~^*v~v*^~
Jack sighed and massaged his temples at my kitchen table. We'd listened to every pirates soundtrack, sound clip, and music video we could, but we still hadn't gotten any farther than brainstorming ideas. I gently pulled our 'idea paper' out from under his sight to take a look at it again. After a moment, I spoke up.
"Well, we're stuck. So what, let's try and think up something different."
We'd been trying to write a couple of measures, just to arrange something for band type groups but we were drawing a blank.
"Like....?" Jack asked, yawning.
"Like, what do we want our opener to sound like? And the second song, and the third. What about the closure? What themes do we want to do with each song?" I asked.
"Hmmmm, that I think I can answer." He shook his head to wake himself up. "What about something like 'One Last Shot' for our opener? It can start out quietly, then build." he looked over at me.
".....Yeah yeah, that could work, we could do that. What about the second one?" I replied.
"'He's a Pirate'"He said comically,"It's exciting."
"Well, yes, but we want to save something for last, don't we?" I remarked
"We will be, there's plenty in that score to make a show out of. We can also use 'Will and Elizabeth'."
"Plenty to make a show out of? Sad to say it, but most of the themes are centered around two main lines of music. If we're going to make a show out of this, we'll probably have to write some for ourselves." I said pointedly,"It can't be that hard, can it? I mean, most of the songs are in the same general key. You know, we could do a special theme for....oh...say...the pirates?" I grasped for even a simple concept.
Jack looked at me imediately and rather sarcasticly,"Pray tell...which ones?" he asked.
"No no no, forget that,"I said hurridly,"Wait! What about a theme for...Tortuga! That'd be interesting at least."
Jack paused and looked off at the wall, then looked back at me and gave a little chuckle,"Do we DARE write a theme for Tortuga?"
I raised my finger to object and push my idea farther, but he had a point, the idea could turn...controversal.
"I know! We could get through with all of our normally composed music with all of the traditional themes, and then do a special with our 'Jack Sparrow' fellow."
Jack's face was clearly a very large question mark.
"What I mean is, we can get several people to play out a scene. Oh, what about the hanging scene? There, the snares would be featured, as well as our 'actors', then we could wrap up the show with a strong closure, just like the movie!" I waved my hands around, imitating Jack as I explained my idea.
Jack paused, looking at me. Then, he pointed at me and said,"...That's the beginings of a great show!" He grinned.
"Great!" I grinned widely,"Let's get to work!"
~^*v~v*^~
By 7:00 that night, we had come up with a full sheet and a half of music, and to say we were proud would be an understatement. But sadly, as our day of work came to an end, Jack had to leave. Though I was happy enough knowing I would be seeing him again.
"Well, I think I've got everything." Jack said as he looked closely around through the shambled mess of a table.
I nodded,"Yeah, you would think you had spent the night with the mess we made." I smiled while looking at the mess, and then found that my gaze had gradually wandered to Jack's face. He looked up at me as if expecting me to say something.
"Sure you won't have dinner with us?" I asked.
"Yes, you've been a great guest." My mother came up from behind me, wiping her hands on a dish towel,"You're welcome back anytime."
Jack did a small bow with his head,"Thank-you ma'am, that's very good considering Erica and I have a lot of work to do. And no, I'm quite sure there's food at my house suitable enough."
"It's those Lean Cuisenes." I whispered to my mother.
"I heard that!" Jack raised his voice jokeingly.
"Please don't wake the baby, Jack!" My mother whispered, smiling.
"Oh! Sorry!" Jack covered his mouth with his hand and mumbled,"I'll eee mor careful."
"It's alright, Jack. It's not like you're very loud very often." I said and took a step forward. "Now, when are we gonna be working on this next?" I asked.
"Ermmmm..."Jack looked up in thought."....I...don't know. I think I'm free next Wendsday." He looked down again at me.
"Nope," I shook my head,"Church night."
"Oh," he seemed mildly surprised."Then what about Thursday?"
"That'll be very well!" I said in my British accent."Shall I escourt you to your car?"
"Indeed!" He agreed in his British accent, and took my arm. Together we made overly exagerrated marching steps all the way out to his car. There, he saluted me before he plunked his large backpack into the car's trunk. I laughed as he marched around his car the long way to get to his driver's seat. When he got to me, he bowed and lightly brushed his lips over my hand, which I found extremely out-of-character for him. I couldn't help but laugh.
Right before he got into his driver's seat, with the door wide open, he turned and asked,"Hey. When do I get to treat you to a mean Lean Cuisene?"
I laughed,"Whenever you want to!" I grinned.
