Freddie

FREDDIE

I'm in the studio with the band today, though I'm struggling to concentrate. After my brief and fascinating interaction with Journey last night, being here writing and laying down tracks with the guys is the hardest thing to focus on.

And they see it.

This woman was an absolute need when I first saw her. She's a wet dream come to reality but the more interaction I have with her, the more I want. The more I need . She isn't an easy lay, she's a ‘fight for your right' to get to know her. She's just the type I've always imagined myself to end up with. A music lover. A take no shit girl. That one you would be proud to take home to mom and dad.

And I'm left wondering how I can convince her to give me a chance.

"Yo, Fred, what's up with ya today?" Dan asks.

"Too much wine last night?" Richie asks.

"Too much Journey last night."

My eyes snap to Dan. "Careful."

He hits a few beats on the drum, then puts his hands up defensively. "Not saying anything, just that we noticed ya two sitting close. And that ya didn't leave with us."

"Nothing happened. We were talkin'." I pause wondering whether I should give away her secret. "But she can play."

"Play what?" Richie looks up from the sheet music.

"Piano for one, but I bet she knows a bit of everything."

Their eyes light up. "Do ya know what adding a woman to our sound would be like?"

I shake my head. "I can assure ya's, she's not looking for that. It took me three weeks to get her to acknowledge me without a fight and only about four bars of music before something upset her and she hightailed it out of there."

"Maybe she lost a deal?"

"Or never got one to start?

"And now she's jaded and–"

"Guys. Stop. We don't know her story and I'm not projecting one onto her. She'll tell me when she's ready."

The guys and I work for about an hour but nothing is coming together quite right. And I know it's my fault.

Dan approaches outside the booth. "Listen, Fred, clearly your mind is elsewhere. Go to the bar. Go see her. Take her down Broad Street, they have that Strawberry Fest going on. Chicks dig that shit. I'd rather ya figure it out than sit here wonderin'. We need ya on point with us, so clear this up and then get back to work here with us tomorrow."

I consider this for a moment before I clap him on the shoulder. "Thanks man. This isn't me. I wouldn't normally drop ya's for anything."

"No explanation needed." He raises a brow. "I see it. I know what your dad told each of us back then." He gives me a knowing look and it's the sign I need right now. My dad's voice about ‘giving it up for a girl' has been drifting through my thoughts every night since I laid eyes on her.

But disappointing my band is not something I want to do. I'd surely put myself last before hurting them. We've all worked too hard. The guilt is strong for leaving them but I also know I'm doing no good by sitting here when my mind is clearly down the street at the local bar.

I made it down to Foggy Goggles in record time. I don't even know if she'll be here this early. The bar doesn't open till four pm. But if she's not here, someone should know where I can find her. I push open the door, happy to see it isn't locked. The place is lit up like Times Square and the difference between a bar getting ready to open and a bar that's been open all night is astounding. The first man I see is Butch and he doesn't look surprised to see me.

"Hey, Butch. How's it goin'?"

He continues drying the glass he's holding, placing it down and picking up another all while holding my stare. "What ya doing here, Fred?"

"I came to see Journey. Is she here?"

Just as I ask, Journey comes around the corner holding a rack of clean glasses and pauses mid step, before continuing her way over to Butch. "What are you doing here?"

"Damn, you two are givin' me such a complex. I can't come into the bar?" I joke to lighten the mood.

"We're not open yet." Journey snaps out.

"Good. ‘Cos I'm hopin' to convince ya to come out with me for a lil' bit."

She won't look at me and she's acting like a nervous daughter being asked out in front of her father. "I'm working, ."

"You can go." Butch grumbles and she snaps her head toward him, giving him such a look of disdain it makes me laugh. "In fact, I know you've been askin' for a day off. Why don't ya take it now. Go have some fun."

"Butch!" She yells at him.

"I think it's a great idea, J. I've got just the place for us." I interject.

"I can't just leave my shift."

"You're not. I've got Lisa and Merritt on tonight, too. I've added more people to the schedule since we've been so busy lately." Butch gives me a knowing look. It's busy because they're loving my band.

When Journey is silent and continues to put away the clean glasses, Butch speaks up again. "Journey. I'm telling ya to go. If you stay, I'm firing ya."

"What!" She screeches out. "Why are you taking his side?"

"I'm not takin' a side. I'm telling ya to go relax for the night. Have fun. You've been here every day for almost two weeks. I appreciate it, but ya need a break." He pauses and speaks clearly to her. "Don't fight it, Journey."

Her and Butch have a silent conversation before she calmly places the glass she's holding down on the bar.

"Alright. Just let me grab my purse." She disappears into the back.

Butch brings his eyes to mine. "Don't make me regret this, Fred." he speaks low.

"Ya won't." For whatever reason, Butch likes me. I won't ask questions, I'll just be the best I can be right now.

