II

A few weeks after that, and a few kisses on Bret's ear later, there was a band meeting. It was summer and the air conditioning in Murray's office had broken down, so he handed them two promotional New Zealand fans before opening. Jemaine took a look at Bret's fan and then at his own fan. His fan had a bird on it and Bret's didn't.

'You want to trade fans?'

Bret checked his fan. 'Yes.'

'Here.'

'Thanks man.'

'Guys, can I finally have some of your attention, please? We were at point one on our agenda for today?'

Both boys stared at him for a second, waiting patiently like the two little sheep they were.

'Well? Can I begin now? Are you done with your chatting?'

'Yes.'

'Sure, go on Murray.'

'Thank you. Okay, agenda point one. Mistakes. You made a mistake last gig, didn't you Bret?'

'No.'

'Yes, you did. Everyone heard it, it's no use denying it. Even I heard it, Bret! Did you hear it, Jemaine?'

Jemaine had to admit he had. Bret had missed a note at the moment he thought he had seen someone walk in the backroom of the bar they had been playing in, someone that looked like Sally, but turned out not to be Sally, but a girl they had never seen before. Because of his small miss, he lost track of where they were in the song, and Jemaine had to repeat a line before he picked up again.

'You're supposed to say 'Who likes to rock the party' after Jemaine has said 'I like to rock the party', aren't you Bret?'

Bret nodded.

'That's what I thought. But I didn't hear it!'

'He was distracted by a girl that looked like Sally,' Jemaine tried to explain.

'Distracted? By a girl? During a gig?'

Bret looked increasingly guilty. He didn't know where to look and made himself as small as possible.

'It's things like getting distracted by a girl that ruin performances, Bret! I thought you knew that, you never make mistakes!'

'I'm sorry, Murray,' Bret mumbled. Jemaine watched him, also feeling a bit distraught by the situation, and saw his lips were trembling slightly. So slightly, in fact, that he had to be the only person in the world who was able to notice it. Jemaine felt like a brick was stuck in his chest, and he wanted to help Bret, but he didn't know how. He hesitated, but as Bret sighed sadly, he acted on instinct. He moved closer and pressed his lips to his right ear. Bret closed his eyes after a second, and Jemaine was so close he could hear his breath slowing down.

'Better?' Jemaine said.

'Yes. Thank you.' Bret gave him a small smile.

Feeling comfortable again, they returned to Murray, who was staring at them with his mouth hanging open, his pen still hovering over his notebook.

'Oh, um, we're sorry, Murray,' Jemaine said. 'It's just something I do to calm him down. And it works.'

'It works,' Bret helped.

'But you just kissed him, Jemaine.'

'Yes, that's true. But it works.'

'It's the only thing that works.'

'Kissing him works?'

'Only on my right ear,' Bret blushed.

Murray dropped his pen on his notebook and looked at them one at a time. 'I'm sorry guys, I just had no idea you kissed each other on a regular basis.'

'Oh, but we don't.'

'I'm the only one kissing.'

'Only on my ear. When I'm upset.'

'It doesn't matter, guys! Fact is that you do! And it's not a problem at all. I'll just need to get used to it!'

He took a few deep breaths. Jemaine looked at Bret. Bret looked back and shrugged.

'Right. I think I'm used to it now. It really isn't a problem. In fact, it's pretty normal. All bands kiss each other, don't they?'

'Do they?'

'Of course! U2 kisses each other all the time. Have you ever seen them live? All the time! And Coldplay! You know Coldplay? These are some of the most successful bands in the world! So it's actually a good thing, Jemaine! You should kiss him more often!'

Bret looked at Jemaine with an unsure expression. His face was still a bit red.

'I don't know, Murray.'

'Do you think we could attract bigger audiences with it?'

'I really don't know.'

'You could at least try it. See how it works out. It might be the best move we have ever made.'

'But I think it would be weird to do it in front of other people.'

'You just did it in front of me!'

'Yes, but that was because Bret was upset.'

Murray sighed. 'I don't know what to do with you guys. I say you try it at your next gig. Remember? This Sunday at the convenience store.'

'Yes, we remember.'

'And practise before you do it. Make it look cool.'

'We always practise, Murray.'

'I meant the kissing.'

'I don't need practise for that.'

'That's what you think, Jemaine, but when you're on stage you can suddenly forget everything you have practised!'

'That never happens to us.'

'But it might happen now.'

Bret sighed. 'Alright, Murray.'

'Great!' Murray checked the box after 'agenda point two: gig'. 'Band meeting closed. Get to practising, guys! See you on Sunday!'