed it to her.

"Thanks," she smiled, taking the can and slipping it into the magnet of the electric can opener. Both cats' ears perked up like twin antennas at the sound of the can opener.

"They have you coming over here every day to feed them?" Gene asked.

"Considering I live here, yes," she laughed.

"So, if say, you weren't here for a few days, you could still stop by, right?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I COULD put enough dry food out for a few days. They munch on that all the time. They don't NEED the moist stuff. It's a luxury... too much and they'll get sick."

"The neighbors are, of COURSE, going to fill in mom and dad about the strange man you invited in," he smiled as he grabbed an apple from a bowl on the table.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked. Gene leaned on the counter, taking a sizeable bite from his apple, and looking at her with a slight smile on his face.

"Depends on what you're offering," he said in a low sexy voice that drove chills up her spine.

"We have coke, fresca, tab... What do you like?" she said, turning to open the fridge.

"Fresca will do, thank you."

Turning with two cans of soda in her hand, she put them on the counter, reached up to another cabinet to fish two glasses out, and set them down. He had admired the view of her backside when she was turned away, and was amused to see her turn again to get some ice of the freezer and plunk cubes into both glasses, then crack open the pull tabs on each soda can.

"This whole scene is just a LITTLE bit domestic for me," Gene commented, taking his glass of Fresca from her. "Out of the can would have been FINE."

"I know," she laughed. "But you ARE a guest in my home..."

"True, but it IS your parents home..." he winked. "And technically if you've never lived away..."

"I need to get some clothes... if I'm not going to be here for a few days," she winked, taking her glass of soda and walking out of the kitchen. Gene finished his apple and tossed it into the trash, rushing after her with his glass of soda in hand.

"Damn, I wish we didn't have to meet Steve," he muttered.

"You can wait down in the living room," she calls down, halfway up the stairs by now, not hearing what he said.

"Uh, sure," he said as he walked into the living room. All the furniture was Victorian style, neatly arraigned on the Persian rug. Collector plates graced one wall, and several knickknack shelves were loaded with all sorts of bric-a-brac. Thimbles, silver spoons, and china animals.

"Anything your mom DOESN'T collect?" he hollered up the stairs. "What's with all the chatchkas anyway?"

"What Gene?" she yelled back down.

He walked over to the stairs, cupping his hand around his mouth and yelling, "I SAID, is there anything your mom doesn't buy and stick on the damn shelf?"

"I'm upstairs," she called down. "What did you say?"

"Christ," he muttered, draining the last of his soda in one gulp and plunking his glass down on the coffee table. Feeling a bit less sure about himself, he rushed up the stairs. As he reached the landing, he saw the stairs continued up to a third level, and surveyed the rooms on this floor. Other then the bathroom, one door was ajar, and he saw movement from what must be a mirror. He heard Beatles music turned up to a moderate volume, and guessed why she hadn't answered him right away.

"It's been a HARD day's night, and I've been WORKING like a DO-Oh-hg..."

Drawn like a moth to a lightbulb he tiptoed to her ajar door, and peered into her room. As he saw her bare back facing him, fastening her bra strap he muttered Jackpot to himself, realizing the hunger that filled him yet again. There was something incredibly erotic about watching a woman put ON clothes for a change. Especially when she slid into the button up blouse and short skirt that came above her knees. It was the first piece of clothing Gene had seen her wearing that looked trendy and refreshingly feminine beyond the A-line skirts she wore to work. The white boots that came to her calves nicely lengthened her shapely legs, adding to the brightly patterned miniskirt and scarf tied about her waist with the turtleneck sweater.

"Your mom...she's a fucking packrat," Gene commented, pushing the door open and stepping up behind her.

She gasped and turned around, "You startled me..."

In a glance, he surveyed her room, with the full sized bed draped with a patchwork quilt, and a lacy canopy, and the matching bureau and desk set. A whole cradle full of stuffed animals resided in one corner, while a record player sat on her desk in another. He noted the multiple posters on one wall of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who, all making a collage on the far wall. They contrasted noisily with the lacy curtains and shelves of model airplanes along the window wall. Lastly, he saw the telltale white cardboard long-boxes, which he guessed, contained her comic book collection. Another bookcase was filled full of science fiction novels and science books.

"So, this would be it," he smiled. "Your place, as it were. Funny, I never pictured you as the stuffed animal type."

"Uh, those are old..." she blushed.

"Nothing wrong with old," he winked, as he walked over to her record collection standing up in an old milk crate. He started to leaf through it. She put down the hairbrush and watched him go through her collection with a critical eye.

"Not bad. Not bad at all," he murmured. "Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, the Who... Yardbirds... Animals... damn... you have the whole frickin British invasion here... what's this... ELVIS?"

"He's the KING of rock and roll to you, buster," she stuck out her tongue at him. "Don't MESS with the king..."

"Okay, okay," he laughed. He saw her eyes twinkle, glad of her lightened mood.

"Put something else in....your choice."

"All right," she nodded, and pushed him aside to cue up a few records on a stack to drop one by one on the turntable. The first to drop was "Light my Fire," and Gene nodded with some appreciation.

"If you really intend to do what you want...to shock your parents...now would be a good time to start," he whispered as he moved behind her, rubbing her shoulders softly. She froze in place, shivering with excitement as Gene tugged her sweater up gently, insistently. On her home territory, she felt more inhibited.

"Because if they came home right now..." he whispered excitedly, urging her to raise her arms over her head so he could take her sweater off. Once his eyes feasted on her white lace bra, he began to skim his fingers lightly over the silk, touching her sensitive skin and teasing it to erectness.

"They would be very..." he continued, moving around to her front. She gasped, eyes still shut. Her skin blistered with goose pimples. "...Very... ANGRY" he hissed excitedly at her.

"They would be... wouldn't they... but I HAVE had boyfriends over... before... without them knowing... but not many have seen my room..."

"But what have you DONE with them?" Gene whispered, moving her hair aside from her ear. He pulled it out of the ponytail she had bound it into; running his hands through it like it was a brownish red waterfall.

"I kissed one on the sofa downstairs, and even brought one up to my parent's bedroom..." she said slowly. "But then my brother came home... He had to climb out he window..."

Gene chuckled a bit, "We have about 45 minutes before we have to be at Steve's."

"Only 45?" she asked with disappointment.

"And we can either leave now and walk SLOW, or leave in 30 minutes and walk FAST.'

"What CAN we do in 30 minutes?" she panted, aroused at his talk.

"We can do most anything we want, I suppose. Depends on how talented your lover is, really, and coincidentally for YOU, your lover is VERY talented."

"Of that I'm glad," she breathed, walking over to him. The second record fell leading into Let's Spend the Night Together by the Rolling stones. Putting her arms around his neck, she rubbed his shoulders, then traced her hands down his chest through his soft shirt. He leaned down to kiss her passionately, aroused to be in her childhood room. She moaned against his lips, plunging her fingers into his hair. It was very different from the hair of other men she'd dated, stiff and soft and curly. He backed her toward the bed, pressing her lightly down onto it as they kissed. With one hand, he brushed the extra pillows off to make room, climbing on top of her with a moan of satisfaction.

The bed smelled clean and slightly perfumed, like roses. She glanced past Gene's shoulder to see the Beatles and the other collective rock legends looking at them from their posters. He began to tug urgently on her skirt and bra, reaching around to unfasten the hooks. Efficiently he removed it and tossed it down, going after her skirt. She grabbed at his shirt, almost tearing the buttons to get it off.

"OH God Gene you're driving me nuts," she whispered.

"You're the driver, sweetheart," he moaned as he pulled her shirt totally off. "Just tell me where you want to go...and how you want it."

She gasped, rubbing his chest and belly as she kissed his neck. Into his ear she whispered, "Take me, here and now..."

Anxiously she fumbled with his belt, and he helped her unfasten it. Reaching under her he unzipped her skirt and tugged it down. She gasped, eyes shut as she reached into his pants to feel him. "I always had some wild dream about someone having sex with me in this bed," she whispered.

They shed their remaining clothes, till they were both in bare skin, and Gene murmured, "Tell me.... Tell me.... What you want..."

"Ohhh..." she moaned, arching her neck as he kissed her breasts.

"Do what you did last night," she whispered.

