Played like a Guitar - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

While the rookie writer was busy answering the remaining questions, I admired him from afar, unsure of what would happen once the interview reached its end. I browsed a shelf full of mystery novels nearby, testing my poor acting skills to seem unbothered while he was signing books for his fans and taking pictures with them. He probably didn't enjoy that part of fame, but was aware of how necessary it was to devote himself to them, the ones equally responsible for his slow rise to fame. Once done, he thanked the bookstore manager for the event and started walking towards me. Although my heart rate was pumping at maximum speed, I tried my best to play it cool.
"Noah...it's really you." - he approached me awkwardly with the same confound look. "I didn't expect this, what a pleasant surprise. Did you come all the way here from Greece?" Based on his body language, he wanted to go for a hug but changed his mind last second, greeting me with a friendly smile instead. I went for it anyways to make things less awkward for us, squeezing tight for just a second before letting go, noticing he was elated by the gesture. Bingo.
"Of course not, silly. I'm finishing my Master's degree here and happened to come across a poster advertising your little book tour. It's amazing, by the way." - I showed him my copy. "I'm really happy for you!"
"Wow, what a coincidence. I must say, it's strange to see you appear out of nowhere every time I organize a world tour. Admit it, you're secretly stalking me, aren't ya? Were you here on the previous ones too? I could've sworn I saw someone peeping through the bookcases during my previous promotions." - he laughed. Ugh, his stupid sense of humor always brings a smile to my face.
"Shh, you don't remember anything." - I waved my hand in front of his face like a Jedi trying to erase a stormtrooper's memory and thankfully he understood the reference, otherwise I would have made a complete fool out of myself. "For real though, I've been studying here for six months now. How are you? It's been a while." - I asked, trying to avoid any unpleasant memories and feelings from resurfacing.
"I'm doing great, actually. Really happy with how the poems turned out and the support I got along the way. It's been quite the journey." We were interrupted by a security guard, informing him that the bookstore was going back to business and that dozens of fans would soon come barging in.
"Oh, got it. Thank you, sir." – he appeared somewhat disappointed, realizing our conversation was over before it even began. Unless...
"Do you mind catching up over some lunch? My treat this time, I'm starving." - he held his growling belly in agony. Did he just invite me to a perfectly normal, platonic, casual date? Okay, not a date exactly; we were just two independent adults who haven't seen each other in a while and want to find out the latest. A friendly reunion, nothing wrong with that.
"Sure, and since you're treating, I'll take us to one of the fanciest and most expensive restaurants Rome has to offer." - my evil smirk caused him to reconsider his decision.
"On second thought, I have a plane to catch. See you on the next one!" - he joked, glad that there was zero tension between us whatsoever so far. "I'm kidding. I keep my promises. After you." We left through a backdoor, where I instantly recognized his ride and old man Benjamin smoking a cigar against its hood. "All done, kid?" - he asked before noticing me, putting his glasses on to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. I shook hands with him, thinking how oddly relaxing it must have been working as a chauffeur - following Jamie in all these wonderful destinations, traveling the world and getting paid for it. At least it seemed that way.
"Well, what do you know? Never thought I'd see you again." - he laughed with his deep smoker's voice.
"Looking fresh as ever, Mr. Ben." - I ignored his unnecessary comment. "Jamie, I think it's best if we go there by foot, there's plenty of things for you to see on the way." - I shared the address with Ben to know where to expect us. While showing him the coordinates on his GPS, Jamie noticed a group of fans searching for us in the back.
"Run for your life!" - he shouted before bursting into a sprint and catching me off guard.
"Wait, what? Jamie! Wait for me!" - I started chasing after him, barely able to contain myself over how ridiculous the scenario was.
We ran for a few minutes down the vibrant and lively streets before he abruptly entered a random store, so as to lose his blood-thirsty followers. We looked at each other, both breathless and way out of shape before bursting into a laugh. The old lady working there was staring at us in confusion, expecting to be robbed at any moment. It was a weird antique shop, with dolls, collectibles, and lots of vintage items. None of the objects were nearly as interesting as seeing him up close again. I almost forgot what he looked like in person, his handsome, diamond-shaped face, positive energy, characteristic perfume and virulent eyes.
"Might as well check it out while they're still searching for us." - he roamed around, observing each piece carefully. The old toy section was especially creepy, full of puppets, old action figures and dusty marionettes. Wouldn't be surprised to find the original Annabelle doll here. He stumbled upon some cross necklaces, beautifully crafted with (fake?) jewels and shiny chains. "What do you think about these?" - he pointed to a simple wooden cross and fancy golden one of the same size, bedazzled with a small red gem in the center.
