The Improvement Plan

Five

They sat together drinking coffee at a small table with a random vase of dandelions in the center, the Cafe had a hipster aura about it, as they watched several awkward teens come and go on a small stage. One by one they read poetry and short stories. Hope found some of it interesting, though most of it was dark and couldn't help but think their hero must have been Poe.

Alex had expected the crowd to slowly disappear as time went on but, to his surprise, it only increased. The word had spread that The Cafe was expecting a musician to perform, a rarity other than the couple of regulars who weren't exactly the best, hoping to randomly become famous.

"How are you feelin'?" Hope asked.

"Like I'm going to choke when I get up there."

"You'll do fine," she said reassuringly as she reached out a hand and gently placed it on his, pulling it away from his cup of hot coffee so she could hold it. Hope examined her hand in his. He breathed heavily.

"I didn't bring my guitar."

"They have a piano up there."

"Almost all my songs that I have written are performed with my guitar," he shook his head and sighed.

"Almost all your songs, not all of them," Hope drawled. Alex looked up curiously to find her staring at him and smiling. "Do the one you played on the piano that day I first heard you sing."

Alex blushed and cleared his throat. "That one isn't finished yet."

"So? Come up with something." Hope pushed; she grabbed a napkin and a pen. "Finish it right now."

"I haven't written the words or the notes-"

"Try."

The way Hope looked at him and smiled gave him inspiration. Alex took the napkin and pen. Words flowed smoothly like they belonged to be created. Every time her eyes wandered over to see what had been written Alex would hide it with his hand, smile at her, and blush. His hair swished across his forehead a little when he shook his head no at her.

Hope watched in fascination as Alex hummed to himself a few lines he had written as his fingers trailed along an invisible keyboard that was the cafe table.

They both lost track of time as they sat there, one concentrated on a song and the other concentrated on him.

"Excuse me," a girl with a beanie and nerd glasses tapped Alex on the shoulder. "Are you Alex Denburg?"

Alex cleared his throat and hid the napkin as if he was afraid someone might see it. "Yes."

"You can go and warm up now... or start. Whatever you want to do."

"Th-Thanks." He stuttered. The girl, who Hope assumed was a waitress, walked away. "Time to go?"

"Time to go," Hope smiled as they stood up simultaneously.

"You'll be in the front?"

"Of course. I'm going to be the only one singing along since I know a few lines."

Alex smiled and let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah. I think you're the only that will completely get the lyrics anyway."

"They're that deep, huh?"

"Yeah." He scratched his neck nervously. Someone walked up and turned on the microphone.

"You better get going. Before you know it they'll start without you."

"The life of showbiz, right?"

"Right," Hope laughed.

She made her way to the front of the little cafe's stage and stood there watching Alex as he sat gracefully down at the piano. He pressed a few keys down and began to warm up. People in the cafe slowly started to pay attention as his fingers moved skillfully along the keys. People migrated towards the stage where Hope had stood, almost like they were playing follow the leader and Hope was in front.