Monster Band Part Five: Arlo the Orc (complete)

    Arlo and I were sweethearts back in school, before that we were next door neighbors and best friends. His family was better off than mine and I was always curious about his life. I adored his family and always felt lucky to have Arlo in my life. After high school we had the usual parting of the ways, and like most young fools in love we had tried long distance. Unfortunately, young love doesn’t always triumph like it does in the movies. Arlo and I remained close friends of course, we kept a phone correspondence and we wrote letters often.

    I got married to a charming and extremely talented artist who I met while working at an artisan bakery. Arlo attended the wedding, of course by that point he and his band Saturn had just made it really big. My husband was upset that everyone was paying attention more to the hot stub from the boy band than they were our wedding. 

    Arlo was also there when my daughter was born, I even made him her godfather. He sent Bibi gifts often, even when he was on the road and had better things to worry about than some housewife and her daughter. 

    Around the time Bibi started school I tried my hand at working again. I had run a cake business from the home for years, but I really wanted to get back to being a chef again. It was hard work of course. I worked a lot of diners and slop shops while I dreamed about the gourmet restaurant I had always wanted to own.

    I had gotten my first head chef job when my husband left me. He wasn’t malicious about it and honestly I had seen it coming. He was gay, he couldn’t help that. He loved me but he wanted to live his life and be honest with his daughter. Once again, Arlo was there. 

    “You remember my cousin Solan right?” He asked me one day.

    “Yeah, the big shot,” I chuckled softly. “How is he doing?”

    “He’s offered me a business venture,” Arlo fidgeted with a napkin on the table. “He took care of my money and invested it, so I’m pretty safe. But I’ve been wanting do something outside music.” He handed me a folder featuring a business front. “We’re opening a restaurant and we both agreed you’d be the best chef we could ask for.”

    I hugged him so tight his head nearly popped off. I was so happy and I couldn’t think of how to thank him. I was able to get back on my feet and start a new life. Arlo was free a lot so he took care of Bibi quite a bit for me. And once again, just like in childhood, we were next door neighbors again.

    Arlo had been working at a big studio lately. He was a producer and a vocal coach, still working in music but behind the scenes. Ever since Saturn broke up he’s stayed out of the spotlight and it kills me. Arlo has the most amazing voice, better than Nyx could ever hope to be. He deserves to have his voice heard more than ever now, especially since the Imaginary Girls released their cover of Saturn’s hit song.

    Bibi adores the Imaginary Girls so I’ve been a secret fan of them myself this entire time. Hearing them cover the song that Peri and Arlo had written together had me in tears. Back in school, the three of us were always together. I had been there when Peri wrote the song and I was the first one to hear Arlo sing it.

    Then, to my shock, Nyx was in my restaurant one morning. He and Arlo talked for hours, going on until lunch. Nyx and his friend left and I took my break to follow Arlo back into his office.

    “Was I seeing things?” I ask as I walk up to his desk.

    “Nope,” Arlo shakes his head.

    I gasp and grin at him. “You haven’t talked to anybody except Peri since the band broke up.” I walk around his desk to stand beside him. “Why was he here? What’s going on?”

    Arlo slouches back in his chair, he takes his glasses off and rubs the bridge of his nose. “He wants to reunite Saturn and go on tour.”

    My mouth gapes open and I go starry-eyed. I slap my hands to my cheeks and grin from ear to ear. “That’s amazing!” I squeal. “What do you think? Is it possible? Will you be able to sing again?”

    Arlo’s expression is distant and a little empty. He looks away from me and I let my hands fall down to my sides again.

    “What’s wrong?” I step closer and put my hand over his. “Arlo.”

    He turns his hand over and holds mine. He rubs his thumb across my knuckles then looks back up into my eyes. “I ruined everything, Penny,” he whispers. “I haven’t talked to any of the others in almost twenty years. And if Nyx is involved then Peri is not going to want to have anything to do with it.”

    I squeeze his hand tight. “You don’t know that.”

    Arlo puts a hand over his eyes. “I fucked it all up.” He takes in a deep breath. “I let everyone run all over us, I never stood up. I never backed up Peri when he was worried I just wanted-”

    I go to his side and put my arms around his head, letting his rest his forehead on my shoulder. I pet his bald head and press my cheek to it. “Peri isn’t mad at you. He’s mad at Nyx and your manager. He has never, ever, once blamed you.” 

