I quickly put on a pair of black cargo pants that Maria hadn’t worn for god knows how long! It was right at the bottom of her clothes, along with my light green Cape’ style full sleeves T-Shirt. Conner absolutely loved this T! Why? I’m not so sure… something about it looking hot with black pants? Or maybe the material… it’s a soft somewhat transparent fluro-ish skin tight green… lets just say we’ve, well … it’s a good luck t-shirt ;-) if you know what I mean… if not, then I guess your boyfriend just isn’t as romantic as mine!
“I’m here!” Jake said and popped his head in from the half open window. I ignored him and went on with tying my hair up. Jake opened the window wider and jumped inside.
“You know… we have a door… try that next time.” I said, looking over at the unleashed door.
“Nah, I’ve always wanted to climb into a girls room! I feel much better now.” He replied looking around the room and then grinned.
“Oh really? Yeah, wait till you get down stairs… I’m pretty sure you’ll feel much more better once I tell Conner that,” I said and laughed. “I’m sure he’ll be fine with you climbing into his girlfriends room from the window…”
“Dude, please. The boy is a martial arts kid, pity me will you?” He said fiddling with Maria’s earrings that were on the kitchen table.
“Ha-ha, what ever. Get out!” I grabbed my bag and mobile from the bed and shut the front door, and locked the window.
“Why are you locking the window?” Jake asked, confused.
“In case another wacko comes along and tries to fulfil his strange fantasies in my apartment.” I replied, looking over at him for the 1st time since he’d come. He was wearing a blue shirt with white splashes on it and black denim jeans. What was the occasion? Down stairs Jan and Andre were both also in shirts and jeans. And Conner, in my favourite red FCUK shirt that I got him sometime last year. Which he’s hardly work 5-6 times. Always on some important occasion… he looked hot… his hair looked nice and he was wearing his muddy blue jeans with the shirts sleeves half rolled up and a white t-shirt underneath the red shirt, which you could barley see.
“Ok spill, what’s the occasion?” I asked, feeling a bit under dressed. In fact, too underdressed.
“Nothing at all, it seriously just happened that we all ended up wearing shirts today. That’s exactly what we were laughing about 2 minutes ago before you came outside… because we knew you’d ask what’s up…” Conner said and held my hand. Hmmm… I guess its possible… I just smiled and hugged him.
“Fine, I believe you…” I said, staring at Andre’s hair. Looked cool. I’m not sure what he’d done to it though. It looked… hmmm… different! One of the reasons being he hadn’t gelled it, or done anything to it today so it just fell on his forehead like a fringe but cooler. They all just looked too dressed for it to be a coincident… but oh well… who knows, maybe it is just one.
I got in the back seat between Jake and Andre. Usually I sit in the front when Conner’s driving, but seeing the 3 guys were there, it’d be un balanced if I made all 3 sit at the back and I sat in the front… and plus, Jan loves sitting there! When I sit at the back, middle’s my spot. Why in the world would you sit on either side? I mean, you’ve got this big seat in front you, how irritating. From the middle I can see the road ahead. I know, how childish or whatever, but its just a habit. I picked up the file from under me on the seat. The red one with all the songs… it had some new lyrics. Nice ones. But you really can’t tell much till the time they sing it, as you don’t know how the tune goes. Such as once there were these lyrics I really didn’t like much, but when they started singing, I loved it. Just the slow tune it took and the way the entire song just swayed in time, it was absolutely perfect. Then, there are times when they just scream good lyrics out and I hate it. So, no judging it till I’ve heard them sing it… “Interesting,” I whispered, going through them all for the 2nd time. I know these guys so well that I can just tell which ones probably came up with what lyrics… there were 2 songs in here that seemed familiar.
