Freddie

FREDDIE

It's late. The night has come to an end. Butch is still here wiping down the last of the spilled beer across the bar top and my band is packing up.

Journey has been wary of me all night, probably afraid I'm going to ask her more questions. Or, maybe she's afraid of me and her sister becoming fast friends. Faith has a keen eye and I felt a connection with her. I felt it with Butch too, but I don't want to make it into something more. After seeing both women the other morning at brunch, Journey hasn't left my mind. I've been thinking of each and every way to approach her without her shutting me down for good.

So, I sit at the piano and let my fingers drift along the keys, hoping to coax her to me. The notes float through the airwaves as I begin to play the opening chords to a Queen song. I hum along with it quietly while my drummer grabs the last of the wires and heads out to the back to fill the truck with our equipment.

But I won't be leaving with them tonight. I'm going to sit right here until she throws me out, and if she doesn't throw me out and instead walks out on me, I'll wait until the morning comes and she walks back in. I'll still be here waiting for her.

As I watch her come around the corner, she holds her step for a quick moment, glancing my way before she drags her eyes away and continues to the other side of the room to begin cleaning up the tables. I chuckle to myself as I see her aggressively pushing chairs around and scrubbing at the tables. Her movements become sharper, and the noise a bit louder. Like she's trying to drown me out. Like she doesn't want to hear my music.

I sing a line out loud and it draws her attention.

"But I have to be sure, when I make that first pour... "

Her head snaps to me, her eyes zeroing in on me. "Why are you singing that song?"

I shrug and keep moving my fingers across the keys. I don't answer her, I just get a little louder with the next line.

"I wanna Savvy B free.."

She marches over to me, and I'm thanking God there is no cover on these keys. If there was, she would have snapped my fingertips right off. Instead she slams her hand on the top of the piano. "I asked why you're playing that song?"

I still my movements and say, "Queen is my favorite band and if ya haven't noticed Savvy B is my favorite drink. I can't change the words up a bit?"

She holds my stare and I can see her thoughts tumble through her mind as if she's speaking them out loud. This is a touchy subject for her and I can't figure out why. So I try convincing her to talk to me with mundane questions.

"Which is your favorite band?" I ask her.

"I don't have one." She huffs, eyes dropping to the keys.

"Oh come on. Yes ya do. Everybody has a favorite band. How about a favorite song then?"

She's quiet for a moment until she taps my shoulder motioning for me to move over. I slide over on the bench and she sits down next to me. My body is going haywire being this close to her, her sweet scent overwhelming. I watch as she lays her hands on the keys, fingers poised exactly where they should be at middle C, and she hits the beginning chord of the song I was just playing.

I bite my lip trying to control my excitement, even though inside I am vibrating. This girl has talent and musical ability. She's my match and she's the one I've been looking for. I just know it.

I take my left hand, placing it on the keys and hit a few of the bass clef notes to match. I sneak a glance and see her lips turned up into a small smile. I hum along while we play three or four lines before her hands stop and fall onto the keys making a noise that is not musical. I can physically see her breathing, deeper and faster.

Abruptly she stands. "I can't do this." I resist the temptation to follow her to the back of the bar, knowing she needs a bit of distance right now. With a little bit of musical encouragement, she just took the first step in bringing down that wall. And she did it for me. But there is more to be done. Journey is intriguing and has me thinking thoughts I don't think have ever crossed my mind about a woman before. And as scary as it can be, I'm also ready for it.