    “I could have protected us.” Arlo puts an arm around me.

    “Hey now.” I speak softly and kneel down beside him so we face eye to eye. “Music has always been your passion, Peri’s too. He’s doing what he does best, he’s writing music and performing it well. You aren’t.”

    Arlo blinks a few times.

    “Producing small albums and doing vocal training on the side isn’t what you love. It’s adjacent to it.” I stand back up and pop the top of his head. “You’re a singer, dammit!” I pop his head again. “You’re a singer who is afraid to sing.”

    Arlo scoffs and pushes my hand aside. “That hurts you know?” He rubs the top of his head and stands up so I can’t reach it anymore.

    “Life’s not fair, peaches.” I snap my hands to my hips.

    Arlo isn’t the hot stud he was when Saturn was in its heyday. He’s still good looking, but he’s let things go. He used to work out constantly and box when he was younger and kept in spartan shape. He’s got a pot belly now and he keeps his head shaved. Not that he’s bad looking or anything, I still find him very handsome. But I know he’s going to use it as an excuse, so I have to prepare myself to compliment him when I can.

Arlo and Peri had been playing music together since high school when they met in band class. They formed Saturn when they met Gibbs, Pope, and Desi in college. They gained some attention while playing at local hot spots around the college and they consistently drew large crowds. They were signed on for a record deal and their first album sold well, but the executives thought they could do better. So that’s when they brought in Nyx.

    When Nyx was brought on to be the new leader of Saturn, it was a massive blow to Arlo. The executives wanted Saturn to be profitable and draw in larger crowds. That meant bringing in more sex appeal, hence Nyx. No matter how good a performer Nyx was, Arlo was heads above the better singer. 

    It still left its mark on Arlo though. He had always struggled with his self-esteem but this was almost too hard a hit for him. He thought his singing wasn’t good enough, his looks weren’t good enough, and so he let the spotlight fade away from him. Even as the band started to fight and the first fissures of the break up happened, he stood back. 

    That evening when I get home I go to Arlo’s house first. Inside I can hear the TV on and I find Bibi and Arlo passed out on the sofa together. Bibi’s homework is spread out on the floor so I pick it up and place it in her backpack.

    “What time is it?” Arlo grumbles. He rubs his eyes and turns the TV off. Bibi remains asleep on the sofa as he gets up.

    “Late,” I smirk up at him. “Did you talk to Peri.”

    Arlo looks away and remains quiet. “Bibi’s got a presentation next Monday,” he says. “She’s gotta do a report on Charlotte’s Web.”

    “Arlo,” I put my hands to my hips.

    He scoffs and goes to the fridge. “No,” he grunts as he pulls out a beer. 

    “Do you want me to call him?” I step close to him and shut the fridge as he goes to the bottle opener on the wall.

    Arlo frowns and shakes his head.

    I take a deep breath and motion to the porch. “Let’s go outside and talk.” I move to the door and open it. 

    “What’s to talk about?” Arlo grumps as he follows me outside. “There’s no way I can possibly do this. Nyx maybe, but I can’t.”

    “Why not?” I take a seat on the patio and slip my feet into his pool. “You’re still talented. You still know the game. Doing a reunion tour could be fun.”

    Arlo stands back and sips his beer. 

    “What are you so afraid of?” I ask. “Most people don’t even get to fail at doing the thing they love.”

    Arlo sits down close to me and putting his feet into the water.

    “So Saturn broke up before? Big deal. Lots of bands do and reunite. Everyone expects it. Now that you’re song has gotten popular again, take the chance. Better yet-” I poke his arm. “Take chances on the things you didn’t when you were young and stupid.”

    Arlo grins and laughs. 

    “You’re awfully quiet.” I scoot close to him so we’re side to side. “I’m doing all the talking here.”

    “It’s helping,” Arlo grumbles. “Listening to you talk like when we were younger. It helps me a lot.”

    I lean against his arm. “You’re my best friend.” I relax with Arlo. “I would do anything in the world I could for you.”

    Arlo grins and puts his arm around me. “I know.” He presses his cheek to the top of my head. “I would do anything for you too, Penny.”

I put my hand into his and he closes his fingers around it.

“Oh my god! Why don't you two just kiss already?”

I look back and see Bibi standing in the door. Her dark hair is matted up from the heavy sleeping she did on the sofa.    

“Bibi!” I scoff as I stand up. “That’s not funny.”

