Chapter 2

"Hey brother! How are you?" Keith greeted me as I entered his studio. Mia has her audition results due today. We visited a couple of places to rent for my own club yesterday. Every one of them was more than I could afford at this time. To start afresh with risk in mind, I guess you have to have an income. A previous income and enough savings so that when your venture fails or in my case, jazz really dies, you don't feel shanghaied of your means to survive. That was the reason I was here.

"Good man. Really good. So when does the tour start?" I ask.

"A couple of days from now and it will be a three continent tour. America, Europe and Australia for six months."

"Okay. The messengers are climbing high I guess."

"Yeah man, and half of the success belongs to you. Our channel on YouTube is full of praise for the "The Keys Man", the fans love you Sebastian. I love you too man, seriously you are the best I've seen in my entire career." Keith patted my shoulder and I nodded. I did not want to jump high in the air and pump my fist and shout. For me, it works differently. Though I feel elated at Keith's words, I also know that the same people who praise you and give you ridiculous nicknames will not even recognize you outside the YouTube channel, unless you have the balls to take the risk and do something for yourself.

"So, let's practice." I say as I move over to my seat in front of the two piano sets, one the real one and the other the electronic.

We practice for the next four hours. Keith sings really well, I have to give him that. After the success of the west tour, even the other band members have started to acknowledge me. At least that is good. Because it is really difficult to play in a band whose drummist or saxophonist or trumpet master ignores you most of the time.

I reach home to find Mia sitting and staring at an envelope on the dining table. Envelope? Letter? The letter!

"Mia?"

"Sebastian." She comes over and hugs me tightly. "Is that the letter from Brandt?"

"Yes."

"What does it say?"

"I haven't opened it yet." She murmurs in my ear and slowly pulls apart.

"Let's open it then." I say and walk over to the table. She sits on my lap and holds my arm tightly. I look at her face to see her panicking. She is biting and moving her tongue over her lower lip and her forehead is creased heavily with frown.

"Hey, you are going to get this okay? It's good news inside it." I say as I tear open the envelope and remove the letter. She does not even attempt to read it and sits quietly breathing frantically.

She got the role. Oh my god. Brandt even sent an airplane ticket to Paris for tomorrow.

I read the content quickly and decide to play dumb.

"Wha-what is it?" she asks quickly.

"It does not say much. Just that you have to pack your bags tomorrow." I say and try hard to control my glee and maintain a neutral expression.

"Oh." She slides off my lap.

"You're going to Paris."

"Okay." She says without thinking. Then she turns.

"What?!"

"You are going to star in an Amy Brandt film." I say.

She jumps and snatches the letter from my hand and reads it. Tears run down her cheeks as she finishes the letter and I pick her up and kiss her. She puts an arm around me and wipe her tears with my thumb and kiss her forehead.

"I said you'll get it. You're going to be a superstar." She nods and rests her forehead against me as she whispers.

"Thank you."

"For what?" I ask equally softly.

"For being there for me, for taking me to this audition, for putting up with me." She kisses me with fervor and breaths heavily.

"Nah, you are very easy to put up with you know. Just had to drive a couple hundred miles." I smile and wink and she laughs. "I'm so happy for you."

"Let's make dinner." She says.

"I thought we should go out to celebrate."

"I want to spend my last evening here." She says with excitement in her voice.

Last evening.

My expression drops suddenly and the energy and warmth in my nerves suddenly turn into ice. I try to force a smile and say yes but my throat constricts.

"Sebastian." She comes to me and hugs me. Great. I've ruined her mood.

I try to diffuse my anxiety.

"It's not like you won't talk to me. Right? You'll call me. Right?" I manage to say.

"Yes. Every single day."

"I love you."

"I know. I love you too." She says and tugs me to the kitchen. I can't help but smile after listening to her sincere reassurance. It fills me with a determination. I want our happily ever-after's to start as soon as possible for which I will work hard with The Messengers and save as much as I can to start my own club. I already have a name for it. A smile tugs at my lips at the memory behind it.

"Sebastian, will the audience like me?" Mia asks as we head into the kitchen.

"Fuck them."

"You always say that." She says and we both burst laughing.