"Only HARDER?" he gritted. She nodded anxiously.

"I NEED you," she groaned. He climbed on top of her as he felt the rush to connect with her. She gasped to feel his weight resting on her, because last night he had braced himself with his arms. Now he lay down on her, very large and solid.

"And if I told you I needed you too..." he sighed.

"Mmm," she murmured, arching under him. She could see their reflection in her bureau mirror. He ran his lips and tongue down the length of her body, loving the touch of her. She gasped and raked her nails over his chest, then over his back as she kneaded his spine.

"Feels so good," she moaned. He pulled his head up and kissed her hungrily.

"I don't want to wait, Raina," he groaned. "I just can't."

"Then don't," she whispered. "I'm yours... Completely yours now..."

As he kissed her, she consider how his kiss was far different then the other men she had spent time with. Grabbing her ankles he spread her legs and knelt between them, thrusting into her hungrily. This time he was very impatient. As he thrust up inside more forcefully, she groaned.

"Oh god it feels SO good," she cried. He began to thrust savagely, working her into a fast frenzy that stunned and excited her. However, the look of hunger in his eyes did not frighten her, for she knew she could trust him.

She moved her hips in time with him, gasping, "Is this... what I have to do?"

"God...it's.... GOD, Ray... you're PERFECT. Don't change a damn thing...oh.... damnnnnn," he moaned. Digging into his back with her nails, she wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him in harder. Rapidly she felt the warm rush of an orgasm, letting out a loud cry.

He began to shout as well, trying to stifle his noise into her neck and hair. She muffled her cry in his neck, her teeth accidentally clenching down as his relentless pace increased. He sucked in his breath at her bite, then reached orgasm as well. Forcefully his passion flooded into her, and she cried out as she reached a second and final destination. Sweat cloaked them both, glistening on their skin, which was so different in shade from each other.

"I'm sorry..." she started, then hesitated as Gene sighed deeply and collapsed on her to rest. Her own body stuck to his with their mingled sweat. Softly he kissed her lips and forehead, wrapping her tightly in his arms.

"Oh God Gene... that was incredible..." she gasped, releasing her grip on his waist with her legs.

"Better...than last night, or this morning?" he panted, turning his head to look at her.

"It gets better and better," she said softly, caressing his cheek.

"It does... or I do?" he grinned.

"Both," she smiled, kissing him sweetly. She stretched under him, liking how he felt on top of her. "You're so big and strong... and feel so GOOD right here right now..."

"Too many Twinkies," he teased, lifting himself off her.

"I like what I feel," she smiled.

"If you were with me more often, we'd have even MORE time to practice," he said with a slow lascivious grin. They curled up against each other, Ray resting her head on his chest to hear his heart beating. He rubbed her back lightly, resting and letting his breathing slow to normal.

"I know," she whispered. "I wish..."

"We've got 10 minutes," he groaned as he turned to look at her clock radio.

"Oh crap," she gasped, sitting up. She leapt out of bed, and then stumbled, legs still wobbly from their vigorous sex. Gene closed his eyes for a moment in frustration, then leaned over to grab his pants.

"Damn, if I don't want to leave," he chuckled, still feeling the effects of the sex. She stumbled into the bathroom, taking her skirt and stockings with fresh underwear.

When Ray returned she saw Gene sitting on her bed, tying his shoes. Already he was fully dressed. "Ready?" he grinned, as he made a teddy bear wave at her.

"Wow that was fast..." she gasped, finishing her packing of some items into a small overnight case. He reached over to kiss her impulsively, then started to drag her toward the stairs.

"I wish we didn't have to leave," she murmured, struggling to keep up with his long stride that took two steps at a time. One hand grabbed his case quickly. They rushed out of the door, closing it behind them and locking the cats inside once more.

"What's the quickest way there?" he asked, tugging her along as they dashed to the train station again.

"Where does he live?" she asked. Again, he repeated the address and they turned to find the nearest bus stop instead. Five minutes later they clambered onto a half full bus with plenty of seats.

They rode together, still relaxing in the residual afterglow of their sex so shortly before. Gene told her about Steve and his band as they rode along. "You're going to love Steve. He's a total idiot."

"But you love him anyway right? You make him sound like a faithful pet dog..."

"Well I hate to say it, but he's about as sharp as one... and that's no insult to dogs. Most of them are FAR more intelligent and know more tricks. But he's loyal and reliable... for the MOST part..."

"Too bad you can't train some dogs to play drums and bass instead," she winked.

"Ouch," Gene laughed, pulling her close for a short hug. "I guess I DID deserve that..."

"You're a mean man, comparing your buddy to a pet," she mock scolded him.

Rubbing her shoulder he whispered, "I meant what I said earlier.... I think you ought to think about getting yourself a band too."

"But who would I get to play in it?" she asked. "As if I knew anyone creative... present company excepted of course... I play keyboards..."

"Uh.... I don't know. Get your name out there. Take yourself an ad out somewhere. Hell, ask Steve when you see him. He always knows SOMEONE."

Gene reached up to hit the rubber strip to stop the bus. It dinged and the bus halted. He stood up, reaching for Ray's hand again as he did many times before. This time it was his territory, and she followed him carefully off the bus. Around them, the streets were quiet, except for a few cars parked here and there, and some children playing jump rope up the street. It was definitely more transitional then her neighborhood, the houses smaller and squashed together, with no front yards to speak of. The steps started right at the streets, steel railings and the fire escapes snaking over the fronts of the brick lined windows.

Nervously she squeezed his hand as he walked her to three-story rowhouse, where a few kids sat on the stoop, just staring at the street. He let her up the chipped stairs into the stairwell, where she heard the sound of drums and faint music coming from the first floor. She guessed these were multiple room apartments, where families lived in relative ease and comfort. Not as spare as what Gene had described his mom's first place as being, but not anywhere near as affluent as where she lived. Four families shared the building, Gene said.

"Does he live with his parents too?" she wondered.

"They do, but most likely they aren't here. His dad works a second shift job, and his mom has five other kids besides him," he rolled his eyes. "Freaking' baby factory."

"Oh," she muttered. "I only have one sibling, an older brother... He's in law school..."

A tendril of hair had slipped down from her ponytail. Grumbling she pulled out the hair holder and let it fall freely around her shoulders. He looked at her in appreciation, nodding his approval. "That looks MUCH better," he said.

She inhaled deeply as Gene knocked on the door. He had his bass in hand; brimming with the self-confidence that bordered on arrogance. It was a side she had not noticed before, where Gene seemed more in his natural element. This side intrigued and fascinated her even more.

The music stopped, and a young man with hair longer then Gene's peeked through the draw chain. He closed the door and then they heard the scrape of the chain being drawn back. A second later and she saw him make eye contact and give Gene a big smile as he said, "Hey THERE you are. What the hell took you so long..."

"THIS is what took me so long, you bastard," Gene grinned at Steve, indicating Raina with his free hand. "Meet Ray."

Steve's eyes stopped when they walked all over Ray's body. AT his appreciative whistle, Ray flushed with pride and a giddiness that invigorated her, and erased her nervousness for a minute. "Hello doll," he smiled, reaching to give her hand a gentle shake. "Nice to meet you..."

"Yeah yeah," Gene waved him away. "Remember She's with ME..."

"Gotcha," Steve nodded, ushering them inside the apartment. Ray smiled, and glanced over his shoulder to see a few others gathered in the room. A few guys sat on a well-worn sofa, stringing guitars, while a third guy adjusted a small drum set before the sliding porch door. There were amplifiers set up to plug into, and the whole process was observed by the girls fluttering about and perching on the arms of the sofa or the kitchen chairs pulled up into the small space. Gene climbs over a few of them and perched down in an empty kitchen chair. He motioned Ray to take the seat next to him, a folding chair that looked as if it had seen better days behind a bridge table. Chips and dip sat on a card table, with sodas and a few beers.

"I don't suppose any of you fucking idiots actually PRACTICED last night, did you?" Gene asked, glancing around the room. All eyes gravitated to his commanding presence when he opened his case and pulled out a Gibson bass.

"Actually we did," the guy behind the drums said, named Mike. Steve plunked down into the easy chair, and a blonde girl perched on the armrest beside him, her eyes gushing with admiration and pride.

"I can't believe it!" Gene shouted back.

