Saffron and Sam

Chapter 07: Smooth Sailing

The normal disclaimer, everyone in this work of fiction is over the age of 18 unless otherwise noted. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. I appreciate all the feedback and hope you're enjoying this story as much as I have fun writing it.

After the mad pack left and it would just Saffron and I sitting on the basement sofa watching TV, she started getting a little affectionate. I felt it was time to set down the law to her and explained to her how things were going to work from now on.

"Saffron, you know that we can't sleep together anymore. I'm with Barb now."

"Sammy, you mean you are going to turn down your own sister? If not for me, you wouldn't even have a sex life."

"I realize that and I appreciate it. But listen to yourself, you're my sister. I'm going to stay true to Barbara. That's just the way it has to be. You had to have known that when you wanted me to pursue a relationship with her."

"Yes I knew you were going to pursue Barb, but didn't think we would be stopping the fun we've been having."

"I Have a conscience, Saffron, I need to remain celibate to the girl I'm trying to have a relationship with."

"If that's the way it has to be, dear brother, I guess I'll have to live with it. Can we just cuddle a little bit on the couch, I'm going to miss this and have to get used to it. Baby steps."

"I Appreciate this, Saffron, I think I really have a shot with Barb. I really can't believe how ludicrous that sounds. Me and Barbara Frankel, can you believe it."

"Yes brother, I can, she's a lucky girl. You're a great guy."

We just cuddled, while watching a movie on TV and fell asleep that way. She finally woke up about 3 AM and went upstairs, after kissing me on the cheek. She told me good night and left me to turn off the TV. I went into my bedroom and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of Barb and I.

The next morning, I slept late waking up around 9AM. I called Gerald and told him about the previous night's revelation. He couldn't believe it.

"Sam the man, a relationship with Barbara Frankel? Are you going to go out and buy a lottery ticket? Man she's four years older than you. How are you going to manage that."

"Delicately, my friend, delicately. I still haven't totally awakened to realize this isn't a dream."

"Well if you need some to volunteer to come over and slap your face. I can be over there in a few minutes."

"My good friend, always my good friend. Are you ready for your big number tonight?"

"Yeah, I guess as ready as I'll ever be."

"Don't worry, Gerald, you'll kill'em."

**************

The rest of the day, I just messed around the house playing with the program I was developing. I was enjoying myself and just listening to a little music, mainly for background noise. I got a call on my cell phone from Barb, wondering how she got my cell phone number.

"Hi sweetie, what'cha doin? "

"Writing some software, what are you doing? How did you get this number?"

"From Saffron, silly, is there something wrong with having my man's phone number?

"No, honey, I'm just not used to this yet, that's all. Not that many people have this number."

"Don't worry sweetie, I won't give it out to anybody. You should've heard Roxy, when I told her we were going to be dating. She went ballistic."

"Who cares what the Wicked Witch of the West thinks?"

"You're right Sam, that's the spirit. We don't care what anyone thinks, as long as we're happy."

"Well honey, I've got to go, I've got a cool out, I'm playing a fraternity party tonight."

"I know, sweetie, I'll be there, all of us will be. I need to tell you, I may dance with a few people, but no slow ones unless they're with you. Okay?"

"Sure, I'm not that insecure."

"You have no reason to be, see you there, sweetie."

"Goodbye babe."

I really felt comfortable with the way she talked to me. She really didn't seem like the age gap bothered her. I have to admit, it slightly raised my confidence level. I felt pretty good until I went up to sit on the porch, taking a break. I saw CC walking Buxton again and she specifically marched up onto my porch.

"So you and Barbara, huh? You think that's really going to work?"

"Well, CC, it's like this, I'm willing to take a chance if she is."

"What I think, Sammy, is that you'll end up getting yourself hurt. She'll eat you up and spit you out. You won't know what hit you."

"Well I'll tell you one thing CC, she doesn't treat me like shit, like someone else we know. She knows to call me Sam, instead of Sammy, treating me like a man."

"Treating you like a man, Sammy, doesn't make you a man. You'll always be Sammy to me."

"You can go now Ms. Conners, I don't feel I would like to continue this conversation with you."

