| Later that evening, she was sitting at her booth, sipping a cappuccino, going over her welcome packet from the school she was going to start working at. The place was called the Blue Note, a place she had found when she was going grocery shopping that afternoon. She had heard it was a coffee shop that had live entertainment, and figured she should check out the local scene. Some musicians were good, other amateurs probably trying out their skills on an audience. She clapped amicably at each performance, spending her time drifting away to music or else drifting out of the zone and concentrating on her reading. “Anything else I can get you?” the waiter came up to her with a broad smile. “I think I’ll go for another,” Kallie handed him the cup. “You must be new to the neighborhood. I usually see only the regulars in here, plus I’ve lived here for the past seven years.” He smiled a broad smile again as he took Kallie’s cup. “Yeah, I am.” “Name’s Brian,” he winked as he held out his hand. “Hi Brian. I’m Kallie.” She gave his outstretched hand a shake. “So, did you just move here, or you needed a new place to hang?” “Actually I just moved here yesterday. I need to get out to the world somehow.” “Well welcome to the neighborhood. If you wanna hear some good tunes, this is the place to go. There are a lot of artists here trying to get discovered. We get a lot of executives coming in scoping out talent, although some of them I wished I had earplugs for.” Kallie laughed. “That’s a good tip to bring next time I’m here.” “Well, I’ll bring your cappuccino back in a jiff,” Brian said as he left Kallie to her reading. She turned her attention to her curriculum when she heard some applause and someone on the microphone. “This is a new piece I’m working on. It’s just acoustic, but I’ll figure out the words later.” Kallie paid no mind as she was reading, until she heard the first chord playing. Kallie snapped her head up as she heard the familiar start to the melody she had heard the first night. She put her reading down as she saw the face to her new neighbor. He had short spiky blonde hair that was obviously dyed, several piercings in his ears, wearing a black wifebeater and baggy faded jeans. His arms carried a number of tattoos, and she saw his fingers had black polish on them, carrying a number of rings. He strummed the strings as if his fingers were fluid; his eyes closed as if he was feeling the chords in his hands. Brian came back with her cup. Kallie cleared her throat. “Brian, do you know who that is?” she motioned her head towards the stage. “That’s Alex, but everyone here calls him AJ. He’s a regular here. Nice guy, although he likes to keep to himself. Really into his music. Probably the best musician I’ve heard around here, although his attitude is sometimes just plain rude.” “I think he’s my next door neighbor,” Kallie couldn’t keep her eyes off of his style. He was OK looking, but the way she saw him play was like looking at poetry in motion. “Oh, so you live in Mr. Castillo’s building,” Brian nodded. “I live in the building across the street.” “Really?” “Yup,” Brian looked up. “I’ll be back in a little while. Maybe I could walk you home later?” “Sure,” Kallie smiled. Kallie was in an almost hypnotic state as she saw AJ finish his song. When he stopped, he opened his eyes to applause, with Kallie applauding loudly. He got off the stage, went to his table and put his guitar back in its nylon case. AJ talked to the manager, obviously saying goodbye. Her eyes followed him as he walked out of the Blue Note. ~*~ Brian escorted Kallie back to her building, telling her all about the neighborhood. From what she had learned about him, he was originally from Kentucky and had moved to Los Angeles right out of college to try and break into the business. He was an actor and had broken into some commercial work, but that’s it. Now he was headwaiter at the Blue Note. Brian led Kallie to the building door. “This is where I leave you,” Brian said. “Well, thank you for walking me home.” “No problem. It’s cool to meet new people.” “Yeah, I’m glad I could make a new friend here, besides Mr. Castillo,” Kallie laughed. “At least we’re the same age.” Brian stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Uh Kallie, I know I don’t really know you yet, but can I give you a word of advice?” Kallie crossed her arms. “OK, shoot.” “I saw the way you looked at AJ, and I know he’s your neighbor and all, but don’t think that he’s gonna be Mary Sunshine towards you. Even though you think you have a lot in common with him, remember he’s a loner. You have to be in his ‘crowd’ for him to even look at you, OK?” “Thanks for the tip. I’ll see you later?” “Count on it,” Brian winked as he turned and crossed the street to his building. Kallie walked up to her apartment and went inside. She got into her favorite pajamas and turned on the computer, checked her e-mail, and noticed that Strngalong was signed on. Immediately he gave her an IM. Strngalong: You made it Musekgrl: Hope I’m not late Strngalong: Nope, actually I was on for a while Musekgrl: I just walked in the door Strngalong: Have a fun night? Musekgrl: Checked out a new place in my neighborhood and made a new friend. He lives across the street from me Strngalong: Him huh? Do I have some competition perhaps? Musekgrl: Never LOL. But I did hear some great music tonight Strngalong: Cool. Are you nervous about starting your job, whatever it is? Musekgrl: A little. I don’t like being around new people. I’m really shy Strngalong: Not when you first met me Musekgrl: Yeah but this is different. You don’t have a face here, just words Strngalong: Don’t you wish that’s how it should always be? Musekgrl: I wish. Hey, how’s the song coming along? Strngalong: Slowly but surely. I have most of it done Musekgrl: Don’t forget to record it and send it when you finish it Strngalong: You’ll be the first to hear it. After all, it is your song Musekgrl: I can’t wait. Listen, I better continue to unpack. Talk to you soon Strngalong: OK. Bye Musekgrl: Bye Kallie signed off with a huge smile on her face. A song… he was writing her a song. She was more honored than she had felt, or more special. She had dabbled in songwriting and was thinking about it when she was college, but decided