Steve plucked his guitar and laughed, "Screw you, Klein."

"Hi, I'm Ray..." Ray said to the girl. "Are you here with Steve?"

"Hi" she smiled shyly, extending her hand to Ray. "I'm Audrey... Steve's girlfriend..."

For the next few minutes, the guys tuned their guitars, exchanging verbal jabs while the girls looked on. Piqued by the girls' lack of active participation, Ray figured it would be a long afternoon. Two of the girls who were with the other band members leaned over and giggled, joining Ray's conversation.

"Get me a beer, babe?" Steve nudged her.

"Sure, sexy," she nodded, rising. "Girls, what say we get some refreshment for our men in the kitchen..."

Audrey leaned over to touch Steve's shoulder for a moment. He leaned back, said something to her, then leaned forward again. Ray looked at Gene for a moment. Audrey and the other girls, Lynne and Missy got up and dashed into the kitchen. Ray remained behind, more interested in the band business.

"How many are we expecting at this damn party?" Gene asked.

"About 20 or more," Steve said back.

"I'm going to be pissed if we're playing for 25 again," Gene sighed.

"Could be 50... it's some friends in a frat house... the local college," Steve said.

Audrey returned with a can of Budweiser for Steve, while Lynne and Missy carried cokes and other sodas. They handed the cold beverages to their respective boyfriends, and each guy took his beverage in turn, giving his girl a peck on the cheek for gratitude.

"Gene, want a coke?" Lynne, one of the other girlfriends asked Audrey, Ray, and the other girl, Missy.

"Ray, why don't you go and get him a soda, like a good dear?" Steve asked. "We're discussing band business..."

"Yeah, it will be fun," said Lynne. "And then us girls can chat in the kitchen while the boys have their fun..."

Ray gives her a bit of a withering look. Missy blinked at Ray, wondering, "Well they ARE talking shop... we should bugger off and let them alone for a while..."

"I would like to watch them play," Ray protested.

"Are you SURE?" Audrey asks, wide eyed, "Mrs. Coronel made those cute little snacks for us."

Ray groaned. "Go SNACK, Ray, it's OK" Gene with wicked eyes, laughing to himself. "Besides, I'd REALLY like a soda... please?"

"Come ON, Ray, be a sport," Lynn suggested. "Your man wants a soda... is it TOO much to ask..."

"For you, anything," Ray said to Gene, rising and following the girls into the kitchen. Gene began to audibly chuckle, as he played with his bass. Ray soon returned with a cold can of Fresca for him.

"Thanks baby," he smiled.

"Sheesh, shades of June Cleaver," Ray mumbled, handing the can to him. Reaching up, Gene gave her a soft kiss.

"Feel free to come out when you want," he winked. Just then, Audrey returned, giving a discreet cough at them.

"Ray, we'd really love it if you joined us in the kitchen," she said with a cute smile. "After all, we DO want to get to know you... since you're here with Gene and all..."

"Oh great," Ray rolled her eyes at Gene.

"C'mon," Audrey urged. "Don't' be shy..." Audrey eagerly took her by the wrist and tugged Ray to follow her back into the kitchen.

"Gene..." Ray sighed. "Save me from this..." she mouthed.

"It's okay," Gene mouthed back. With a last glance at him, she relented and let Audrey take her back with the rest of the females in their domestic tittering.

"She's different," Steve raised an eyebrow. "First chick I've seen who didn't want to pal with the girls... is she ok?"

He nudged Steve, "She actually plays, you know. She's not bad. Not bad at all."

"No way," Steve muttered. "She PLAYS?"

"What does she play, Gene?" one of the other guys asked. "Other then YOU, of course?"

"And to PERFECTION, I might add," Gene smiled. Steve raised an eyebrow. "She's a keyboardist, and she's written some powerful stuff. Even made me take a second long."

"Do tell," said Steve, intrigued.

Back in the kitchen, the radio was turned to the local rock station, and Audrey pulled a plate of small sandwiches from the fridge, wrapped in cellophane, putting them on the kitchen table around which the girls sat. Ray folded her arms, leaning to watch Lynne and Missy comparing notes about their respective boyfriends kissing prowess. "You GUYYYYYS!" Audrey squealed to the girls. "I THINK Steve might give me his class ring."

"No WAY!" Missy gaped. Ray rolled her eyes again, mumbling something along the lines of 'I thought I had graduated high school...'

"Yes!" Audrey giggled. "I can't wait! He promised me at the..."

"The drive in?" Ray said dryly.

"Silly girl!" Lynne hit her on the arm. "It was Central Park, right?"

"Making out on the park bench... WOO-HOO," Missy teased her.

"Way to go, girl!" Missy congratulated her.

"So, how's he?" Lynne nudged Ray.

"He whom?" Ray asked, swirling ice in her glass, as she washed her distaste down with some coke.

"You have GOT to be kidding," said Lynne. "I mean GENE..."

"OH," Ray nodded. "Well, he's very different..."

Still reeling in the shock of Audrey's admission, Missy continued to squeal, "You LUCKY girl! His CLASS ring..."

"Gimmie a break," Ray mumbled, covering her ear. Missy looked at Ray, a bit surprised.

"What's wrong?" asked Lynne. "He's not what you expected..."

"Well..." Ray started, but was interrupted.

"You mean, you and Gene aren't serious yet?" Audrey asked.

"That's NOT it..." Ray sighed. "It's well..."

"Well?" asked Lynne. "You can tell US! We're all girls here..."

"It's all moving VERY fast," Ray finally said.

"WOOHOO," Lynne cheered her, initiating her into this sisterhood with a look of 'way to go' that Ray didn't particularly appreciate.

"So HOW is he?" asked Missy eagerly. "You know... in bed?"

"I can't complain," Ray said, with a smile. Missy and Lynne exchanged a look of part envy, partly something else that made Ray's skin crawl.

"Steve and I..." Audrey squealed. "We almost had sex the other night."

"No way, you don't say..." Lynne whispered.

"When are you going all the way...?" Missy asked.

Suddenly Ray asked, "Not to change the subject, but I was wondering... don't you girls... want to play with the guys ever?"

"Are you nuts, ME play a musical instrument?" Missy giggled.

"Yeah, haven't you ever WANTED to?" Ray asked, a glint of challenge present in her eyes.

"Well no, actually," Missy admitted.

Audrey laughed, "Me either. I can sing sort of, but I can't imagine Steve wanting me to mess around in his band."

"Or ANOTHER band. What if somebody tries something? Guys are DOGS, you know," Lynne whispered.

"Who heard of girls playing in a rock and roll band..." Missy giggled. "I mean there are girl singers... but in a band..."

"Why not?" Ray asked, challenging.

"Why should we play when we can sit back and watch?" Audrey challenged back.

"Because it's fun," Ray said. "And as a matter of fact, I'll go ask them now..."

"Hey where are you going... Steve will have a FIT if you interrupt!" Audrey rose to stop her. However, Ray exited quickly.

"Let her make a fool outta herself," Lynne threw up a dismissive hand. "She'll learn the deal sooner or later..."

"Steve will put her in her place, or Gene will..." said Audrey. "They HATE us getting in the way..."

"She's weird," Lynne mumbled to Audrey.

"I dunno, she seems to have a lot of spunk," Missy observed. "Not at ALL like the other women Gene's dated..."

"I think Gene's kind of creepy," Audrey shuddered.

"He DOES like horror movies," Lynne muttered.

"Did you see that bruise on his neck?" Missy asked, voice in a low whisper.

"And he's not even from around here. What if he's not like us?" Lynne said slowly.

"What do you mean not like us?" asked Missy. "Ray seems a lot like us..."

"Well, not from America. I've heard some weird ass shit about stuff that goes on over there," said Lynne.

"Ray's American at least," said Missy, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I suppose. I hope she's not going to decide she needs to go after Steve," Audrey said darkly.

Just outside the kitchen, Ray still stood. She had overheard them talking about Gene, and it made her bristle with anger. Whom did these fools think they WERE talking about HER Gene like that? Wait a minute, she stopped herself. HER Gene? Things WERE going very far very fast.

Back in the kitchen, the guy talk continued uninterrupted. You know who I think is cute?" Audrey laughed.

"Who?" asked Lynne.