“Hey, Isn’t this the song I wrote with yo Andre when Conner had gone home for those 2 weeks and we wrote the shittiest music and then finally came up with this song??” it was a song about a couple from heaven. As in angels. And the way the girl was and how the guy changes ways and it was quiet sweet… “Yeah, we figured a really cool tune for it, which you’ll probably hear today.” Jake said, looking over at André. The next one was Conner’s… I could tell… obviously they probably had a say in it too but I’m pretty sure it was his words… because no body else’s words give me shivers down my neck…
I held your hands and felt those lips, sexy and sensual, too much for my fingertips…
How awesome is that? As if that doesn’t just make you want to pause and just… think about it… Conner’s got this awesome ability, a talent, to make any girl so weak in her knees just by his one look… his voice… his words… not just me, but every girl… I guess in a way that’s a bad thing – for me. A million girls like him because he’s just so irresistible, and you can’t expect him to not talk to all of them… but it’s also a good thing. It means my Jaan will be a good rock star and he’ll be famous as and everyone will love him… that is what I want, him to make his passion into his life. It’s so amazing the way he does it. No matter what sort of mood you’re in, just… having him there changes it all… and I am SO glad to be the only girl he means it too J
I pointed at that one line and looked at Jake. He smiled back, “Yeah, that’s right. It’s Conner’s’… as always!”
“Which one is that?” Conner asked from the front, looking back at me in the review mirror. I felt like you do when you have chemistry with a guy but you’re not with him and he always looks back at you in the review mirror when he’s driving and your eyes meet… Aww, he is the guy I’ve got chemistry with! And the guy I have a crush on, and my fling and my boyfriend, my friend and … my love… my life…
“The pretty girl one… the entire paragraph.” Andre replied. They all knew about it!
We pulled into the parking lot of Checkers. One of the hottest venues in town. What were we doing here? I thought they wanted to go for practise? Conner parked the car between a Merceries and a Ferrari. Yes, hot cars in the car park of a hot venue! Our Toyota Corolla looked kind of cute and purely innocent in front of the big rich cars.
“Why here?” I finally asked looking around at them.
“We’ve got to see this guy… the manager. I don’t know he wanted to know something about the guitars we use or our equipment or something strange, his son’s into music and I guess we were the 1st option so he asked us to drop by sometime so he could ask us a few questions. Seeing it’s on the way, I thought we’d do it now.” Conner said and turned the car off. “Is that ok sweetheart?” He asked, turning around to look at me.
“Yeah, sure… why don’t you guys go in and I’ll stay here,” I said and smiled. It was a bit sudden, coming here, but I guess 5 minutes wont hurt.
“No, come with us inside… I don’t want you to sit out here… please,” He said, giving me his for me? Look, and I just wanted to lean forward and kiss him but instead I smiled and said sure. I think I can spare the guys another Conner and Rose show he he.
We walked inside through the massive reception and the small waterfall surrounded with flowers and trees. This pace was full of mirrors. Mirrors on top, at the side’s… red carpet on the floor. We got into the lift and Jan pressed floor 14 of 16 floors. I bet it’d have a nice view… I’ve always wanted to throw a party here. Lucky damn manager!
“How awesome is this place? Even the lift has a mirror on top…” I muttered under my breath. The lift stopped at the 10th floor as a bunch of punk guys came in, going to the 16th floor. Then on 13th floor came 2 girls, in hip hop outfits, they were both wearing brown cargos with baby pink skintight spaghettis. Finally, our floor. 14th. I almost stopped breathing in there that’s how congested it got! Why couldn’t they have used the 20 other lifts?
Everything was so quiet. The boy’s weren’t even talking… only Andre trying to trip me with his feet every 2 minutes, but that’s really it. He does that the entire time anyway so nothing new. But why the silence? For the 1st time it was actually awkward… I’d say something, but I’m too busy admiring this place. I really like the idea of green walls. Light green textured walls and white photo frames on it… it looked awesome. I’ve never been on the 14th floor before. I came here once long time back, but only went up till 6th floor. A while back I was meant to come here for someone’s party, but something came up so couldn’t make it… Conner walked up to the 2nd reception in the middle of the hallway. There was a red head standing behind the counter, she had grey eyes. Oh please, she was full on flirting with Conner. They talked like they knew each other – at least the body language. Conner knows everybody. The red head handed him a pair of keys and smiled. He came back with the pair of keys and walked past me to room number 12. 2 and 1, 3… hmm, that’s good.
“I thought you had to see the manager?” I asked.