"Alrighty then," he said and winked as he got in the car and shut the door.
"See ya later!" I waved.
"Later!" He waved back, and then drove off.
~^*v~v*^~
"So we ARE getting a Pirates show!" Holly "Ooo"d and "ahhh"d. "That's sooo cool, the music is just....awesome!" She gave me a look and I personally thought,"Don't tell me. Tell the doubters, if there are any."
We were sitting in the main band room, waiting for Mr.Jamous to come and unlock his office, while various other workers were coming in by ones and twos. I was sitting cross-armed in my puny band chair while Holly sat on the floor, scribbling away at something.
"What are you doing?" I leaned over to see, but she blocked my view with her shoulder.
"Nope! You can't see yet!"
"What? Why not?" I leaned over and tried to grab at it.
"NooOOoOooo!" she said and ran away almost 10 feet.
Ten minutes later, there was a sign on Mr.Jamous' office door saying,"Captain Barbossa's Quarters, Enter only on serious buisness." And there was another on the Guard's closet door saying,"Jack's House - Pirate's Only." And there was yet another on the Instrument Storage Room's door saying,"Ilem da weta Cave." Lastly, someone else had thought it funny to label the Percussion's Cabinet as "Tortuga."
As I surveyed Holly's handiwork, I couldn't help but laugh.
Jack came to the band room just as Holly was labeling our door,"The Caribbean - 1800's". He stopped and looked around all puzzled like before asking,"What's going on?"
"Oh just some themeing..."Holly answered, then turned around and smiled mischieviously. "You'll see."
"........I'm scared now." He laughed and walked in.
After scanning the room and picking out every sign to laugh at it, we walked up to me. "Was this your idea?" he asked.
"I had nothing to do with this." I smiled.
"I'm surprised, I was sure that it was you who was so mischievious."
"Me? Mischievious? Never....." I rolled me eyes,"I would never EVER label the Percussion Section 'Tortuga." I laughed quietly, naughtily as I turned away. I had done that one. After all, weren't percussionist supposed to be different? Then I stopped and thought aloud,"Soooo, if the Percussionists are Tortuga and the Guard is Jack's House, does that mean that the guard and the drummers.......? .....I'm confused! And you....since when did you live in the Guard Closet? I laughed.
"Shhhhh, they're not supposed to know." Jack whispered very loudly.
"Naughty!" I pushed at his shoulder and he laughed, his bright eyes shining as usual as he pushed back.
"Oh, now you done it!" I pushed back playfully, so that he spun, then ducked as he came back, but he got me anyway and pushed me down on the floor. And there I sat, looking up at him with sad puppy dog eyes. Then, I sniffed and pushed out my lower lip and whined a little.
"Aww no! Nooo! Anything but that!" Jack turned away, but peeked over his shoulder just to say, "Noooo," again.
Eventually, he turned to me for real and said,"Alright, alright, I'll help you up." And offered me his hand for support. I gladly took it and pulled as he did, and our combined efforts brought my face much closer to is than normal. We paused, he was looking into my eyes, and I was into his. Then I sensed that I might blush, so I turned my head and stepped back.
"Well, well, well, been working on more than music have we?" Mr.Jamous asked as he passed us going to his office. He was looking at our hands, which were still held together. We both snapped out of our trances right then and dropped them. Jack turned away and held his hands behind his back and pretended to look at the ceiling, though I noticed him looking at me thoughtfully every now and then.
"Mr.Jamous!!" I scolded and aimed a playful kick at him and he jumped into his office and gave a sinister little smile as he closed the door.
I gave the door a smug smile myself and then turned to Jack. But then abrubtly the door opened again and Mr.Jamous stuck his head out. "Hey, by the way, do you guys have anything to show me?"
Jack started,"Oh! Yes! I...we do!" He swung out and grabbed his backpack, which was leaning against the wall and hurried into the office.
"Oh, and also..."Mr.Jamous held up his hand to stop Jack,"What's with all the decor?" Mr.Jamous stared straight at his own sign and gave a hesitant laugh,"Am I really all that bad?"
"Hehehe, not really, sir, but it's still funny."Jack as he placed his backpack on the table and got out our notes and few sheets of music.
As Mr.Jamous went through them he mumbled and played out parts on his trumpet. Jack and I waited inside and looked around nervously. My mind, though concerned with the music, was more focused on Jack. He had looked at me differently when we were close. His eyes had been focused, and even now he looked as if he had more on his mind than just the music.
Finally, Mr.Jamous spun his chair around to face us, an un-readable expression on his face.
"It's good! I like it. There's depth and theme, and it moves well too...When can I get more of it?"
