Teenager Runway {Cole}

right

If I had to describe DJ K on a single word, that would be 'right'. Everything about her was right. The right tunes and songs, the right rhythm, the right time, the right attitude, the right energy, the right smile... the crowd loved her, they would go wild as soon as she started mixing and follow her wherever she had a gig.

She was never later and extremely organized. Before K, I used to think that doing the right thing was just boring, she completely proved me wrong. Right is actually cool...

I attended two of her other gigs that weekend, and at the end she asked if I would like to assist her on the next gigs, I would help her out on whatever she needed and as exchange she would teach me everything she knew, I didn't think twice to accept her invite, a chance like this I would be a fool to not take.

K gave me her schedule and asked me if I would be able to arrive one hour early, so I could help her, as well as learning how to put the equipment together.

-"sometimes that means to lift some weight, are you ok with that?" She asked me chewing her lollipop, she always has a lollipop during the gigs.

-"Sure, I only have one problem, on Sunday night gigs, I need to take off before 2 am, or i will miss the last train back home." I lied...I didn't want to tell her the dorms get locked by 2 and I would have to sleep again at the cold gym, I have been doing that the entire weekend, but Sunday to Monday would be too risky, far too easy to get caught.

And that was my problem with K. I was lying to her, she didn't have a clue I was only 16 and was in boarding school, I guessed she had assumed I was over 18 to be at the club first of all. I feel horrible to lie, but I kept telling myself it was for a good cause. As long as I excel my exams, and attend all class I would be fine, and at the end as well as my Art, Drama and Performance qualifications I would be also an experiente DJ. And K wouldn't never know. So I thought.

-"If Greg hasn't checked your ID I would suspect you need to go to bed early to not missing school the next morning." She said.

-"Greg, the security guy, he told you my age?"

-"He is not security, Cole, he is the Club owner, I saw him taking you to his office and I realised he was checking your id, so I asked him how old you are before I offered to teach you." She explained.

-"why?"

-"Well, I don't really want your mom and dad to come after me for corrupt their baby...." she said jokingly.

-"oh... don't worry, my mom passed away not long ago and I haven't been on good terms with my father since, we only speak once in a blue moon."

-"ought... I am really sorry to hear that Cole!" She said rubbing her hand on my arm, as if comforting me.

-"that is ok... Thanks!"

-"how long is 'not long ago'?

-"6 months..."

I suddenly realised it has been 6 months already, but still felt like the day before, still hurting as hell, I felt out of breath just to remember. As I answered K's question I feel tears streaming down my face.

-"hey..." K grab my arm, and pulled me towards her giving me a hug.

-"I think I need a break..." I said embareced by my tears...

-"Fine... just remember it is ok to feel sad."

I noticed K's light ice blue eyes for the first time as I left her there to locked myself in the toilets, and cry for a while, after sometime I returned to the stage, K gave me a sympathetic look, and asked me to take the control.

-"I need a pee..." - she always said that when she needs a break. I just give her a thumbs up, putting on my headphones.

Few minutes later she was back with a few bottles of different drinks.

-"I wasn't sure what drink you like, the sparkling water is mine, choose what you want from the others, drinks and food are free when we are working, help yourself to anything you fancy." She opened a bottle and grab a drink, unwrapped another lollipop before taking back the controls.

Arriving early to help K with the equipment means we have more time to talk and get to know each other a bit better. Thought I would avoid asking questions in case she asked me something back, and I would have to add on my lies to her.

I knew K was older than me, of course everyone around those places were older than me, I just didn't have a clue how much older she would be. She is quite a skinny frame girl, and always wears tomboy style, jeans overalls, jersey cropped pants, rock style printed t-shirts, hats, baseball cap, sneakers or ankle boots... her shoulder-length mousy blonde hair always had some kind of colourful sparkle. Nothing on her style, however, reveals her age. I keep wondering if her outfit was a staging performance or her personal style.

Sunday before the gig started, when I was finishing to adjust all the equipment, she gave an envelope. I looked inside and find a few notes of 100.

-"what is that about, K?"

-"Your first wages, for this weekend gigs. 10% of the profit.

-"K, I don't want you to pay me, I am here to learn from you, and you are not charging me for your lessons."

-"I know! but you're a quick learner Cole, and a valuable assistant, I want to keep you, as long as you want to stay with me."

-"I want to stay, but I can't accept you paying me when I should be the one paying you."

-"Cole, please take it, you are helping me so much, you have no idea, I don't feel right if I don't treat you fairly, and give you some recognition for all your effort. You are doing so well, you deserve it. You don't come across as one of those spoiled kids that don't need the money, so just take it, treat yourself, maybe get some stage outfit, as you will be in the spotlight very soon."

Right, what else would I expect from K, for her everything has to be right.

-"I don't really know what to say K..."

-"what about: 'thanks boss' ?"

-"ok... you are my boss now... Thank you."

-"actually, I am not! think of me as your senior partner, as you get more skillful, I will increase your percentage, maybe soon we can share 50/50. I always have more gigs that I can make it, especially in the summer, you can take some of them to yourself."

-"are you kidding me?"

-"why? Do you have trust issues? I told you, you are good Cole, you are a natural talent, and I rather have you by my side than working for the competition."

-"who is the competition?"

-"Greg's ex-boyfriend, Darryl, he used to do all the gigs I have now, but since they broke up, Greg hire me for his two clubs, I was doing only seasonal gigs before, it is cool because it is flexible, but it is nice to have some fix gigs as well."

-"I think I will stay with you..."

-"good... is that for my good looking?" She said joking, giving me wink.

-"maybe!"

-"now I am kidding, ok?"

-"I know!"

-"good!"