"Can't believe it happened again," Angus mumbled, eating his French fries. "Next time he goes missin', let's all assume he's climbin' down the chimney or somethin'."

"He's just practicing for Christmas," I said, wiping my hands. "Maybe that's what he gets up to during the holidays."

"Maybe," Angus said. We were sitting outside some fast food restaurant for a quick dinner that was nearby the studio. Neither of us felt like walking just to look for a nicer place even though Angus insisted he take me somewhere fancier. We settled here in the parking lot with our food, reminding me a bit of our tour bus theft. The others had gone back home after the interview finished, not bothering to stay and socialize. Everyone was still annoyed with Bon but Phil's words came back to me from the first time this happened: trouble just seemed to follow him sometimes. In time we'd forgive him. I already had. "Want any of this?" He held up a few containers of different sauces.

"No thanks," I said, loving my plain, boring fries. I loved them even more since I had been starving all day. Nothing in the world could have tasted better than this. Salty and warm, just the way I like them.

"I still think I owe ya' more than a couple greasy French fries," Angus said. A few cars pulled out of the lot. "What about breakfast tomorrow?" I almost swooned. 

"You really don't have to," I said, not wanting to burn a hole in Angus' wallet. I was content with finding some day old danish in the hotel lobby for free. 

"I know I don't have to but I'd like to," Angus said, looking awfully shy. "An'...considerin' ya' know...tomorrow's our last full day here..." The fries twisted uneasily in my stomach. From all the excitement of looking for Bon and finding him safe, I had completely forgotten how soon these men were leaving. "Ya' know somethin', love, you're the first groupie that's ever stuck around this long." I looked up to see Angus with a smile on his face. "Some have gotten to know us an' that was enough for them..." He laughed. "Some went back to...ya' know, their own lives...."

"And some got what they wanted and left..." I said. Angus considered that and nodded.

"Well, that too," he said. "But I can't say we've ever gotten so attached, ya' know? You've been a treat." I gushed and the fries settled down. "Ya' sure ya' wanna be just a groupie? Since we all think of ya' really as a friend."

"I'm still a groupie," I said. "I'm just very loyal to this band."

"You're not gonna keep this up when ya' get back home?" Angus asked. He dumped the leftover fries into the palm of his hand and tossed them into his mouth, one dropping down his shirt. "Oh no..."

"Take it off! Take it off!" I chanted. Angus started humming something saucy and unbuttoned his shirt a small ways. He reached into it and pulled out the rogue fry.

"Ya' want it?" he asked, holding it out to me with a grin. I giggled and shook my head, putting my own fries into my mouth. 

"No thanks, my mouth is full," I said and he ate it instead, buttoning his shirt again. I picked up my salad and finished that off before having a quick drink of milk. I was saving the best for last. A cinnamon pretzel....and I was not going to drop it this time. "I'll stick to writing back home. Being a groupie in 2024 is...different than how it is here."

"An' we're probably a bit....too old, huh?" Angus snickered. Yeah, among other things.... "Well, if you're writin' is anything like I read in that notebook of yours, you've got a hell of a talent." 

Oh, go on....

No really, go on.

"Thank you," I said. "I'm not as good as I'd like to be. But this band has been a pretty good muse to me."

"Muses, eh?" Angus said, getting started on his chocolate shake. "'M glad we could...inspire ya'." There was an unsettling quiet between us. "Ya' know, if ever we're in town....the band's still goin' in your time, right?"

I coughed on my fry. "Yeah," I said quickly. "Yeah, course you are."

"Right," Angus said. "If we're ever playin' nearby or wherever, feel free to pay us a visit." He smiled at me and part of me felt warm and squishy and the other part felt remorse. "Bon will be up there in his wheelchair an' I'll limp out across the stage...." I wanted to laugh. I could only smile sadly. "One of us can use our cane an' scoop you up out of the audience." Now that made me laugh.

"You guys aren't that old yet," I said. "But I'd love to see you all again." 

