eastside

chapter twenty

There were a few light taps that sounded out, causing Pipers eyes to flutter open when she felt the bed shift next to her. Eddie was muttering to himself as she heard him get up and head towards where the sound was coming from, which she assumed was the front door. The taps started up again and stopped as soon as Eddie began to unlock the door, opening it slowly and causing the hallway light to seep inside. "Hey man, you good? We've been tryin' to get up with you since yesterday, you missed rehearsal.." Piper heard vaguely from outside the door.

She was turned facing away, still half asleep and feeling like she had ran a marathon when she heard Eddie quietly trying to explain why he hadn't returned any of their calls... And failing miserably at it. "I uh... I think the line in here is messed up or something, I haven't gotten any calls... I thought the rehearsal was today.." Piper drifted in and out of consciousness as the conversation continued but she still heard bits and pieces.

"No dude, it was yesterday.. They changed it remember?.. I had to sing in your place, he said I sounded like a dying animal.."

"Well you did.... And oh hey, Ed.. Don't worry about our lack of instruments for the show, we managed to find some on short notice.. And by we, I mean me."

"Hey, I helped too."

Eddie audibly sighed, loud enough to where Piper knew he was upset. "Shit, I forgot about that.. I'm glad you guys got it covered." They had already shipped their equipment back off to Seattle by the time they got word about the upcoming show, leaving them high and dry... Until Stone apparently worked his magic.

Piper wasn't trying to listen to their conversation but their voices kept getting louder and louder to where she couldn't help but overhear. She felt bad that he had missed rehearsal.. She wasn't even aware they had a show coming up. Maybe it was meant to be a secret.. Eddie did say he had fun stuff planned for them... Now she'd have to go along with the story and act surprised..

And that was something she was NOT good at.

There was no way she was getting back to sleep, not with their loud mouths echoing in the hall so she sat up, stretching her arms overhead. Her aching muscles were screaming at her as she searched around the room for a clock when she caught a glimpse of who was actually standing outside the door. She quickly wrapped the bedsheet around her still naked frame and eagerly hurried out to join them.

They all seemed surprised when she ducked under Eddie's arm as he had it stretched out across the doorframe, like he were subconsciously telling the guys they couldn't come in, and looped an arm around Jeff's neck, hugging him tight. "It's really good to see you guys again." She greeted him before she made her way to Stone, giving him the same treatment. "Even if you are loud as fuck." She added, laughing as she patted his back. She wasn't all that close to the guys yet, but they were still a welcomed sight after being away for so long. The last time she saw them was the night at The Off-Ramp and that seemed like forever ago as they stood smiling in front of her again. They appeared to be taken back by her unexpected gesture but returned it warmly as Eddie watched with a smile on his face.

"It's good to see you too, Piper... Sorry for the noise." Stone said he stepped back from the hug. "We didn't know you were here.." The still funky hat wearing bassist added. The mood took a change as it seemed like they were slowly putting two and two together, looking down at her makeshift wardrobe, plus the trail of clothes on the floor just behind Eddie. Stone squinted and shot a knowing smile over Pipers shoulder as Jeff quietly laughed...

They knew what had really kept the singer and it won't no broken phone or a lapsed memory...

But it was as if a silent agreement was made and no one pushed it further now that Piper was amongst them. Eddie shot them a sheepish smile and a head nod in return, silently thanking them. It wasnt that he was worried for his own sake, they were going to give him hell regardless.... He just didn't want Piper to be embarrassed.