"I like both of them, but I'm not sure about the price of the second one. Seems way too much if you ask me, especially if you don't know if it's the real deal." - I remarked.
"Maybe you're right. Do you mind trying it on? I want to see how it looks." I put it around my neck, being strictly monitored by the grandma who was already suspicious ever since we entered the place, threatening to beat us up with her little cane. The piece was gorgeous, definitely, but I remained skeptical of the price. It was not a premium looking store after all. He seemed pleased, admiring it before telling the lady to pack both of them. Wait, was this one meant for me?
"Don't tell me you're buying this necklace for me! I couldn't possibly accept it." – I gasped nervously, the price making me feel most uncomfortable.
"It's a surprise gift for my sister, she loves accessories and it's her eighteenth birthday this month. Just wanted to see how it would look on someone before buying it, and the living fossil staring at us isn't exactly the best model." - he tilted his head towards the evil hag. Way to make a fool of myself again. I better use my brain before muttering nonsense from now on. On a positive note, the old lady didn't understand English or else we would be flying across the store onto the concrete floor.
I checked to see if the coast was clear, nodding that it was finally safe for us to resume our little walk. We strolled through a green park nearby with ancient Roman ruins, filled with joggers and students sitting in circles. "So, where do I begin? How come you started writing on your own? I thought you were preoccupied with the band."
"I guess I was just so focused on creating music for the band that I forgot what my real passion was. I just had so many ideas written down, waiting to be developed that I couldn't postpone it anymore. The band was doing really well at the time and they didn't plan on releasing new songs anytime soon, so I took advantage of the break." I noticed a flying disc gliding our way but grabbed it last second before it could hit his head, throwing it back to the reckless kid. "Woah, that was a close one, thanks. Good reflexes."
"Yeah, you get used to it. I really love the city, but there are so many tourists it's hard to enjoy sometimes. It's one of those places you wish were less popular so you could have it all for yourself, but I guess that's impossible now." He appeared to be overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle going around. I felt like that too when I first arrived here. "Is this your first time here?"
"No, it's not actually. My parents brought me here when I was little, I barely remember anything though. Plus, we've performed here during our first tour in a nightclub, mostly just singing covers of famous songs as barely anyone cared about our own ones. We were traveling a lot back then and didn't have enough time in between to actually explore the cities. We played in Milano during the second tour in a large outdoor field, kind of like in Thess."
"Oh, so you didn't find an extraordinary tourist guide to show you most of the city for free?" - I remarked, wanting to get a reaction out of him.
"No, I suppose I wasn't as lucky. Third time's the charm?" - he made his signature puppy face, hoping to take advantage of my kindness again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I'm in.
"First you saved my life from a sexual predator, then you gave me free tickets for your concert, now I'm getting a three-course meal and a bottle of expensive champagne. Looks like you got yourself a deal mister." - I gladly accepted his request.
The restaurant's interior was just as mesmerizing as the building itself, decorated in white and gold, filled with an assortment of colorful flowers, spotless glasses and diverse menus. The building was five floors tall with statues of angels on each side, and the restaurant was constructed on its rooftop. I must say, I was tempted to push him against the elevator wall for a brutal make-out session, but kept my raging hormones to myself.
During warm weather, they would open one section and turn it into an outdoor garden with small trees, plants, lazy bags, and bed swings. This part was designed mostly for drinks and snacks, so we settled in the beautiful interior space instead, its tables elegantly decorated with fancy silverware, rose gold plates and origami napkins.
"Damn, you weren't kidding. This place looks gorgeous, I'm in love with the design." - he scrutinized every little detail.
"Wait 'til you have a taste of their delicacies." We chose a small table for two right next to a window with a delightful view of the city's architecture expanding infinitely. "Have anything particular in mind?'
"I can eat anything, really. Maybe some bruschetta for starters, then some pasta for the main course? I want to see what all the fuss is about." - he browsed the menu, pleased by the vast assortment of food they offered. After a brief debate, we ended up ordering some classic tomato and basil bruschetta, a plate of local cheese and dried meat. He ordered some pasta Amatriciana - a very light, tomato-based dish whereas I went for some sea food spaghetti with mussels and shrimps. I guess I was missing Greek cuisine all of a sudden.
"You know, I had this crazy thought a few weeks ago when I saw a family order a table full of food at McDonald's, with dozens of burgers, a bag full of fries and gallons of coke. The amount of food we humans consume is insane! Imagine you're shown everything you've eaten the past eighty years when you die. Tons and tons of products, all to satisfy the biological needs of one person. Now imagine that multiplied by seven billion." - I shared the random thought.
"Don't even get me started on consumerism. As much as I adore eating, I would give it up if it was optional. So tell me, how come you decided to study here?" - he asked, shifting the conversation to a more appropriate topic considering the occasion.