Bini rolls her eyes. “I’m not saying it to be funny.” She rubs her eyes, probably having just woken up. “I’m saying it because you two are so frustrating.” She walks back inside and goes to the fridge where she takes out a juice box. “Kiss and get married.”

“Bibi, that’s not how that works!” I laugh anxiously, my cheeks burning as Arlo walks up behind me. There had been a time in our lives where we had both wanted that, but that was a long time ago. We still weren’t in that mindset right?

“Peri thinks so too,” Bibi grouses as she turns the Tv back on.

I look up at Arlo and then back away quickly. My face in on fire and I know it must be obvious to him. “We need to go home.” I turn the TV back off and Bibi whines.

“Thank you for looking after her,” I say to Arlo as I hurry her out.

Once Bibi has had a bath and is tucked in bed, I go into my room and lay down. I sigh, unable to shake the idea that Bibi put into my head. She’s always loved Arlo, he’s been her idol since she was a baby. Even as a baby she preferred Arlo holding her over me. It shouldn’t come as a surprise she would want us together. Yet it is.

I had pushed the ideas of romance with Arlo out the window when we broke up the first time. We were young and stupid kids back then after all, we had no clue what life or even love was back then. Even still I have always loved Arlo, but that wasn’t the same. Was it? 

I roll over in bed remembering how much it hurt to break up with Arlo. All I wanted to do was be with him and hold him. Even when we continued to talk and be friends, there was a part of me that wanted to go back to when it was more. Even when I was married there were nights where Arlo was the one I wanted in bed with me. But I just thought that was a part of me I wanted to cling to. I didn’t allow myself to think I was still in love with him.

I sat up so fast I got woozy. I was still in love with Arlo.

I double checked Bibi and went outside. Arlo and I had removed the fence ages ago so we shared a backyard. As I stood on my back porch I could see Arlo sitting by the pool again. I stepped out onto the grass and as I did the sprinkler system came on. I screamed and Arlo turned, jumping up from his spot as I tried to outrun the sprinklers. I stood on the concrete of his lawn, soaking wet and a little panicked.

Arlo was trying not to laugh. He snorted and covered his mouth with the back of his hand. “Do you want a towel?”

I gasp and shake the water off. “Yeah well, I guess,” I frown at him.

Arlo takes me inside where he fetches me a towel. “Just what the hell are you doing out this late?” He scolds at me.

I rub the towel to your hair. “I wanted to finish talking to you,” I lie.

“Don‘t you think we’ve said enough?” He scoffs. “I messaged Peri. He’s coming over tomorrow.”

I look up at him in awe. “He is? I mean...really? Oh Arlo that’s great!”

“I don’t know how I feel,” he says with a low rumbling voice. “I just knew I didn’t want to disappoint you again. So I messaged him.”

I furrow my brow. “Again?” I ask. “You’ve never once disappointed me.”

Arlo sighs and rubs the back of his head. “Yes I have.” He drops his arm. “You said so yourself today, that I’m wasting my time producing small albums and doing vocal training. I want to be…” he frowns. “I want to be the man that you and Bibi see in me.”

I swallow and I shake my head. “I’m not disappointed in you at all. I said that because I know you deserve better.” The tears start to fall down my cheeks and Arlo’s big, warm fingers wipe them away.

“Don’t cry, Penny,” his voice is so gentle it makes me want to cry more.

“You mean everything to me,” I grab his hand and keep it on my cheek. “You’re so important to Bibi and me. I want the world for you. I want to give you what you were able to give me.” I sniffle and nuzzle to his palm, kissing it as I do. 

“Penny,” Arlo sighs as he wraps me up in his arms.

“I love you.” The words spill freely from me.

Arlo takes a step back but rushes into my arms again, hugging me so tight I feel my head might pop. He kisses me hard and presses his forehead to mine. “I love you too,” he whimpers.

I touch his cheek and wipe away his tears this time, kissing him over and over. “I wanted to tonight,” he laughs. “But Bibi ruined it.”

I chuckle with him. “I’m an idiot,” I sniffle. 

“I’ve never loved anyone else,” Arlo kisses my cheek. “Not the same way anyways.” He holds my hand tight. 

I tug on his hand, going towards his bedroom.

He remains still. “No wait.”

I look back at him. “What’s wrong?”

