Lessons on Being Alone

Jake slowly grew aware that there was a thin stream of light coming through the crack in the blackout curtains that covered the windows to his flat. The brightness of the light made his eyes sting for a moment when he stared at it. ‘Wonder what time it is?’ Jake rolled over in bed in search of the alarm clock and was surprised to find a warm body curled up behind him. ‘I forgot Jenny stayed the night but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, she is over here more then she is at her own place.’ Its not that Jake minded having his girlfriend with him but waking up together morning after morning was oddly intimate despite the countless hours they had spent making love. Jake knew that he cared for Jenny and he was trying to adjust to their relationship but it was hard, even though fully awake he knew it was Jenny beside him he still felt vaguely uneasy, like something wasn’t quite right. ‘Come on old man, you care for her she cares for you, your perfect for each other – everyone says so – besides what kind of ass would you be if you kicked her out after sex every night?’ Jake sighed and began to untangle himself from the sheets.

A hand on his arm stopped him from quietly slipping out of bed. Jenny’s blue eyes were sleepy but warm as she caressed his arm, “Where are you going?”
“Mornin’ star shine”, Jake leaned over to brush a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth. “I have to open the office up this morning; Sam is going to be late. I’ll start the coffee for you though, it’s just now 8 so we didn’t get much sleep – you go back to bed.”
Jenny reached out her other arm to gently tug on his shoulder pulling him down for a lazy kiss that soon turned heated. Her lips were so soft and her mouth was warm as Jake settled down over her.
“I really do have to open up this morning and something tells me your trying to distract me,” Jake teased as he returned the kiss allowing his hand to stroke the lithe body beneath the sheets.
“Mmmm,” Jenny hummed as the sheet slipped away and Jake lightly teased one round breast. “Who said we had to take all morning – I think I can be fast, what about you? Up for the challenge?” Jenny’s eyebrow cocked as she reached down to grasp his erection that was very much ‘up’ for the challenge.
“Your insatiable you know that, right? Fine, but you have to do all the work this time – ride me,” Jake sprawled back pulling Jenny with him.
“My pleasure Mr. Harrison,” and with a naughty smirk Jenny settled down to finish the job.

An hour later Jake walked down the stairs, freshly showered and ready to start the day. His father owned the whole building, the flat upstairs where he lived, and the club downstairs where he worked. He was a part-time manager, full-time bartender for his father’s swanky jazz lounge that served cocktails and finger foods along with great music and a smoky, dark atmosphere that set an appropriate mood. Customers seemed to love the place and the reviews the paper and city magazine had wrote kept ushering in new first-timers to the ‘Delta Blues’ front-door.

Sam, the general manager, was going to be late this morning and had asked Jake to open up the office and to start working on the invoices. The office usually opened around 9 for shipments and other business that had to be done in the day as the official opening for the club didn’t begin until 4pm – just in time for happy hour. Jake had worked here all through college and his father had already made plans to pass the ‘Delta Blues’ on to Jake when he was ready for the responsibility. Jake’s major in college had been Bar and Restaurant Management and it had been a good fit. Jake’s family owned several restaurants and bars across the city but ‘Delta Blues’ had always been a soft-spot for Jake as it was the first store his dad had bought, back when Jake was 10, and he had been working here off and on ever since.

A soft knock on the front door caught Jake’s attention. ‘Who would be coming to the front door this early?’ Most of the shipments knew to come around to the side entrance that provided a hallway that led to the office.

As Jake walked around the bar he noticed that it seemed to be a young girl who was waiting patiently. Jake hurried to open the door for her, “Hi there, can I help you?” Jake stepped back to allow her to enter.

The girl wasn’t as young as she first appeared but she had a small frame and a shoulder length hair-cut that drew attention to her round, youthful face. She wasn’t wearing any make-up and exuded a fresh innocent air despite her average features, weight, and size. Jake’s first impression was that she was ordinary, average and if he had passed her on the street he would have kept walking, instantly forgetting what she looked like as there was nothing particularly noteworthy about her features or body that would have stayed in his memory.

“Yes, please. My name is Vivian Cunningham and I am here in regards to the ad about a musician?” The girl’s voice was low and nervous. “Is the position still open?” Her eyes looked at Jake hopefully but with a touch of apprehension as if she was used to being disappointed.

“Good to meet you, my name is Jake and I am a part-time manager here. Sam, our general manager, must have placed the ad when our last musician quit, we seem to go through them quick. But he’s not here right now and he usually does the hiring…” Jake trailed off not wanting to tell her that he wasn’t supposed to hire any of the musicians, Sam’s rules. Jake could hire other bartenders or servers, even kitchen help but Sam’s ‘baby’ was the music and he alone did all the hiring. “I could help you set up a time when he would be here or if you’d like you can wait, he might be in any time?” Jake wasn’t sure why he was being so helpful to a girl that he highly doubted stood a chance of getting the job, Sam liked the musicians to be flashy or commanding, confidant and this girl was the complete opposite. ‘I guess it’s because she looks so hopeful,’ Jake reasoned. ‘I wonder if she can even play an instrument up to par.’

