"She is really good!" Katie exclaimed to the table of five. The others nodded their heads in agreement. Zac, who was sitting next to Isaac leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Look at Tay." Isaac turned his head and glanced at Taylor. He was staring up at the stage with a huge smile on his face, his eyes not flickering from the girl on stage. He was mesmerized. Isaac knew that Taylor really liked this girl. Just watching Taylor watch Andrea made him a little sad. Not for Taylor, he was really happy that Taylor had finally found someone he could care about, but he was sad for himself. Isaac wanted what Taylor had. He wasn't jealous at all, but he did feel a twinge of depression kick him in the stomach. He tore his eyes away from Taylor and looked around the table slowly. Shirley was sitting next to him on one side, Zac on his other. Next to Zac was Katie and next to Katie was Taylor, completing the circular booth. Isaacs eyes rested on Zac and Katie. They were both snickering at something Zac had said. He could tell that Zac liked Katie, just the way he knew Taylor liked Andrea. Zac probably didn't know it yet. Isaac always seemed to have some way of knowing other people's emotions before they knew their own. Isaac was glad for Zac too, expecially since Katie was so nice. She wasn't throwing herself on Zac by any means, but just the way she sat and how she watched Zac when he was talking made Isaac realize that she liked Zac too. Isaac would have to tell Zac this on the way home. He looked over at Shirley who was watching Andrea play. Shirley hadn't said much since they had all sat down, but she seemed to be nice enough. She had her hands clasped on the table and was twirling her ring around her finger. Isaac decided to initiate conversation, because he was pretty sure that Shirley was the one who liked him.
"So Shirley, what do you think of Andrea?" He asked casually. Shirley jumped a little when he started talking.
"Oh, sorry, I was so engrossed that I didn't even remember where I was!" She said, smiling at Isaac. She had a really nice smile, he noted. "I think she's amazing. Like, I was really worried that you guys would come and it would be awkward because of never meeting you before, but as soon as Andrea started playing, I just lost track of myself and my surroundings. Only a few songs or performers have ever had that effect on me before."
"I know what you mean. Whever I listen to this one song by Sheryl Crow, I completly stop what I'm doing and just listen to it. And even if I tried to do something, I couldn't because I want to hear every part of the song."
"Which song?" Shirley asked.
"I Shall Believe" Have you ever heard it?" He asked.
"Um, no. I have one of her CDs, but that's not on it."
"You should listen to it some time. I could lend you the CD." He said, smiling at her.
"That'd be great. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"So, Taylor told me that you guys are working on a new album. How's that going?"
"It's going really well. We're pretty much just writing songs as of now, we haven't started recording anything but demos yet. We'll be here for a year, I think. After the album is done, we're going to take a couple of months before we release it so we can have some down time."
"That's really cool. And it's good you guys are going to get a break. I can only imagine how hectic your lives must be when you have so much promotion to do."
"Yeah, I'm glad too. We took a break before recording our last album, but we all wanted to change things up a bit this time." Isaac explained. "So tell me a little bit about yourself."
"Ok...my name is Shirley Hamilton and I'm going to be twenty in a month. I'm a sophomore here, but I'm an old sophomore. And Katie is my roommate, she's a freshman, but she's still 17 because she skipped the fourth grade. She's brilliant, I swear. Um...I like music a lot, I'm minoring in it, but I'm majoring in education because I'd love to be a music teacher when I grow up. Or something like that. I was born and raised in Oregon, but I don't think I'm going back there after I graduate. My mom and dad and I lived on a farm, actually, and I don't want that for the rest of my life."
"That's understandable. I was just thinking that-"
"Ike?" Zac questioned.
"What?"
"Dude, the place is clearing out. Andrea's done and the bar is opening, so I have to leave. So does everyone but you. And since you're my ride..." Zac trailed off.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Yeah, we should probably go." The group stood up and started clearing out.
"I'm gonna go wait for Andrea. I'm taking her back to her dorm and then I'll come home." Taylor said before walking backstage.
"You guys drove, didn't you?" Isaac's question was directed towards Katie and Shirley, but he was looking at Shirley.
"Yeah, we did. We should probably go back too." Shirley confessed. "It was really nice talking to you Isaac. And it was nice meeting you Zac." She said politely.
"Likewise," said Isaac. "Nice meeting you Katie."
"Yeah, thanks for a fun night." Zac said.
"Bye Isaac, bye Zac." said Katie.
"Hey, maybe some time we have an off day, the six of us can get together and hang out." Isaac suggested.
"Yeah, that would be really fun. Maybe when Tay and Andrea are done with their project so they can be there." Zac agreed. They all nodded before waving and walking in different directions to their cars.
Taylor made his way backstage quickly, but since there were a lot of people there to congratulate me, he had to wait to see me. The twenty or so people back there were in a small crowd around me, saying things like 'good job' or 'I loved the second song' or 'your music really speaks to me'. I was smiling and saying thank you to all of them when I caught sight of Taylor hanging around the back of the crowd, just staring at me with a little smile on his face. He must've been somewhere else because he didn't know I was looking at him for a few seconds. Then he 'woke up' and winked at me. I blushed a little as he gave me a thumbs-up sign and motioned that he was going to get the car and bring it around. I nodded and focused on the man in front of me.
"You really did a marvelous job, young lady."
"Thank you."
"What was your name again?" He asked.
"Andrea Hancock," I said and took his offered hand. He pulled a card out of his wallet.
"Well, my name is Burt Lancaster and I really enjoyed your music. Do you have a demo or a cd available for me to purchase?" he asked.
"I made one a coupla years ago back in Indy, but none of my recent songs are on there, and I don't have any left anyway. I'm hoping to take some time off over Christmas Break to record a few of my songs and shop a demo."
"Well, Andrea, when you do that, give me a call because I work with Arista records and from what I've heard, you'd have a good shot at getting a deal if you make your demo right. This is my card." He handed it to me and I took it, dumbfounded. "Now, I have to go to another club tonight, but I'll be back to hear you next week and I"m going to bring a couple of the people from Arista to watch you."
"Thanks Mr. Lancaster. I'll be sure to do my best that night." I said. He smiled, tipped his hat and walked off. The crowd was waning, so I quickly thanked everyone for coming, picked up my guitar, and headed outside to meet Taylor. I opened the door to the parking lot and spotted the car. I walked over and put my guitar case in the back seat and then hopped in the passenger's side and shut the door. I looked over at Taylor, who was leaning towards me. He planted a soft sweet kiss on my lips and then whispered to me.
"Andrea, you were amazing. I am in awe of your talent. Tonight was just...eye opening. I mean, you did so well. I was sitting in the booth out there watching you, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from your image. My heart was swelling with pride. It was just an amazing job and I'm so proud of you." He finished. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you. That is the nicest thing you've ever said to me, and it makes me so happy that I have the same effect on you that you do on me. I watch you play your keyboards, your guitar, your harmonica, and your drums, so effortlessley, and I just wish I had part of your talent. Not to mention your voice. What you said makes me so proud. Thank you." I said. Gosh, I was about to cry. How could he be so sweet, caring, and perfect all at once? He started the engine and placed one of his hands on mine.
"Come on, let's go back to your dorm." We rode in silence the rest of the way home.