He lets go of my hand and his shoulders droop. “I’m not-” he waves his hand up and down his body, unable to find the right words to say. “It’s not the same as when-” he frowns and shakes his head. “I don’t want you to think that I-”

“I’ve had a baby,” I say to him bluntly. “Things are stretched, sagging, and marked that used to be perky, soft, and lovely.” I give him a reassuring smile. “You’re still damn sexy to me, Arlo.”

Arlo hangs his head and grins. “You so sure about that?”

I saddle up to him and put my arms around him. “You’re a strong, caring, and wonderful man. You’re so great with Bibi and you’re just as charming as when we were in school.” I pet down his chest and smile. “Dad bods are in these days.”

Arlo laughs and kisses me. “Sure they are.” He rolls his eyes. 

“You’re sexy, Arlo,” I tug on his hand again. “We’re both older and our bodies have changed.” I then grin up at him. “But I am still going to ride you like the horny schoolgirl I was back in the day. So come on.” I tug on his hand again.  “I’ve been waiting on you for a long time!”

“Now that’s what’s sexy,” he growls and picks me up. I yelp as he tosses me over his shoulder and he carries me in the opposite direction.

“Wait!” I laugh. “Where are you taking me?”

He goes into the garage where his cars are parked. He opens up the old pickup truck, one very much like what he had in high school.

“If you want to relive those days, let’s do it right.” He sits me down on the seat and kisses me. I put my legs around him and start tugging up his shirt.

“You sure?” I smirk at him. “We aren’t young like me used to be?”

He huffs and strips off his shirt, he presses close again, his big warm hands slip under my still wet shirt. “I need this,” he growls.

I moan softly, feeling the bulge in his pants rubbing directly to my heat. It’s been a long time for any of this. He kisses my neck and I cling to his back. He pulls away my shirt and we rub our bare skin together.

“Lay back,” he growls at me and tugs away my pants.

“Wait, why?” I pant.

    “Just lay back,” he smirks.

    I frown but do as he ask me. I lay on the old truck seat and when I close my eyes I can remember that night after a football game. Arlo had just finished playing with the band and was still in the band uniform. He had driven us away from the game, somewhere it was quiet and peaceful. We got hot and heavy fast, the windows steamed over and we took advantage of the peace and quiet.

    I gasp as his tongue licks over my slit. I bite back a grin and look down to see his head between my thighs. “Do you know how long it’s been?” I sigh.

    “Since I had hair?” He chuckles. His tusks brush against my thighs and I fully feel like a horny young girl again.

     He pushes his tongue between my folds and I giggle uncontrollably. I cover my face with my hands and wriggle on the rough seat. 

    “Stay still,” he slurps and presses his big, heavy palm on my belly.

    “Sorry.” I stretch my legs out and relax. The heat that comes from his mouth alone is enough to make me melt. Then his finger slips inside and I let out a soft moan. “Oh god,” I reach down and cup the back of his head.

    His finger moves inside me as his tongue swirls around my clit. He teases me and makes my hips jerk. Then he takes to my clit like he’s trying to suck a took thick milkshake from a too small straw. I cry out, my hips coming off the seat. He places his palm up my rear supporting me as he also torments me. He’s even better at this than when we were young. It’s also been so long since I’ve had this sort of attention it’s not long before I’m a heaving, panting mess on the seat. 

    My legs are akimbo and limp on his shoulders. My knees are splayed wide open and the seat beneath me is soaked. As Arlo pulls away his chin is slick and creamy from his affections. He’s grinning as he stands up. 

    “You still with me.” He pats my cheek and rubs his thumb to my lips.

    I take his thumb on my tongue, sucking it as I look up into his eyes. “Mm,” I moan for him. I hitch my leg around his hip and urge him forward.

    He tugs down his pants and I feel his cock slap against my thigh. I bite the tip of his thumb in excitement. Has he gotten bigger since the last time?

    “I should get a condom,” he growls.

    I shake my head and plead with him using my eyes. I roll my hips, rubbing against him and begging him to keep going. I bite his thumb again and he hooks it in my cheek.

    “Easy,” he snarls at me. “You’re still this fucking vicious?” He ruts himself against me and I can tell for sure he has gotten much bigger.

    I grin up at him and he presses his thumb back onto my tongue. He guides himself, pressing to my slit. I close my eyes and groan as I feel him split me. He’s so thick he has to go slow and steady as I get used to him. I used to could take him like a champ and I was very proud of myself back then. Now, I’ll have to train myself to take Arlo’s fat dick again.

