I Work for a Jerk

Come with me

I leaned back heavily on my chair next to Chris, watching the stage before us get set up. It wasn't really a stage, more of a platform. 

"Thanks for coming with me." Chris was saying.

"Oh yeah." I brushed it off. "I wanted to come. I've never actually heard Imani sing."

"She's really good. It's a waste of talent if you ask me. She would be the next big thing if she had the money for it."

I scoffed at the truth of it. There were a lot of people crowded into this little coffee shop. I was surprised this many came in just to hear her sing. Now I was really anticipating it.

She finally came out, but it wasn't on the stage. She came up behind Chris and I, keeping low to the ground, trying not to be seen.

"Jesus you scared me." Chris startled.

"The song I was going to sing had a box drum." She said, slightly out of breath. "And the guy just called saying he couldn't make it."

"Drew plays the drums." Chris pointed.

"Not well." I shot.

"It's just the box drum though." Imani put her hands on my shoulders. "Please! It's a simple 4 4 off set beat. You might even know the song, it's Gravity by Against the Current."

"Oh yeah I know that song." I said wide eyed. I knew that song. I loved that band.

"So you'll help me?" She begged.

I let out a long sigh, pushing myself up off the chair. "Yeah i'll play it."

"Yay!" She cheered, grabbing onto my hand and dragging me up on the stage after her. People cheered when she showed up, grabbing her acoustic guitar and sitting in the chair in front of the microphone.

I settled behind the box drum, getting used to it. It has been a while since I have played the drums, but the box drum was so easy, even more then bongos, especially for a song that I already knew.

Imani thanked everyone for coming out and gave a very short and brief introduction. She looked back at me then, counting off by tapping her foot. I followed her beat, then started. She smiled at me, turning back to face front as she started on the guitar. She was really good on the guitar, and her voice was even more amazing. Chris was right, it was beautiful. She hit every note with ease and her voice flowed at the right moments and then crackled when needed. I was so mesmerized I almost forgot I was playing.

The song ended before I knew it and everyone was clapping. Imani stood up, dragging me up after her and bowed. Chris was cheering the loudest easily, which made me laugh a little. Now I kind of wished I took her up on that offer to do the Karaoke just so I could have heard her sing sooner.

"That was so good!" Chris was jumping up and down when we got to him. "You guys sounded so in sync even though you didn't even practice. How is that even possible?"

"With two people that are both good with music, you don't really need words." Imani smiled over at me. "Thanks Drew, you saved me."

"It was fun." I returned her smile. "You are really good by the way. I had no idea you could sing or play that well."

"Eh," She waved it off. "It's just going to have to be a hobby by the look of it. I'm going to go over there to talk to some of my boss's friends. Stay here and we can go for a drink after." She said as she ran off, getting stopped by almost everyone.

"Something like that can't just be a hobby." I shook my head.

"What I tell you?" Chris let out a sigh. "Waste of talent."