I'm now on Tumblr! Look me up: .com
I put up one of the pictures I was talking about in the notes from last chapter where I changed the colour of Jack's hoodie to try and find another colour that suited him. Let me know what you think. And by the way, thanks for the FYIs on the spelling of hoodIE.
New song for you to listen to for this chapter if you want to. It's Jupiter from Holst's The Planets and you'll recognize it if you listen to it for long enough (especially if you're British, it's used in a lot of adverts here): watch?v=Nz0b4STz1lo
Anyway, JACKRABBIT HO!
Play For Me, Jack
Chapter 7
The weekend went by uneventfully and Monday came around again. This morning Jack was actually looking forward to going to work and was finally admitting to himself that his good feeling was pretty much solely based on the prospect of seeing Bunny again. They guy had been kind to him and he liked nice people. That, and he could have a little fun with him which meant really they should have been getting along like a house on fire by now. Today Jack decided he was going to try to make just that happen and as he burst through the door to the studio they'd been using the previous week he stood there for a moment until he was sure he'd garnered enough attention to state his presence. He wasn't particularly an attention whore but, admittedly, he was a comedian and a comedian loves an audience.
"Mornin', everyone" he called as he approached his section and dropped his stuff around his chair. It felt weird to be calling he principal chair his but it was good weird and a feeling he was going to make sure he enjoyed every moment of while it lasted. In return he received characteristic Monday morning responses and he knew it was up to him, as per usual, to perk everyone up.
"Come on, everyone. It's a bright new day. Everybody excited to play say woo!" he cheered and threw his hands up in the air. He didn't expect a response and he didn't receive one. He tried again, "Everyone say woo!" Again, no response but this time he got a few chuckles. That would be enough for now and after brushing them off he sat down and opened his case on his lap. After putting his violin together he tuned up quickly and then tried to make friends with the woman sitting next to him. It appeared the weekend hadn't been long enough to quell her disdain for him being promoted above her and he didn't receive the same kind of cheeriness that he doled out. "Oh well" he thought as he turned away and sifted through the music on his stand. After a little of Tristan and Isolde they'd be jumping into something new for their own programme and this time Jack had actually taken the time to see what it was they would be playing. A huge smile had been plastered on his face when he'd read the words 'The Planets – Holst' on the rehearsal sheet they'd been sent last year – which he'd had to dig out of one his bags where it had been previously stuffed – and as he sat in his seat he had to fight against the urge to jump around. The Planets suite was a magnificent score that was hugely clever and complex. Jack had loved it since he'd first heard it in high school and relished how challenging it was for him as a player. It was just what he'd been craving and he was so glad he would finally be able to play it in a professional orchestra. Sure, it too was another piece to be expected in most orchestras' repertoire but he didn't care. It was modern and daring and in all simply triumphant. He was desperate to start and no amount of dreary Wagner could dampen his spirits today – although he knew it would try its hardest.
When it got to 9:20AM and Bunny still hadn't arrived everyone began to wonder what was going on. It wasn't normal for them to start this late and their new conductor had hardly been late at all last week. Finally, at 9:35AM the doors opened and in walked Bunny with North and the other admins in tow.
"Sorry, everyone. We're just trying to sort something out" he announced gravely as he walked in and then stopped halfway, "Jack, could you come with us for a second?"
Jack tensed up again. That didn't sound like a happy invitation and as he slowly rose he resisted the urge to bite his lip as he wandered over.
"What's up?" he asked as he got to Bunny and started walking towards the door with him.
"Trouble"
There was no time to ask anything else as they stepped out of the room and into the hall where Jack also saw Pitch waiting with the group. Jack looked around at all of their faces and saw regret in each of their expressions. All aside from Pitch who simply looked menacing as usual. Jack turned his head when he felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder and looked up to the warm but troubled face of North.
"Jack, we have problem" the towering man said to him in his heavy Russian accent. "We are late starting because of meeting over running and meeting was about you?"
"Me?" Jack asked as he felt his grip on his violin tighten.