"We'd like it too," Angus said. I pulled out the cinnamon pretzel and took an enormous bite. It was soft and perfectly sweet. Really it was Heaven in a wrapper. I closed my eyes to savor my dessert and opened them to see Angus staring at me from over his straw. I then realized my face was coated in a thin layer of cinnamon and sugar. I grabbed a napkin.

"Sorry about that," I said, wiping my face.

"Hey, if the toppings don't get all over your face then what's the point?" he asked. "That's a lousy meal, I say."

"That's right," I said, noticing how pristine Angus' face was. "I think you're missing out."

"How's that?" he asked.

"You're pretty spic and span," I said and he got a glint in his eyes. Taking the lid off the cup he raised it to his lips and took a good long drink. Pulling the cup away, there was some leftover milkshake on his upper lip.

"That better?" he asked.

"Much better," I said and he wiped it off. The sun was hanging low, a couple stars already out. The drive-thru was packed with people getting a late meal or a sweet dessert. The neon lights of the restaurant flickered on and I reached over to start picking up my trash. 

"Can I take ya' back to your room?" Angus asked, helping me clean up. "Bon should be back by now."

"I have my room key," I said. "Thanks, Ang." He smiled at the nickname and we took our things to the bins outside the restaurant. There was something fresh about seventies fast food. The prices were realistic too. 2024 could never.

Angus held his hand out for me to take. It was cold from holding the milkshake but I didn't mind. Hoping my hands weren't covered in cinnamon and sugar, I let him lead the way back to the hotel.

**********

"Ya' sure ya' won't come to breakfast?" Angus asked as I pulled out my key. "The hotel's got a spread comin' tomorrow, there's gonna be food all mornin'." Honestly, a breakfast buffet that came with your room reservation sounded pretty good. I might be an idiot to turn it down. "Band's got the day off...I dunno what everyone's doin'...but if this is the last I see of ya'..."

"Tell me when the buses leave," I said. "I can come say goodbye."

Angus shrugged. "Might be pretty early," he said. "If ya' wanna wake up that early..."

"I'll have to get up to leave the room when Bon does," I said. "Or if he doesn't mind I can just head over there with him and see you off." Angus nodded and I turned to unlock the door. "I'll be there for breakfast," I said and Angus brightened up. "And thanks for taking me out."

"Course, had to get ya' some food," he said, looking me over. "Now I'm not one to talk." I laughed as he gestured to himself. "But I can't let any lady go hungry, now can I?" I pushed the door open a crack and turned to face Angus. "It's been fun...even after all the shit we went through....again, sorry about that prick."

"I am too," I said. "I'm sorry you have to deal with people like him."

"It happens," he said. "They're few an' far between but they sure like to make themselves heard. Comes with the job, ya' know?"

"Your band is the best, remember that," I said. "Even better than Van Halen."

"Van Halen, huh?" Angus said, nodding in consideration. "I'd like to believe you, sweetheart, but that Eddie fellow's a real talent."

"Yeah yeah," I said. "You and Mal are still better." I thought I saw Angus turn even pinker than when the woman at the brothel buttered him up. I smiled in success. 

"Thanks, love," he said. "So....this is goodbye for now?"

"I guess so," I sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I probably won't be up right away," he said. "It might be more of a brunch than a breakfast."

"I like brunch," I said. Angus smiled and took my hand, gently pressing his lips to my knuckles. If this man was trying to get me to faint, he almost succeeded. I wobbled a bit, feeling lightheaded. 

"Bye then," he said. "Tell that roommate of yours to behave himself."

"I will," I said. "Bye, Angus." Letting Angus get back to his own room, I stepped inside mine and closed the door. One lamp was on but the main light was turned off. Bon was lying on the couch with his clothes in a pile on the floor, a blanket covering him. The blanket was pulled up halfway over his face, his hair covering the other half. I smiled, happy that the man was finally getting some well deserved sleep. Sneaking past him, I went to the bedroom and shut the door.