Jack and I sighed in relief.
"Well sir,"Jack spoke,"I can write a few notes on my own, but it should be this Thursday when Erica and I can meet up again to work on it."
"Alright..."Mr.Jamous said. He had spun around to his desk again and was photo-copying our notes.
"Yep yep, good stuff. Hey, do you guys have any ideas for a visual play/act/thing?" He asked us.
"Well....even though it's not in our job descriptions, we do have a few ideas." I said.
He looked to Jack, who pointed to me. "Her department."
"Ok! Well, this is all well and good, but just please remember, we're on a deadline."Mr.Jamous said,"I'd like you guys to take the day off here, and get working on it."
"Ok...I mean yes sir, Mr.Jamous." I said.
I picked the corner under the percussion/tuba/equipment shelves to settle in and get to work. Sitting down with the new, clean sheets of music paper and my clarinet and trumpet, I sighed as I thought of the amazingly large amount of work we had to do in such a short time.
As Jack sat down next to me and got out his things, I lifted up my head and found him looking at me. I gave him a little smile and went back to work, as he did the same. But what I did not notice was that he scooted just a little closer right then.
~^*v~v*^~
Thanks to absolutely everybody who reviewed! It really REALLY meant a lot to me that people liked m,y story and I sincerely hope that you guys enjoy this next installment. By the way, this week is the exam week/blasted-research-paper-turn-in-week, so the third chapter might be a little slower in the making, but no worries! We'll have it up here...sometime soon.
To Amy0 - Thank you sooo much! I'm so glad you like it! Yes, there's going to be a lot of business for both the music production and the behind-the- scenes workers. ;) And thank-you for your compliments on my writing style.
To Kitty the Drunken Butterfly - No Pirates music! Oh well, why don;t you just grab a guy and write some? ;) j/k. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing! Sad to hear that you have a new director, bleh, it's hard when they're first settling in, eh? But maybe he/she will pull through. Favorites list! AHH! Thank-you, I feel so special. :)
To RoyalClarinetGirl - Haha, you sound like me! :) I know, I love all of the music, it's awesome! And, you're a clarinet like me! 'Cept I might be turning Trumpet. :o
To Leah - Thanks for your compliments on my dialogue. I'll try to keep the style as consistent as I can. ;)
To k1489 - Thank-You :)
-Falarios
Jack sighed and massaged his temples at my kitchen table. We'd listened to every pirates soundtrack, sound clip, and music video we could, but we still hadn't gotten any farther than brainstorming ideas. I gently pulled our 'idea paper' out from under his sight to take a look at it again. After a moment, I spoke up.
"Well, we're stuck. So what, let's try and think up something different."
We'd been trying to write a couple of measures, just to arrange something for band type groups but we were drawing a blank.
"Like....?" Jack asked, yawning.
"Like, what do we want our opener to sound like? And the second song, and the third. What about the closure? What themes do we want to do with each song?" I asked.
"Hmmmm, that I think I can answer." He shook his head to wake himself up. "What about something like 'One Last Shot' for our opener? It can start out quietly, then build." he looked over at me.
".....Yeah yeah, that could work, we could do that. What about the second one?" I replied.
"'He's a Pirate'"He said comically,"It's exciting."
"Well, yes, but we want to save something for last, don't we?" I remarked
"We will be, there's plenty in that score to make a show out of. We can also use 'Will and Elizabeth'."
"Plenty to make a show out of? Sad to say it, but most of the themes are centered around two main lines of music. If we're going to make a show out of this, we'll probably have to write some for ourselves." I said pointedly,"It can't be that hard, can it? I mean, most of the songs are in the same general key. You know, we could do a special theme for....oh...say...the pirates?" I grasped for even a simple concept.
Jack looked at me imediately and rather sarcasticly,"Pray tell...which ones?" he asked.
"No no no, forget that,"I said hurridly,"Wait! What about a theme for...Tortuga! That'd be interesting at least."
Jack paused and looked off at the wall, then looked back at me and gave a little chuckle,"Do we DARE write a theme for Tortuga?"
I raised my finger to object and push my idea farther, but he had a point, the idea could turn...controversal.
"I know! We could get through with all of our normally composed music with all of the traditional themes, and then do a special with our 'Jack Sparrow' fellow."
Jack's face was clearly a very large question mark.
"What I mean is, we can get several people to play out a scene. Oh, what about the hanging scene? There, the snares would be featured, as well as our 'actors', then we could wrap up the show with a strong closure, just like the movie!" I waved my hands around, imitating Jack as I explained my idea.