We're walking down Broad street, stopping at each table that has a free sample of food, candy or drink. It's a gorgeous day and it's exactly what I need. I want to be close to her, get to know more about her. And I'm hoping she'll feel she can trust me. I want her to see that I'm a good guy and not out for something else. I'm not just another rocker passing through the bar.

"So where is your sister?" I ask as we walk.

"She flew home last night. Her husband is like a child and can't be left alone for long. I wish they'd move here, but he has a great job in Tennessee and she won't make him leave it."

"Is that where you're originally from?"

"It is." She's short with her answer.

"Ya loved rock more than country? Tennessee does have both, ya know." I tease her.

She glances at me then shrugs. "I just wanted a change of scenery. My sister is the small town queen and wanted to stay there."

"She seems really nice."

"Mm, I heard you two are best friends now." She retorts with all the sarcasm available but doesn't hide the smirk appearing.

"She said that? Are you jealous?"

She laughs and rolls her eyes when I bump her with my shoulder. "No, I'm not jealous. She's just nosey and will butter you up to get the information she wants."

"She was askin' me a lot of questions."

"I'm not surprised."

We walk along the sidewalk a bit more until we come to the open field with a stage set up, where a local high school rock band is playing. I recognize them from the circuit but they're young kids.

"They're not too bad for a young group." I muse.

"You know them?"

"I've heard them play here and there, mainly events like this. They're not of age to play in a bar yet, but soon, I bet ya'll have them in Foggy Goggles."

We listen for a minute and I debate on how to press her for more information.

"So, I don't want to scare you away by askin'."

"Then don't." She cuts me off instantly.

"Journey."

". "

"You've got amazing talent. I'm just curious where it came from." I say softly, as if I'm speaking to a caged animal. I want her to tell me her story but I don't want to have to pry it from her either.

She sighs and walks toward the small bench and I follow. We sit together and I wait for her to talk.

"I assume with a name like Journey, and my sister being Faith, you can understand the house I grew up in."

"My name is . I think I get it."

She smiles then drops her head, staring at her hands as she wrings together. "My parents were music teachers so the love of it was instilled in us from the time we were born. I was never pushed to play or take lessons of any kind, but I wanted to. I wanted them to be proud of me, but I also wanted to learn it all. From piano to singing, to writing, I lived and breathed music."

"You write, too?" This girl is incredible.

"I did, yes." She watches the band again for a moment. I lean back against the bench and turn towards her slightly. She's gorgeous, and I just take all her in. I place my arm on the bench behind her, taking a moment to brush her shoulder with my fingers. I push her hair back, exposing her neck. She doesn't move away, she lets me touch her and I can sense her walls tumbling down.

"I went away to college with the intention of taking every music class I could. I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to be with kids who loved it as much as I did. I wanted to train them into something bigger, whatever their dreams were, I wanted to help them reach their peak. But I got sidetracked. One of my professors saw my talent and insisted I was meant for more."

"I'll never forget his words. ‘Journey let me show you a whole new world. I'll walk it with you. We'll do it all together. I know you're scared, but I won't leave your side. We're a couple right? I want to do right by you.'"

She leans into me a little, angling toward me, but not quite looking at me. "He was more than just someone who wanted to help me. We began dating. He flashed all kinds of exciting ideas and took me to new places. I was from a small town, I didn't know anything outside of our little musical diner and school plays. So it was exciting and I loved the attention." She presses her lips together firmly. "I was so stupid."

"Ya weren't stupid, Journey. It was all brand new. Ya were allowed to feel somethin' different."

"There is something about standing on stage in front of people, though, exposing yourself and opening yourself up emotionally. It's humbling and it never phased me to be someone I wasn't. I gave everything of myself to whoever would listen. But one night, that feeling was stolen from me and replaced with fear and loneliness."

I have a feeling this professor or boyfriend or whatever she wants to call him did more than just try to get her a deal but I won't say a word about it. She's still staring past me, and her brows furrow and she bites her bottom lip. I stroke her cheek with my thumb. Her eyes connect with mine and those gorgeous greens hold such a story.

"Okay listen, enough of that heavy stuff. Get out of ya head. Wherever ya just went, I don't want ya going with me. Let's have fun. It's a beautiful day, the music is good, the strawberries are sweet and my date is hot."

She raises a brow. "Date?"

"Yeah, are ya good with that? Come on, be my date, Journey. Ya still owe me a glass of wine, ya know."

"Oh, I owe you now?" She laughs. "From what I heard, you got your glass from Butch and my sister."

"But I ordered one from the beautiful waitress and it never came. So yeah, ya owe me."

She stands and puts her hand out. I reach for it quickly, not wanting her to disappear on me. "Fine." She huffs out like it's a hardship. "I have just the place. You coming?"

"I'll take any journey with ya." She groans then giggles when I pull her in close to me. She fits against me perfectly. As she looks up with eyes that carry amazement, I say, "I'll follow your symphony anywhere."