A Real Disaster Read Online Free PDF Page B

what it’s all about.”
    If Turner could see through my façade he
didn’t say anything. I looked at my watch and my eyes bulged.
    “We better get going if we want to make
it to the concert,” I said to him.
    I grabbed a jacket and my bag. Turner
held the door open for me and I slipped through, locking it behind us.
    “Don’t worry about being too late,”
Turner assured me. “We won’t miss anything. The concert doesn’t start until at
least an hour later than they say.
    “So why not tell people the real time?”
    It was a good question. Too many events
were like this anymore and it was kind of annoying ..
    “Because the
best part about this type of concert is waiting and anticipating the music. It also gives
people enough time to get nice and drunk.”
    “Why drunk?”
    “Because the
music is so much better when you’re drunk.”
    I stared at Turner, wondering if he was
joking or being serious. Oh geez, he’s serious. I realized it when he didn’t
start laughing.
    “Why?”
    This time Turner did laugh.
    “You want the truth?”
    “Obviously.”
    “The music sucks. Every year the music
sucks. Drinking is the only way to get through it without wanting to rip the
hair out of your head.”
    “But then why continue it every year?”
    Turner shrugged.
    “It’s tradition. You don’t mess with
tradition here. If you do, or even if you try to, you’ll be tarred and
feathered before you know it.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “Deadly. This is serious stuff that
happens here. You don’t try to change it.”
    He began laughing.
    “You’re joking aren’t you?”
    “Sort of…”
    The two of us stepped into the elevator
and pressed the first floor button. Standing next to each other, Turner and I
each looked different ways, lost in our own thoughts.
    “If I haven’t said it already, you look
really pretty tonight.”
    “Thanks,” I said and felt myself
warming. “I wasn’t so sure about the outfit. I thought maybe it was too….” Revealing? Slutty? “Not me,” I decided to explain. “I’m not used to showing so much of my body.”
    Was I really trying to explain my outfit
choice?
    “Why not? You have a body
that was made to be shown off.”
    Almost immediately Turner put his hand
over his mouth and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, that sounded wrong, totally
wrong. I didn’t mean to say that… Or at least to make it
sound so pervy .”
    “It’s fine.”
    He had about the same amount of
confidence that I had.
    “I’m not that type of guy,” he continued
to explain. “My mother taught me to be a gentleman and she would have my ass if
she knew what I said.”
    “Well, then maybe I should give her a
call,” I teased. “I’m kidding. Turner, you worry too much, did anyone ever tell
you that?”
    I was the same way though.
    “More than once.   I’m what they call a ‘worrywart’.”
    “That makes two if us.” I smiled. “I’m a
bit neurotic myself.”
    The elevator opened and we stepped out
into the first floor. Turner rushed forward to open the door. We stepped into
the night, the warmth and humidity encompassing us like a blanket.
    “Thank you.”
    “My pleasure.”
    Turner held out his arm and I linked
mine through, letting him guide me towards the Great Lawn. Turner was a… Gentleman. It came off as a little cheesy but at least he
was nice. Others were milling about, all slowly making their way to the grass.
I could smell the booze from where we were and the hum of voices greeted us as
we sifted into the crowd.
    Sabrina was sitting on a rock, a
cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. Sabrina smokes? I couldn’t help but wonder if the cigarette was to
look cooler and fit in better. Elizabeth stood next to her, nursing a red solo
cup.
    “Hey guys,” I said and waved at my
roommate.
    Sabrina waved back and the two of them
blatantly stared at Turner and me as we passed. Turner nodded at them but
didn’t remove his arm from mine.
    “Have fun!” Sabrina cried out.