Jack paused, looking at me. Then, he pointed at me and said,"...That's the beginings of a great show!" He grinned.
"Great!" I grinned widely,"Let's get to work!"
~^*v~v*^~
By 7:00 that night, we had come up with a full sheet and a half of music, and to say we were proud would be an understatement. But sadly, as our day of work came to an end, Jack had to leave. Though I was happy enough knowing I would be seeing him again.
"Well, I think I've got everything." Jack said as he looked closely around through the shambled mess of a table.
I nodded,"Yeah, you would think you had spent the night with the mess we made." I smiled while looking at the mess, and then found that my gaze had gradually wandered to Jack's face. He looked up at me as if expecting me to say something.
"Sure you won't have dinner with us?" I asked.
"Yes, you've been a great guest." My mother came up from behind me, wiping her hands on a dish towel,"You're welcome back anytime."
Jack did a small bow with his head,"Thank-you ma'am, that's very good considering Erica and I have a lot of work to do. And no, I'm quite sure there's food at my house suitable enough."
"It's those Lean Cuisenes." I whispered to my mother.
"I heard that!" Jack raised his voice jokeingly.
"Please don't wake the baby, Jack!" My mother whispered, smiling.
"Oh! Sorry!" Jack covered his mouth with his hand and mumbled,"I'll eee mor careful."
"It's alright, Jack. It's not like you're very loud very often." I said and took a step forward. "Now, when are we gonna be working on this next?" I asked.
"Ermmmm..."Jack looked up in thought."....I...don't know. I think I'm free next Wendsday." He looked down again at me.
"Nope," I shook my head,"Church night."
"Oh," he seemed mildly surprised."Then what about Thursday?"
"That'll be very well!" I said in my British accent."Shall I escourt you to your car?"
"Indeed!" He agreed in his British accent, and took my arm. Together we made overly exagerrated marching steps all the way out to his car. There, he saluted me before he plunked his large backpack into the car's trunk. I laughed as he marched around his car the long way to get to his driver's seat. When he got to me, he bowed and lightly brushed his lips over my hand, which I found extremely out-of-character for him. I couldn't help but laugh.
Right before he got into his driver's seat, with the door wide open, he turned and asked,"Hey. When do I get to treat you to a mean Lean Cuisene?"
I laughed,"Whenever you want to!" I grinned.
"Alrighty then," he said and winked as he got in the car and shut the door.
"See ya later!" I waved.
"Later!" He waved back, and then drove off.
~^*v~v*^~
"So we ARE getting a Pirates show!" Holly "Ooo"d and "ahhh"d. "That's sooo cool, the music is just....awesome!" She gave me a look and I personally thought,"Don't tell me. Tell the doubters, if there are any."
We were sitting in the main band room, waiting for Mr.Jamous to come and unlock his office, while various other workers were coming in by ones and twos. I was sitting cross-armed in my puny band chair while Holly sat on the floor, scribbling away at something.
"What are you doing?" I leaned over to see, but she blocked my view with her shoulder.
"Nope! You can't see yet!"
"What? Why not?" I leaned over and tried to grab at it.
"NooOOoOooo!" she said and ran away almost 10 feet.
Ten minutes later, there was a sign on Mr.Jamous' office door saying,"Captain Barbossa's Quarters, Enter only on serious buisness." And there was another on the Guard's closet door saying,"Jack's House - Pirate's Only." And there was yet another on the Instrument Storage Room's door saying,"Ilem da weta Cave." Lastly, someone else had thought it funny to label the Percussion's Cabinet as "Tortuga."
As I surveyed Holly's handiwork, I couldn't help but laugh.
Jack came to the band room just as Holly was labeling our door,"The Caribbean - 1800's". He stopped and looked around all puzzled like before asking,"What's going on?"
"Oh just some themeing..."Holly answered, then turned around and smiled mischieviously. "You'll see."
"........I'm scared now." He laughed and walked in.
After scanning the room and picking out every sign to laugh at it, we walked up to me. "Was this your idea?" he asked.
"I had nothing to do with this." I smiled.
"I'm surprised, I was sure that it was you who was so mischievious."
"Me? Mischievious? Never....." I rolled me eyes,"I would never EVER label the Percussion Section 'Tortuga." I laughed quietly, naughtily as I turned away. I had done that one. After all, weren't percussionist supposed to be different? Then I stopped and thought aloud,"Soooo, if the Percussionists are Tortuga and the Guard is Jack's House, does that mean that the guard and the drummers.......? .....I'm confused! And you....since when did you live in the Guard Closet? I laughed.
"Shhhhh, they're not supposed to know." Jack whispered very loudly.
