Page 30 of Play Me

“Um, what do you want me to play?” I ask.

“Whatever you like. Whatever it is, Dennis will hate it anyway.” Jez grins and then clenches his jaw as if bracing for something. That something is a toy foam football that comes hurtling towards his head from the direction of the older guy.

“Dennis is our manager. He hates music, traveling and well, us. But we make him rich so he tolerates it.” Brad tells me, and I’m glad he’s moved his teasing on to someone else.

I turn to look at Dennis who just shrugs and goes back to his tablet.

Their banter is relentless and I feel intimidated by the bond they have, a bond that was obvious on stage last night. And not for the first time I think that I’m way out of my league playing with them. Last night, on stage, they were like a four-limbed, stringed mythical creature, sounding battle cries and sweet nothings in the form of epic ballads and rock anthems. How was I going to compete, or even match up to that?

I turn to look at Sebastian, who smiles and squeezes my shoulder. It burns where he touches me even after he pulls away and I take the chance to distract myself from him by thinking of what to play.

I rest my fingers on the keys for a moment, closing my eyes, and as always hearing the opening stanzas in my head before I start.

Then I press down and let the music speak for itself.

I choose to open with Chopin’s – “Ballade” in G minor. It has a dramatic opening and a wonderfully expressive introduction. I keep my eyes closed and try to forget everything that’s around me. Then something in the notes reminds of the song “Say Something” by A Great Big World. I slowly transition between the classical piece and this iconic modern ballad.

As the chorus breaks, I feel the guys move around me, but I don’t dare open my eyes in case I break my connection to the song. And then I hear a soft cello string note sound, harmonizing with my song. Then one by one, the second cello, and the violin and then viola join in. Each finding their own notes, weaving in and out around mine. I can’t help but smile as it’s no longer a piano solo, but a small symphony of sound. I switch to a higher octave and hear Sebastian’s cello fill the space I’ve left, taking the lead, the melody strong and beautiful in his hands.

Then as the piece descends to its close, the violin and viola drop away, then Jez’s cello and finally it’s just me and Sebastian. Playing the same notes but on instruments created from different worlds. I hold my breath as I play the last note, holding it as long as it takes before the sound fades away from Sebastian’s bow.

I feel my lungs empty, not realizing I’d been holding my breath. I wait for someone to say something, but there’s no sound, only the noise of the guys putting down their instruments.

And then Dennis speaks up, “And then there were five.”

The guys burst out into laughter and I can’t help but still sit there stunned.

“Cadence!” Jez comes up and pats me on the back. “You are fucking brilliant, just what we’ve been looking for! Where have you been all our lives?”

Sebastian looks over at me and smiles, “I’ve been wondering that myself.”

“We have to put this mashup on our album. We’ll play around with it a bit, is that OK with you Cadence?” Jez asks, already jotting something down on a piece of paper.

“Er, yeah, sure, it’s just something that came to me just then.” I tell him honestly.

“You are perfect for us.” Brad says as peers over Jez’s shoulder.

“Eh, you’re all right, I guess,” Marius shrugs as he hands me a bottle of water. “Not too bad for a piano teacher.”

“Spoken like a true failed piano student.” I can’t help but rib him, feeling more comfortable now that they’ve accepted me somewhat.

“Oohhhhh!” The rest of the band laughs as Marius pretends to hang his head.

“Oh, and by the way,” Sebastian speaks up, “What do you think of this for our new band name...The Rock Chamber Boys?”

They all go quiet and then grin at each other and whoop, lifting their hands in a series of high fives.

“That’s fucking it. That’s exactly what we’ve been looking for. ”Brad says. “Who thought of it?”

“Our new pianist.” Sebastian points to me and winks.

“Dennis, you better watch out, or else you’re going to be out of a job. Leaving us to find our own pianist, and now her coming up with our band name.” Jez shakes his finger at his manager.

“I’m not worried, dickheads.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have more drunk pictures of you fuckwits doing idiotic shit than I need to keep me in blackmail millions for the rest of my life.”