Page 73 of Composed
She pouts. “That I could learnStairway to Heavenin a week.”
My shoulders shake as laughter spills from my lips.
Stairway to Heavenis a deceptively tricky song.
On the outside it seems like it should be easy to play. But when you get down to it, and start picking it apart, it requires dexterity, speed, and finesse that even people who have been playing for years struggle with at times.
I've been playing for years and it took me a solid day and a half to really nail it.
Theo, with zero guitar experience?
The girl had no chance.
I turn to her, pursing my lips. “You got played.”
“I got played so hard.” She doesn’t seem all that mad about the fact though, as she looks down at her boyfriend’s face with a glowing smile.
My arse vibrates as my phone buzzes in my back pocket.
I tug it out, a smile curving my face.
ROCK STAR
Have I told you how much I love you in my clothes?
I flick my eyes up and over the stage, spotting my boyfriend hanging in the wings. He winks.
HENDRIX
Only a thousand times already
And I’ll tell you a thousand more
Shouldn’t you be getting ready, not standing there texting me
Just wanted to check you made it. You were late.
I exhale a slow breath, tapping the side of my phone while I come up with an excuse for my tardiness. It’s not that I don’t think Cole would understand, it’s that he has no idea how tenuous my relationship with my father really is.
On the odd occasion he’s come to my house when my dad hasn’t been working—which is few and far between, I always find an excuse to go to his instead—I’ve locked us away in my bedroom so he won’t witness the reality of my home life.
Bus didn’t show. I had to walk.
You should have texted, I’d have picked you up
I smile in spite of myself. Since his parents gifted him a second-hand Ford Focus for his birthday, he’s found any excuse to be behind the wheel. Typical boy racer behaviour.
And have you late to your first gig? Never.
Now go be a rock star, Rock Star
I’ll come find you after
I’ll hold you to it
I look up, mouthing,I love you.
My phone buzzes again.
