On the Wednesday of that week, while Beth was out with Angel and Vaggie she noticed a man standing outside The Claire de Lune. He was sweating like he a camel in the desert and he was shaking like a rattlesnake, and his eyes were completely fixated on Rosie who was wiping down tables. Beth wondered why that man was spying on her. It made her concerned.
She left the arcade and cautiously approached the man. It was Husk.
"What are you doing?" She asked him.
"Uh nothing!" He jumped.
"You know it's illegal to stalk people."
"I wasn't stalking. I was just waiting." He said. "And what are you doing talking to me kid? Don't you know you're not supposed to talk to strangers?"
"Don't you know you're not supposed to stare at people?"
"I was not staring at anyone."
"Yes you were. You were staring at Rosie. I saw you."
"I'm waiting for her to let me in for my audition. I'm applying to work as an employee at her cabaret."
"Oh really? What do you do?"
"None of your business."
"Does she even know you're out here? Because if she doesn't and she catches you staring at her, she'll think you're a creep and call the cops on you."
"Why are you even talking to me? You don't even know me."
"I saw you staring at Rosie and I want to make sure you're not some stalker who's going to kidnap her or something. I know she's a pretty lady. Lots of guys stare at her."
"Kid I'm no stalker and even if I was, you'd be stupid to confront me like this. You're a little girl, I'm a grown ass man. If I was a creep I could have kidnapped or hurt you. Next time you worry for someone go tell another adult, don't go getting yourself into trouble."
Beth eyes scanned Husk's form, she studied him carefully.
"Okay I get it now." She said.
"Get what?"
"You're not a pervert, you just have a crush on her and you don't know how to talk to her. I should have known, you react the same way the guys at my school when they like a girl."
"Oh will you get out of here? You don't know what you're talking about so scram. Go on, go on back to your mother. I'm sure she wouldn't want you talking to a strange man on the street."
"I don't have a mother."
"Then go back to your father."
"I don't have a father either."
That's when Husk became as perfectly still and his gruff demeanor slowly fell.
"You...You don't have any parents?" His tone was softer now.
"No. My mother died a long time ago and as for my father...Well let's just say I couldn't stay with him. The only family I have is my older brother."
"Oh...Gee I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insenstive or anything,I just assumed that most kids have parents in the picture."
"You assume correct. Most do. I'm just the few who don't."
"Look I really don't mean to be jerkass, at least not now anyway, but I really don't think you should be talking to me. A little girl talking to a middleage man on the street, alone, doesn't look good. Espeically to the police. I'm only trying to shoo you away because I don't want to spend the night in jail."
"Okay. Good luck with your audition. Just be polite, show your talent, and don't mention Rosie's husband."
"Husband? Aww she's married." He sighed.
"Ah-ha! I knew you were crushing on her. She's divorced."
"Shit! I can't believe I fell for that!" He cursed.
"So do you really want a job here or are you just trying to get closer to Rosie?"
"A little of both if you must know."
"I can help you impress her if you'd like."
"No thank you. I can handle this on my own. Now leave."
Beth rolled her eyes and walked away. Once she was gone, Husk finally forced himself to walk into the building and at perfect timing too because that was when Rosie finished wiping down the tables.
"Oh hello Husk. Ready for your audition?"
"Ah...Ah...Humina, humina, humina..." He blubbered.
So much for him handling it on his own.
"Forgive me if this comes off as rude." Rosie said. "But I'm starting to think that English is not your first language. Is it? Are you from another country something? I can speak English and I can speak French. What are you fluent in?"
"Um...Uh...Ah...I...Um."
"Alright why don't you wait right here and I'll go see if I can get a universal translater on the line?"
She then gave him an awkward look and walked away to her office. Husk facepalmed.
"So that's what it looks like when someone crashes and burns." Snarked Beth who had crept over to eavesdrop on the scene.
"I thought I told you to beat it." Husk replied.
"Sorry but I think you seriously need help. For one thing you're going about it the wrong way. If you like her, just ask her out. Don't work for her."
"For your information I need this job."
"Okay and what skills do you have as performer? No offense, but you don't look all that talented to me."
"Hey! I'll have you know that I am a giftted pianist."
"Really? With those giant mits and stubby figers? I don't think so."
Husk accepted the challenege. He then walked right over to the piano on the stage, sat himself down, rolled up his sleeves, and cracked his knuckles.
"I'm goona make you eat those words kid."
Without any further hesitation, he began to rapidly play The Charleston. He didn't even need to read sheet music, he had the entire song memorized. Notes, melody, and all, and hios so called stubby fingers were dancing over the keys with effortless ease. He hit each chord just right and the entire song had no stops. He was gifted after all. Probably one of the most gifted pianists to ever live.
But Beth wasn't really mocking Husk's talent. She was kind of baiting him, she did learn somethings from living with an older brother and being around his male best friend, and that was that no man could resist having his talent challeneged.
"So what do you think of my talent now?" Husk asked when the song ended.
"I think it's marvelous!"
Husk's confidence left as quickly as it came when he heard Rosie's voice answer. He turned right around an discovered that she had watched his entire performance.
"Bravo!" She applauded. "Bravo! I can't imagine why you were so nervous, you're magnificent."
"Well gee I...I...I...Thanks."
"You've impressed me so you're hired. Do you think that you can start tomorrow night? Say around five?"
"Su...Sure."
"Wonderful. Also do you think that maybe you could help me pick out some music to play at the 4th of July festival?"
"Uh...Yeah but don't you already have something picked out?"
"Sort of. What I picked is nice but it's not exactly patriotic. I don't know piano music very well, but maybe you could help?"
"I'd be happy to."
"Great. We can start with-"
But the conversation was cut short when Angel and Vaggie came bursting through the doors, frantic.
"Has anyone seen a little girl? She's about yay big, has red hair, green eyes, freckles, and real mouth on her!" Angel described.
"I do not!" Beth cried.
When Angel saw her, he looked like he was ready to explode.
"What the actually hell are you doing here?!" He asked. "Why were you not at the arcade?! You're not supposed to wander off when I'm watching you! God, you almost gave me a heart attack!"
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?! Do you realize what would have happened to me if something bad had happened to you? If you were to get lost or hurt, or kidnapped on my watch then your brother would kill me. And after he kills me, he'll stuff my body and mount me on his wall like taxidermy! He won't even let me have a proper burial!"
"Angel calm down." Vaggie said.
"Calm down? She left us without a word!"
"I said I was sorry." Beth said. "The cabaret was just across the street. I didn't think you'd mind,"
"Well I did! Your brother, my best friend trusts me to watch you. Do you know what that means? It means I'm responsible for you and if anything happens to you, Alastor will never forgive me! I will have literally destroyed my best friend- No! My only friend! Don't you ever do anything like that again! Got it?!"
Beth was taken aback. This was the first time Angel had ever been angry with her. Really, angry with her. And it was also the moment she realized how important her brother's friendship was to him. Growing up, she often thought that Angel was just using Alastor when he ran out of money or that he was a bad influence. It never occurred to her until now that Angel sincerely cared about Alastor and valued his friendship with him dearly.
"I got it." Beth said seriously. "I'll never do that again. I promise."