"Steve knows this guy...Stan Eisen somebody or other. He's a total fox. He knows this dude Mike Rael..."

"Oh you mean that KID?" asked Lynne.

"He's really young, yeah, I know," Audrey sighed.

"He's CUTE..." Missy whispered. "He actually DOES have a girl in his band... she sings vocals..."
"She's a BITCH!" Audrey said hotly.

"Jealous?" Lynne asked, downing the rest of her soda.

"Ok, now girls, how long do you think I should make Steve wait... for "it"... you know," Audrey said, abruptly changing the subject.

Glad to be out of the kitchen, she wandered over to sit on the piano bench by the large upright piano, unused by any of the musicians. Gene had hooked up a microphone by now, and she heard his voice crooning a melodic song that she recognized from the lyrics he had shown her. He called it Eskimo Sun, and it reminded her distinctly of John Lennon.

Like paperclips to a magnet, her fingers were drawn to the keys of the open piano. Softly she fingered along to the tune, adding a few melodic chords and inversions by ear. Still she could hear the laughing and tittering from the kitchen, and sought to drown it out by playing louder. Taking notes from Steve's lead line, she played overtop to fill in with her own improvising.

Steve glanced at Gene during the bridge of the song, asking, "Who is that playing?"

"I would imagine its Ray," he smiled. "Give her a chance. She's damn good."

"You're shitting me," the drummer said in surprise. He stopped drumming and looks at Ray in shock. Steve too, and the other guy looked up, stopping their playing.

Gene smiled proudly, "And....she doesn't give a rat's ass about the chick talk in the kitchen. I can promise you THAT."

Ray noticed them looking at her, and stopped cold in the resulting silence. Tension twisted her stomach into knots, and she was half afraid they would be angry and kick her out into the torture chamber of the kitchen with the girls.

"Uh, sorry guys..." she apologized. Gene put his guitar down and began to applaud.

"It sounded halfway good," the rhythm guitarist muttered.

"About damn time we had someone, who could actually PLAY keyboards without shooting our sound to hell," Gene smiled, going over and patting her on the back.

"Hey, do you have that organ up here?" Mike asked his friend.

Steve nodded and rushed into the back bedroom. A few minutes later he was pushing an old electronic organ into the living room. He set it up near the nearest outlet and plugged it in. "See what you can play on this, baby cakes," Steve said to Ray.

"Uh..." Ray stammered, slowly getting up from the piano bench. She was nervous as the guys are all looking at her expectantly.

"Show 'em what you can do, Ray. Don't be shy," Gene urged. Steve grabbed the piano bench and moved it before the organ, waiting. Ray reluctantly sat down before the organ, glancing over the stops. It was a sixties throwback, the sort someone would play in a small church with a few good stops and a dual keyboard with a few pedals. Clearly, a rescue item, which had seen better days, but was still a good soldier in the line of musical duty. It hummed with forgotten life, and Ray began to experiment with the stops, to listen to the sounds.

Audrey emerged into the room and sits down next to Steve, on the arm of his chair. Gene took his bass and sat down next to Ray on the piano bench, with his back to the console.

"Wow. You really play that thing?" Audrey asked. Steve motioned her to be quiet.

"I call this song Who's Out There," Ray said. Strange tones curled into a far out effect, giving them the impression of vastness and space. It was remotely psychedelic.

"Man just think what she could do with a decent Moog," Gene mumbled.

"I would REALLY love a Mellotron," she said. "Like King Crimson..."So saying she switched into the lead lines of At the Court of the Crimson King, playing the mellotron line perfectly to the
appreciation of Steve and the other band members. The underground English band had only recently released a single in the states, and Ray's odd taste had whetted their appetites.

"Holy shit," Steve muttered.

"A little OUT there... you know anything that rocks?" asked Mike, from behind the drums.

"Don't suppose you'd ever consider going co-ed, now would you, Stevie?" Gene grinned.

"Hmm, how about THIS?" she asked, playing a credible version of Let's Spend the Night Together by the Rolling Stones, adding her own flourishes and harmonization.

"Okay Hun, see if you can top this," Steve laughed. He grabbed his guitar and started to play the opening chords to Magic Carpet ride.

She automatically chimed in with the organ part, duplicating the cover tune perfectly.

"Damn," Mike muttered.

"Don't call her HUNNY!" Audrey smacked Steve's arm, looking cranky. Then Ray saw the other two girls looking at her; eyes wide open from the doorway of the kitchen.

"Fine, can she play with US?" Steve challenged. "Our original music?"

"Why don't you try me?" she asked, turning to look at Gene. "Pick ANY song..."

"How about that one song... Love is Blind?" Gene suggested. "Give me your acoustic Steve, and I'll play the lines for her..."

Steve looked at Gene, saying, "You wrote that. It's one of the best songs we've got."

Audrey was VERY jealous of the perceived attention Ray is getting from Steve. Ray could sense it pouring off her in waves. She scooted closer so her hip touched Gene's, drawing courage from this small contact. "She can play it. Hell, yeah, she can. Ray?" Gene turned to her, his lips by her ear.

"Play me a line," she said. Steve motioned to the band, picking up his electric. The rhythm guitar guy grabbed his, and Mike began to click his sticks. Gene strummed the acoustic lead, then waited for Ray to join in. She did so, picking up the cues for the chord progression from him.

Gene stared to sing the lyrics, and Ray chimed in on a pleasant backup vocal, harmonizing. The entire room fell under their combined spell, leaving the girls especially speechless. Audrey leaned back in the chair scratching Steve's back. In the process, she knocked over a can of beer, causing him to glare back at her, and causing the other girls to laugh quietly. Missy moved over and sat by the drummer, Mike, kissing his cheek. Lynne moved over to the other guitarist, Sean, and sat on the arm of the sofa. When the song finished, Ray breathed a sigh of relief. Gene fell silent a moment then took a drink of soda.

"Not bad," Steve mumbled, clearly impressed and blown away. The other members of Gene's band sat in shock.

"What did I tell you guys? I TOLD you she'd knock your ass off," Gene grinned.

"Not bad, but can she play Jelly Roll?" asked Mike, glaring at Gene. "Another of your gems..."

"All right, let's do it,' Gene nodded. He picked up his bass, setting the acoustic into its home. Plugging into the amp, he tuned up and ripped out a funky baseline. The guys each chimed in their own contributions. Audrey scratched Steve's back. Every so often, she looked over at Gene and shuddered.

Gene sang the lyrics in a very deep rasp, adding a bite to his voice that made Ray shiver. She chimed in with a thick organ chord, adding a harmonization with her other hand to back up Gene's bass beat. "Even though I'm full of sin, in the end you'll let me in," Ray sang with Gene. Both of them traded back and forth on the vocals, grooving to the ever-building energy that potentiated between them. Lynne shook and swayed along to the beat. Missy was also impressed, but her look of shock told ray she was still stumped that a girl was actually PLAYING with the guys.

After their last jam ended, Steve wiped the sweat from his forehead and gasped, "Damn Gene, this is good shit..."

Ray looked at Gene, and nudged him. "Am I... doing ok?" she asked.

"You're scaring the crap out of them," he whispered jovially. "They have NO clue what to make out of you."

Audrey leapt up as the doorbell rung, and dashed over to answer it. When she opened the door, she gaped at the two young men standing behind it, their bell bottoms and flannel shirts loose with bohemian comfort. Long hair to their shoulders was jammed under a hat, and Ray caught a glimpse of both boys. They were barely seventeen, and she judged faces rounded with youth. Particularly the dark featured beauty on the left, whose eyes were hidden by the battered fedora jammed over his thick curly brown hair.

"Hey sweetie," the other, who had dirty blonde hair, said, winking at Audrey.

"Oh god... Matt... hello... and who is this sexy boy with you?"

"Stan," he said, extending his hand.

"Matt.... Hey..." said Audrey. "What brings you fine gentlemen here today?"

"We were wondering... Stan and me..." asked Matt. Audrey locked eyes with Stan, smiling sweetly.

"Uh-huhhhhhh," she said, not taking her eyes off Stan. Stan smiled shyly and lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Hey Hon, is Steve here?" asked Stan. She quickly looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow as well.

