Leaving & The Beehive.
Saturday, 27. December 2008, 07:35:22
Leaving.
The next stop. The Coffee Shop.
If you remember, we left off at It was dark. Wow, before we got to the Coffee Shop. It got stranger still.
I went back up front and had some coffee in a styrofoam cup. Grabbing my credit card which had been left up there. I signed their copy and sat down. They were in the back fixing things as I sat their considering the drab pizza joint. That old wood paneling siding and read the signs backward on the counter.
“NO DELIVERIES AFTER DARK TO ZONE 1. I decide where we deliver to, not drivers, we do not deliver to any of the following streets. Anyone who delivers to these streets will be fired. (it named a bunch streets) THEY ARE ZONE 1!”
They were hanging from above the counter, to be more specific, on white sheets of paper that were backlit enough for me to read… although backwards. It was a nice distraction as I figured in my head that Zone 1 were very bad places. Whole streets designated as too dangerous to deliver pizza too. Wow.
The rest of the five 8 ½ x 11 sheets of white paper proceeded to name other zone 1 streets and areas that were never to be delivered too and chastize the workers as if they were children. Though, I wondered what kind of situtation caused drivers to want to deliver to such dangerous places that the owner would fire them for delivering to those places.
What gives?
My small pizza was done just as I finished reading the last one. It was warm, so good. I sat their quietly eating it. Not much to do. I think I had two greasy slices, throwing plenty of red peppers on it and some parmesean cheese before I decided that the concert would be over soon.
I really don’t know what I was thinking, why go back there? Other than, where else did I have to go? I think that’s what I was thinking as I left with my pizza box and walked back to my car. I had no where else to go, so…. I put the pizza in my car, I think I warmed myself up and reparked the car. I didn’t like it being exposed to the street.
I parked it in practically the same place, though I think closer to the curb. As I recall, I was getting out of the car when my phone rang suddenly. It was Kelli’s ring. What!?
I looked at the phone in disbelief, my crushed heart now racing, this just didn’t make sense. I answered, it was so quiet in my car but instantly loud on the phone, “KELLI?” – but no answer, just this loud sound, that familiar sound when someone calls you from a really loud concert. The call ended, it was a mere 7 seconds long.
I sprung. My phone in my pocket and locking my car I ran. I ran down to the main street and toward the club. Arriving to the same bouncers and a random group standing around… the music still blasting from inside.
My mind was racing!? Was she at the concert? Had it just been Bridge just accidently calling me? What was going on? It was the same set as I had heard the night before. People were still sweating hot, pressed against the interior doors but not being allowed to come outside without having to leave. Though a few girls were apparently cute enough to break that rule.
I stood there, it was still freezing and I was breathing hard. What was I going to do? I had tried calling Kelli back, again and again and again and always to the “voicemail is full” message. It never rang.
“Black dress; with the tights underneathe…” the last song. I already knew this crowd wasn’t as cool as last nights. I had chatted with the other band member about how that had been so awesome, the crowd was near out of control (at times, out of control) and this group was lamer. There would definitely be no encore. I had heard the bouncers talking about how they did these Sunday concerts just to bring in extra money, then they opened the club up to ‘adults’. They didn’t really like being a concert venue, at least the bouncers, you could tell. It was just kinda a way to make money off a different audience.
Another girl had collapsed inside. They were calling her mother, the lead bouncer disappeared inside and ordered the other bouncer, “Don’t let anyone in till I get back.” – Unfortunately, the bouncer took this to mean anybody. A band member from one of the other bands came back to get in. He was denied. I laughed, it was obvious to me that the big bouncer probably didn’t mean the bands, they had passes but this bouncer followed orders. He took ‘anyone’ to be literal. Understandable mistake since, who could he have possibily meant? The only people who could have legitimately got in where people with backstage passes. Another example of stupidity leading the day.
I watched them argue as people begged to leave the club really bounced with 3oh!3’s big hit. I looked around, “this is it…” What was I going to do? Kelli hadn’t answered, I admit, it made me think Bridge had accidently dialed me, I didn’t really want to see her. She had already stated her piece.
I looked to the bouncer, telling him it was over and the crowd began to stream out. I moved a barstool that the other bouncer had been sitting on out of the way of the doors as I watched extremely hot people pouring out. They were sweating and the cold, nippy air was a welcome relief.