“Yeah in a second! Just give me a minute… and we’ll go.” Conner said as he tried to unlock the door. It was really dark inside; I couldn’t really see anything… suddenly the light went on. Whoa, this place was big. Quiet big! Probably thrice the size of my apartment!! It was like a hall not a room! The same green wall with white frames and a red carpet, it had mirrors on 2 of the sidewalls, the length of the room and a few couches on the other end, there was a green, black and a yellow one and 3-4 colourful beanbags. Behind that was a door, but I wasn’t sure what that lead to. I turned around to look at Conner, but what was behind him grabbed my attention… it’s… his guitar… and their drums, mikes, the keyboard and a bunch of new equipment!
“What’s… happening…? I asked, slowly looking over at all of them. “Why is all your stuff here?” Conner and Andre had a cheeky smile white Jake grinned, and Jan was leaning on the side mirror, smiling. What was this? Some kind of joke?
“Jake? Is this some joke? Conner, I’m confused…” I was shuffling between all of them, trying to find out why their stuff was here… what the hell?
Suddenly a guy dressed up in an expensive looking suit walked in. he looked in his 40’s, with a really classy attitude. He smiled and walked over to Conner.
“Oh good, you boys are here. I was waiting for you,” He said, rubbing his hands together the way people do when they’re either cold or about to announce something. Who is he?
“Hi John, yeah we got here awhile back… I wanted to show Rose the place once… Rose, that’s John Masaska, he’s the manager.
“Hey,” I said and shook his hand. So that’s the manager. I guess he looked like one too. Seemed rich and classy enough to be the manager of such a posh place for sure. Even though that still doesn’t explain why all their instruments are here? Please don’t tell me their going to let John’s kid experiment on that! Just because he’s rich doesn’t mean they have to do that.
“Oh your Rose! Hello, and welcome to Checkers!” He said enthusiastically and smiled. “I’ve been told you don’t know what’s going on, is that right?” I what?
“Uh…”
“Obviously that’s a No… I don’t know how they bought you here with what lie but, the boys here had told me they want to keep it a secret for the time being… and them bringing you here today obviously means its time.” Why does he talk like something’s being hidden? Now I officially wish I’d never come. This is so strange. Tell me what? Are they selling their instruments to these people? Why would they buy it? I… argh, tell me already! For some reason I have this… feeling… this good feeling deep inside about this entire thing, but the way John is explaining, he makes it sound like someone’s died. Glad we haven’t come to a funeral home. He rubbed his hands together again as my heart skipped a beat. I looked over at Conner once again before John said something. He looked happy. That’s a start.
“Well Rose, I’ve heard these boys play… and their quiet talented I must say. So, hence because I love their work I’ve decided to sign them up… for a contract with us…” Oh-my-god… “For now, It’s a 6 months contract, which in a month or 2 can be changed into a 12 month contract… it’s a gig every Saturday night, $80 each, for every gig, $100 if their on a Sunday and… if we need them sometime in the week, that’s a $120 per person for every gig they do… mean while, this place is theirs for practise any time of the day. 24/7 anytime… along with the equipment and they also get a members 30% discount on other things…” He said and paused, there was a silence. I couldn’t even blink my eye. I just stared at him, wide eyed. “Their 1st gig is this Friday night, which is a weekday, hence they’ll be getting $120 each… we have a special gig on Friday night and we need a band on the last moment…that too a new one…” this is unbelievable… was I going to wake up sometime soon? $120 dollars each! Checkers! This hall for practise instead of having the rehearsal room of the university or that stupid back stage of the club!
“I…I’m speechless… oh my god…” I whispered, with my hand over my mouth. “I really hope this isn’t… some joke… I don’t know what to say!” I went over and hugged Conner and closed my eyes.
“Jaan! This is SO good!! As if you didn’t tell me… Wow I mean… look at this place!! You’ve done it!” I couldn’t help crying, but it wasn’t because I was sad… they were happy tears… Conner wrapped his arms around me tight.
“I wanted to surprise you… I knew you’d be happy…” he replied, and kissed my forehead. Aww, this is… touchwood!!! This is so good! All those rehearsals and band practises and lyrics weren’t of no use and this passion of theirs just got them into Checkers!