"Naughty!" I pushed at his shoulder and he laughed, his bright eyes shining as usual as he pushed back.
"Oh, now you done it!" I pushed back playfully, so that he spun, then ducked as he came back, but he got me anyway and pushed me down on the floor. And there I sat, looking up at him with sad puppy dog eyes. Then, I sniffed and pushed out my lower lip and whined a little.
"Aww no! Nooo! Anything but that!" Jack turned away, but peeked over his shoulder just to say, "Noooo," again.
Eventually, he turned to me for real and said,"Alright, alright, I'll help you up." And offered me his hand for support. I gladly took it and pulled as he did, and our combined efforts brought my face much closer to is than normal. We paused, he was looking into my eyes, and I was into his. Then I sensed that I might blush, so I turned my head and stepped back.
"Well, well, well, been working on more than music have we?" Mr.Jamous asked as he passed us going to his office. He was looking at our hands, which were still held together. We both snapped out of our trances right then and dropped them. Jack turned away and held his hands behind his back and pretended to look at the ceiling, though I noticed him looking at me thoughtfully every now and then.
"Mr.Jamous!!" I scolded and aimed a playful kick at him and he jumped into his office and gave a sinister little smile as he closed the door.
I gave the door a smug smile myself and then turned to Jack. But then abrubtly the door opened again and Mr.Jamous stuck his head out. "Hey, by the way, do you guys have anything to show me?"
Jack started,"Oh! Yes! I...we do!" He swung out and grabbed his backpack, which was leaning against the wall and hurried into the office.
"Oh, and also..."Mr.Jamous held up his hand to stop Jack,"What's with all the decor?" Mr.Jamous stared straight at his own sign and gave a hesitant laugh,"Am I really all that bad?"
"Hehehe, not really, sir, but it's still funny."Jack as he placed his backpack on the table and got out our notes and few sheets of music.
As Mr.Jamous went through them he mumbled and played out parts on his trumpet. Jack and I waited inside and looked around nervously. My mind, though concerned with the music, was more focused on Jack. He had looked at me differently when we were close. His eyes had been focused, and even now he looked as if he had more on his mind than just the music.
Finally, Mr.Jamous spun his chair around to face us, an un-readable expression on his face.
"It's good! I like it. There's depth and theme, and it moves well too...When can I get more of it?"
Jack and I sighed in relief.
"Well sir,"Jack spoke,"I can write a few notes on my own, but it should be this Thursday when Erica and I can meet up again to work on it."
"Alright..."Mr.Jamous said. He had spun around to his desk again and was photo-copying our notes.
"Yep yep, good stuff. Hey, do you guys have any ideas for a visual play/act/thing?" He asked us.
"Well....even though it's not in our job descriptions, we do have a few ideas." I said.
He looked to Jack, who pointed to me. "Her department."
"Ok! Well, this is all well and good, but just please remember, we're on a deadline."Mr.Jamous said,"I'd like you guys to take the day off here, and get working on it."
"Ok...I mean yes sir, Mr.Jamous." I said.
I picked the corner under the percussion/tuba/equipment shelves to settle in and get to work. Sitting down with the new, clean sheets of music paper and my clarinet and trumpet, I sighed as I thought of the amazingly large amount of work we had to do in such a short time.
As Jack sat down next to me and got out his things, I lifted up my head and found him looking at me. I gave him a little smile and went back to work, as he did the same. But what I did not notice was that he scooted just a little closer right then.
~^*v~v*^~
Thanks to absolutely everybody who reviewed! It really REALLY meant a lot to me that people liked m,y story and I sincerely hope that you guys enjoy this next installment. By the way, this week is the exam week/blasted-research-paper-turn-in-week, so the third chapter might be a little slower in the making, but no worries! We'll have it up here...sometime soon.
To Amy0 - Thank you sooo much! I'm so glad you like it! Yes, there's going to be a lot of business for both the music production and the behind-the- scenes workers. ;) And thank-you for your compliments on my writing style.
To Kitty the Drunken Butterfly - No Pirates music! Oh well, why don;t you just grab a guy and write some? ;) j/k. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing! Sad to hear that you have a new director, bleh, it's hard when they're first settling in, eh? But maybe he/she will pull through. Favorites list! AHH! Thank-you, I feel so special. :)
To RoyalClarinetGirl - Haha, you sound like me! :) I know, I love all of the music, it's awesome! And, you're a clarinet like me! 'Cept I might be turning Trumpet. :o
To Leah - Thanks for your compliments on my dialogue. I'll try to keep the style as consistent as I can. ;)
To k1489 - Thank-You :)
-Falarios