"Eyes That Change From Blind To Blue"
April 1990
San Francisco, CA
It wasn't unlike Dave and I to wake up early in search of a local coffee shop to satisfy our need for caffeine each morning. Not only did it give us some much-needed alone time, but it also gave us the chance to explore the new cities.
I fell in love with the west coast during our last tour, but actually getting to drive down Pacific Coast Highway and see the coastline sealed the deal. It was beautiful. Everything I had ever wanted home to be.
"You want your usual?" Dave asks while holding the door open for me to enter behind him. A bell rang, catching the attention of the exhausted looking barista at the counter.
I sent the older woman an apologetic smile before turning my attention to Dave and his half blonde, half brown hair. Even now, months later, I wasn't used to the idea of him being blond. Maybe because I had always known him as a brunette, but it definitely took some getting used to.
By November he was already sick of it, threatening to shave his head which sent me into a panic. "Yes please."
"I can see the wheels turning in that pretty head of yours," He leaned in to kiss my forehead before turning to the lady to place our orders. Leaving me with my usual job of picking out a table.
Tour hadn't been a complete shit storm so far, mainly due to my interventions when Franz would try to start something. Two months in and Skeeter hadn't verbally threatened to quit again, but I could tell by his glares that he was close to his breaking point with the Stahl brothers.
"What's going on up there?" A mug, of what I hope is a white chocolate mocha with two shots of espresso, was placed in front of me as Dave slid into the seat across from me with his black coffee. "You've been really quiet all day and I know how much you love San Fran."
I shrug, bringing the mug to my lips. "Honestly I'm just off in my own little world. Nothing really important." One thing I've come to realize is that Dave hates talking about the conflict going on within his band.
Whenever arguments began, he makes a quick exit to find me or puts his headphones on to block out the yelling. I wasn't going to bring it up when we were supposed to be enjoying ourselves. "How are you feeling? You said your back was hurting last night."
"Better," His eyes had a sparkle in them that only appeared after having his morning coffee. "It's still stiff, but I think it's from sleeping in that uncomfortable seat all the time. My bed spoils me." His hand absentmindedly sliding across the tabletop to grab mine. "Hey..."
"Yeah?"
"I love you," A toothy grin covered his face, making it impossible not to smile back at him. Moments like these, where we could just be our normal happy selves, made me fall in love with him all over again.
"I love you too."
---
The crowds on the west coast were always louder than those out east. I don't know if it was because of the growing scene coming out of Seattle, or just the difference in culture from coast to coast.
Scream had taken the stage not even ten minutes ago and the crowd was screaming so loud that I thought I was going to go deaf from my spot behind the merch table. Dave was giving it his all on stage and even though his hair covered his face most of the time, I could make out the ghost of a smile.
"Now that's the kind of drummer we need!" A short blond guy shouted from about three feet away. He stood between to a guy who was well over six-feet-tall and another That I believed to be Buzz Osbourne from the Melvin's. "He's oozing with energy man..."
I hadn't even realized I was staring at the group until the guy who could be compared to giant locked eyes with me, turning the blond in my direction.
My stomach dropped when the three men maneuvered through the crowd in order to talk to me. "Are you with the band?"
"I uh..." My eyes scan their faces, feeling awkward due to the sudden unwanted attention. The tall guy had an easygoing smile on his face while the shorter blond guy looked anywhere but directly at me. "I'm dating Dave."
Buzz spoke up, allowing me to relax a bit due having met him on a previous tour. "Krist give the poor girl some room. Sorry for the sudden infiltration Rose, but these two had some real hard ons for your boyfriend."
"So, you're dating the drummer?" Krist smirks down at me, "With the way he beats on that kit, I bet he's a damn good shag in bed as well, right?"
My cheeks were hot, and my jaw dropped at his vulgar statement. If this was coming from Pete and Skeeter, or even Daves sister Lisa I wouldn't be so uncomfortable, but this Krist guy is a stranger.
"Krist stop." The blond spoke for the first time since walking over, shooting a glare up at his taller friend, "She obviously doesn't know you, so why do you think she'd be interested in talking about her sex life?"
The tall boy, Krist as his friends called him, shrugged before glancing back at me. "Most girls in this scene love to gush on and on about their relationships. Sorry if I overstepped."
"Do you know if Dave's happy in Scream?" The blond, whose name I still didn't know, changed the subject. "Because we'd really love to steal him away for our band."
Our eyes locked and I felt my knees almost buckle underneath me. His blue orbs stared into my similar ones, as if reading me like a book.
After regaining some of my composure I bit my lip and lean forward on the small merch table, "There are some internal problems, but I don't see him leaving unless the band folds." It was the honest truth. I knew Dave well enough to know that he always stuck to his obligations.
