Chapter 2: When Do We Start?
Previous Chapter Summary: Starting the new show, Buster has Johnny try to pick up playing a new instrument, and recommends their resident rockstar to help teach him.
"Pretty good, what's this I hear about you picking up a guitar?"
I paused a bit and felt heat creep up my cheeks,
"I don't know, Mr. Moon wants me to try playing the guitar I guess, but I don't think I have the time right? I mean, we only have two months before premiere!"
Ash tilted her head a bit, scratching the side of her face in thought,
"Well it depends, if you can learn how to play a guitar as freakishly fast you mastered playing the piano, it won't be tooooo bad, especially with my glorious self as your teacher," we both chuckled, but I still had some doubts about taking her time away from her set and I mentioned as much, but she quickly shut me up.
"I won't be wasting time on you Johnny, not only am I your friend but God knows I have the free time. Besides this should be fun yeah?" I laughed along with her and agreed,
"Yeah, this should be loads of fun, so when do we start?" she laughed,
"Now would be a good time but uh..you're missing something extremely necessary for learning to play, one key element," I cocked my head a bit genuinely confused, what could I possibly be missi-...
"I don't have a guitar." Ash nodded her head sagely, eyes closed and all like she was listening to philosophical wisdom,
"Yeah that's pretty important big guy, and you reeeally can't use mine, it would be funny to watch you try though." I laughed along with her,
"Yeah it is a bit tiny id'nt it," Ash nodded still fighting off some giggles,
"Yeah, hey, if you have the time right now I know a shop we could go to downtown, they might have some stuff your size." I took a quick look at my watch underneath my sleeve and seeing it was half past noon I said,
"Yeah I got time, if it runs long enough we should grab some lunch too yeah?" she nodded,
"Yeah, getting there will probably take the most time, it's kind of in an out of the way spot," she explained at my questioning look. I nodded, taking another peak at my watch,
"Sure, let's head out now so we can atleast get ahead of the traffic." She agreed and we split up.
We both went back into our spaces to grab our stuff, for me it was my satchel and phone, for Ash it was her case, backpack and phone. We both said bye to Rosita and Gunter who were working on a classical piece which was surprising for Gunter, he was really into more grand, loud movements but he seemed to be getting really into these ballroom dancing classes. Rosita was really making the song beautiful though, and her voice was quoted by to be "With training, could be like one of the greats," which was probably the greatest praise she had given to any of us. Don't get me wrong, she isn't a bad person, she is just a bit..frigid would probably be the best descriptor. Obvious disdain for Ash's brand of rock n' roll, and only mild acceptance of my rendition of I'm Still Standing by Elton John. She absolutely adored Rosita and Meena; Rosita for her balancing a home life of 25 children and still following her dreams and Meena for the raw power in her voice. I felt a bit put out but she IS our sponsor and we literally would not be where we were today if not for her so..who cares what she said behind our backs.
We both packed up and headed out to my old black pick up which was just a tad to high for Ash to get into on her own, especially with all her gear so I helped her throw it in, and gave her my hand to use as a boost. She took it and gave me a slight smile before bucklin' up in the middle seat where the seatbelt could actually do something to protect her should somethin' happen drivin'. I got in and buckled up too, and started up the truck so it could get a bit warm before we pulled out. As it was, the temperature was dropping steadily, which was the only reason I didn' skate over to save gas. Probably would've frozen my bloody ears off. Turning the heat up and rubbing the wheel to heat up the leather at least somewhat, I peaked over to Ash who I saw was shivering a bit, so I took off my leather jacket and draped it over her to hopefully stave off the cold before the truck could heat up. She whipped her head up when she felt the weight of it, the damned thing being at least 3 times her size if not a bit more. She looked at me questioning but grateful for the heat so I answered the unasked question anyway,
"Didn' want you catchin anything nasty from the cold, you looked like you needed it anyways.", she blushed a bit and looked away while she rubbed her hands together,
"Thanks big guy, 'ppreciate it" I smiled a bit and looked back up to road preparing to pull out, and finding my gap taking the gap with a liberal use of the gas. This had the un-fortunate (or fortunate dependin' on who's askin') effect of pushing Ash into my side where she punched me in the side lightly,
"Don't do that without warning me Johnny! Jeesus you drive like a bat outta hell!" I immediately let off the accelerator and scratched my cheek where I felt the heat rising up,
"Sorry Ash, I'll try to be a bit slower, it's kinda just how I learned," she rolled her eyes,
"Who did you learn from, a getaway driver?" she said sarcastically, I paused for a bit…
"Yes actually, he was my uncle Barry," her eyes widened a bit and mouth opened ever so slightly,
"O shit I totally forgot big guy, I'm sorry!" She seemed earnest and I didn't really care as much anymore anyway, it was all a matter of public record to know my father was a criminal, and it didn't take a genius to know that I had to have had some idea, luckily nobody seemed to have put together that I was apart of a lot of those heists since I turned 15. Either that or they thought I was forced into it...I don't know what's worse honestly. She still seemed worried I was upset, so I flashed her a smile and refocused onto the road, I had my regular radio station playing that had some good pop songs but mostly some oldies, I knew it wasn't really Ash's slice of pie so I shifted it into a more classic rock station that I don't particularly mind, especially when Ash immediately seemed to get into the music a bit more..I asked for a few more directions than I would have usually but I had never even SEEN this side of town, or at least not in anyway to remember in any certain detail, although that pawn shop looked awful familier.
