Match and Dynamite

WAKE UP TAB! screamed the stress that is her noisy roommate. Tabitha covered her roommates screams with groans beneath her comforter; clearly she did not want to wake up to the new day. Her roommate finally gave in and slammed her bedroom door, while mumbling such profanities about laziness, not giving a damn; you know things of that sort. Just when she was about to drift back into her parallel universe, she heard much noise outside of her bedroom door, calling her to wake up.

A sigh left her lips as she kicked the sheets off and exposed her nearly naked body at the window, stretching once she stood herself on her two feet. She slipped on her robe, and tied it around her waist. Her feet shifted along the carpeted floor towards the door. She walked out into the apartment and saw her grouchy roommate sitting at the table stabbing at her breakfast. Diane, Diane, you look so mad

Diane glared at her, mellow brown eyes with a stare that can kill, Do you realize the mess you left? Your stupid boyfriends trashed our apartment!

Tabitha smiled, Aw cmon, you know you enjoyed their company, she looked around the living room, couch flipped over, bottles of beer sprinkled about, and other unmentionables, and besides, you got your fun.

Yeah, sure, fun with some guy I dont know puking all over me while I was duct taped to a chair?? She made a disgusted face as she looked down at her shirt. This was my favorite shirt!!

Ill buy you a new one, Tab shrugged, It couldve been worse. And about the duct tape, I swear you were cool with that last night.

Diane stood up and shook her head, sighing, What a ***** idiot she has become to be, and walked to her own room.

She left Tabitha alone to bask over her midnight romps mess. Then she looked over at Dianes breakfast, Hey Diane, are you gonna finish this? Diane stood at her door, and then slammed it. Fine, be like that.

***

Tabitha walked along the beach coast, her dark short hair dancing along with the ocean breeze. She stopped and looked out to the sea. She spoke to herself, If only life was peaceful as the ocean, then maybe I wouldnt be how I am.

Well, life is an ocean; youve just had too many rough waves to pass.

What? she said with a tone filled with curiosity. She shook her head and walked on.

***

She doesnt realize it, but shes got followers. She thinks shes alone, but no, everyone she knows at some point has thought about her and has found a beauty in her. Well, its true. It goes for all. I know Ive felt for her. But thats a different story.

***

Wait, where does this go?

Jamie moaned Tab as she looked down at the inexperienced girl who was clueless at what to do. Jamie got up from her chair beet red. Youre doing it all wrongfuck it, Ill handle it from here. Go.

Just give me another chance”

No.

What, why”

Tab took the bottle of guitar polish and shoved it into her chest, Jamie, those guitars arent going to shine themselves if you whine to me all day letting dust gather just because you cant string one. Besides, Rick left me to do this job. ***** be pissed off enough that ***** burn his mustache again with his ***** cigarette. Now go polish. Jamie sulked and grabbed a clean towel, her bright blue eyes turning a darker shade. Good girl.

Why doesnt Rick teach me *****”

Tab smirked, You have good looks, but that just got the job. You cant expect that your looks are gonna get you the green like a ***** on PCH.

***** you.

She finished the last of the strings on the guitar and walked over to a stool away from the workshop area. She sat and tuned the guitar by ear. Jamie sneezed from the dust and cursed as she watched Tabitha; her hold on the bottle initiated a sumo grip. Silence Jamiemaybe youll learn something, she whispered.

Me? Learn something from you? Pssh I dont need to learn. Jamie threw down her hands in frustration and took the guitar from Tab, I can play the damn instrument. Tab watched her play a series of power chords all along the fret board in a certain pattern. Her strums were palpable, and juvenile. Tab could not endure anymore of this nonsense and she grabbed Jamies wrist from strumming any longer. What the *****, Tab?

You fit the description of the guitarist posers these dayssuch puerile sound and attitude. Id stone you if it was my choice, but its not. You know, its people like you who take the shortcuts to seem cool. Face it, Jamie, Im sure you went on the internet and looked up some tabs to that quote unquote song. Lame like all the rest. It is okay, Jamie, I was once like you. I just find it funny how I see myself in you. Actually, I find it scary that I see myself in you. She took the guitar from her and finished tuning the guitar.

Well, it was because the guitar wasnt tuned”

She sighed and placed the guitar on a stand, You still couldve made music. Besides, you didnt even notice. Now please, stop trying to save your ego, its already been killed. Tab grabbed another guitar and took out the cutter while Jamie stared her down. She glanced her way, I dont like it when people stare at me.

Well too bad. Jamie stared with those cold blue eyes. Tabitha glared back at her with her green eyes and raised her eyebrow. Okay, its weird when people stare back.

Her green eyes continued their gaze while she grinned, And suddenly youre the deer in the headlights. Isnt life grand?

Jamie made a face, What, you just changed the sentence out of nowhereYoure weird.

Thanks. Put another tally in the book, Ive heard that many times dear.

Jamie smiled and watched Tabitha work on the next guitar. She stood close to her, You know, Ive heard stories about you.

Stories? Haha, what ***** do people got on my past thats so interesting?

You being a crazy kid, late night parties, you know, stuff like that. You were like the *****, people knew you how fucked up you can get and still keep your cool. You traveled all along California, and resided along Mammoth for a while. People down here in So Cal thought you were finally dead”

That lifestyle was dead”

I cant believe its you! She hugged Tabitha tightly.

Tabitha pushed her away, Whoa, *****, you act like Im some celebrity. Chill a bit? Im a human being, and thats my past.

