The song that changed my heart

Learning more

The sounds of people chatter filled the grand room. Sounds of different instruments playing notes that had practiced tens of millions of times added to the incentive chatter. Vincent blended right in with the crowd of suits wearing men, and women. His eyes searched for the curly haired brunette who had interrupted his practice time earlier. Eventually landing on him making talk with four others. "Speak of the devil." A black woman with curly hair said acknowledging Vincent's presence. Vincent knew her as Amiel. Next to her was Claude. The tallest of the group. A guy with bleached blonde hair on the ends and dark brown roots. A man who clearly wasn't aware that sunglasses were meant to be worn outside, and when it was sunny, and not inside when rain was threatening. At least he took them off before a performance. Next to Claude was Lawrence. A guy with sandy brown hair, and light brown eyes. Richard was in between Lawrence and an all too familiar face. "Hello Vincent." Manon greeted, her tone gentle as ever. "Hello Marianne, Amile, Claude, Lawrence. Richard, I need to talk to you. Separately." Vincent said coldly. Everyone looked at Richard who gave a small smile. Though Vincetn could see small bits of fear twinkling away in his brown eyes. "Of course." Richard said as they walked a bit away from the group. Wandering over further to a different corner of the room. "So what do you want to talk about?" Richard asked. "I wanted to ask about one of your waitstaff." Vincent replied, but before he could say anything else Richard sighed and closed his eyes. "It's Rody, isn't it?" Vincent couldn't hide his surprise on Richard's accurate assumption. Yet it was surprising Richard assumed it was him anyways. "Actually yes. How did you know?" Vincent asked, and almost immediately regretted it. He's the type of person who never heard the phrase Two can't keep a secret if one of them is dead. You couldn't tell Richard any deep dark secret, or any personal and private business unless you wanted everyone to find out. One way or another Richard always would spill some secret whether one liked it or not. It was none of Vincent's business why Richard knew it was Rody when he was referring to his waitstaff. Though the assumption had seemingly come out of left field. Sure Rody wasn't as professional as the other waiters he had seen, but he was still good. Enough that Vincent would put his service at excellent. Which was still a review someone wanted. "Well you know Manon right?" Richard asked, but before Vincent could respond Richard continued. "Of course you do, you said hello to her. Well Rody is her ex-boyfriend." And there it was. The information Vincent didn't want to know, but wasn't surprised to be informed of. Rody's behavior the previous evening seemed nerve wracking, even on edge. As if he was doing something he shouldn't have been. "I see." Vincent said bluntly. "Yeah, and well the break up wasn't an easy one on him. The day after it he came to work with probably one of the worst hangovers I've seen from a human. He'd been coming in quite late for the past month. Though he's doing much better. This morning was probably the earliest he came in the last month." Richard explained as Vincent nodded. A hope that Richard would get the signal and just ask what Rody did. "And I know you may be wondering why I haven't fired him. Well the guys had twenty seven service industry jobs. This one's his twenty eighth, and I know he's not ready to be thrown out onto the streets. Especially with his track record." Now Vincent couldn't hold back his surprise any longer. Twenty eight service industry jobs? And that man was still employed at a high end bistro? Richard must've been drunk or something when hiring him because on god that would've not flown well in his face. "So what did he do?" Richard asked. Ending Vincent's suffering for the time being. "Nothing horrible. He came up and talked to me mid shift though I didn't bring up his presence regarding the bistro. It actually has to do with last night." Richard raised a brow in confusion. "Rody showed up to last night's concert and went to the meet and greet area. I was getting food from that area when I bumped into him, and asked me if I knew where Manon was." Richard froze on the spot upon hearing those words. "You've got to be kidding me." He said with a sigh. "What did you tell him?" "The truth, that Manon was backstage. Didn't offer him any other assistance." Vincent said as Richard wiped imaginary sweat from his head. "Oh thank god. Yeah that was a good thing you did. Like I said the break up wasn't easy on him. He had been calling Manon nonstop. We've been trying to keep him busy, and also away from her for both of their sakes. I've even taken to adding in extra shifts for him to distract him. Though I think he needs a final boost you know. Like an extra..." Richard trailed off and stared at him. "Distraction." Vincent could see a lightbulb appear besides Richard's head as a smile crept onto his face. Vincent stared directly at him. A murderous glare flashing in his eyes. "Whatever you are thinking. Drop it now." Vincent said as Richards' shoulders slumped. "Oh come on Vincent. He literally approached you willingly. None of my other employees do that. Besides I'd need you to manage the place so I can help Dolly with the healing process. Please, I will pay you extra." Richard begged. He was actually quite loud. Drawing the attention of other members. Vincent hated the eyes being drawn on them "Alright fine." He snapped as he turned to face him. "I'll manage his shifts, but I warn you Richard, if that boy loses you customers do not blame me because you wanted him to have a distraction for a break that happened a month ago." Vincent said as a smile appeared on Richard's face again. "Thanks man, and I promise you I'll give you a raise for that." Richard said as Vincent nodded. He could care less about the raise let alone the fact that he was supposed to "distract" the ginger hair. Vincent wrinkled his nose at the phrase. He hated how Richard said that. Befriending would've been a better phrase for keeping his employees focus away from his ex. Vincent took in a deep breath before looking at the wall clock. Eight fifty it read. "I'm heading to the stage." He said with a wave leaving Richard to wonder back to his previous conversation. Though it would have to be cut short. Several other members were also starting to make their way to the stage. He walked over to the wall where he had leaned his case against. It was easy to lift, but that was probably because he had time to work up the mussel to do so. He carried it through the windy hallways. Eventually reaching the stage doors. As his feet crossed onto the brightly lit stage front his heart began to pound, though not very fast. He had been on this stage almost a thousand times. It felt like a grand achievement everytime he walked out and over to his seat. His achievements had started out small. Getting a higher chair placement. Being able to be on time because he could lift his instrument. Then of course being one of the only people to have their music completely memorized. His book was almost completely useless during this time. Almost, he wasn't perfect. No matter how hard he tried. If anything the book was a failsafe. A way to make sure everything would be there in the case of a memory failing him. Just like other things had. He sighed and closed his eyes. Placing his case against a wall where it could do no harm before grabbing his instrument and bringing it to his seat. He placed his book on the stand, and opened it to the first page where he'd be playing. He took the remaining minutes to tune his instrument. Making sure everything was in place, and ready. By now seats had begun to fill up. Both on stage, and in the crowd. That's when his eyes looked out. What he was looking for he wasn't quite sure. Until his eyes landed on a flash of red in the crowd. He did a double take. It wasn't Rody, but instead a young woman with a similar hair color. Vincent looked back at his book before looking back once again at the crowd. His eyes scan once again looking for any sign of the ginger haired male. Only to turn up nothing. It had surprised him when he didn't see Rody. After all, for someone so desperate to get back with an ex Vincent would expect him to show up again. Yet at the same time it couldn't surprise him. Rody looked like he had thrown whatever he had that looked nice on before dashing out of the house, and to the concert. With a waiting job at a high end bistro Vincent would've expected maybe a higher amount of income. Yet with those twenty seven other jobs Vincent wouldn't say he was surprised that Rody hadn't been given a raise. Let alone have enough money to attend a concert three nights in a row. Thoughts of the ginger's life quickly left his mind as he heard the taping on the stand in the center. Leaving Vincent to return to the present. Now wasn't the time to care about some waiter. Now was the time to focus on the music. The concert, and nothing else.