After a few more turns and some backtracking, we finally arrived at a little music shop that had a few faded posters of some popular bands from a few years ago. I shot a look at Ash because the windows were dirtier than some of the engines I've worked on with my Dad, and the shop looked like it hadn't seen business since I've been alive. Ash didn' have any problems and walked right up and through the door that emitted a horrible screechin' that had me, and I'm sure ever other person in a 5-mile radius, clenching their ears in pain. I followed her in and had to stop and blink at what I saw. Everything had this nice dark finish that was as close to ebony you could get whilst still being brown, all of the dark shelves filled with CD's, records, even bloody cassette tapes too! The floor was thickly carpeted with a creme shag, and some soft, warm lighting kept everything lit up but they left everything with a soft golden light. On the back wall was a showcase of what looked like different styles of guitars, one even had two necks and set of strings! On the left were some drum kits and other percussion instruments. Ash was up towards a counter off to the right talking to an older looking gentleman who had a wild shock of silver-y grey hair and a beard the had me feeling a little self conscious about my own lack of facial hair. I walked up to her and the man as Ash started to laugh a bit, while the man chuckled deep and lowly, the way that only someone with a voice that rumbles like an earthquake. I stopped behind Ash and waited a bit, Ash obviously was familiar with this guy so I waited to be either introduced or given the chance. They stopped pretty quick and he looked over to me as he tailed off on the chuckle. It felt like I was being judged by a giant, so I stuck out my hand to him and introduced myself,
"H-Hello sir, how do ya'do?" I hated the way my voice shook, but the man had the presence of a war general, and I would not be surprised whatsoever if Ash told me he was a soldier at some point (turns out he was). He looked me up and down, and I felt kind of self-conscious in my usual oil stained, faded jeans, a new dark green shirt and my dads old leather jacket that looked obviously "well loved". I heard him huff out of his nose and without releasing my hand from his iron tight grip, he turned his head to Ash and asked in a voice that had absolutely no business coming from a person,
"This that kid you keep talking about? Jimmy or something?" Ash and I blushed for seperate reasons but Ash spoke up before I did,
"Johnny, and yes it's him," the mountain of the man looked back at me and I swore I could hear stone grinding as he turned back over to me and he rumbled out,
"Did you really learn how to play the piano that well in a few weeks?" he had his eyebrows raised as he asked, like he couldn't believe it, I stood up a bit straighter,
" Yes sir, I can play the piano fairly well,". He let go of my hand after a second and pointed over my shoulder,
"Show me" I turned around and sitting behind a larger display case showing some fancy saxophone or some such, I was more attracted to the absolutely stunning black grand piano that looked like it had been polished everyday since it was created. I looked back over to him and asked permission without saying anything,
"Well if you can play the piano without a piano I would be even more impressed, go play," It wasn't exactly a command, but there was no denying that he wanted me to go over and play. I walked over and brushed my hand along the keys, feeling the grain on top of the pale ivory place holders I looked back over and asked about it,
"Is this real ivory?", he looked a little pleased about the question,
"Yes it is, but not from an elephant, it is seal tusk ivory. Less expensive, same quality, and a lot less damaging to the animals themselves, good eye." feeling a little lighter to know he didn't have a resentment towards me, I sat down at the professionally handcrafted throne in front of the piano (throne being the actual term for the small bench that pianists sit down on). This was a HUUUUGE difference than the small "Pony" piano that I had played and learned on with Miss. Crawley. I ran my hand over the keys once more, doing my best to familiarize the new, slightly larger spacing before I started to play anything. I set my hands into position and took a deep breath, feeling both the old man and Ash's eyes heavy on my back, before I started playing.
