Days of Darkness

Chapter 59

That's my song," Wendy said happily in my ear.

"What's it called?" I asked.

"Wendy, I Love You," Wendy replied. I looked at her and could see that she loved him just as much. Her eyes were glued to the stage as Tom emptied his heart into the sax. It was a fusion of blues and rock n roll. When the lead guitar joined, something beautiful happened. I could feel the music flowing through me, almost like the bond, but infinitely less serious. There was laughter and fun in the arrangement, the drums accenting and laying out the road that others followed. There was no way I could sit back down, not with my foot moving of its own accord.

Soon the small dance floor filled with gyrating bodies. Caleb grabbed my hand and found a little opening next to our table. We danced, if you could call it that. I was doing more laughing, and trying to keep up with his weak attempts at synchronizing his hips with the music. I could see his expression change at my response. There was no way I was going to let his ego ruin the energy the band produced. I moved closer and put my hands on his hips. I smiled as I guided his movements into something a little more in beat. He hesitantly placed his hands on my waist, and we moved together. This time, when I smiled, he knew it for the happiness it was. He stopped thinking and started dancing.

Once we started moving smoothly, I released Caleb's hips and he my waist. His smile mirrored mine as we let loose in a dance of our own design. Everyone was bumping into everyone else, but our eyes were on each other as the song moved our bodies. I could no longer deny that I enjoyed being with Caleb. I tried to hide it from myself; some mental security barrier had held me back. I enjoyed his eyes on mine. The relationship probably wouldn't work, but right then, with the music smoothing the road, I was having fun. It felt like a date.

The next few songs were as original as the first. Sometimes the guitar would take the lead, other times the sax. The instrumentation was unique and pleasing, my mind wanting more every time a song ended. We had to sit down, so we didn't start sweating too much and to give others some room on the floor.

"I've never heard anything like it," I said into Wendy's ear.

"They do have a sweet sound," Wendy fired back. Caleb refilled my glass, and I mouthed him a thank you. Time passed quickly as the band transitioned between songs. They looked like they were having as much fun as the spectators, playing errant cords between songs, and laughing about things we could only guess at. After a fairly long set, Tom returned to the microphone.

"The band is going to take a break to wet their whistles and take care of some bladder concerns," Tom said. The crowd laughed at the weak humor. "I will remain for a quick duet." He waved Caleb onto the stage. "I was working on a tune I couldn't quite get right. Something was missing. Caleb McGuire, who's joining me on stage, intuitively filled in the blanks. I promised him some limelight so that we could show you all something different." There was some weak applause as Caleb mounted the stage.

Caleb moved behind the drums and retrieved his violin. There was no hesitancy in his movements. His confidence was unwavering, and he looked like he was having fun if his smile was any indication. He spent some time tuning his violin, playing some quiet notes and twisting the pegs until he was happy.

"Are you about ready?" Tom said with an exaggerated sigh. Caleb smiled and answered with his bow, a dying-cat like tone directed at Tom. The crowd loved the theatrics. "Okay," Tom said, holding his hands over his ears. "This is a work in progress folks and not something you're used to. I hope you enjoy it."

Tom started with a mellow tone that drifted like the wind, barely shifting his notes. I heard something I recognized in it, but I couldn't grasp at the memory. I was leaning forward, taxing my brain when the violin entered. This wasn't the wild ride of the songs before. It was a smooth melodic tune that entwined the layers of the two instruments perfectly. The entire crowd went silent with a palpable awe as the song relaxed and swayed. I knew I had heard it somewhere, more so as the violin echoed the sax then took roads of its own.

The more they played, the more I felt I knew the music intimately. Tom claimed it was original, but I had felt it before. When Caleb went into a particularly long drawn out note, it hit me. I closed my eyes as they began to well up. The music was me. It was the audio version of my bond, close to my Dad's, but distinctly mine. My breathing quickened as I tried to understand how it was coming from the instruments. It was my private music, something I had thought I never shared.

Some barriers collapsed in my confusion. Dad, Mom, and Zane lent me strength, all of them not understanding, but sensing my need. I took a deep breath as the song intimately exposed all that I was to the world. I felt n***d as if they were reading my diary out loud.

"Are you alright?" Wendy whispered in my ear. I shook my head, and she scooted her chair closer. Dad was flooding me with love and concern, the only thing that allowed me to not completely break down. The music flowed into me, syncing with and igniting my bond. I had never known it to be so strong. More internal walls were dropping as I felt Wendy's arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. Mental walls I didn't even know I had erected shattered. Wendy grabbed my hand in concern. Without thinking, I joined her music to mine.

A rush of Wendy's breath flew past my ear. Her comforting movements ceased as she felt everything I was, trade with everything of her. Confusion left as the bond strengthened. The music was beautiful, not harmful. The future, so frightening before, was merely a challenge that could be easily conquered. I opened my eyes and looked toward the stage. I could feel Wendy's love for Tom beaming through me. Her apprehensions faded with mine as I watched Caleb confidently sing my song on his violin. I could feel the crowd's minds enjoying the music. I wiped my wet eyes. The whole world was so beautiful.

The music ended, and Wendy released my hand. Reality rushed back, and I turned to her. Her eyes were wide, and her smile threatened to tear her skin. I hadn't bonded with anyone new in years. I didn't know it could be so strong. There were subconscious barricades I hadn't understood before, that I could now control. They had seemed a solid part of me before, a demarcation that couldn't be crossed. They were now nothing more than doors I could open and close at will.

"I thought you were a myth," Wendy said, leaning forward into my ear. The crowd was on their feet, a standing ovation for my song. I didn't understand her reference, but let it go. I knew intimately that she was a good person and meant nothing by it. Standing, I found Caleb's eyes searching for me. I smiled and cheered as I promised I would. The immense pride in seeing him up there was not expected. I turned back to Wendy.

"He looks so handsome on stage," I said. She approved of Caleb, that much I knew.

"It's okay to like him," Wendy said, "the future's not written." I smiled at her, and we hugged as if we'd been friends for eternity. The bond had broken through all the weirdness that usually took time to dissolve. I took a deep breath and reestablished my mental walls. Sharing was a wonderful thing, but I didn't want to do it with the world.

"Thank you!" Tom said into the microphone. "We're glad you enjoyed it. I've been trying to get that tune out for 18 years. It took a talented violinist to make it work." He pointed to Caleb and the crowd gave Caleb another round of applause. "I suspect this isn't the last time you see Caleb McGuire on a stage." More cheers. I was beaming, but nowhere near as much as Caleb was. It was obvious how he wanted to spend his life.

"We're taking a break. The Smooth Gliders will be back on stage in about an hour," Tom said. With that, he and Caleb began exiting the stage.

"I kind of lost control," I whispered into Wendy's ear. "Caleb doesn't know. To tell the truth, no one is supposed to know." She looked like she knew exactly what I was talking about.

"Tom already knows you," Wendy said. I looked at her in confusion. "He met you once before. I always thought he was making you up." I squinted my eyes and tried to comprehend what she was saying. She leaned closer, "You're Stinky," she added with a laugh.

.11 - Sam

"What the hell was that?" I asked Natalie as I lowered the newspaper. Natalie was looking over some contract that she shouldn't be touching on the weekend. She always spent the weekend looking over her associate's work, making sure it was okay before adding her name. It always meant less us time. I had gotten used to it, but it didn't mean I liked it.