Page 103 - Student: dazed And Confused

go weak at the knees. Maybe they all get presented with the million pound grin when they
make number one? "You've got half an hour Jake," I warned him. But charity gigs always
run late so he had a bit longer really. He stood up and reached out to Fay. She flinched
away - sensible girl considering.

"I'd get ready to go on stage if I were you." Sure enough, a mechanical voice
crackled over the PA straight after, to give Jake his ten minute warning. He goes back to his
keyboard to practice with no hesitation. Fay is sitting opposite me, has been making small
talk with Jake, mostly about his music and how nothing's been the same since he quit.
"My mom would go nuts if she knew I was here. She thinks you'll lead me astray,

into your world of fast careers, faster cars and speed of night love. Said it's all in the
genetics but she has other ideas."
"Well, it was nice to meet you Fay." Maybe that'll get rid of her so he can
concentrate on his set but I was too optimistic. All she does is settle back in the seat and
watch as he starts practising again. But it's not the awe I feel, not the feeling of being in the
presence of an awesome musician. She watches with the quiet half-interest of some-one
whose hopes have been dashed.
"It's a Casio," Jake explains. Well, he thinks he's explaining. "I learnt my first scales
on one of these planks."

"Mom said he was like this. She told me to stay away."
One hand still fingering a tune out of this revered Casio, Jake is hopping around and
trying to get into the purple PVC jacket he needs for stage. He barely even registers me or
Fay, s o , entranced by his new melody. To him, Fay being here means almost nothing, but
not quite that much. He's had girls lining up before, wanting a bit of action. I mean,
everyone wants to sleep with a rockstar. It's the ultimate. Why should Fay be any different
from any of the others?
"Jake Smile to stage please. Final call."
He opens the door and disappears around the corner. We wave and wish him luck.

It's over half on hour before he comes back, claiming that his performance went down so
well they called for two encores. I reckon he went to the backstage bar. Fay thought about
going to watch when he went on but she didn't think she could get back here again. Tells
me she'll wait. Which is good - I mean Jake is getting back on the horse again, why
wouldn't I want him distracted by a pretty young girl?
"So, where were we?" he says, draping one sticky arm over her shoulder.
She ducks out from him, the squelch of the sweaty rubber peeling from flesh audible
and revolting, and sits down again. "We didn't get anywhere. You were too busy with that
dumb keyboard."

"And now I'm all yours again, sweetheart." Only his gaze keeps drifting back to that
keyboard, like he's trying to keep away from it. Okay, I want him to get back to music, it's
gonna be less destructive than getting to know Fay.