I watched as she moved her body and sang like she had been doing this her whole life. I watched as she bowed and grabbed one of the drum sticks and banged it at the end of our set. She had to have done this before because even I, a guy that had begun playing in front of crowds since ten years old, couldn't perform like that.

As our last song ended I noticed her take one last bow before going off stage. I followed her and saw that she ran towards the back exit towards the alleyway.

When I got there, Debbie ran towards a wall, leaning forward and puking. I ran behind her and grabbed her hair letting her throw up the alcohol and nerves she held back. "You're all right," I reassured her.

She finished puking and walked a few feet away to sit on the floor. I grabbed her water and pulled out a piece of gum. "Sorry." She wiped her eyes.

"Don't, that was amazing! What you just did in there was bitch'n." She smiled wiping her mouth. "Sorry about the nun stuff, just have to hype the crowd." She shrugged it off.

"That was such a rush, singing like that and dancing on stage." She smiled. "The band probably hates me." I shrugged not knowing how they felt about this girl I hardly even knew. She blushed standing to her feet. "I think I should get home."

"No! I mean- why?" She laughed and pointed around her.

"I just vomited Harry, I'm done, I just-" I stopped her.

"Oh come on, we can dance and hang out some more." I could see her thinking but I wasn't one to push a girl into anything. "But if you want I'll take you home." She thanked me and I quickly walked her to my car.

We pulled up to the corner where he had picked me up and Harry turned the car off. I was back in my dress and had attempted to wipe some of the makeup off my eyes but knew I would need a shower. "Sorry for making you leave the party." He shook his head. He had been so nice the whole way back.

"No you had a crazy night, let me walk you to your door." I got out of the car and he followed me walking down the street. It was about three in the morning now and I was tired. "Mitch likes you, he thinks you're a cool chick."

I giggled. "Well tell him I said thanks, I'm sure he's great too." He nodded stopping about a few yards from my house.

"I'm glad you came out Deb, maybe you and I can hang out somewhere less crazy?" I nodded. He lifted my hand up and kissed the back of it waving and walking away. I made it inside my house and went into my bedroom to get undressed and shower.

I closed my eyes and could still hear the music and people cheering for me.

March 1973

"What kind of band name is Haze?" I giggled at Scotty as he gave change back to some guy. The business had been doing well and Scotty was always busy, but never too busy to talk to me.

"Harry said they came up with it when they were younger and don't know what to change it too." I shrugged. I looked at the time and sighed. "I have to go, I'll see ya tomorrow." I jumped off my chair when he pulled me back over and handed me an envelope. "What's this?"

"Well, I don't know how to say this, mostly because I'm not good with friendships and money and life." I giggled. "You don't technically work here but you've been so helpful and well it's some money so you can buy some cool new clothes and maybe a new chain for your bike since that piece of crap is rusty." My eyes got big as I looked inside to find a couple of twenty-dollar bills.

"I can't accept this-"

"Oh come on Deb, just think of it as what you work for. By the way, if you ever want a job here ya got it okay." I thanked him giving him a hug before I left to go home.

As I rode my bike towards my house I thought of Scott's offer and how I could really use the money and how much I loved working at that shop. I sighed getting home and placing my bike on the side of the house. As I made my way in I realized that out on the street was Pastor Roy's car.

Letting out a loud groan I went inside and found him and my mother sitting at the table. "Hi mom, Pastor."

She looked at me and pointed to the seat across from her. "Sit down Debra." I suddenly had a bad feeling but decided to remain calm. I pulled the chair out and sat down tapping my fingers against the table.

"Is everything alright?" Pastor Roy looked at me and smirked. I felt sick in my stomach so I turned to my mother.

"Everything is fine, but we should talk." She smiled holding his hand causing me to really feel sick. "Debra, recently Roy and I have been spending a lot of time together, and well I've been lonely since your father." I looked between them.

"Debra May I love your mother and we want you to know that we're getting married." Pastor Roy said causing the world to slow down for a long minute. I stared at her hand where she had a ring on her finger. A ring where my fathers were only a few years ago.

My father was in Vietnam when the war first started, he was gone such a long time and was almost finished with his service when he was shot and died in the field. I missed him so much yet we weren't allowed to talk about him. My mother was angry at him when he left as if he had a choice or something.

"Debra-"

"I got a job," I stated. "I'm working now, at a store." My mother scoffed. "I'm happy for both of you but I have to get ready for my first day Tomorrow so pastor Roy, Mother- excuse me." I smiled gently standing to my feet and walking up to my room.

"Wait, so your moms getting married to the creepy priest?" I nodded, deciding not to correct him.

Harry sat on a swing next to me. He came to visit a few days later while I worked at the record shop. Surprisingly pastor Roy- or just Roy as he asked me to call him- thinks it's good for me to work and learn how to be independent. With him agreeing, my mother said it was fine.

Of course, she thought I was working at a clothing store, not a record shop.

"He's a creep and gross." I shivered. "How is she so blind." He took a puff from his cigarette and shrugged.

"Don't know what to tell you, Deb, I'm sorry." I shook my head. "Hey listen the guys wanted to talk to you?" I looked over at him.

"What do you mean?" He smiled.

"Well remember that guy from the club that we talked to?" I nodded watching as he put out the smoke under his shoe and tossed the butt aside. "Well, he asked if we wanted to do some shows around the city." I smiled big.

"Wow, that's great Harry." He chuckled.

"On one condition, I bring you." My eyes got big as I laughed. "He thinks- well we all think you sound amazing and you perform like a rockstar." A rockstar, me, little Debra May like a rockstar.

"You're kidding?" He shook his head. "And the band is okay with this?"

"Are you kidding, playing music is our life. We can't stop doing what we love just because our friend is gone." He looked down sadly and I had the sudden urge to hug him.

I stood walking over to him and hugging him. His hands came up to hug me back.

"I always wanted to be a singer in a band." He looked up and chuckled.

"Deb, you were amazing." I shrugged as if I knew that already but truthfully it felt amazing to be told that by someone as talented and cool as Harry.

I came home after that and walked in to find my mother making dinner. "Debra, we need to talk." I sighed standing at the edge of the stairs. "Roy and I are in love and you need to accept that."

I scoffed turning to her. "Mother, you can't just expect me to accept something sprung on me like that, just give me some space."

She placed her hands on her waist. "Well I can't give you space, he's going to be living here and you need to be respectful of our relationship." I felt sick again and knew at that moment Harry's offer was my only way out from my mother's mistakes.

Thank you for reading. Xx

-k