Just then, the music had resumed, and they could pick out a low throbbing baseline working into a stack of organ chords, a strange dissonance of sound and vocals. Steve by that time had given up, choosing instead to watch the duo of Gene and Ray sharing ideas openly. Gene loved every bit of the attention, finally enjoying the recognition he deserved. He glanced sidelong at Ray, beaming with pride.

"Wow, who's THAT?" Stan asked, nodding in the direction of the music. "That's not Steve is it?"

"Huh.... He's in the living room. Gene brought over some chick and she's trying to take over," sighed Audrey, rolling her eyes.

"What the hell is THAT?" Stan asked. "It actually sounds like real MUSIC!"

"You're not shitting me," Matt mumbled. "Damn..."

"But come in....if you want," Audrey smiled, inviting them in. Both of them shouldered their long coats and strode in on their booted feet. Stan tugged off his hat and peered into the heart of the music, seeing their source. A dark-haired guy, who had a hypnotic stare, was playing guitar and singing alongside the auburn haired girl tickling the electronic ivories.

"Shit, those guys playing music," Matt nudged Stan.

Steve looked up and saw the newcomers. He waved and yelled, "MATT! STANLEY!"

The sudden new melody Ray played caught on Stan's ears. He had never heard any melodic line so pretty. Gene also widened his eyes, gaping in strange appreciation at her.

"What is that?" Gene asked her, whispering.

"Diamond in the Rough," she whispered back. "It's a work in progress..."

Steve rose and met the newcomers, still unnoticed by Gene and the others, halfway. "Hey man, what's shaking?" Steve asked Matt, high fiving him.

"Hey man," Matt smiled. "I was just thinking we need to ask you guys a favor..."

"Stanley, you too huh? I wondered when you'd show your ass over here kid..."

"Hi there," Stan smiled to Steve.

"What the hell you assholes doing over here?" he chuckles, "Trying to steal ideas from the masters?"

"WE need a favor," Stan asked pleasantly, leaning up on his toes to peer at Ray more carefully. Audrey stood next to Steve, still eyeing Stan.

He moved past Audrey, mumbling, "I HAVE to know what she calls that song... just WHO is that girl playing?"

"Gene's latest. Turns out she can actually play. Go fucking figure."

Audrey pouted and watched Stanley as gazed past her to where Ray was playing intently, Gene with his back partly turned away as he added lines with his guitar.

"We're playing a show, and we need to borrow some stuff," Matt said.

"From us? A favor?" Steve laughed.

"You guys part with any of this stuff? ON a temporary loan?" Stanley added.

"How much you willing to give me?" Steve smiled as he put his arm around Audrey. Stan's eyes darted over the room, and he looks PAST Audrey to the girl singing.

"Damn," Stanley muttered. "You mentioned some guy named Gene... that she came with..."

"Oh yeah, shit. Gene...Gene Klein," said Steve, suddenly remembering Gene was there. It was infuriating how spacey he was sometimes, Audrey mumbled.

"Oh brother," Matt rolled his eyes. "Should have GUESSED he'd be here... stealing the attention..."

"Who's Gene?" asked Stan.

"A friend of mine," Steve said.

"The Gene? The horror film nut that writes music that you told me about?" asked Matt.

"The who?" Stanley laughed.

"He's been called worse," Steve smiled as he rubbed Audrey's shoulders. "He's weird as shit, but a good guy deep down. And talented as crap."

"He's a facing Weirdo," Matt whispered to Stanley. "He's got this aura about him, and it's damn FREAKY."

"So...Stanley, what have YOU been up to these days?" Audrey asked, hands behind her back.

"Oh the usual," he smiles, walking into the room a bit more. "Playing gigs, working in the sandwich shop... The usual crap... dodging my parents questions..."

"I know your sister," Audrey said, trotting behind him as he walked past the girls watching the others play along with Gene and Ray. Missy and Lynne's eyes glued right to Stan at that moment, turning their attention from their boyfriends.

"Julia?" he asked. "Oh..."

Matt walked over and started to flirt with Lynne, still talking to Steve, much to Mike's chagrin. Ray glanced up at the new arrivals, but Gene was still oblivious, staring down at his fingers working the frets of his guitar.

"She used to baby-sit for someone I know," said Audrey. Stan did not bother looking at her, still intrigued by just how good the music sounded.

"Hey man, you got some grass with you?" Steve asked. "I mean we can consider THAT part of the payment..."

"Sure thing man," Matt said, pulling a plastic bag with a leafy substance in it out of his pocket. Audrey's eyes widened and she turned away from Steve abruptly.

"I'll be back honey," Steve waved to Audrey. She humphed and watched Matt and Steve wander into the kitchen, slapping each other on the back and chatting like old friends.

"Holy shit," Stanley muttered. "Mike, is it?" he asked the guy behind the drums. "This is a SWEET looking amp..."

"It's a Marshall," said Mike. "But we won't part with it..."

"We'll see," Stan said, not caring for Mike's judgmental look. Instead, he turned to Ray.

"Miss, I hope you don't' mind me saying so but that was INCREDIBLE playing I heard just now," Stan said, smiling charmingly at Ray.

"Thank you," she smiled. Gene's head popped up, and his dark eyes met Stan's in a challenge. IT was instant dislike at first sight, and the electricity sparkled between what seemed to be two intense people.

"Who's the fucking KID?" Gene demanding, eyeing Stan. Stan narrowed his eyes at Gene, Snapping his head around. "If you're from some other goddamn band trying to take our gig...."

"Excuse me?" Stan asked, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm just here looking at the equipment, not that it's any of YOUR business, man. And for your info, it's a loan."

"Steve might be dumber than shit, but I'm not. If you're HERE to scope out our material, you might as well just go fuck yourself right now...with my compliments," Gene said, glaring at him.

"Looks like someone ELSE has that privilege," Stanley said mildly. "Besides, it wasn't you playing... it was this lovely lady... and I was talking to HER, not you..."

"I don't think you should fight. I don't think Steve would like that. " Audrey squeaked.

Ray looked at Gene, wondering just WHY he was suddenly so hostile to this newcomer. Did he sense some spark of familiarity with the kid? Or was it jealousy?

"Ease up," Ray nudged Gene. "He's a kid, and he's being politer then YOU are at that moment..."

"Listen to the lady, buddy," Stan suggested. "She's the only one around here with SENSE..."

Gene stood up, emphasizing the fact that he is bigger than Stanley is. He glared down at him, folding HIS arms across his chest and saying firmly, "Watch your mouth kid."

Stanley laughed a sort of laugh that reminded Raina of Woody Woodpecker. "Jeez you're tall aren't you?"

"Your ass had better not be feeding me a fucking story. It had BETTER be about the equipment!" Gene half growled, his eyes dark with a strange anger.

"What's it to you?" Stanley challenged him. "Like you're the band leader here?"

"I'll tell you what's it to me. We've worked damn hard to get this gig, and I'm not having some 15-year-old Art Boy came sashaying in here and stealing our shit!" Gene barked at him.

"Give me a BREAK! I've got my OWN shit!" Stanley rolled his eyes. "Like I NEED to steal yours."

"Uh-huh. Of course, you do," said Gene, not convinced. "Whom the hell do you think you are? You fancy yourself a music writer? Because there's only ONE talented guy in this room, who could write better with his left nut then any of these boneheads in this room... the lady excepted of course..."

"Wanna make a bet?" Stanley asked. "I bet I could out write you any day, big boy. Why don't' you put your money where your MOUTH is?"

"Play me something, you fucking pretty boy." Gene challenged a spark in his eyes. He handed the guitar to Stanley.

"Okay...." Stanley said, taking the instrument and glancing it over carefully. He balanced it in his hands, slipping the strap over his shoulder and strumming experimentally with very long fingers. They moved gracefully over the frets and strings with a dexterity that blew Raina away.

"And make it good," Gene said. Stanley walked over to the amplifier and plugged in. He adjusted distortion, and then closed his eyes for a moment. A hard driving song erupted from the guitar, and Stan began to sing in a deep tenor, fuller and richer then most kids his age could ever claim. It filled the room, and everyone present snapped up their heads to listen. Gene sat on the piano, watching him quietly. His face was frozen into a mask of seriousness that Ray wasn't sure was anger or mute appreciation.

"Holy shit," gasped Mike.