Oh, I see. Well, if it’s not any trouble I guess I will wait for awhile. Are you sure it’s okay?” Vivian twisted her hands and bit her lower lip in doubt.

“Not a problem, take off your coat and help yourself to the coffee,’ Jake told her pointing to a coffee station over by the bar. She seemed so high strung that Jake attempted to put her at ease, curiously he asked, “What instrument do you play?” She was not carrying any music or a type of instrument like most of the applicants generally did.

“I play the piano.” Even with such a simple statement a change subtly came over her, she smiled slightly and her voice grew confidant and strong. “I have played since I was small and jazz is one of my favorite genres, there is such range of tone, emotion, and variation between one piece and the next. I went through a jazz phase in high school and it was all I ever played, I couldn’t get enough. Jazz can be difficult to get a handle for, it’s challenging, but so worth the effort…” at this point Vivian realized that she had been rambling and glanced up to find a broad grin on Jake’s face. He was beyond good looking she noted with a slight flush. ‘He must think that I am a complete idiot going on like that or extremely stuck-up and trying to impress him.’

“Sounds like you must enjoy playing the piano?” Jake laughed at her guilty look and nod. “If you’d like you can practice while you wait for Sam, let me show you to the piano.”

Vivian followed Jake across to the piano and settled herself down. “I’ll be in the office if you need anything,” Jake told her stepping off the stage.

“Thanks for all your help, sorry I interrupted your work,” Vivian told him sheepishly.

Jake let one eye fall in a lazy wink and was amused to see her cheeks flush for the second time since he had met her, “Not a problem.” He was almost to the office when she began playing and for a moment he froze. Not being a big music buff like Sam he wasn’t for sure if what he was hearing was technically any good but there was something so rich to the music that was coming from the other room. Jake slowly walked back and stopped in the doorway to watch.

Vivian’s head was slightly tilted causing her hair to sway with her movements. Her eyes were distant, unfocused staring over the top of the piano and her hands literally caressed the keys. With a slight dreamy smile to her face she played effortlessly and confidently. ‘She wasn’t lying she DOES play the piano, and my guess is that she plays it very well,’ Jake thought as he continued to watch. The music was powerful so soft and timid in places and then bold and commanding in others. ‘Haunting. That’s what I’m looking for, her music is haunting. She sounds as if she is playing something so intensely personal that I’m not sure I should be listening and yet she is magnetic when she plays,’ Jake inched closer and slipped into a chair by a back table.

Her hands moved fluidly and every once in a while she would bite her lower lip in concentration as she stared down at the keys. The music changed to a light melody but the dark, moody undertones remained and Jake felt as if the music was building up to some deep climax. Her forehead furrowed in concentration as the complicated piece drew to a close with a few single low tones and then a few high tones as if they were answering back to the low. And then silence. Jake couldn’t stop staring, he wasn’t sure if he had ever seen anything so beautiful before in his life. A breathy sigh came from the stage and a soft smile lit up her face.

Loud clapping came from behind Jake startling both him and Vivian. Sam stood by the door and was clapping even as he was beaming and whistling. “Please tell me that was your audition and that I can slap a contract down for you to sign right away!” Sam strode across the floor and met Vivian halfway. “I have heard a lot of playing in my life time but I have to tell you that I can’t remember enjoying anything quite as much as I did your music. It is like you were connected to the music and you could hear a different melody that you were playing along to.”

Vivian was bright red again Jake was amused to note and he hurried over to make the introductions. “Sam this is Vivian Cunningham and she is here to apply. Vivian this is Sam Jerkins our general manager and, it looks like, your new boss!” Both Vivian and Sam grinned at each other and shook hands while Sam continued to praise her music.

“Lets sit down and we’ll settle on the details like a set schedule, music choice, and starting salary.” Sam motioned to a table and set down.

As Jake turned to head to the office he felt a hand on his arm and turned in surprise. Vivian’s eyes were enormous and shining, “Thank-you, thank-you so much!” She squeezed his arm and smiled at him and for a moment just like before when he had first heard her music Jake froze. Her eyes were the richest brown, almost like a deep mahogany wood and were rimmed with thick black lashes.

Jake shook himself out of his daze and returned the smile, “I didn’t do anything. You earned this job yourself with your amazing performance. Welcome on board.”

They grinned at each other and parted ways but as Jake walked back to the office he couldn’t help but glance back, ‘She plays the piano like a modern day Beethoven and has the most compelling eyes I’ve ever seen – and I assumed when I first met her that she was ordinary. So this proves it – I’m shallow AND blind.’