She just huffed and turned around bragging poor Buxton down the stairs on his belly. For the life of me, I could not understand what had gotten her panties in such a twist. I hadn't done anything to her and didn't deserve her wrath. Oh well, another of life's mysteries unanswered.

**************

I had pretty much finished the program I was writing and only had to test it out, but it was too late in the afternoon for me to do that. I had to meet the band at the frat house we were playing and get set up. We got set up and were going through our tune-up session when some of the frat boys came up to tell us that toward the end of the night there might be some requests. We told them that we would try anything that we thought we could do, but our repertoire was not that extensive. They didn't seem to mind that too much, saying things were cool.

At 9 PM, we started our first set and were really getting into it, with plenty of people dancing. We were making a hit of it, when the

mad pack

walked in. Barb and CC started hitting the floor with a vengeance. They attracted everyone's attention, as usual. Several guys tried to work their way in between them to get to dance with one or the other. Barb lightheartedly accepted the intrusions and danced with several different guys. At the end of our first set, I went out to the floor and got me a Coke to quench my thirst.

Barb walked up to me and gave me a big, passionate kiss. She seemed like she was marking her territory when she hugged me tightly, as well. I guess it flattered me for her to show such a public display of affection. I felt like the luckiest guy at the dance. I looked over a few times at CC, who just had a look of disdain on her face. Saffron came over and said, "What did you do to get CC all pissed off? She's practically incendiary.."

"I just said I wasn't going to take any shit off of her about Barb and I's relationship."

"Cut her some slack, Sammy, you know you've always been like a little brother to her. I'm sure her heart is in the right place."

"You know, Saffron, I'm under enough pressure and insecurity with Barb as it is. I don't need CC adding to it."

Barb came over to me and gave me another big hug and kiss and said, "Go get'em tiger."

I got back to my drums by about 5 min. early and pushed the foot switch to my drum machine, starting a sequence I had programmed into the machine. It started out with strong base followed by rhymatic tom-toms. Every beat of the rhymatic program I met with Tom Tom and snares of my own added to buy my own dual bass drums with twin pedals. Did you ever have one of those times that what you were doing, was so in the groove, that you couldn't do anything wrong. That's how I felt at the moment.

All the sudden, Gerald turned a strobe light on me because the lights were out over the bandstand. It just highlighted every motion of my strokes on the drums. Then Charlie stated over the microphone saying, "Go Sam go, go Sam go." The crowd got started getting into it and pretty soon everyone was chanting. That strobe light almost hypnotized me and I just kept going stronger and stronger. Everyone was pretty well going crazy when all the band members returned to the stage. All of a sudden I started into the rhymatic drumming leading into our first song of that set, and Charlie picked up with trumpet to break into Phil Collins'

Something Happened on the Way to Heaven. The

transition was perfect

, even though unpracticed, and we broke into the song perfectly. This song was meant to transition right into another Phil Collins' song Sussudio

. We were tearing it up, and people were really dancing almost into a frenzy. We were high on our performance and really couldn't get much higher. I knew we were embarking on a journey of acceptance as a band on the college circuit. Word had already gotten out and it was only going to get better from here. By the time we finished that set I was pretty much soaked in sweat. I had a towel and actually changed shirts after I was done.

When Barb came over to hug me I warned her I was a little gamey, but she said she didn't care and hugged me and kissed me like she really meant it. We talked for a while and she handed me an ice cold Coke. I thanked her and just about downed the whole thing in one drink, I was so parched. I couldn't help but let out a loud belch.

"You certainly know how to be sexy around a woman, Sam."

"I'm sorry Barb, I couldn't help it. A guy' s gonna do, what a guy' s got a do."

"It's okay baby, I understand. Guys are pigs."

"I would act offended, if you were telling the truth."

She just laughed and walked back over to the

mad pack.

I gave the high sign to Gerald and he stepped back to his keyboards. He started playing very slowly and everyone stopped what they were doing to pay attention. He began playing Phil Collins'

Long Long Way to Go

a good slow song and he was doing quite well singing it, when a rather hot looking blonde start walking over to me. Just when she got to me and said something about dancing I watched an arm go across her chest to push her way and Barbara said, "Sorry sweetie I've got this dance."