"Fuck" Gene whispered to himself.

"Kids got a voice on him..." said the other guitarist.

"You've got to Stop look and listen, baby," Stanley continued to sing. It was a credible tribute to British invasion.

"Nice song, but can you play something more ORIGINAL?" Gene asked, unconvinced.

"Yeah," Stan said. "I was just getting warmed up... and if the lovely lady will care to join my chords I call out, I'll sing something that REALLY cooks..."

Captivated, Ray's fingers moved to the keyboard. Stan called out chords to her as he began to strum. A melodic line twisted out between them, and Gene's eyebrow lifted in strange surprise. It had a different direction then Stop Look and Listen, and Gene grudgingly nodded with a grunt of assent that it was worth listening too.

"You're playing with HIM?" Gene commented.

"You need a better transition," Ray said, interrupted Stanley. "That chord doesn't work."

"Uh... really?' Stanley asked.

"Yes, you might try a progression from C to A.... then F," Ray said.

"Hmm that makes sense," Stanley said.

"Yeah, what the hell IS your name?" Gene asked, interrupting their collaboration.

"Stan Eisen," he said to Ray, smiling as he takes her hand. Gene grumbles a bit as they shook.

"Raina MacIntyre," she said, giving a last name that Gene raised his eyebrows at.

"Sorry about my shock, baby, you sure do know your music..." Stan said to her, appreciative.

"Just for the record.... She's NOT your baby, Casanova!" Gene broke in, pulling her to his side as if claiming his territory.

"Gene, relax, I'm not a cradle robber," she smiled at Gene. Stan stepped back, a bit spooked by Gene's look of anger.

"How long do you want our amps?" Gene asked, arms folded, scowling.

"Just one night," Stanley said.

"When?" Gene barked.

"And we'll pay to rent them," Stan added.

"Sure as shit, you will."

"How's twenty down?" Stan asked, pulling out a bill and handing it to Gene.

Gene glanced around the room and took the twenty from him, mumbling, "Where the HELL is STEVE?"

Stan winked at Ray and whispered, "Money talks, bullshit walks."

"Anyone have a problem with Heckle and Jeckyl using our amps for the night?" asked Gene, glancing around at everyone present. Audrey giggled.

"Uh no..." said Mike.

"HEY STEVE!" Gene yelled, rushing to the kitchen. He waved away a cloud of smoke, and Steve poked his head out for a moment.

"What?" Steve yelled back.

"This guy wants to use your amps!" Gene said. "What do you think?"

"I don't care. Yeah, whatever. Just make sure they're back in good working condition," said Steve. "Stan's a good kid."

"Deal," said Stanley. "What do you say... uh what is your name, man?"

"Klein" Gene glared. "MR. Klein to you, KID."

"Okay, no need to get pissy," Stan grinned. "I don't think the ladies want to think you've got PMS..."

Audrey giggled, "FUCK, Gene. Give him a BREAK! He's cute."

Gene rolled his eyes. "You can pick the shit up here. You're responsible for carting the stuff and returning it when you're done. Mr. Marijuana there in the kitchen will take care of writing up an agreement."

"Right," Stanley nodded.

"Which I TRUST will be satisfactory for everyone." Gene added, glaring at Steve.

"We WILL bring it back MISTER Klein," Stan promised, glaring darkly at Gene with a death ray stare of his own.

"And if you so much as come within 50 feet of our gig I'll squash you like a fucking roach," Gene added, poking a finger under Stan's nose.

"If you stay away from US," Stanley barked back, his own finger poised under Gene's nose. "Stay the HELL away from TREE unless you're gonna pay to see us... got it?"

"That's your band's name?" Gene asked, incredulously. "You into fucking flower power?"

"Well at least it's not some mutant frog name," Stanley laughed back. "What the hell does Bullfrog Bheer mean anyway..."

"Steve liked it cause it sounded cool," Audrey giggled, placing her hand on Stan's butt. He moved it away and stepped closer to Gene.

"Agreed, and now if you don't mind I've got other business to attend to kid," Gene waved his hand, as if in disinterest.

"Hey Man, I'm TALKING To you," Stanley said. "What bug crawled up YOUR ASS?"

"Audrey, keep your fucking hands off him." Gene muttered. "And you Kid, I have no problem with you PERSONALLY. I just want you to know, there's only enough room in this city for ONE superstar band, and well, frankly, it's not you."

"The fuck you say," Stan laughed in his face. "Looks like your band isn’t it either…"

"Besides.... I want to scare you so you don't fuck with my equipment," said Gene.

"Like you'd scare ANYONE with that rap, huffing and puffing like the big bad freaking wolf," Stanley laughed. Gene turns around to look at Ray. His eyes were dancing, as he was enjoying this.

"You'd BETTER be scared, kid," Gene bantered back. "Cause you'll get your ass kicked..."

"Mister I've heard that shit before... And it don't' mean NOTHING!" said Stanley. "Till you prove it to me..."

Gene turned to look at him again, "Let me GUESS. You still live at home with mommy and daddy."

"So what?" he asked. "I love my mom and dad."

"And they cook your meals and wash your clothes, and pat your cute widdle head on the way to school." Said Gene with a laugh.

"So what if they do?" he asked. "I'm a good little Jewish boy, who was brought up RIGHT, unlike some people here..."
Gene's eyebrows raised. Suddenly Lynne looked in disappointment at Audrey. Audrey looks back, unsure of what to do. She knew Steve was stoned and would very much like to make the moves on Stanley. However knowing Lynne's strong feelings regarding some matters, she hesitated.

"Fricking kyke," Mike muttered. "Coming in here and stealing the damn show, and the ladies..."

Ray snapped her head to look at him, mouth open. "I didn't hear that did I?" Stan asked, whirling on Mike.

"Hear WHAT?" asked Mike.

"Care to repeat that?" Stanley asked him, angry. Gene turned around to look at Mike. He missed the comment.

"Ohhhh, damn," Audrey said with a sigh. "Don't fight in here. Steve's mom will KILL him!"

"Excuse me," Mike said, grabbing Stanley's arm and pulling him over close. "If I were you, I'd stay the HELL out of our way, Hebe boy, or else something BAD might happen... And if I were you I'd lose the name. Better keep your mouth shut about your origins in THIS neightorhood, if I were you…"

"If I were you I'd step out now before I punch the shit out of you, you fucking asshole..." Stanley glowered at him, pushing Mike away forcefully.

"Origins.... What?" Gene said, looking hard at Mike.

"Fucking Eisen. What kind of a name is THAT?" Mike laughed, drunk. "It REEKS of Jew man..."

Gene glared daggers at Mike, and walked over to pull Stan into the main hall. Stan stomped his foot ad Mike, almost ready to swing at him. Fury burned in his dark eyes, and he reached to grab Mike by the front of his shirt.

"You shut the hell UP, you fucking BIGOT!" Stan yelled in his face.

"You're outnumbered," Mike said, pushing Stan away.

"What the fuck was THAT?" Gene asked, as he pulled Stan away by the arm from Mike.

"Your buddy threw a little slur, that's all," Stan hissed. "Mother fucking asshole..."

"Come here," said Gene, dragging him toward the hall.

"You've got GREAT friends Gene..." Stan hissed. "They say shit about people behind their back, fucking cowards."

Gene grabs his arm and pulls him fiercely, hissing, "LET me handle this. Go out there and cool the hell down."

"What the hell is wrong with people?" Stanley yelled.

Mike glared at Stanley, slowly rising from his drum kit and walking over in their direction. Gene, sensing a potential fight, hissed at Stan, "Go.... Get the hell out.... Audrey, get him the shit out of here before he breaks something..."

Audrey jumped up quickly and pulled him over. "Over here, Stanley," she motioned.

"Let me go," Stanley said, shaking her off.

"No, PLEASE," she cried.

"Go to your boyfriend," Stanley said firmly. "I don't play with other people's merchandise."

"I'm supposed to keep you out in the hall. Gene's orders," she said, as tears came to her eyes.

Ray got up and rushed over, grabbing Stanley's arm. In her best school teacher voice, she said crisply, "Come with me NOW, and Let GENE handle this..."

Before he could object she marched him, out. Helpless he let Ray take him away. As they left, Gene wheeled around to glare at Mike.

