Elan
After I took Jacob back to back to hotel to get changed. I took him to one of my favorite Caribbean restaurants in SoHo Fools Gold. I didn’t have anything else to do and I didn’t want him to be siting in his hotel room all bored, when he can just hang out with me. When we got there it was extremely packed. “You two are lucky, a couple just took off not to long ago.” the hostess said. “It looks like you’re always at the right place, at the right time Elan.” Jacob said, behind me as we followed the hostess. “Like a good luck charm.” the hostess chimed in. I turned around to Jacob, smiled and continued to follow the hostess. “Here you two are, can I get you guys anything to drink?” she asked. “Yes, can I have a Raspberry Lemonade please.” I replied, and looked at Jacob. “You know what, can I have the same as well.” he replied. “Sure, two Raspberry Lemonades coming up. In a few, your server will come to take your orders.” she said, handing us our menu and napkin-wrapped silverware. “Thank You.” Jacob and I replied. “No problem, and I hope you enjoy you’re time here.” she responded, walking away. I turned back to Jacob “So how do you feel? Your big audition coming up in two days!!” I asked, more excited for him than he looked. “To be honest, I’m just hoping I don’t mess anything up. It’s been weighing heavy on me since I got here.” he replied, looking at the menu. I pushed the menu down, “You have nothing to be worried about Jacob, you’ll do fine. Just got out there and do what you do best.” I preached to him. “You’re right, so what can expect anyway? You haven’t given me a full description of what I’m up against.” he asked, sitting back in his chair. “You’re right I haven’t. Well, my boss gave me this specific project to find out what it means to discover raw talent. He just recently dropped some artists that were…lacking in that area. Since he likes my taste in music so much, he gave sent on a mission to find someone with actual talent, and ta-dahh here you are.” I said. “So you mean to tell me, out of all the artist in New York City that perform in the street, you managed to find little ol’ me, all the way down in Atlantic City?” he asked. The hostess came back with our drinks and I told her we needed another minute to decide. “Well you see you showed me something a little bit different from all those other people.” I said, stirring my drink. “And what was that?” he asked, looking me in my eyes. “You showed me charisma, and soul when you were doing a simple task, such as wiping the windows at a hotel. When you sung, you were performing when you didn’t even know it. It was completely natural. That is why I chose you.” I said, smiling. He blushed a little and looked back up at me. “I never looked at it that way. Thank You. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.” he said. “Actually, there is. If you impress my boss, this could lead to a promotion I have been dying to get.” I said, taking a sip of my drink. “Oh well now I definitely feel good about this now. It’s a ‘I help you, help me’ kind of thing.” he said, laughing. “Exactly, but more so better for you because this could jumpstart your career, your dream.” I said, picking back up the menu, looking it over.
Jacob
The entire time Elan and I ended up being a ball. We talked about the most funniest of things. We cracked jokes on people on the some of the people in the restaurant, just being big kids. I’m glad I can pay her back for all that she’s done for me. Now I have a brand new perspective of her drive as well. She told me she’s been eyeing that promotion the moment her boss started letting people go. Throughout the night, I kept overhearing her sing along to the reggae music, verbatim. She was a little low, but she sound amazing. “So are you island gyal or something? You know all the words to these songs. You sound good to by the way.” I said, cutting into my fish. She paused like she seen a ghost and looked down. What’s up with that? I thought. “Uhh my father side of the family stems back to the island of Trinidad & Tobago. He was a reggae and Soca lover. I guess it was in his blood.” she said, playing with her food. “Was? Is he still alive?” I asked, picking up on her change of mood. “Look don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.” she said, putting back on a smile. Just drop it Jacob, you don’t want to upset her if it’s a painful memory. I thought. “Anyway, what exactly were you doing coming out of the section of the hotel that night anyway?” I asked, recalling the time we met. “I was escorted to some secret room, because I had won big on the blackjack table in the casino.” she said, twirling her hair, stirring her drink with her straw. Damn, she looks sexy as hell doing that. What the fuck Jacob? You are not here for all of that. I say trying to push these unwanted feelings out of my head. But I couldn’t help it, she’s cool, and laid-back and most importantly low-maintenance. Although she’s low-maintenance, she manages to still be drop-dead gorgeous without any effort. We share common interests, same views on life. Why is she single? Wait a minute, I don’t even know that. Would it be inappropriate to ask? Hell if I were to ask, she’d suspect that I was trying to get at her. Nah I can’t go messing up a potential professional relationship. I shook off my thoughts. “Oh man I have an early practice with the band and the dancers.” I said, realizing what time it was. “Oh right, I’m sorry. Let me get the waiter and pay.” she said, looking around. “Skiiiiiiirttt! I’m paying, it’s the least I could do.” I said, taking out my wallet. I was not about to let her pay after all she’s done for me. “Oh please, don’t be silly Jacob. I’ve got it.” she said, asking the waiter for the bill. “Elan, my mother will kick my ass if she found out that I let a woman pay for dinner. No offense.” I said. She smiled, “Your mother taught you well.” she said laughing. I started getting butterflies in stomach. What the hell? I thought as I looked down. “I’ll tell you what, you pay the bill and I cover the tip deal?” she said, holding out her hand. “Deal.” I said, shaking her hand. “Ahh compromise.” she said, putting her jacket on in her seat. “Right.” I said, laughing to myself. I slid my money in the checkbook and she put a 20 on the table and we were off. The ride home was comfortably silent. We just sang along to whatever was on the radio. She pulled up to the front of the hotel and parked it. “Thanks again for tonight Elan. That food was good.” I said, rubbing my stomach. “No problem, I’m glad you liked it. Now go get some rest. It’s crunch time. I will pop by rehearsal tomorrow, just to see how you’re doing.” she said, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Alright, goodnight Elan.” I said, getting out of her car. “Goodnight Jacob.” she smiled and waved. I walked into the lobby, turned around and waved again. She waved back and pulled off. I started feeling in my pockets for my roomkey, when I found out it wasn’t there. Shit! I said to myself. “Oh Mr. Latimore, Mr. Latimore! A lady at the desk told me to give this to you.” the clerk said, handing me a folded piece of paper, that was hard to the touch. I opened it and saw my roomkey, with a little not on the paper
You dropped this in the lobby. You’re lucky I picked it up (:
-Elan
I smiled to myself and continued my way to room. “Good luck charm, huh?” I said, as I laid my head on my pillow and fell fast asleep.