"Don't you think that might've been a bit rude."

"I don't think so, I promised you all slow dances, did you forget?"

"If I did, I never will again. Thank you, honey."

We danced like we were part of one another. We molded to each other' s bodies like we were joined. We enjoyed our dance, like two lovers should, until I had to break it off to start our next set. Barb accepted, my rebuff, but seemed unfazed, other than looking little disappointed. I later explained to her that that song had been planned, so we could dance, as well as Gerald getting little reward from the band.

When we finished the last set, we stayed for a while to dance and party. Just as the one guy told us, a bunch of people requested songs. We tried to play what we could, but didn't know all of them.. One of the biggest pains, was DJ who kept asking for

If I Had a Hammer

. Finally after about 15 times of screaming the title out, Rick started the rhythm section of the song and I started singing:

If I Had a Hammer

I'd Hit You in the Head

I'd Hit You in the Head

Until You Were Dead

This had the whole place laughing and DJ pouting as she walked back over to the

mad pack

, who were laughing while consoling her.

It was not surprising to me, that a few of the girls at that party approached Gerald. He kind of acted indifferently to the attention, like he couldn't believe it. I explained to him that they really were trying to approach him. He said he was afraid of older women anyway, which most of them were, in contrast to him. Barb said she could set him up, but I told her I was already working on that. They had some music going from a stereo and Barb and I danced until I had to break down my equipment. I noticed Charlie walked back through the hallway hand-in-hand with some frat boy, so she was probably going to get laid. Barb asked me to come home and spend the night with her and I had to beg off. I explained to her how tired I was and she just winked and told me that, "I probably wouldn't be much good to her," then. She just smiled and kissed me goodbye.

**************

When I finally got home about 2 AM, Saffron was waiting for me on the basement sofa. She was watching some romantic comedy she'd found on late-night television. She seemed engrossed in the movie but patted the seat beside her on the couch. I sat down beside her and she started hugging me.

"Sammy, I was so proud of you tonight, boy you guys were great, and that drum solo."

"Thanks, sis, I've never felt more in the groove. I don't know whether it was the way, Barb was treating me, or that it was just one of those nights."

"Brother dear, your band is going to go places on the University circuit. You guys are getting quite a name."

"One can only hope so, Saffron."

She just hugged me tighter and tried to kiss my lips and I pushed her way. I said "Saffron, you know I told you I'm staying true to Barb."

"You can't blame a girl for trying. While watching you up there playing your drums, I got so wet, it felt like peed myself. You made me so hot."

"Sorry sis, I guess I underestimated the power of my own sex appeal," and I started laughing.

"No you don't," as she smacked me on the shoulder hard and went upstairs to her own room.

**************

I slept in Sunday morning, since I had gotten in so late, but woke up to really wonderful smells of culinary delights.

I went down to several piles of waffles, eggs, bacon, home fries and pancakes. I was feeling ravenous at the time, so I made a complete pig of myself, washing it down with two large glasses of orange juice. I was so stuffed, that I could hardly get up from the table. Saffron sat down and started a conversation with the parents.

"You would've been so proud of your son last night, mom and dad. You should've heard him on a drum solo. He had the whole place rocking. Everyone was going crazy, especially the girls. And Gerald did a solo too."

Dad said, "Did you have to fight off the women, son?"

Saffron said, "you don't have to worry about that dad, Barbdidn't let anyone get near him. He was off-limits to anyone but her."

Dad just looked at her kind of strangely and Saffron said, "Oh, didn't you hear, Sammy and Barb are an item. They' Re couple now."

Mom said, "Are you sure that's really wise, son? She's older than you."

"She doesn't care mom, so neither do I."

Saffron said, "Mom, you're not going to believe this, but she adores Sammy. She treats him like gold."

"I guess I'm just an overprotective mother, but I don't want to see my baby hurt."

"Mom, I wish you'd quit calling me your baby, I'm 18 years old."

"You're still my youngest and I don't want to see you get your heart broken."

"I'm sure I'll survive it if it happens."