"Yes. Unfortunately, it seems not everyone is happy with your new appointment as concertmaster"
"Oh" said Jack knowing who was behind this and deciding not to make it obvious by turning to Pitch. "Well, what's wrong with me?"
"There are…concerns that you can't meet demands being a leader"
"What?"
"It has been suggested that, perhaps, you can't fully fulfill the position of concertmaster"
"I can! I promise you, I can!"
"Well, yes, but saying is a lot different than-"
"Oh let's just cut the crap" Bunny cut in, "Pitch doesn't think you're up to it and decided to cause a fuss"
They grey-tinged ogre looked over sneeringly at the new guy but was simply met with a glare of discontent.
"Despite my new colleague's repugnant wording of it, yes, it was I who brought up your track record which is clearly very much against you. Your playing and your attitude is simply not up to the level required by this orchestra and furthermore it was reckless of Mr. Bunnymund to even think of bringing you in over the players already ahead of you"
"Already ahead of me?" Jack asked
"There's a reason you sit where you have been put" Pitch said as he narrowed his eyes, "And you'd do well to remember that"
"Pitch" North said expressing his distaste with the terrifying man's way with words, "there is no need to be unkind." Turning back to Jack he became more sympathetic again, "Look, Jack. It is not that you are bad player, it is just that Pitch reminds us that there are rules when this sort of thing happens"
"You said I could choose whoever I wanted" Bunny cut in once again as he looked around at the management.
"And where was I when this decision was made?" Pitch asked starkly.
"It was Friday morning. I'm sure you were invited"
"Oh, was I? Well I would never have agreed to such a thing"
"Perhaps that's why you weren't there" Bunny said as he narrowed the gap between them.
"Perhaps you forget your place here"
"Perhaps my place is what I make of it"
"Perhaps you should learn to toe the line"
"Perhaps you should take the stick out your arse"
The two then glared at each other, neither one backing down and as a few silent seconds ticked by, North eventually decided to step in and assert his dominance.
"Easy boys" he said as he stepped between them and trying to draw attention back to the shorter, nervous looking guy standing nearby, "Look, Jack, we think you are good player, we really do"
"Most of you" he said feeling confident enough not to let Pitch get to him this morning.
"But we must obey rules and I am forced to ask, are you sure you understand responsibility of concertmaster?"
"Responsibility has nothing to do with it" Pitch cut in again, "the fact is he cannot reproduce a standard of playing at the drop of a hat. If you'd had heard him yesterday you would have seen that he's not right for the post"
"I brought it back though" Jack said firmly.
"On your second try, after being dragged aside to be told not to worry and to be the best player you can be" he said in the sarcastic, baby-talk way Jack had become used to whilst gesturing towards Bunny.
"It was not a pep talk" Jack said gravely.
"It doesn't matter. You didn't get it on your first try and that is what is expected of you. You are NOT up to this post, Jack"
"Hey!" Bunny cut in, "Who the hell do you think you are? I chose Jack because he's a fantastic player and the only reason you won't admit it is because you just can't fathom showing even the slightest bit of praise to someone who you don't view as fitting the right description"
"I beg your pardon" Pitch spat
"Jack is great. I know he's great, these guys know he's great and if you weren't so concerned with saving face and maintaining that angel of death image you'd say he was great. He's the perfect choice for Sandy's replacement, and I don't appreciate you blasting Jack for having done nothing wrong. He's perfect"
"Did Bunny just call me perfect?" Jack thought as his mind suddenly started to run amuck with the phrase. He quickly had to crush the desire to say 'Aw, thanks. I think you're perfect too! Let's kiss on it!'.
Watching at the two men shoot daggers at one another, Jack found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. He thought for a moment and then picked up his violin. He wasn't about to let Pitch ruin his chances to lead and he had to make sure he got this right. He prayed he'd remember the whole thing as he placed his bow on the string and then, with as much confidence as he could manage, began to play the solo line from the Act one Pas de Deux he'd both butchered and glorified last Friday.