Tell me the real stories!

What are you, some fan of my past? I was never popular”wait, how the ***** do you know ***** about me anyway?

You made news when you left.

It still doesnt make sense”

Well why not??

I try my best to not go into that part of my memory every single day. You think Im weird now, trust meyou havent seen *****.

***

She was pushed up against the lodge door by her boyfriend. My love, you say you desire pain

Ryan, I say lots of things but unlike other people, I mean it, her green eyes gave him a devious lure he couldnt deny. Her hand ran down his neck slowly, while her other fetched for her blade. Do you want to feel my pain? She ran the blade along his cheek, and stopped at his neck. She smirked and bit her bottom lip. He opened the door, and pushed the both of them inside.

***

She cringed and looked down at her hands. Tears form in her eyes. Jamie put her hand on top of Tabs, Are you okay?

Tab sniffed and wiped away her tears, Yeah, sorry, I. I justnothingits nothing”*****, did you have to say those three words?! Are you okay is the stupidest ***** people ask when someones obviously crying. What do you think”Yeah, Im dandy! Her last words were said with such sarcastic force that Jamie flinched.

I know Im still sort of newbut Im here for you, Tab.

She scoffed, Bullshit. Youre a fan, not a friend. She stepped out of the shop and into the daylight. Dont worry about it, Jamie. All youve done has given me a relapse of my past, no big deal. Her body leaned against the doorway and sighed, One moment I feel like Im on the right path, you know. Next its all about the media again, and me being childishwhat makes me so interesting to you?

Its just something about you. The fact that you have such a pastthe fact that its not bullshitand youre still able to move on, is just, inspiring.

HaI dont want to sound lame, but you HAVE to move on in life. And in my case, it just happened to be for the better. *****, cant get hung up on every single detail, youll get nowhere. Why do you think Im working here? Its because its simple.

***

Simple. What is simplesimple like addition against multiplication? Sure. Tabs always been a bit wise. She keeps her cool. Yet, sometimes, things just push her buttons the wrong way and shes bound to detonate at some point. Yes, she is strong, but like every great warrior, a warrior is still just a man, and every man has a weakness.

***

Whats your name, darling?

She took a seat in the little diner and tapped the menu, Tabitha.

What do you want to order, Tabitha? Tab shook her head, Drink?

Water. She ran her fingers through her hair, the bags beneath her eyes were a slightly darker shade of her skin.

You look a little pale dear, rough night?

Yeah, myIyeahyeah Im just, out of it today She glanced at the waitress nametag, Bertha. The waitress just nodded and walked along. Tabitha shivered and looked out the window as she dialed a number, HeyYeahLocks me out of the ***** apartment for the whole night, and Im here freezing my ***** off in shorts and a tank top while having chit chat with BerthaNo shes just being DianeI had a partyYoure taking her side of this?! ***** you. She put down her cell phone and looked up at Bertha.

Maam, this coffee is for you.

I didnt order coffee.

Its on the house.

Thanks.

***

I bought her the coffee, I told Bertha not to tell. Tabitha musnt see me. The situation is too complex to explain right now.

***

So, can you believe this? Jamie searched within Tabs eyes. Wasnt this place like your life?

Id say so, but this is a different building. I never worked in a hair salon.

Jamie looked at Tab, Oh, its obvious.

Uh, can I help you two? interrupted a rather low raspy voice.

Tab glanced over as her ears perked, and smirked, Why am I not surprisedShane, you *****, I havent seen you infuck knows how long.

Tab? ***** me, it is you The young woman sported an edgy cut, a gray zip up hoodie, over a wife beater and jeans”A classic look.

Jamie stood there confused. Uh, all of a sudden this feels like high school reunion. The two were lost in eachothers words leaving Jamie the obvious little nave outcast. Ill show my way out now.

***

Jamies a young girl, shes got a lot to learn. Dont pity for her feeling left out. Trust me, the power of these two together in one building, is the equivalent to a match and dynamite. Boom.

***

Shane walked in through the shops doors, taking off her aviator sunglasses and hooking them onto her tank. Tab looked up from the current guitar she was fixing and addressed the lady, Anything I can help you with, maam?

Shane scoffed and shook her head, The name is Shane, dont call me maam. I find it oblivious when I hear it from someone my own age.

What are you, some arrogant rich ***** from the valley come to sweep out my business?

Her lips stretched to a smile, Arent you lovely. Im quite the opposite. I live in West Hollywood. And I dont think me cutting hair would take over this finemess. Hm, I like this place though”Messy”A home kind of messy. Is that why you dont wear a nametag?

She looked up from the guitar, Is my name important?

Shane stared her dow, …I dont want to refer to you as the bitchy guitar fixer upper.

Im not bitchy. With that said, her eyes focused back on the guitar.

Okay, well, fine”then Im not some arrogant ***** from the valley. You like to jump to conclusions about people?

Well, everybody analyzes one another, this time I just happened to open my mouth before taking in more data to conclude my synopsis. Tab grabbed a clean rag and wiped her hands off. Im Tabitha. But call me”

Tab.

Yes.

Shane looked around, and then leaned over on the counter, Sois this place like a home to you?

Definitely.

Ever thought about investing in a maid? She smirked slightly.

***** no.

Good. Keep it like this. Shane put back on her sunglasses, Im gonna split… Hey, you think you have a break anytime soon?

Tab folded her arms, I can close the shop for a few minutes, why?

Shane slid her hands into her jean pockets and shrugged, I…want to show you something.