Present - Erin
1259 Words
PRESENT
Erin
Jack settled into the chair near the window and Erin, the one opposite him. The coffee shop was off a busy street not too far from the beach. The sign advertised breakfast was served all day but she wasn’t hungry at the moment. Her stomach was still in knots. Erin looked around observing the long family-size table near the wall, mismatched chairs on one side, and a long bench on the other. A large light fixture hung from the ceiling that was made of recycled glass bottles. In the middle of the shop were a few two-seater round tables made of faded wood. Along the large window spanning a view to the street were oversized chairs and low coffee tables between. The chairs were much more comfortable than the ones in the hospital cafeteria and Erin tucked her feet under her legs enjoying the stretch.
Jack looked out the window while Erin pulled her phone and notebook from her bag. She felt guilty interviewing Jack under these circumstances however, this story had become more important to her. Erin was a seasoned enough journalist and no stranger to the music scene, having interviewed musicians in various stages of rushing to and from publicity stops and shows, and once from the other side of a bathroom stall while said lead singer inconspicuously got high but this was by far one of the oddest situation based on circumstances alone.
“What can I get you?” The waitress interrupted her thoughts as she stood waiting to take their order. She was a short blonde with wide eyes, a set of stacked rings on her fingers, ear piercings up her left ear, and completed the look with a nose ring. Erin, being in her mid-thirties, was in a place in her life where she owned up to her shortcomings, bad decisions and had just started to become comfortable with herself. She did not envy twenty-somethings anymore and smiled to herself.
“Hey, aren’t you Jack O’Donnell?” The waitress gushed. “I just love your music.” She smiled with bleach white teeth.
Jack gave her one of his ‘fan’ smiles that Erin could tell was well-rehearsed. He ordered a Cappuccino and the waitress almost left the table without getting Erin’s order.
“Chai Tea Latte with almond milk, dirty.”
“Dirty eh?” Jack c****d an eyebrow. His grin exposing the cleft in his chin that Erin found very sexy.
“It means with an espresso shot.” Erin clarified.
“I know what it means.” Jack mused.
“I bet you just love that?” Erin teased, motioning to the waitress as she retreated. She could tell Jack liked the attention. That was true for most musicians in Erin’s experience. A rare few didn’t like the spotlight and all the attention that came with being influential.
Jack chuckled softly and crossed his ankle over his opposite knee, settling in. “It has its’ perks.” Jack lifted his eyebrows. He could be very charming and playful when he wanted to be but it felt like a facade. There was a curtain he was hiding behind and Erin wondered who the real Jack was. Perhaps she would find out if he would let her.
Remembering a comment Jack made from earlier; how upset he became coming to a conclusion about why the magazine had sent her. It gnawed away at her because she got assignments on merit, not in the way Jack thought.
“I didn’t get this gig because of my looks,” Erin explained but he seemed unfazed. “Just so you know.” Never had she cared about such a thing from any other interview but she wanted Jack to respect her. That was the only way this interview would be taken seriously.
“If you say so.” He did not seem convinced.
“I have a pretty extensive portfolio.” She felt compelled to make him understand that she was not being used as bait or whatever he thought. “Edge is just one of the magazines that I’ve written for.” She clarified. “You can look up my work.”
“I believe you,” Jack said putting his hands up but it was Erin who was not convinced now.
Returning to business. “I’m going to turn on my recorder.” She told him.
“Ah, we’re getting serious now.” Jack leaned back in his seat, trying to appear comfortable but everything about him was tense.
“Where should we start?” Jack asked, smoothing his hair with one nervous swipe of his fingers.
Erin took out her notebook and clicked the pen open, always well prepared. The waitress dropped off their drinks. She discretely placed a napkin near Jack with her name and number written on it. This angered Erin as she felt slightly protective over Jack after the events of the morning and gave the waitress the stink eye as she left the table.
Jack ignored the waitress and gave all his attention to Erin, waiting for her to continue. “You look displeased,” Jack suggested.
“I just think that’s presumptuous.” Erin motioned to the napkin.
“How so?” Jack c****d his head.
“Well, for one, we could be on a date,” Erin said in an annoyed tone.
“Would you like for us to be on a date?” Jack’s smile unnerved her.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Erin scoffed.
“You brought it up.” Jack shrugged innocently.
“Ok, that’s not…” Erin was frustrated. “Nevermind.” She settled back in.
Erin cleared her throat and went back to business. “It’s been 20 years since the first album came out. I’d like to go back to how the band was formed. There’s not a lot of information on this subject, other than you being high school friends, but I’d like to go a little deeper and talk about what it was like before the fame.” She said.
Erin could see a slight tick at the corner of Jack’s eye. “If that’s ok.” She added, swallowing hard.
Jack took a sip of his cappuccino and Erin could tell he was very pleased with it. “I was a sixteen-year-old asshole of a kid who was destined to drop out of school and end up in jail.” He said. “Music was all I had.”
“Well, you did drop out and you did end up in jail, on more than one occasion.” Erin sifted through her notes. “But my guess is that there was a lot that happened in between.” She took a sip of her latte. Every place made chai differently and she was not impressed but it was drinkable. She was partial to a shop around the corner from her apartment in Queens.
Jack chuckled. “That’s a matter of public record.”
“You said music was all you had. Why?”
Jack’s expression darkened.
“How did the band get formed?” Erin rephrased.
“It’s how every great love story begins.” A touch of nostalgia in his eyes. “I met a girl.” A smile spread across his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I met a girl and she ruined me forever.”
Erin could not tell if he was talking about Mia or Amber. She only knew that she wanted to find out.
SIX This is Mia
- Writer