Not having to worry about the orchestra, he was able to concentrate on making his playing as romantic and passionate as possible and although he tried to keep his eyes on his fingers he darted away from time to time to see the management watching him and looking impressed. All aside from Pitch who was doing his best to look as if he knew he was right all along.
Jack only played up to the low C's that finished the Andante* but it seemed like it was enough to convince them.
"How was that?" he asked feeling a little cocky.
North just looked around at the others, all aside from Pitch, and then said, "I have no problem. Anyone else?"
"I think you know I do" Pitch said despite everyone else's nodding.
"Well, that is settled then. Jack will remain concertmaster until Sandy's return"
"Great" Jack said with a smile, "Thanks, everyone". As they began to leave he was startled when he turned to see Pitch standing far too close as usual when he wanted be intimidating.
"This isn't over, Frost" he said before turning and skulking away. Jack just stuck out his tongue as he watched the man go and then turned to Bunny was looked extremely pleased with the outcome.
"Thanks" Jack said a little bashfully as he tried to force himself to hold Bunny's gaze.
"Ah, don't mention it" the taller man said as he opened the door and ushered Jack inside. The two wandered back to their places and Bunny announced briefly what had happened without too many details. Everyone seemed content with the fact that Jack would remain their concertmaster – all aside from the deputy – and not wasting any more time they dived straight into rehearsing.
When they got around to playing some of The Planets, Jack made sure to shine as he played and didn't allow himself to slip once – at least not noticeably. If they believed enough in his ability to hold this spot in trust for Sandy then he was going to prove them right. To hell with Pitch and his usual meddling, he was here and he was going to do a good job.
There was only a tiny nag at the back of Jack's mind as he played that the unpleasantness with Pitch earlier on was only the beginning of something much worse to come. The fact that he'd said "this isn't over" coldly reminded him that he would have to be on his guard from now on. Fortunately, the wave of pride he was riding didn't allow him to worry about it for long. That, and the fact that Bunny and stuck up for him made him feel like a shy, giggling schoolgirl on the inside.
That evening…
As the day's rehearsals drew to a close, Jack met up with Tooth so she could let loose all of the things she'd wanted to say that afternoon but hadn't had the opportunity owing to the fact that Jack was no longer by her side. As Jack listened to her garble on almost uncontrollably he looked around and saw Bunny quietly packing away the things on his stand as the rest of the orchestra moved away from where they'd been sitting. He looked kind of lonely as he did it and Jack's heart went out to him as he remembered what he'd been thinking a few nights ago about Bunny's current social situation. He now hated the idea of leaving the guy alone for yet another night and before he knew what he was doing, he turned to Tooth and interrupted her mid-sentence.
"Hey, Tooth. Crazy idea…"
"Ooh, the best kind!"
"What would you say to inviting Bunny out for dinner tonight?"
"That's your crazy idea?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Well, yeah. Why not?"
"No, no, I mean, usually your crazy ideas involve something impossible and a little more…abstract"
"Well, inviting the boss out for dinner is a little off the wall for us"
"Ew. When you say it like that…"
"Come on, Tooth! You like him, don't you?"
"I did before you called him 'the boss'. Now it's weird"
"Pleeeease, Tooth! Pleeeeease!"
The colourfully clad girl hung on his pleading for a moment before smiling and putting definition to his begging.
"You sure I wouldn't be in the way? 'Cos you know, it would be weird for you to bring me along on a date"
Jack's face darkened instantly, "It's not a date. I simply suggested we ask him out as friends. How did you get date from that? It's not a date."
"Oh, you know. I just figured you were crushing on him so hard that you'd-"
"Damn it, Tooth. I am not!" He wasn't ready to admit it yet although he couldn't really think of a reason why not.
"Okay, okay, denial. Fine, let's go ask him out"
"Great!" Jack said before spinning and walking off. He stopped when he put what he assumed was Tooth's intended meaning to her words and turned back to shoot her a look of contempt. She just smiled and waved in return before following.
Jack felt his heart begin to race as he walked up to Bunny and as he strode up confidently he forgot to think of an opening line. When Bunny turned to look at him he simply stood there with his mouth open and then clamped it shut when nothing came out.
