Just What I Needed

Just What I Needed (1)

“Don’t worry,” grinned Haley, much too used to conversations like these to be bothered, “You can listen to your music on the way home.”

That had her perking up instantly. “Who’s picking us up?”

"Tony," she answered easily. "And he's going to be waiting at the Starbucks down the road."

“You know,” Keely’s voice was casual, “There are probably about three Starbucks’ down the road. But at least Tony is picking us up,” she sighed; now smiling happily. "I left a CD in his car."

“I know what Starbucks,” Haley informed, “Just save the P.D.A until I'm gone.”

Sending her friend a joking pout, Keely answered, “I guess I could do that.” But to be honest, it wouldn’t be that hard. Passion wasn’t real except for in music, at least that was her experience, and those couples on the streets were just faking it.

“Ah, the sacrifices we make for being best friends. Even in the throes of young love,” Haley teased. “And, by the way, which CD is in Tony's truck?”

“Just one that I left in there the other night, it’s just a burnt one. There’s some Beatles, Foo Fighters, The Clash, The Black Keys, Peter Frampton, Hendrix,” she couldn’t help but trail off when they rounded the corner to see one of the many generic Starbucks that you could find in any city. Tony’s truck was sitting out front, the black paint gleaming in the darkness. “There’s more I can’t think of... oh, yeah, Robert Johnson.”

Haley just crinkled her nose in distaste as Keely straightened beside her, though keeping their arms twined together. “Is that that old guitar guy you made me listen to where the sound was really bad and annoying?”

She couldn’t help the incredulous, and slightly horrified, look that slipped onto her face when she looked at her best friend. “Well, of course the sound wasn’t good! It was recorded in the thirties, we’re lucky we even have it! He’s such an incredible guitarist-”

“I like it when you and Tony are fighting,” Haley interrupted thoughtfully.

"What?!" she laughed incredulously.

But the girl just gave a shrug, sending her a mischievous little look. “When we’re in the car together you just glare out the window, don’t even talk to him so he chooses the music just to piss you off. The stuff you play is good, but you know I need my Ke$ha fix each day.”

For a moment she just stared, but Keely just shrugged, letting go of the car to grab pull open the passenger’s door of the truck. There were some people you just can’t change, no matter how hard you try, but everyone has a right to their own taste in music... no matter how crappy it is. Anyways, differences are what make life interesting, right?

“Hey baby,” Tony greeted immediately, leaning across the seat, giving her a firm kiss.

And, with her only thoughts revolving around the fact that few people could carry out saying ‘baby’ without sounding idiotic and her boyfriend was not one of them, Keely deepened the kiss. It was habit.

“Keel, you promised,” Haley complained from the back seat.

Smirking slightly, Keely put her hands on Tony’s chest, shoving him away. “So sorry, but I did,” she pointed out, settling back comfortably in her seat. “You and Joe could have had the same consideration for me,” Keely felt the need to say, looking back in the mirror to see her friend. Her stomach sank with guilt when she saw Haley’s normally cheerful eyes flash.

But her thoughts were quickly distracted. “Promised what?” Tony asked, his brow furrowing beneath his shortly cut brown hair that laid flat despite all his work with hair gel.