"What Gene..." he laughed. He shoved Mike over, fire in his eyes, and slammed his fist into the drumhead with surpassing force. A gaping hole was left in the snare.

"Awww shit Gene..." said Mike laughing. "What got into you?"

"FUCK.... You...." Gene hissed, angrily. Mike jumped back.

"Steve..." he stammered, walking away. "Gene's gone NUTS!"

"That sort of back ass anti-Semitic BULLSHIT will not FLY with me." Gene yelled at Mike, rushing after him and grabbing him by the shoulder. Whirling him around he grabbed Mike's shirtfront and backed him up against the wall.

"Anti WHAT?" Mike asked, stammering. "Hey man, be cool!"

"If I EVER..." Gene hissed, shaking with anger.

"What the hell..." Mike blubbered, his eyes wide as saucers.

"I will fuck up your drum set even worse...and then I will fuck up you," he said, eyes cold and angry.

"Gene man... what the fuck?" he asked. "I say one silly thing and you go ballistic?"

"My mother.... My mother almost fucking died..." Gene started, but was met with total incomprehension from Mike, who squirmed, shivering in terror. "Never mind. You aren't worth the damn trouble."

Quickly he released Mike and turned away, glaring at the remaining people in the room. Ray had returned, seeing the face-off with mingled fear and strange appreciation. Grabbing his bass Gene slammed it back into the case and snapped it shut with a definitive click. He threw on his coat and yanked the case off the floor with a jerk. Rushing over to Ray, he grabbed her hand, and said abruptly, "Get your coat. We're leaving."

"All right," she said, moving over to grab her coat. She slipped it on, and took her purse over her shoulder.

"What the HELL is going on here?" Steve asked, stumbling out as Mike ran to him.

"Gene's going NUTS!" he blabbed. "Man I'm OUT of here... if you don't reign him in..."

"Gene, what did you do?" Steve asked.

"This band is a walking piece of shit," Gene growled. "And you're too stoned to notice!"

"Hey man..." Steve said. "Be cool..."

"I'll see you idiots at 8:00 tomorrow night. Mike, get that drum fixed by then or you're out of the band," Gene said, switching to a cold hard business demeanor. He grabbed Ray's hand again, and tugged her toward the door.

"Yyyyess... Gene..." Mike stammered, stumbling over his drum set. Audrey watched, wide eyed.

Stanley had wandered back in, glaring at Matt who was finishing a joint. Matt asked, "What happened?"

"OH nothing, some mental midget fucked with me, that's all," Stan snapped sarcastically. "Let's get the hell outta here..."

"But I'm doing the deal for the equipment!" Matt protested.

"Fine you schmooze. I'm too fucking pissed... I need to get some AIR..." Stan hissed.

"Oh shit, Gene's REALLY mad!" Audrey said to Stanley, moving closer to him. Stanley ignored her, storming out quickly past everyone.

"He's got the right idea. I'm outta here," Gene said to Steve. Dragging Ray behind him, he opened the door and stormed off after
Stan.

As Ray and Gene left the apartment, Gene walked quickly. Ray was almost unable to keep pace with his long-legged stride. Each step he forced into the pavement with unnecessary violence. When they reached the crest of the hill, they saw the tall figure of Stanley from behind,
pacing and stomping, his curses drifting to them on the afternoon air.

"He's pretty upset, Gene," Ray said. "Maybe we should say something to him..."

"I know," Gene nodded. "He didn't deserve what happened..."

"Mother fucking assholes!" Stan shouted, stopping as he whirled around and kicked a trash can. With a clatter it landed and its lid rolled partly away. Thankfully, there was no trash within to spew over the already littered sidewalk. Turning from the can, Stanley slammed his fist against a fence, then winced and nursed his bruised hand.

"Stanley," Gene said, reaching to touch his shoulder. Flinching, Stanley whirled around, fist raised to strike. However Gene caught hold of Stan's hand, and urged, "Easy kid it's just me..."

"Did you come here to gloat?" Stanley asked bitterly, eyes moist with what Ray decided were tears. His face was crumpled in misery, on the verge of crying.

"No, I've come to ask you if you live around here?"

"Yeah, so what?" Stanley glowered, pulling his hand away from Gene.

"What do you say to splitting a cab with me and the lady?"

"You sure man?" he asked, disarmed by Gene's simple question.

"I suppose I sort of owe it to you." Gene said quietly.

"Okay,' Stanley said, glancing down at his boot that traced the pavement with his toe. Ray regarded both of them, sighing.

"I... umm... shit, but that was over the top... Back there." Gene said, scratching his head.

"No shit," Stanley agreed.

"I was only playing with you.... Roughing you up a bit. You didn't deserve.... THAT..." Gene said awkwardly.

"I hate assholes like that..." Stanley gritted. "Can't some people just LEAVE things be?"

"I do too," Gene agreed quietly.

"They pretend to be your friend, but the instant they know what and who you are..." Stan started, then trailed off, chin wobbling. He realized what Gene had said, agreeing with him, and his dark eyes
carefully examined Gene as if meeting him for the first time.

"You don't owe him shit, Stanley. He's going down faster than a $50 whore. By next year at this time, he'll be selling newspapers on the street corner. He doesn't have any mother fucking talent," Gene said. "So...don't let it get to you."

"Mr. Klein..." he mumbled, and Gene broke into a slow grin.

"That's what they call me.... Now," Gene corrected them. As they were talking, Ray had taken the trouble to flag down a cab.

"Gene, the cab's here," Ray nudged Gene.

"Oh..." he said as he turned around to the taxi pulling up by the curb. She took Gene's hand and led him over, and Gene gestured for Stanley to follow with a toss of his head.

"Stanley?" asked Ray. "You coming too?"

"Sure," Stanley said, taking the other hand she extended to him. Gene opened the door for her, and she urged Stanley in first, despite his insistence on her going first. Ray climbed in next, followed by Gene.

"Where do you live?" Gene asked Stan. "Go ahead and tell the guy your address..."

Stan leaned over and told his address to the cab driver while Gene closed the door. Sandwiched between the two men, Ray felt a strange sexual tingle creep up from the base of her spine. Whatever Stan's age, he was very attractive, judging from the muscular thigh pressed against hers.

"SPEAKING of $50 whores, Steve's little chippy's got the hots for you," Gene grinned at Stan.

"I'm not interested," Stanley sighed. "She's... not my type... and plus she's already got a boyfriend."

"Audrey's OK... a nice piece of tail, I would say, judging from the looks of her," Gene started.

"There's more to girls then that," Stan mumbled. "I like them to be able to talk to me, not just LOOK pretty..."

"Stuffs tissues in her bra, though," Gene grinned."I like a real woman... with real tits," Stan suddenly chuckled. Ray smiled as the tension eased considerably in the male camaraderie. Some women would be offended, but she was amused and even glad for seeing it develop between Gene and this kid who seemed an odd kindred spirit.

"I think I can say, I would agree with that statement," Gene nodded. "Now, if she'll ever let Steve have any, he'll figure out she's half stuffed."

Ray started to laugh, and Stanley asked, "What's so funny? You got a secret?"

"I TOLD you," Gene chuckled. "She puts tissue paper in her bra. Those tits aren't real. And don't ask me HOW I know..."

"She said that she was GOING to give herself to Steve..." Ray giggled, holding her side. "And she was all June cleaver about getting his class ring..."

"Sure, if Stanley here doesn't get to her first," Gene added with a grin.

Stanley gave another woody woodpecker laugh, and shot back, "I'm NOT interested Gene... I mean... whoops... Whatever you want me to call you Mister."

"You can call me Gene. All those other fucking losers do," said Gene.

"Even a teenager art loser?" Stanley asked hopefully. "A friggin Hebe boy like me from queens?"

"Stop it, Stan," Ray smacked his thigh. "No insults of THAT caliber, thank you... all racial slurs stop here, and especially self inflicted ones..."

"Besides, in case you haven't noticed...I suffer from an overinflated impression of myself," Gene chuckled, eyes shut.

"No REALLY?" Stan grinned. "I wouldn't have figured YOU to be anything but MODEST..."

"Kid...whatever works for you. It's not for me, but fuck it. You've got real talent, sad to say, but it's true," Gene admitted."And it hurts like hell for me to compliment people in other bands."