Bunny looked at the suddenly stricken boy in front of him and brought out his smirk which he'd been keeping hidden for most of the day.
"Y'alright, Jacky?" he asked hoping to elicit some heated response from his concertmaster.
Jack just stared awkwardly for a moment before Tooth leant around him and spoke.
"He wanted to know if you'd like to go for dinner with us. Maybe let us show you around a little?"
Jack closed his eyes and in his mind slapped his hand into his face. Why did he have to screw up in front of Bunny again?
"Is that right, Jack?" Bunny asked as he suppressed a laugh, "You wanted to ask me out for dinner?"
Jack nodded silently and then internally slapped himself a second time. Why hadn't he spoken?! Why was he suddenly so shy and tongue-tied?!
"Okay, that'd be great. You wanna meet somewhere or go straight from here?"
"Well, we can leave our stuff here and go straight out" Tooth said
"You know what, you can put it in my car and I can give you guys a ride home later if you like"
"Sure. Sound good to you, Jack?" she asked as she nudged her frozen friend. He squeaked out a feeble "Sure" before giving up and dusting off the previous week's longing for instant death. He wasn't even going to ask this time what was wrong with himself. There were clearly so many things.
As the three made their way out to the parking garage under the concert hall, Tooth chatted to Bunny about Pittsburgh and what kind of city it was. After breezing through the type of person your average Pittsburgher was and their fixation on the Steelers, and then blitzing through the fact that the winter there was hellish, she concentrated on trying to condense which neighbourhoods were okay and which ones were bad. Jack was caught up in a haze of his own humiliation and didn't hear most of it. He chimed back in when he made out the sounds of words detailing where they could go to eat.
"Somewhere in Shadyside" Jack suddenly blurted out causing the other two to stop, look back at him and stare.
"What's that?" Tooth asked bemusedly.
"We should go somewhere nice so Bunny doesn't get scared away. I figure Shadyside would give us something good. Or Lawrenceville"
"Are you paying for all of us?"
"Oh, come on. We shouldn't worry about money if this is Bunny's first outing"
"Actually, that's my neighbourhood. I looked around a little already so I'd be happy to try something a little different"
"Really?" Tooth asked impressed by his living arrangements, "Well, there is this little Italian place by Jack's apartment."
Jack's eyes suddenly lit up, he loved that place.
"Yeah! Let's go there"
"Italian sounds fine. Everyone hop in" Bunny said as he pulled out his keys and zapped open the doors on the shiny, brand new BMW they had approached. Jack looked at the beautiful car and marvelled for a moment at how much they must have been paying him.
"This is yours?"
"Yeah. I leased it as soon as I got here. I figured I'd need to drive in everyday if I took the place the orchestra sorted out for me"
"In Shadyside?"
"Yeah."
"Wow" Jack thought. Wherever Bunny was living must have been nice. There were some awesome places in that area but most came with a price tag he'd never be able to cover on his salary. Maybe at some point he could work his way into seeing Bunny's place, after all it would be pretty awesome to see inside Bunny's home. "Stop it!" he thought as his mind once again began to take liberties with the idea of being invited back to Bunny's place.
As they all climbed into the fancy car, Bunny fired it up and headed out onto the streets of downtown. It didn't take long for Tooth to direct him out of the maze of tall buildings and towards the shorter ones in the area where Jack lived. Soon they pulled up outside the restaurant and got out of the car to go in.
"Y'okay, Jacky?" Bunny asked as they walked towards the door, "You haven't said much this whole time"
"I uh…I was elsewhere"
"Right." Bunny said knowingly, "You know, you don't have to be so nervous around me. I won't bite"
That kicked Jack into life.
"Nervous? Don't overestimate yourself, Aster. And by the way, who's called Aster?"
"Ha! There you are" he said before pulling open the door for Tooth and then following her in leaving Jack stunned at the realization that he'd been goaded into saying something. He quickly scurried inside when he saw he was out in the cold on his own and followed the other two as they were led to a table.