I walked over to Jan and hugged him. How sly, this is why the guys were so quiet the entire time, they knew if they blabbered on too much like they do every day they’d spill it all out! It’s so sweet, of them to surprise me!! God this… I can’t believe its real… it’s so amazing…
“Andre! You idiot, god I’m so happy for you… finally of some use aren’t you….” I said and laughed. And Jake, he won’t have to sit around and trouble me anymore or borrow from his dad all the time. I know he’s relieved, he doesn’t get along with his dad well and now he doesn’t have to always call him up and take his shit… and he knew I was thinking along the same lines as him when I got to him after Andre. He gave me this look, when something’s don’t need to be said because their just understood… that one… he nodded and gave me a hug.
“Thanks,” He whispered. Me? I didn’t do anything… nothing that I shouldn’t have done. Just helped him with his dad every now and then, but he’s my friend and I’ll always be there for him. My 4 little awesome guys. Jake is like a little brother, even though he’s my age or a bit older, he’s always like a small sibling… he looks out for me all the time and I look out for him. Jan and I just share something so awesome that I don’t have with anybody else because he always helps me out when Conner and I have misunderstandings… and even Conner doesn’t know that! Or maybe he does, but its just something that doesn’t need to be mentioned… we both know Jan tries his best, him being Conner’s room mate and the one guy that’s known him for the longest time. Jan and I have talked for nights and nights, but only ever when we’re discussing Conner… when he’s helping me figure out how he is or how I am when I’m with him. He’s my counsellor friend! Andre is my best friend… he was the 1st friend I made when I came here. Maria and I didn’t know anybody, and he introduced us to all these new people and took us to the footy matches! And… my Jaan… god, he’s not only my best friend but he’s my bestest friend and my life partner… what would I do without him? He’s wanted this for so long… he can finally ditch jobs like BK and other things… he likes his Café job, but he doesn’t have to do the other things… he can easily send money back home and still live comfortably here with this new contract… things will get better for all 4 of them so much… and I’ve never been more happier for them!! Conner’s been singing and writing songs for the longest time… his voice his passion… he deserves this… it’ll give them all a chance to show what their capable of…
“So much for dressing up like this accidentally!!” I said and rolled my eyes. Most of all, I just couldn’t stop thanking John! How sweet is that of him? I mean, he could have just picked some other bands, ones that are also famous… but he saw their talent and decided to give new talent a chance to make their life. His one decision can make or break their life… that is just so nice!
“So really there was no practise today??” I asked looking around as we came back to the car park. I felt so… alive!! And the guys looked so happy and excited… I wanted to hug them again and again! It was adorable!
“Nah, we wanted to show you this place… Conner couldn’t wait anymore!” Andre replied squinting his eyes from the sun. “But we’ll practise tomorrow… seeing we’re preforming on Friday! Which means this week we wont be at Juke Box…” He added.
“You? Hell, no one will be at Juke Box or anywhere else!! We’re all coming to see you guys!” I said confidently. I can’t wait to tell the girls, they will be SO excited!
“That would be good… to have people we know in there…” Jan said with his thinking voice. Lol. Cute, they didn’t even think about it! Offcourse we were all going to be they’re supporting them that night!
“Friday night is my treat, after the show… done?” I asked, getting in the car. Everyone seemed to be okay with it. Why wouldn’t they be, I’m treating! Even though they should be treating seeing they just got the contract but I’m just too happy to not celebrate.
“Why Friday? Let’s go now! You treat today, and it’s our treat on Friday for our 1st gig!” Jake suggested… hmm, not a bad idea! It was only 9.10pm… we could always go out for a little while.
“Alright, let’s call everyone else as well…” I said. That way we could tell them today!
“Tell the girls, and I’ll let Michael and the other guys know.” Andre said taking his phone out. Awesome, this was good… Aww, I could tell everyone!! I want to be the one to announce it! This way, maybe Riley will feel better being out as well… I hope so!
I dialled Maria’s number, trying my best to act a little less excited. I wasn’t going to tell her yet. Only that there’s a good news… not what it is… that’d be told when she’s there! Oh she’d be so happy… specially seeing she’s liked Andre for the longest time and he’s liked her!
* * *