"I noticed," Stanley laughs, trying to push out his bitterness. "You'd die before you'd admit someone ELSE can write music."

"So.... I gather you write?" Gene asked.

"Uh huh," he nodded. "You'd KNOW if you'd kept your big mouth shut and opened your ears..."

"You got some shit you can play me? Just me, you and Ray...maybe at your folk's house...no bullshit?" Gene asked.

"Yeah, if you want," Stanley said carefully, watching Gene's facial expressions. "And you'll play music critic right?"

"Yeah, I want, because something tells me, half those assholes need to be fired, and we need some new talent."

"Bullfrog Bheer is a lame name," Stan laughed.

"If you've got the balls for it...I'll give you my opinion."

"What the hell, I'm in," Stan smiled, reaching over Ray's lap to shake Gene's hand.

"I'm not kissing your mother," Gene chuckled.

"At least she won't bitch that you're too thin," he poked Gene's ribs.

"What the hell does THAT mean?" Gene arched an eyebrow comically at Ray.

"You know how j... moms are... some of them like their boys to be well fed..."

"Like mine, for example," Gene chimed in. At this comment Stanley regarded him carefully, then mentally hit himself for not putting two and two together in his anger and bitterness at Mike's small-minded comments.

"No wonder..." he mumbled. "Shit... I must be fucking blind..."

"No offense, Bro, but you ARE awfully fucking pretty. You'd make a nice centerpiece on stage for some band," Gene quickly changed the subject, moving on from their mutual realization of their common religious and ethnic connection.

"Thanks, coming from you that's barely a compliment," said Stan.

"Right, Ray?" Gene elbowed her. She smiled and leaned over to kiss Gene's cheek.

"No, I'm serious. LOOK at him. He's got those cheekbones," Gene pointed to Stan's face.

"Aww shit I'm nothing special," he laughed modestly, blushing.

"And that wild ass hair," Gene added.

"You kidding me? You have Paul McCartney eyebrows!" she nudged Stan.

"I saw the way Steve's chick was just about plastered on you," Gene nodded.

"Like static cling," Ray teased.

"Great, she's saying I'm Paul friggin Mccartney," Stan groaned.

"You all think I'm nuts, but he's got sex symbol potential. Am I WRONG?" Gene asked.

"I think it's a yes," she said, nudging Stan and fingering his cheek playfully.

"Rock chicks LOVE pansy ass pretty boys," said Gene.

"Aww shut up," Stan laughed, hiding his face in his hand in embarrassment at her flattery, and a strange warm feeling creeping through his body that he enjoyed immensely. Gene studied him for a moment.

"Fucking Shirley Temple curls," Stan laughed.

"Big brown eyes," Gene nodded. "Pouty lips, its PERFECT."

"And a very SEXY body," Ray added.

"HEY!" Gene snapped playfully at her. Ray grabbed Gene's chin and planted a kiss on his lips. He moaned for a moment.

"Ugh get a room," Stanley laughed.

"What you grousing about? There's PLENTY of room here, kid," Gene winked.

"And those idiots said you were creepy," she sighed. "Frigging June cleaver wannabes."

"I am creepy," he smiled.

"I *like* creepy," she smiled back. Stanley laughed at them.

"Will mommy kick your ass if you invite friends over?" Gene asked Stan.

"I think she'd be THRILLED I have friends," he teased. "And besides, you guys aren't potheads like Matt."

"The last thing I'd spend my money on is shit to make me feel hungry for a night. I can feel hungry all on my damn own, without spending a cent," Gene said.

"Mmm you do," Ray purred, rubbing Gene's thigh. "What ARE you hungry for?"

Stanley smiled as they pulled up to before his home. Gene noticed it was modest yet comfortable, in a sea of similar structures with neat domestic tranquility. Not the equal of Ray's neighborhood, but certainly far more then he had grown up with.

"This is really OK? Because we can meet another time," Gene said.

"Well actually my mom's still home... but if you want my number, here it is..." Stan said. Ray pulled out a piece of paper from her purse and Stan scribbled his number on it to hand to Gene.

"See you around Geno," Stan winked, and leaned over to give Ray a peck on the cheek before exiting the cab.

"I'll call you!" Gene shouted, rolling down the window as the cab pulled away. "And about that equipment. Have it back ON TIME."

"Right man!" Stanley shouted back, waving. Ray and Gene glanced back for a moment as Stan walked in the front door, and soon was swept away into the folds of his neighborhood.

Gene then told the cab driver his address, sighing loudly. "That was just a bit strange."

"Gene, he's cute, and he's talented..." Ray said reflectively, staring shortly off into space. "You don't think..."

Gene rubbed his temples a bit, and groaned, "I fucking broke Mike's drum and we have a show tomorrow."

"You broke Mike's DRUM?" she gasped.

"Yeah," he said miserably, "I put my fist through his drum head."

"Good," she nodded, taking Gene's hand. "Jerk deserved it. Stan told me what he said."

"There goes THAT show down the drain," Gene sighed.

"You should have seen the other girls reactions when Stan dropped his bomb," Ray said. "As if it mattered what religion he was."

"I guess I'm used to it, to a degree. I've dealt with it all my life. You just can't let other people make it relevant," Gene mumbled, and Ray sighed and pondered what her parents might think about Gene. "But I knew...that he couldn't handle it...that he was raw. So...I stepped in."

"Despite that asshole exterior you ARE a sweetie," she smiled.

"GOD, no!" he exclaimed as he pulled her tightly to him. "My reputation's RUINED!"

"You're a marshmallow..." she teased.

"And just so you know, I was totally bullshitting him earlier. I've never been down Audrey's shirt," Gene leaned close, whispering in her ear. "But he believed me, and that's what counts."

"I'm glad... because I'd kick her ass, and yours," she half teased.

"Hmmm, really?"

"I'm sorry if I'm jealous," she said, flushing.

"Of HER?" he chuckled. Ray bit her lip.

"She IS pretty."

"The girl that calls me CREEPY?" Gene asked, chuckling. "She doesn't have a thought in her head. It's all helium."

Ray giggled, "That's why you like me... I think for myself right?"

"Besides, Steve told me they've been screwing for six months now, so DON'T believe her crap about not putting out," Gene admitted. Ray guffawed at this, slapping the side of the cab wall with righteous mean gladness.

"You know what she asked me?" she asked, through tears. "She wondered if you and I were serious..."

"What did you tell her?"

"I didn't get a chance to say anything because she was too busy going on about the class ring. And then I finally said that things were QUITE satisfactory..."

"Would you say we are serious?" Gene asked.

"I would like to," Ray said slowly, taking his hand. "You make me feel things no other man has."

"What exactly is the definition of that word, love? Because I'm not looking to... uhhhhh... you know," Gene said, scratching his head awkwardly.

"I don't know," she said, glancing out the window to watch the transition of buildings passing by on the Tribourough Bridge.

"Let's not worry about THAT."

"Good idea," he said quietly and kissed her hand.

"I don't' want to ruin what we have now," she added. "Thinking about THOSE kinds of things..."

"We're too damn young. Too damn irresponsible," he smiled.

"You're probably a few years older then me," she laughed. "I'm not Stan's age, but I'm not yours... or Steve's... You ARE more experienced then me in some things..."

"As it should be," Gene nodded, stretching back in the seat and pulling her to lean against him. "Let's face it. Do you really want an inexperienced lover?"

"Hell no," she nodded vigorously. "I HATED it when I was groped like ripe fruit."

"Most men wouldn't mind giving a novice lady a few lessons, whereas I would IMAGINE most women would find an inexperienced man to be a nuisance...a pain in the ass."

"But you had to learn from SOME woman... sometime," Ray pointed out.

"Well, sure, that's true..."

"It's a male fantasy having a Mrs. Robinson," she teased.

"AND also having a Sandra Dee," he teased back, poking her ribs.

"Men aren't picky," Gene shrugged.

"Ugh," she sighed. "Typical! I guess you weren't picky with me?"

"You were the exception. You, I chased," he smiled, eyes closed.

"I'm glad you did," she whispered into his ear, kissing it. "I can't get enough of you, Gene..."

"For that doll, I'm VERY glad," he purred, taking her chin in his hand and turning her face to deposit a passionate kiss upon her waiting lips.