**************

The rest of the day was a little uneventful, except when Barb called me and asked me if I wanted to meet her at the Park not far from her apartment. I drove down there and we just sat on a bench and talked. I learned an awful lot about her and we held hands as we walked around the park. I was really enjoying this girlfriend/boyfriend thing, reveling in the love she was actually showing me.

We walked, for what seemed like an hour and then we headed for her apartment. She invited me in for a drink and I accepted. I was unprepared for what to expect once I got inside.

Roxanne was setting on the living room couch when we walked in and she had to make her comment.

"Oh Barb, I see you're out walking your dog."

I just looked at her with a scorching look and said, "They ought to call you " rocks in." Because that's what you got in your head."

She gave me the finger. I just replied, "You keep hitchhiking for that helicopter and it may land."

"Roxy, I warned you about this, there are going to be times when he comes here to visit me or to the sit with me and you're not going to treat him like this. If you don't like it, you can just go upstairs."

"Don't worry, Barb, I just consider her like a hot wind from the south, an annoyance. If I actually thought she was worth worrying about, it would be more than just an annoyance. It's like swatting a gnat."

She just got up and huffed off saying, "I don't need a ton of bricks to hit me, to know when I'm not wanted."

"It looks like they already hit you."

She just sat back over her shoulder, "Fuck off."

Barb sat down beside me with a Coke, and said, "You'll do. If you can handle Roxy, you can handle anybody that gives you any shit."

"She's small potatoes, compared to what I used to have to put up with in school."

Barb and I started making out, when she said, "Sam, let's walk back to the park and get your car. I really want you to spend the night with me."

"Honey, I can't do that, it's a school night. It wouldn't set well with my parents. This is one of the problems I warned you about with our age difference. I'm sorry." "

"Sweetie, don't worry about it, my parents didn't give a shit about me when I was 18. Just feel lucky that you have those kind of parents. I'm not worried about it, I'm just disappointed. I just would like to have you in my arms in the morning and wake up with you."

"We'll definitely do it next weekend, honey."

"I'll hold you to that. Don't you have to play?"

"Yeah, a sorority gig, but I don't play all night. It's a Friday night party and I can spend the whole weekend with you. If you don't get sick of me."

"Well just don't get too fired up and leave with one of the sorority skanks."

"As if I ever would."

**************

The week of school started just exactly as it had most of the semester, but with Christmas coming up everyone seemed to be excited. Brandi and Mandy Janus kept after me, as usual. I mostly ignore them or verbally silenced them every chance I got. I have to admit they were pretty relentless. Gerald let us know at our band practices after school, that we were getting more and more gigs. We were very popular at the fraternity and sorority rows. On Wednesday evening after practice Charlie asked me if I wanted to go work off a little steam. I told her that we were no longer friends with benefits, just friends.

"Is it that girl you were dancing with after we played?"

"I don't blame you, Sammy, she's a real dish and has the greatest ass I've ever seen on a female. She's a little older than you though, isn't she?"

"Four years older, but she doesn't mind, and neither do I."

"I wish you luck Sammy, let me know if things change."

It didn't seem to bother Charlie much, so I guess she'd make do. When I went home that evening, Saffron was waiting on me down on the couch in the basement, as usual.

"How did practice go, are you guys revving it up?"

"No, we're not changing anything major, we're doing just fine with our repertoire and we've got a lot of fraternity and sorority parties to play."

"Well good brother, we'll probably hit most of those parties, so I'll get to hear you play. You guys are really good and really good to dance to."

"Thanks Saffron, I appreciate it, we work pretty hard."

"Are you still screwing Charlie?"

"No, I told you, I'm staying true to Barb. In fact, I turned her down tonight."

"I love you Sammy, you're such a gentleman, most guys you're age wouldn't turn down that much pussy. Barb's a lucky girl."

"I'm only treating my woman, like I'd expect her to treat me."

"Well come over here and snuggle what to me. I need you to hold me."

We snuggled on the couch for a while and then snuggled in my bed till about 4 AM and then she got up to leave. I was looking forward to the weekend when I would get to wake up in bed beside Barb. I couldn't wait.

**************

The next day's breakfast was just a slight bit testy when I informed my parents that I would probably be staying over with Barb after we played to sorority party. My mother was none too happy, and dad just shook his head, while Saffron took up for me.