"Well that's too bad," There was something hidden within those words, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The two bandmates excuse themselves, leaving me alone with Buzz.
"Give this to Dave and have him call me if things go to shit," Buzz slid a small piece of paper across the table for me, "I know about what's really happening within Scream and I don't see the band sticking around much linger. He would be a perfect fit for Nirvana."
My jaw dropped, eyes widening at the familiar name. "Wait Nirvana as in Bleach?" I glanced in the direction of the two friends who were now playfully shoving one another. "I love the song About A Girl."
"Yeah that Nirvana," Buzz's eyes dart over to the two guys across the room, "They've got something special and Kurt has some amazing songs written for the next album. I know Dave would love to be a part of it."
I nod, "I'll talk to him tonight."
---
"Can't you just enjoy a show for once and not pick a fight with us?" Pete's voice traveled down the hallway causing my eyes to widen. "We still have another two months of touring ahead of us."
When I entered the dressing room, I was met with a fuming Skeeter sending a murderous glares toward the Stahl brothers. "Well if you guys didn't always fuck up the same things then maybe I wouldn't get pissed off."
"Skeeter." My tone was threatening as my eyes roamed the room in search of Dave's small frame, "Just walk away before you say something you'll regret tomorrow." He snatched a random bottle of liquor off one of the nearby tables before pushing by me to leave the room. "Now where the fuck is Dave?"
As if on command the skinny drummer exited the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. A second towel being used to dry his long hair. "I was waiting out the storm." I couldn't help but let my eyes roam over his toned body as he pulls a clean change of clothes from his duffle bag.
"Well," Pete spoke up while grabbing Franz by his elbow, "We're going to start packing the gear away. You two... wear some protection."
Dave turned around with a confused expression on his face, watching his two older bandmates leave the room before his eyes met mine. A look of understanding crossing his face immediately. "So, you're running my bandmates off now?"
"You don't really expect me to not react when you walk out of the bathroom in only a towel, do you?" I ask while locking the door to the dressing room so we wouldn't be interrupted. "With as much help as I've helped them calm Skeeter down in the last month, I think I deserve some compensation."
His eyes darken as he takes a step closer to me, hands immediately going to the bottom of my shirt to pull it over my head. "You can get your compensation anytime you want it." His lips meet mine in a hungry kiss as both of us struggle to get my shorts off and over to the couch in the corner.
---
"So... remember that band Nirvana I was listening to?" My head laid on Dave's chest as we came down from our high, "I met them tonight. They said you are an amazing drummer."
When I look up at his face, I couldn't help but chuckle at the multiple chins that had formed as he looked down at me. "They're the ones from Seattle, right? I've heard a lot about them from bands over here."
"I guess?" I sigh and push myself up slightly with my forearms, "They were here with Buzz Osbourne. He gave me his number for you to call."
Dave's eyebrows scrunch together in confusion, "What, why?"
"He thinks you could make it big with Nirvana," My lip got caught between my teeth with these words. "He told me to tell you to call him when Scream implodes, and you need a new gig because they're ready for you."
Dave scoffs, pulling me close so my head was tucked under his chin. "No matter how much we argue, I don't think Skeeter will ever have the balls to actually leave the band. I don't think I'll be going anywhere else anytime soon. Plus, our life is in Virginia. I wouldn't survive the winters in Seattle."
"Just keep it," The thought of having to uproot my life to move to Seattle made me queasy, but I knew it was inevitable. Something that Buzz said earlier hit me hard, and I knew he was right. Nirvana is going to be a new cultural movement, but only with Dave as their drummer. "You know, just in case."
He rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah, alright. We should probably get dressed. Don't want Skeeter screaming at us next for making them wait."
---
Present
"And that was the first time I was face to face with Kurt and Krist," A frown was on my face as silence took over the four of us. "Dave really didn't think he was going to be leaving Scream, but no matter how much we wished the glue would hold the band together, it was only a matter of time."
Casey nods in agreement, taking a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "So, like... did you get any weird tingly feelings with Kurt like you did when You met Dave the first time?"
"No," I couldn't help but laugh at the question, "Kurt became one of my best friends. We're way too similar for our own good. It took some time to break through each other's walls, but when we did it was like meeting a long-lost twin."
"You don't really remind me of him..." Amy threw in with a confused tone, "I mean you aren't a junkie who writes music. You don't even know how to play an instrument..."
A frown appeared on my face, "There was more to Kurt than just his drugs and his music. We were similar in the way we saw the world. Both of us are... were shy when we first met people. Our relationships and friendships come before ourselves... There's so many things I just can't put into words."
"I get it," Jack nods, "Someone on the same wavelength as you basically. You often form instant friendships with these people. Finding it easy to talk to them even when you're shy."
"Exactly."