Broken Strings (Prodigy: 2)

Imagination

"Where have you been?" Jessica cried that night as Locke walked through the backstage door, throwing off his coat and taking the waistcoat one of the wardrobe department girls handed him.

"I was giving a private lesson," he said bluntly, dropping into a seat, a light blinding him as it was pointed at his face so the makeup guy could see what he was doing.

"A private lesson? The hell, Locke! This isn't the time for you to be finding a new partner to screw! You should have been three hours ago!"

"I didn't screw anyone," Locke said, his eyes closed. "I was with Madison."

He heard Jessica's notebook hit the floor.

"Madison," she gasped, "Zane's Madison? Oh god, no, Locke, you didn't."

"I told you, I didn't screw anyone. It really was just a private lesson," he said opening his eyes as power was applied across his forehead.

"You? Since when do you care enough to give a private lesson?"

"Since Zane got himself a musical girlfriend," Locke replied, right before he moved his head slightly and the make-up brush stuck him in the eye.

The makeup guy recoiled in shock, rushing an apology and Locke got to his feet, shoving the man aside as he rubbed his eye and tucked his shirt into his trousers, buttoning the waistcoat.

"Fuck sake," he muttered, walking forwards, everyone scrambling out of the way.

"Locke," Jessica snapped, following him.

"What?"

"Did you seriously just have a lesson?"

"You think I went out of my way to seduce the girl Zane's dating? I don't give enough of a shit to waste my time on that. Besides, I doubt her knickers are that easy to get into."

"Then why?"

"I wanted to know if she was any good."

"And?"

Locke paused as he took his violin case from one of the staff and set it on a table, undoing the clicks opening the lid, carefully lifting the bow.

"And?" Jessica pressed.

"She's incredible," Locke said and Jessica's jaw dropped.

"Seriously? You actually think someone is incredible?"

"She's extraordinarily talented. This collage is going to suffocate that talent but she's brilliant."

"What do you mean? Surely this is the best place for her then?"

"No, places like these... all they want is a technical performance that ticks exam boxes. No matter what they say they're never as creative as they think they are."

"You were at a music collage."

"Yeah but I didn't learn at that collage. I really learnt how to play every time I preformed. Every time I had to lie, to smile, to not cry I learnt to perform."

He looked at her.

"I don't love music the way other musicians do... so that's how I learnt. She needs something that will really push her."

"Surely you're not suggesting you'd take her on."

"God no, I fucking hate her."

"Locke."

"What? I do, we're not compatible. Besides, we both know I hate almost everyone."

"Apart from me," Jessica said and Locke grinned at her.

"Never you," he said, leaning down and kissing her cheek, "I love you."

"Uh huh, go get in position," she said, punishing him towards the wings as the lights dimmed in the concert hall and thousands of voices hushed.

A wave of violent nausea stuck Locke out of nowhere and he swayed, closing his eyes.

Same routine as always.

Slow breaths.

Take it easy.

Couldn't throw up now.

Get on stage and it'd go away.

Imagine.

Imagine.

Imagine.

The feeling of large gently hands across his back bloomed across his mind, fingers easing soft circles across his tight muscles, careful touches across his hair.

The sickness passed.

The feeling of phantom hands left him.

He opened his eyes and released a breath.

"Thank you, Zane," he whispered to himself, then rolled his shoulders and walked out on stage, greeted by the roar of the audience.

~~~~

And seeing as I was talking about hair in the last chapter. 

Can I just say, Locke's hair is b*tch to draw -.-

That stupid French Plait of his is such a pain! And his style never changed so he's a nuisance regardless of his book (isn't that so typical of Locke lol)