Chapter 31

They stood there, arms folded and a frown on their foreheads.

Al nearly ran for it.

‘Well young lady what do you have to say for yourself?’ Jon asked.

‘Yeah what’s the meaning of those?’ Richie pointed to the drawings.

‘Erm … well being a fan, I’ve studied all of you and I decided I’d do some drawings.’ She stuttered on, head down, wishing the floor would open up. Tico had said they’d be ok with it, evidently he was wrong.

Jon interrupted her flow of words, ‘How could you.’

‘I’m sor …..’

‘How could you keep those fantastic drawings under wraps, honey they’re wonderful.’

Al’s head snapped up and looked at the men standing in her room; they all had big smiles on their faces.

‘Well fuck Al if you’re that easy to punk we’d have tried it earlier.’ David cackled.

The guys agreed with him slapping each other on the back, laughing at her stunned expression.

‘You bastards! You really had me going there. I ought to kick you the hell out!’ She was ticked, but not too ticked to see the funny side. She had got them several times and should have expected a retaliation sometime.

Richie walked over and kissed her cheek, ‘Baby we love these drawings, they’re so life like. How about selling them to each of us?’

‘Nope, sorry not for sale.’ She walked over and carefully unhooked each drawing, handing them to the respective person. ‘But I will give you them. And I do not want any shit about it, they’re mine and I give them to you!’ She gave each guy the hair eyeball.

Each man looked down at the gift she’d given them, then lined up and gave her a hug and a kiss for them. Not one of them daring to try and give them back.

Hugh stood back feeling a little left out, but understanding he wasn’t really considered a band member. He was cool with it after all these years, but sometimes it still hurt a little.

Al noticed Hugh and slapped her hand over her mouth; she took off out of the room, and down the stairs heading for her studio.

Tico cocked his head and they all traipsed after her. Each carefully carrying their canvas praying they wouldn’t drop it.

Hugh brought up the rear with their empty bottles.

Tico reached the bottom of the stairs just in time to see Al’s butt disappear into the studio. They could hear her muttering and moving things about. Deciding to make themselves comfortable they grabbed more beer out of the fridge and dropped down onto the sofas, and waited.