As the evening went on Jack kept teetering between silent embarrassment and coerced courage but it never became clear to him that Bunny knew exactly what he had to do to provoke a response from him. All he needed was to tease him or taunt him a little and all of a sudden the cute guy was yammering and firing back cheery replies as they continued their repartee. He'd been referring to Jack as cute a lot lately but, unlike the cocky violinist sitting across from him, Bunny had no problem with admitting to himself that he found Jack attractive. There was something about him that was strangely, almost mystically alluring and he just hadn't figured out what it was yet. It didn't matter though really, he knew he liked Jack as a friend too and felt pretty lucky that he'd fallen in with such a nice, albeit kinda crazy, guy from the outset.
All evening the two kept catching one another's eye and holding it for just a few milliseconds more than what could be considered friendly. Jack couldn't help his cheeks from reddening when Bunny gave him that smirk and this time he noticed it was somewhat less judgemental than it had been. It was sort of warm although still teasing and it made him feel bubbly inside as the feeling marinated within him. Bunny could see the effect he was having on Jack and was pleased to see him looking like he was. He was shifting around in his seat and was making both obvious and useless efforts to try and look relaxed. It was sweet and Bunny hoped as he continued to watch him that he'd read his actions properly. Perhaps something was starting to happen and…well, he'd just have to wait and see.
When the check came Bunny insisted on paying despite being invited out by his two new friends and then led them back to the car to drive them home. Tooth lived closer and threw herself at Bunny when the time came for her to go. She had been chatting away all evening and barely allowing Jack to get a word in. That is, when he wasn't bantering with Bunny. In any case, it meant that Jack had learned just as much as she had about their new conductor and was happy that she now liked him so much too. After she got out, Bunny had to ask Jack if he wanted to ride shotgun before he pulled off and once again Jack found himself feeling awkward in the same way as earlier.
"Just relax", he told himself; but it was no use. Bunny made him undeniably nervous and unlike before he knew exactly why. Being alone with Bunny - outside of work and in the close confines of his car – allowed Jack to become extremely well acquainted with the details of his gorgeous face, his body, the faint scent of his cologne, his demeanour and overall his total, unequivocal gorgeousness. He really was a perfect human being, or at least he was in Jack's eyes, and he'd never felt this way about anyone else before. Perhaps it was the fear of screwing up any chance of getting Bunny to like him that was making him do just that but it seemed the Australian man did indeed like him anyway and so that begged the question, why was he still so nervous?
Sensibility would have told him it was simply because he was alone with his crush, and after all, doesn't everyone get a little stupid when that happens? Bunny just seemed so calm though and that, like little cracks, began to drain away Jack's blind sightedness and ate away at the nervous but excited feeling he felt inside. That wasn't quite the blessing he was hoping for though and as the moments ticked by he started to think that if Bunny wasn't behaving the same way as him then didn't that mean he wasn't interested in the same way?
That sudden bombshell knocked some sense into him and as he felt his excited high crash he became a little disappointed. Yes, he'd told himself that he liked Bunny but only as a friend initially. He'd only just started to admit to himself that he found Bunny attractive and had opened himself up to the chance of that leading somewhere. Now that there was not even the possibility for that to go any further he felt really let down and all of a sudden he found himself no longer tongue-tied.
"Is this the place?" he heard Bunny ask as they pulled up outside his apartment building.
"Yeah, this is it" he said trying not to sound too dejected.
"Looks nice"
"It's better on the inside, I swear"
"Ha. I'm sure it is. You know, I had a great time tonight"
"Yeah, me too. Thanks for coming out"
"Thanks for taking me out. I've been wanting to take a look around but it feels kinda weird going out alone in a strange city"
"I know that feeling"
"Ah yeah. New York, wasn't it? Where you trained?"
"Partly, yeah. That was easier than Pittsburgh though"
"Tell me about it" laughed Bunny.
They were silent for a moment.
"So" Jack eventually chirped, "you leaving anyone at home while you're here?"
