Backstage // Josh & Jake Kiszka

Part 2

The nerves manifested as sweaty palms and unsteady breath. The delicate ding of the elevator as it plummeted slowly and opened on the ground floor rang in your ears. The hotel was sleeping. The lobby was eerily quiet, with only a solitary night receptionist sitting behind the desk almost snoozing on their shoulder.

As you approached, you tried to make your footsteps a little more profound so you didn't startle them. Their eyes popping open as you leaned onto the front desk, a little apprehensive to make your request.

"Hi, sorry..." You mumbled, wringing your hands as they rested on the cool marble surface. "I know it's really late. I know you probably don't grant this request but I'm having a little trouble sleeping and I couldn't help but notice there was a piano in your ballroom..."

The night receptionist yawned. Looking up at you with eyes that didn't want to be open.

"The bar is closed, Ma'am." They said, flat and monotone.

You nodded. "Yes, I know. I don't want a drink or anything. I just wanted to sit at the piano and play a little."

Sometimes, no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn't stop the intrusive thoughts. It had been hard to switch off ever since Jake had started blowing up your phone. Making his intentions known. Making it hard for you to drift away.

The receptionist continued to blink at you. "The Piano? I don't know, we don't usually let guests in the bar area after close."

You didn't want to go back upstairs. To lie in bed staring up at the ceiling as your sister snored at your side, wishing you could evaporate the tension that had been building within you ever since the damn tour began.

"I promise, it'll be our secret. You won't even know I'm in there." You assured, "Aside from the sound of the Piano, of course."

You knew you had an agreement when they rolled their eyes and pointed towards the ballroom. You crept through the bar to the double doors behind it, the dark expanse of the dancefloor twinkling beneath a crystal chandelier that sent spectrums of coloured light onto the perfectly polished wood.

You'd never been deft in playing the piano, but Kit had spent hours teaching you a few keys. You mainly played for your own enjoyment, finding the release of it somewhat akin to orgasm. And if you couldn't have that, you'd have this. The gentle waves of pleasure that washed over you as your hands glided over the white and black.

You sat in the centre of the bench and laid your fingertips down. Feeling a few melodies before launching into your comfort piece, Clair de Lune. You didn't find much comfort in anything except music. It had saved your life, quite literally.

He was still sending you messages. Even as the night crept into the early hours, you felt the unmistakable vibration in your pocket. The room fell to silence as you reached into it, the screen lighting up like a bolt in your hand.

Jake: I know I said I would stop, but I can't.

His promise to let you sleep already broken, you couldn't help but smile. It had been a strange few days. Like you'd stepped into an alternate version of your life where things that should never have happened had already come to pass. The fact he had drawn a smile from you meant everything.

You: Then don't.

You placed your phone on the music desk and continued to play, picking up at the place where you had left. You closed your eyes and let your head roll to the side, lost in the music. But also, lost in the way Jake had begun to make you feel.

Jake: Don't tempt me.

It was already too late. Temptation had come in through an open door and lived within you now. He'd made sure of that on the night of the first show. And the second.