    “Fuck,” Arlo stops and hangs his head.

    “Whass whung?” I ask with his thumb still in my mouth.

    “I’ll cum,” he grunts. “If I’m not careful.” He looks at me and the strain is obvious. “I’m gonna cum any second.”

    I roll my tongue around on his thumb and move my hips slightly, taking him a little more but mostly grinding him inside me. He grunts and moans and braces himself on the seat. He pushes in a little deeper and he meets my movements. He grinds a little more and I bite his thumb.

    He lets out a choked cry and I can feel his thick heat pool inside me. I moan and fall back against the seat. His hips tremble and bucks, pushing himself deeper inside me. I can feel his cum dribbling from my slit. He keeps moving inside me, still cumming while he does. 

    I gasp and twitch, pulling him down on top of me to moan in his ear. Another warm gush fills me and the truck seat is completely soaked. We lay there for a long time in the cool of the garage. I feel young and beautiful again, I feel a powerful desire that has been buried inside me all this time.

    Arlo whimpers as he pulls out from me. He then rises up, looking down at me with smoldering eyes. He may be older but I still see the same creature before me I did all those years ago. He lays back down beside me, cradling me to his chest. He then does the most remarkable thing of all, he starts singing to me.

    He sings to me the song he wrote for me, the one that made Saturn big. The song that may bring them back together now. I turn around, kissing him as he sings for me.

    “You’re crying?” He wipes my cheeks. 

“It’s been so long since you’ve sang like that. Let alone for me,” I kiss him again. “It just...it just brought back so much to me. Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you,” he snuggles up to me. “I can’t believe I get to hold you like this again.”

“I could stay like this all night,” I sigh.

    “What about Bibi?” He asks. “Shouldn’t you go back to the house?”

    I wrap my arms around his neck. “Then sleep over,” I sigh. “I wanna make you breakfast in the morning.”

    “Now how is that even sexier than before?” Arlo laughs.

    We giggle and smooch like idiots for a while before we make our way to my house. We end up falling asleep but come morning I get up to make breakfast for all of us.

    I’m a bit relieved that Arlo wakes up before Bibi. I know she would be happy the two of us finally did what she wanted, but we still wanted to talk to her before she found out.

    “What are you making?” Arlo asks dreamily from the counter.

    “Pancakes, with chocolate chips.” 

    The doorbell rings and Arlo gets up from his seat. “That’s probably Peri,” he says. He opens the door. “Hey!”

    “When no one answered at your place I figure dyou were here,” Peri walks inside and then looks over Arlo. “Oh my god,” he whispers. “You two had sex.”

    I drop the spatula I am holding and whip around to him. “What?” I laugh anxiously.

    “Don’t act stupid with me,” Peri snaps. “I’ve known you two longer than anybody. I knew back in school when you did and I know it now. Out with it,” He claps his hands together. “How long?”

    “Please,” I rush up to him. “Kep it quiet” I warn. “We haven’t had a chance to talk to Bibi yet.”

“She’s smarter than you give her credit for. She probably already knows.” He rolls his eyes. “Now out with it. When did you two get back together?” He’s grinning despite his serious tone. “Is this really why you wanted me to come over?” He laughs., “Not that stupid ass reason with Saturn?”

He looks between Arlo and me and then his expression sinks. “So this is just a bonus?”

“It just happened last night,” I tell him as we walk back into the kitchen. “We didn’t plan it it just all happened and…” I sigh and smile.

Peri shakes his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I am over the moon that you to are back where you belong. But I am trying to wrap my head around the idea that you want to get Saturn back together. All because of Imaginary Girls?”

“They’re cover has already sparked interest in Saturn,” Arlo says. “Our record sales are up and it’s going to happen eventually. We should at least consider it, Peri.”

“This doesn’t sound like you,” Peri says. “Who talked to you first?”

Arlo looks down and Peri looks back at me. “It was Nyx wasn’t it?” Peri asks.

“So what if it was?” Arlo says with a voice I haven’t heard in twenty years. “So what if he asked for this? Does it really matter? I know you’re angry, but this is our chance to take control of Saturn back. Nyx may always be with us, but he won’t call the shots anymore. We will.”

Peri frowns. “It’s been a long time since I last saw this Arlo.” His frown turns into a great big grin. “Glad he’s finally back.”