"Where do I even begin? Great food, highly recognized university, beautiful city, so many students around. What's not to love? I kind of wanted to live on my own this time, even if living with my dad was a relief after spending most of my childhood with mum. It was difficult at first while I was getting used to the new environment, you know, learning the basics of Italian and managing everything on my own but it's totally worth it. What about you, what have you been up to, apart from the book?" - I asked back, but he was having troubles focusing, distracted by the beautiful view we had. I didn't blame him obviously, it was like that too for me at first.
"It's been an...eventful year to say the least. After our tour finished, things started going downhill for me. Our record label was pushing us for a third album already. They didn't care that we spent months traveling the world non-stop, performing from city to city with minimal breaks in-between. After a while it got very tiring and we weren't enjoying it as much as we normally did. Jessie agreed with them obviously. The only thing he wants is to dominate the charts and continue being recognized. He was forcing me to write new songs at one point, which is why I left the group, temporarily at least. He couldn't possibly expect me to write them just like that, without any previous thought. I needed some time away from the band to stay at home with my family. They kept convincing me to come back, offering me more money but I'm still dwelling on it. Luckily, during that short break I took some time off to write my first body of work. It was probably the darkest period of my life, but I'm really happy with how it turned out, and how the fans received it. If it weren't for the band's popularity, I doubt there would be so many sold copies." - he disclosed the behind-the-scenes information to me, and I was glad he felt comfortable doing so. I could easily share this with the biggest celebrity gossip blogs, but he knew me better than that.
"Oh, did anything serious happen while you were back in Ireland?"- I asked, curious about the inspiration behind his recent work.
"No, I just...wasn't in my right mind. I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. Music is an all-time passion of mine, but what the band did wasn't exactly what I envisioned for myself in the long run. Plus I'm not on best terms with my parents right now, and Malory was sick last time I saw her so we couldn't arrange a brother-sister bonding moment that we usually have." Why do I always end up regretting asking my intrusive questions? The man will start crying before the date (the friendly reunion) even begins! I understand him, though, it can't have been easy. He was looking out the window again, only this time staring vacantly, clearly lost in his thoughts. I'll take it a as a cue to change topics ASAP.
"So, what cities did you visit so far? Going on so many tours, you've probably been in every country in Europe by now." - I assumed with great jealousy. I can't wait to start making my own money and travel the globe, explore foreign lands, meet new people...Ah, some day maybe.
"Well the first one was held back in my hometown, then I passed through the main cities in England, then the main capitals in Europe. You know, Paris, Madrid, Brussels..." - he started naming them one by one as if they were streets. "And now I'm here. I only have a couple of eastern cities left to visit and that's pretty much it. If all goes well, I may even visit the States one day. I never thought my fan base was so diverse, I'm overwhelmed by the recognition." Normally I would have reminded him of how lucky he was to have traveled so much at his age, but it had its consequences certainly, and they didn't need to be brought up at the moment.
"What about you? How's your degree going? I assume your nerdy self got a full scholarship." - he assumed damn right. I described him my last days in Thess, how I obviously got a scholarship and how Rome differed from the city of balconies in comparison. He listened to every word with a genuinely interested expression on his perfectly groomed face. For some reason, I had troubles maintaining eye contact, his two distinct shades kept monitoring every move I made while sipping on his wine glass. I downed half of mine in one go like a shot of tequila, hoping to find some confidence, but instead I managed to make a complete fool of myself in front of the waiter who was bringing us food (at least it made Jamie laugh, so it was totally worth it). I could swear I saw the employee chuckle before reentering the kitchen. But hey, the alcohol kicked in just right and I felt lightheaded.
"I didn't realize you were an alcoholic by day too. Just go easy on it, I don't know where you live so I'll have to leave you on a bench or something." - he chuckled with a smile so preciously contagious, I wondered what his lips tasted like. Probably like drinking an ice-cold lemonade on a blistering day.
"I'll keep that in mind, thanks. How was the rest of your band tour?"
"Tiring but eventful, I'd say. We really gave it our very best to be on time and keep our energy levels equal in every city. We never expected that many people to show up, so they deserved to have a good time. After it ended, we all took a short break from each other since we were basically forced to live together for months. I really missed being at home; I start to freak out whenever I leave for a long time. Malory doesn't have many friends, so I know deep down she counts on me to be there for her, even if she denies it." He really loves his sister; I wish I could meet her someday.
"Aw, that's really kind of you. I always admire families like yours that have a good relationship, it's uncommon these days. I always wanted to have a sibling when I was young, but my parents separated so I gave up on that idea. What is she like? Hopefully not as obnoxious as her older brother." Couldn't resist making fun of him.