"What do you mean?" Bunny asked inquisitively.
"Family? Friends? Girlfriend?"
"Na. Friends sure but no one else really. Haven't had a girlfriend in a very, very long time"
"Oh" Jack said as he assumed what he had been hoping against was confirmed. He'd said 'girlfriend' and hadn't hinted at anything close to 'boyfriend'. That must be it then, no hope. Bunny was straight and his chances were over. Scratch that, they had never existed. "Well, I'm glad we could make you feel welcome"
"I hope you can carry on doing that"
"Huh?"
"I hope we can go out again soon. You, me and Tooth"
"Oh. Yeah, sure. This was fun, I'd love to do something like this again."
"Okay, great. Well, we'll talk at work"
"Sure"
Again they were silent and Jack wondered if that was a suggestion for him to leave. Before he had a chance to decide, Bunny carried on.
"How 'bout you, Jack? You got everyone important to you nearby?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Hometown's not far away and I've got plenty of friends in town"
"Anyone special?"
Jack smiled, "Just Tooth, but not like that"
"You two aren't…?"
"Oh God, no! Ew!"
Bunny laughed, "I thought not. I wondered at the start but after seeing you two tonight I figured maybe not. Still, I thought I'd ask"
"No. Me and Tooth aren't…ew. No. Nothing like that"
"She with anyone?"
"Not as far as I know. Why? Interested?"
"Haha. She's great but nah."
"Well, to each their own, I guess"
"And then some"
"Hm"
"Oh, before I forget. You and me'll need to start having private rehearsals together."
"Huh?"
"Since you've got solos I need to work with you to get them right"
"Who says I can't get them right on my own?"
"I do. You may be playing but I'll be damned if you don't play it the way I tell you to play it"
"Hey! That's not the way they do it with guest players"
"But you're on the payroll"
"So?"
"So I get to tell you what to do"
"That hardly seems fair"
"Oh yeah, what you gonna do about it, Jacky?"
Jack couldn't help but smile. Usually that would nag at him but he'd had a good time with Bunny and knew he was only doing it to try and get a rise out of him. The prospect of rehearsing alone with him was exciting though and had it not been for the lack of hope for sexy fun times – as Jack had started to put it – with Bunny then he would have been jumping for joy. Still, getting to be alone with him meant he could goof off and have some fun. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
Bunny just chuckled as he saw Jack's face. "Well, Jacky, it was-"
"Jack" he said defiantly, not letting him get away with it this time.
"Fine, Jack. This was fun. I'll see you tomorrow"
"Yeah, see ya" he said as he reached for the handle as he started to get out. He didn't really know how to leave it. Handshake? Hug? Polite nod? He lingered for a moment and Bunny seemed to be faced with the same dilemma. Eventually Jack just got out and walked quickly up to his front door. He waved to Bunny before watching him drive off and then flopped back against the door as he cringed at the memory of how he'd behaved.
It was more than that now though. Bunny was off the table, or at least he thought he was. He figured what had been said pretty much excluded Bunny from any kind of romantic involvement and not that he was specifically angling for that – at least not officially in his head – but it had been nice to have that door potentially open for a while. Jack sighed as he started to let it go and pushed himself up again to go inside.
It took him until he got into bed before he realized he'd left his violin and bag in Bunny's car. "Aw crap!" he groaned out into the dark, silent air. No chance of sex with Bunny and he'd lost his violin. Great.
Funnily enough he no longer shied away from debating the prospect of sex between them in his mind. Maybe it was because he now knew for sure he wasn't going to get any.
"Stupid Mondays…"
Glossary:
Andante: In this case the section (usually known as a movement) from a piece that is performed moderately slowly. Translates as meaning at a walking pace.
Gah! Why couldn't Burgess have been near New York City?! I don't know anything about Pittsburgh! If you live there and are angered by my sheer balls up of writing this based around there then I do wholeheartedly apologise!
So, what do you think? I hope it hasn't become sucky now that we're deep into the story. Thank you all for your reviews and follows. I love to hear what you think and am happy to receive anything you have to say.