I watched the crowd at first… I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t look particularly hard. I was convinced she wasn’t there, it must be Bridge. Who else could it be, how else could all of this be explained?
A side door showed an opening and I risked it. I went in the side exit door. Past another door and a rope guiding people out toward the main door. It lead to the stage area which I promptly passed to join the large crowd near the merchandise and exit. I grabbed some water and blended in. It was so very hot inside. No wonder this crowd was tame, they couldn’t breathe!
I didn’t see her, it wouldn’t have surprised me if my Kelli had hung back to talk to the band at the stage or get as merchandise as possible. I saw the inside of the club, I wanted to see the layout, to know it.
I stood in line… I realized I had nothing. Nothing from this trip. I had come so far to experience something so unreal. It couldn’t be real. I decided to buy something.
I only had $5, not much. I stood in line as the bouncers began to yell at people to leave but everyone was in line for merchandise, it was just taking a long time. I got to the 3oh!3 merchandise. I couldn’t afford anything but… dogtags. Oh, god unearned dogtags, so lame… wait a minute, I earned this.
I bought the dogtag, giving my $5 bill and thanking them. It was still crowded but everyone was slowly making there way outside. I left, exiting and not seeing Bridge. I had spoken to a few random people, held this girl’s water so she could get out her money, they loved it but all complained of the heat.
The sidewalk was still full of everyone, some waiting for rides, some simply trying to decide what to do. One girl looking desperately for her camera, she had lost it but her sister was ready to leave and was walking away. She was torn between her precious pictures and her sister leaving her. It was hard for her but she finally decided to seek out her camera. She was whiney. (I saw her later with a big smile)
No Ally, no Bridge. No Kelli. As if you didn’t see that one coming.
The crowd began to really thin and I looked around, realizing nothing was here and was cold again. I wanted to get some coffee. I think I asked a bouncer where there was something warm to drink, they directed me to a Starbucks down the street. I reached it just as it was closing, the doors locked, the brooms out.
I looked around and across the intersection was the Beehive Coffee shop. I walked in and it was warm. There were lots of people there, it didn’t seem to be closing (I remember distinctly one very attractive blonde in the window, she was looking at me).
I ordered a hot chai but it was cash only. They had an ATM. One ATM fee later, I had a hot chai and discovered they were open till 1am from Monica, the coffee bar girl. I took my hot chai to go and left. I needed my computer, I needed a plan.
I walked back to my car, it was 6 or 7 blocks away (probably further) and I recall walking up to it and not seeing any damage but I wasn’t looking either. I got in and drove down the street, finding that it was a one-way street next to the Beehive and I parked on the left-side of the street, parking carefully and gathering up my computer in my bag.
I don’t think I took the time to repack at this point, I only had a few hours in the warm coffee shop. I took my bag in and found a nice place to sit and I logged into the OC and wrote…
KLC Dies. . . I think.
Monica began shutting off the lights as I wrapped up this posting. The email I sent to KIP:
I had spent time on the phone with Lo, charged my phone fully and was letting my computer charge. I had coffee before I left. I had a long drive in front of me. I packed up, used the bathroom and thanked Monica. She was indifferent.
I looked around the Beehive, it was chill, Monica was chill… I was not, my mind was still racing, I had so much to figure out. I had sent that email and now what?! NOW WHAT!? WHERE TOO!?
At this point, I think panic was driving me as much as anything but I paused before leaving the Beehive to look around. Then walked outside in the cold, now mostly abandoned street. I walked across the street and around the front of my car as I got in and turned it on, quickly blasting the heat as I began to clean up.
I had another piece of pizza and made sure everything was efficiently packed (for my flight in the morning). I kept working and reworking my timetable, I didn’t want to miss my flight but I wanted to make my time worthwhile.
Finally, I put the car in gear, watched a group of revelers cross the street and began driving, they were discussing how to get home. The coffee in the cupholder and no idea what was next.
The next stop. The Coffee Shop.
If you remember, we left off at It was dark. Wow, before we got to the Coffee Shop. It got stranger still.
I went back up front and had some coffee in a styrofoam cup. Grabbing my credit card which had been left up there. I signed their copy and sat down. They were in the back fixing things as I sat their considering the drab pizza joint. That old wood paneling siding and read the signs backward on the counter.