"No, she's the most wonderful human being in the world. I'd give my life for her." - he swirled his wine glass, probably wishing she was here with us. For some reason, I had difficulties initiating conversations with him, even if we barely knew each other. It's not that I didn't have anything to talk about, just wasn't sure of how comfortable he was opening up to me. Plus, when you haven't seen someone in a long time, you tend to cut things short and skip many things that happened in between. Thankfully, our meals arrived, their pleasant aroma kindling our senses. We both jumped right into the deliciously crunchy and flavorful bruschetta. They vanished after a few minutes, making us realize we looked like two pigs devouring their last meal. You'd think that I'd be sick of eating pasta everyday, but this restaurant is known for its traditional recipes and the ones they prepared here had no correlation whatsoever with the crap I made at home. The shrimps and mussels were cooked perfectly, and they blended well with the special sauce. I could tell by Jamie's look that he was just as satisfied.
"Okay, you seriously need to tell me how the hell you stay fit with all the food you eat? You seem to enjoy eating as much as I do, yet I gain weight after a single bite." - he complained with his mouth full over my clear biological advantage.
"Fast metabolism, I guess? Also, I rarely treat myself for a fancy lunch, I prefer cooking something quick on my own and it pays off a lot more in the long-term. But this is a special occasion so might as well enjoy myself." It was true, I was saving up on my parent's money to travel somewhere far away this summer, but one lunch won't empty my wallet too much.
"So, you sing, you write, you play music, you could model if you wanted to, what other talents do you possess, Gifted One?" - I boosted his ego, still processing how a person can accomplish so much in their mid-twenties.
"Oh stop it, I barely know how to walk. But jokes aside, my late grandpa taught me how to play the guitar, describing it as a special key that can unlock anyone's heart. It's how he ended up with grandma so I fully believed him. Even nowadays, she still asks me to play his songs whenever I visit. She says it lets her travel back in time and relieve their favorite moments when they were our age. It's how I found out the power music has, how it can connect people and make them feel less lonely. He's the reason why I joined the band in the first place, and I'm thankful for him every day. Whenever I'm on stage, I imagine him in the front row, cheering for me and it keeps me motivated to keep pushing forward. Concerning writing, it just felt weird creating music of my own without adding a message or story to it. Unlike many artists, I prefer finding the right melody before writing the lyrics. I started doing photography recently during my trips, just wandering around until I find a moment I want to capture and treasure it forever. Speaking of which..."
He reached for his backpack, adjusting something for a few seconds before taking out an already set camera to take a picture of me.
"Hey! I wasn't ready! That's not fair. Take it again!" - I cried while he carefully removed the Polaroid, giving it a little shake, and smiled gleefully at the result.
"Nah, its exactly the way I want it to be - spontaneous and unexpected. It's how you capture reality. I don't want your ugly fake smile in my album." He didn't even bother showing it, placing it delicately in what looked like a mini album. The idea of him carrying my photo around, or keeping it in a secret spot in Ireland made my insides tingle. We finished our Tiramisu as soon as it arrived, savoring the perfect blend of coffee, mascarpone, and ladyfingers.
"Does this mean I'll be a part of your future photography exhibit?" - I wondered, trying to scrap off what little was left of the dessert in the glass.
"Yes, another world tour is all I need right now. As if three weren't enough! But I do plan on having one sooner or later, if it means sharing my discoveries. Speaking of, are there any interesting museums nearby? I'd love to visit at least one before I leave."
"Now that you mention it, I did plan on showing you one not too far away with all sorts of exhibits, from the medieval ages to contemporary art. After that maybe we could go for a little stroll down the Tiber or whatever we find along the way. I didn't plan anything special, really." - I shrugged off the effort.
"Sounds perfect, I'm really glad you came by Noah." - he expressed his delight, and I could feel something igniting deep down inside me. That's not a good sign usually.
We continued chatting on and on, enjoying each other's company. After thirty minutes or so, he checked his watch, hinting me indirectly that it was time for us to leave for our next destination. While we were waiting for the waitress to grab our check, he shifted into the inevitable conversation I was desperately trying to avoid or delay.
"Listen, I owe you an apology for last time, it was all just a..." - but I cut him off abruptly before he could finish his sentence and ruin my mood. I thought we were going to ignore what happened that night and move on with our lives. I can't keep dwelling on the past, I just want to enjoy the moment.
"Excuse me, here you go." - I turned to the waiter. He nodded before retrieving the bill holder. "It's fine Jamie, let's go. We don't have time to waste. Museum, here we come!" Even if it sounded way less cringe in my head, I tried to be energetic, hoping he'd be convinced I was serious about what I said earlier. Hopefully, it will stay that way.