Page 16 of Fake Rocks
“Tommo, this is Saff Barnes and Darren North, the other members of the band,” Barney introduced us, pointing at each of us in turn, even though it was blatantly obvious who was who.
“Good to meet you, I’m Tommo Hicks.” He held out his hand and we both shook it.
“Thought you played really well tonight,” I said. “Interesting choice of covers.”
Tommo shrugged. “Yeah, it paid well and meant I got the chance to speak to you guys. Worked out pretty well for all of us, I’d say.”
“I know Barney’s already spoken to you a bit about this opportunity, but if you’re serious about it, how soon could you start playing with us?” There seemed little point in eking out the chat if we all knew what we wanted.
“I gather you guys are keen to start working on some new material. There are a couple of things I need to wrap up, but I could be available as early as Friday if you’re up for it?”
Jonas would be pleased. We’d be ready to start making music again less than a week after he’d told me to sort the band out.
“Sounds good to me. Guys?” I looked between Darren and Barney who both nodded. A grin spread across my face. “Excellent!”
One of the guys from behind the bar approached the table. “Hi, um, we were wondering if you’d like to do a song?” He blushed as he directed the request towards me.
“Oh, we’re not here to perform,” I protested.
“I didn’t mean the whole band, just you.” He seemed flustered as he fiddled with the button on the cuff of his shirt. “Maybe something acoustic? A cover perhaps?” It appeared he wasn’t going to let it go.
I glanced at Darren, who lifted his shoulders towards his ears. “I don’t have my guitar.”
“Pretty sure you could borrow one,” suggested Tommo. “I’ll ask.” He stood up and went over to where the band he’d played with were sitting. There was a lot of glancing at us, then nodding.
“Looks like it’s sorted.” I slid off Tris’ lap. “Sorry, hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I’d love to see you play.” He smiled shyly.
The urge to kiss him raised itself again. Mentally, I shook myself. This wasn’t what was meant to happen at all.This is all for show,I told myself sternly. Instead, I smiled back and gently touched his bicep.
“Thanks, Tris.”
Then I turned my attention to Darren, who was tuning up the electric acoustic the other band had lent him. We conferred on what song to play, choosing something we’d usually do in rehearsals. He began the chord progression and I waited for the beat before I sang, tapping my foot on the floor to keep time. Normally, I’d make sure I tried to connect with the whole audience. This time though, I only cared what one person thought.
10
Tris
This was getting weirder and weirder. Two days ago, I’d started out helping my uncle with a painting and decorating job, and now I was sitting in a pub with Saff Barnes and her band, watching her perform.
Life sure had a way of throwing curve balls at you. However, I couldn’t deny this was one I was enjoying.
Saff’s voice was amazing. She was singing along to a Green Day track, and her vocals couldn’t have been any more different to Billie Joe Armstrong’s. The arrangement almost made the track unrecognisable, but her smooth, honey tones husking over the lyrics brought familiarity. It had always been one of my favourite songs, even more so now.
While she sang, her eyes were mostly closed except for the times she focused on me. It was almost as if she were singing it to me, and me alone. Involuntary goose bumps pricked my skin.
Barney nudged me, breaking my reverie. “You all right, mate? Seem a bit out of it there.”
I shook myself back to the present. What the hell was I doing? I know we had to put on an act to make things believable, to make people think we were a couple, but I had to draw a line somewhere.
“Yeah.” I forced a smile. “She’s pretty good.”
“Thought you would have known that, being as you were at uni with us. You must have been to hundreds of her gigs.”
Shit.I hadn’t factored it in after Saff had thrown into the conversation earlier how we’d met. I couldn’t make this look like the first time I’d seen her sing. Frantically racking my brains, I had to come up with something he’d believe.
“True, she was shit back then though. Does she still do the girl band cover?” I crossed my fingers beneath the table, hoping at some point during her music career Saff would have at least done one drunken Kylie impression.