“NO DELIVERIES AFTER DARK TO ZONE 1. I decide where we deliver to, not drivers, we do not deliver to any of the following streets. Anyone who delivers to these streets will be fired. (it named a bunch streets) THEY ARE ZONE 1!”
They were hanging from above the counter, to be more specific, on white sheets of paper that were backlit enough for me to read… although backwards. It was a nice distraction as I figured in my head that Zone 1 were very bad places. Whole streets designated as too dangerous to deliver pizza too. Wow.
The rest of the five 8 ½ x 11 sheets of white paper proceeded to name other zone 1 streets and areas that were never to be delivered too and chastize the workers as if they were children. Though, I wondered what kind of situtation caused drivers to want to deliver to such dangerous places that the owner would fire them for delivering to those places.
What gives?
My small pizza was done just as I finished reading the last one. It was warm, so good. I sat their quietly eating it. Not much to do. I think I had two greasy slices, throwing plenty of red peppers on it and some parmesean cheese before I decided that the concert would be over soon.
I really don’t know what I was thinking, why go back there? Other than, where else did I have to go? I think that’s what I was thinking as I left with my pizza box and walked back to my car. I had no where else to go, so…. I put the pizza in my car, I think I warmed myself up and reparked the car. I didn’t like it being exposed to the street.
I parked it in practically the same place, though I think closer to the curb. As I recall, I was getting out of the car when my phone rang suddenly. It was Kelli’s ring. What!?
I looked at the phone in disbelief, my crushed heart now racing, this just didn’t make sense. I answered, it was so quiet in my car but instantly loud on the phone, “KELLI?” – but no answer, just this loud sound, that familiar sound when someone calls you from a really loud concert. The call ended, it was a mere 7 seconds long.
I sprung. My phone in my pocket and locking my car I ran. I ran down to the main street and toward the club. Arriving to the same bouncers and a random group standing around… the music still blasting from inside.
My mind was racing!? Was she at the concert? Had it just been Bridge just accidently calling me? What was going on? It was the same set as I had heard the night before. People were still sweating hot, pressed against the interior doors but not being allowed to come outside without having to leave. Though a few girls were apparently cute enough to break that rule.
I stood there, it was still freezing and I was breathing hard. What was I going to do? I had tried calling Kelli back, again and again and again and always to the “voicemail is full” message. It never rang.
“Black dress; with the tights underneathe…” the last song. I already knew this crowd wasn’t as cool as last nights. I had chatted with the other band member about how that had been so awesome, the crowd was near out of control (at times, out of control) and this group was lamer. There would definitely be no encore. I had heard the bouncers talking about how they did these Sunday concerts just to bring in extra money, then they opened the club up to ‘adults’. They didn’t really like being a concert venue, at least the bouncers, you could tell. It was just kinda a way to make money off a different audience.
Another girl had collapsed inside. They were calling her mother, the lead bouncer disappeared inside and ordered the other bouncer, “Don’t let anyone in till I get back.” – Unfortunately, the bouncer took this to mean anybody. A band member from one of the other bands came back to get in. He was denied. I laughed, it was obvious to me that the big bouncer probably didn’t mean the bands, they had passes but this bouncer followed orders. He took ‘anyone’ to be literal. Understandable mistake since, who could he have possibily meant? The only people who could have legitimately got in where people with backstage passes. Another example of stupidity leading the day.
I watched them argue as people begged to leave the club really bounced with 3oh!3’s big hit. I looked around, “this is it…” What was I going to do? Kelli hadn’t answered, I admit, it made me think Bridge had accidently dialed me, I didn’t really want to see her. She had already stated her piece.
I looked to the bouncer, telling him it was over and the crowd began to stream out. I moved a barstool that the other bouncer had been sitting on out of the way of the doors as I watched extremely hot people pouring out. They were sweating and the cold, nippy air was a welcome relief.
I watched the crowd at first… I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t look particularly hard. I was convinced she wasn’t there, it must be Bridge. Who else could it be, how else could all of this be explained?
A side door showed an opening and I risked it. I went in the side exit door. Past another door and a rope guiding people out toward the main door. It lead to the stage area which I promptly passed to join the large crowd near the merchandise and exit. I grabbed some water and blended in. It was so very hot inside. No wonder this crowd was tame, they couldn’t breathe!