she was going to also major in education to teach music to kids. She hadn’t found that one song that made her feel complete. But that melody her now known neighbor was working on seemed like it was going to be a special song. Now she had a name and a face, she seemed compelled to find out more about him. She didn’t know why, but she had an urge to do so. Sighing, she started to tear open the boxes and finish unpacking that night. ~*~ Later that evening, and not in the mood for sleep, she went outside after she had put the last item away. The unpacking was done finally and now she could enjoy her new home. She poured herself a glass of wine, got her throw blanket and went to her small terrace from her bedroom. She walked out; sat at the plastic chair she had bought, wrapped herself in the throw and sipped her wine. The twinkling lights of LA danced among the sky and the only sound was the breeze blowing through the street. Even though it was a city, the silence was like her hometown in New Jersey, where absolutely nothing happened. She grew up in an affluent neighborhood, with a big house, matching yards, and the neighbors were a good city block away from each other. Her father was a successful business man, her mother the housewife tending to her family. Kallie went to fine private schools, being bred to live a life of success as her father did. It wasn’t only until she was about 9 that her mother began to teach her piano. Kallie immediately took to it like a duck to water. She progressed rapidly and within about two months of her learning, her mother couldn’t teach her anymore. She enrolled her for private piano lessons. Kallie learned rather quickly and played all throughout junior high and high school. When it came time to go to college, Kallie was accepted at Princeton University, where her father attended. Her father had chosen her as a business major, but the music kept calling her. After a year and droning business classes, she switched her major to music and later to education. Her father was not pleased with her. “Music teachers don’t make any money, Kallie. The Leighton family has always been business. Think of the future you could have with as a business major. You could be connected for life.” But Kallie knew that her father equated “future” with “money.” Her father didn’t support her at all with college, but she felt happy teaching kids. Money wasn’t an issue for her, even though she grew up with it. She worked as a teacher’s assistant to buy a car for herself, even though her friends were driving around the newest present Daddy had bought them. Her friends were in charm school and etiquette lessons, she detested it. Friends would date according to the boy’s financial portfolio; she dated someone because she liked him. Even her first job as a teacher was teaching a bunch of snobs who didn’t give a damn about music, with the staff to match. Kallie then realized that her life was not her own, so she had to make a clean break. She looked up the education standards in California, pretended to go away on a vacation to Los Angeles for a week during her mid-fall break, but instead registered with the local Board of Education and applied to schools. She had gotten a call in December about a position at Harmon High School, which was in desperate of a music teacher for the next term. Kallie read up on it, had a phone interview, and was accepted right away. She gave her school notice, and arranged to find an apartment in Los Angeles. Her parents were not pleased with her moving. Her mother cried, her father ranted and raved, but she knew she had to make a clean getaway. She didn’t want to be a part of the Leighton Empire. She didn’t want to be a rich brat. Here, she was Kallie Leighton, a music teacher from New Jersey. Kallie finished the glass of wine with distaste about her former life, but as she told Strngalong, pick up and go. That’s what she did. Now the only thing was trying to start over. She poured herself another glass of wine, when she heard the familiar melody coming from the open terrace to her left. She got up and leaned on the terrace, listening closely to the chords being strung on AJ’s guitar. The song had to be inspired by something, but for what, or whom, she didn’t know. That’s what was killing her. This mysterious musician plagued her all day. She heard the playing stop and footsteps towards the terrace. Kallie ran back to her chair, wrapped the blanket around her sloppily and grabbed the glass. She saw AJ come out of the terrace door, holding a cordless phone. “I told you bro, it’s not done yet… I know, but it’s taking me time to finish, the inspiration has to be there… yeah… I’ll be in work tomorrow, oh don’t let me forget to tell Raoul about the inventory for the new Fenders… I wish I had one of those… Yeah… OK man, talk to ya tomorrow… OK… OK, bye.” He switched off the phone, put it down beside him, went into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He lit one up, closing his eyes as he exhaled. He didn’t take any notice of Kallie sitting there, drinking her glass of wine. Finally he glanced at her. Kallie froze as his eyes locked with hers. She didn’t know if the stare was cold or welcoming. “You must be the new tenant,” AJ said in a monotone voice. “Uh, yeah,” Kallie stood up. “I’m Kallie, Kallie Leighton.” She offered her hand to him over the railing. “Your movers woke me up with their sliding around,” AJ just took another drag off of his cigarette. Kallie put her hand down. “Sorry, I just didn’t think people slept at around 3 in the afternoon.” Brian was right, he was rude. “Well, I do,” AJ shrugged his shoulders. “So…” “So…” Kallie looked at her hands. “I heard that riff you’re working on.” AJ stood up straight. “Oh, so you’re on one of those snoopy neighbors.” Kallie glared up at him. “I didn’t mean to snoop, I just heard it from my wall.” He rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t for you to hear.” Now Kallie was mad. “Then maybe you should get an electric guitar with a set of earphones!” She grabbed her blanket and went inside. Damn, that boy had an attitude problem… absolutely rude to the core. Didn’t even get a chance to introduce herself. Already angry, she stomped to her bed and went to sleep. Chapter 3 Contents Chapter 1 |