I didn’t see her, it wouldn’t have surprised me if my Kelli had hung back to talk to the band at the stage or get as merchandise as possible. I saw the inside of the club, I wanted to see the layout, to know it.
I stood in line… I realized I had nothing. Nothing from this trip. I had come so far to experience something so unreal. It couldn’t be real. I decided to buy something.
I only had $5, not much. I stood in line as the bouncers began to yell at people to leave but everyone was in line for merchandise, it was just taking a long time. I got to the 3oh!3 merchandise. I couldn’t afford anything but… dogtags. Oh, god unearned dogtags, so lame… wait a minute, I earned this.
I bought the dogtag, giving my $5 bill and thanking them. It was still crowded but everyone was slowly making there way outside. I left, exiting and not seeing Bridge. I had spoken to a few random people, held this girl’s water so she could get out her money, they loved it but all complained of the heat.
The sidewalk was still full of everyone, some waiting for rides, some simply trying to decide what to do. One girl looking desperately for her camera, she had lost it but her sister was ready to leave and was walking away. She was torn between her precious pictures and her sister leaving her. It was hard for her but she finally decided to seek out her camera. She was whiney. (I saw her later with a big smile)
No Ally, no Bridge. No Kelli. As if you didn’t see that one coming.
The crowd began to really thin and I looked around, realizing nothing was here and was cold again. I wanted to get some coffee. I think I asked a bouncer where there was something warm to drink, they directed me to a Starbucks down the street. I reached it just as it was closing, the doors locked, the brooms out.
I looked around and across the intersection was the Beehive Coffee shop. I walked in and it was warm. There were lots of people there, it didn’t seem to be closing (I remember distinctly one very attractive blonde in the window, she was looking at me).
I ordered a hot chai but it was cash only. They had an ATM. One ATM fee later, I had a hot chai and discovered they were open till 1am from Monica, the coffee bar girl. I took my hot chai to go and left. I needed my computer, I needed a plan.
I walked back to my car, it was 6 or 7 blocks away (probably further) and I recall walking up to it and not seeing any damage but I wasn’t looking either. I got in and drove down the street, finding that it was a one-way street next to the Beehive and I parked on the left-side of the street, parking carefully and gathering up my computer in my bag.
I don’t think I took the time to repack at this point, I only had a few hours in the warm coffee shop. I took my bag in and found a nice place to sit and I logged into the OC and wrote…
KLC Dies. . . I think.
Monica began shutting off the lights as I wrapped up this posting. The email I sent to KIP:
(she never responded)Hi Kelli,
This is going to be an odd email but I hope you bear with me, it isn't a joke and please believe me when I say I'm pretty confused myself. Mostly I'm hoping you can answer some questions for me. I came out to Ohio to meet a girl I knew as Kelli. This person sent me many pictures that looked like you and we spent many hours on the phone together but in coming out here, I wasn't able to find her. I think I've been dupped. I'm asking, pleading, please help me figure this out, email me here or call me on my phone 7xx-xxx-xxx. I'm only in Ohio till 10am and I'm not expecting you to do anything for me but I feel like I've just lost a really good friend. I'm on AIM as [xxxx].
I'll be glad to explain it all to you, at least what I understand and hopefully you can help me figure out what happened. I know you don't know me but I assure you I've done my best to be a good friend to whoever was posing. I guess I don't know what else to say other than, this isn't some prank or attempt to do something malicious. Um, thanks.
I had spent time on the phone with Lo, charged my phone fully and was letting my computer charge. I had coffee before I left. I had a long drive in front of me. I packed up, used the bathroom and thanked Monica. She was indifferent.
I looked around the Beehive, it was chill, Monica was chill… I was not, my mind was still racing, I had so much to figure out. I had sent that email and now what?! NOW WHAT!? WHERE TOO!?
At this point, I think panic was driving me as much as anything but I paused before leaving the Beehive to look around. Then walked outside in the cold, now mostly abandoned street. I walked across the street and around the front of my car as I got in and turned it on, quickly blasting the heat as I began to clean up.
I had another piece of pizza and made sure everything was efficiently packed (for my flight in the morning). I kept working and reworking my timetable, I didn’t want to miss my flight but I wanted to make my time worthwhile.
Finally, I put the car in gear, watched a group of revelers cross the street and began driving, they were discussing how to get home. The coffee in the cupholder and no idea what was next.
WIDGETIZE