Emerald Eyes

59 - Crazy is fun.

The following days until our trip to Ibiza just flew by. Martijn's ankle continuously improved too, simply because Watse and his physiotherapist made sure he never skipped a single therapy session and most importantly that he took the needed rest. Still, Martijn never stopped running around like the crazy person he was. He could never sit still. Honestly. If he would have been able to, he would have just continued touring like nothing ever happened. But luckily, his team kept him from the stages. Instead, Martijn channeled all the energy in a few more than extensive studio session and in writing new music. He was being productive which kept his spirits high, so that was a good thing. One night, I came to pick him up from the studios, but he was far from done. I parked my car next to the entrance, typed the entry code into the lock-pad and walked into the building. The lights were dimmed, most studio doors open, suggesting that nobody was inside. Producers usually can't stand working with the doors open. Martijn was probably the last one around. I made my way over to studio 2 where I was hoping to find him. It had become his favorite studio next to the one at home, because here he had a big couch that he could use to get a little rest if he felt tired, without ever leaving the studio. Nobody would even notice that he was only half as fit as he pretended to be. As I arrived, the door was closed, obviously. You couldn't hear much from the outside due to the soundproofed door, but still I knocked before entering the room and waited for Martijn to call me in. I had learned not to disturb him during potential recording sessions. "Come in.", I heard Martijn say from the inside, so I opened the door and walked into the studio. Martijn sat at the main desk, staring on the screen of his MacBook. I approached him and placed a kiss into his messy hair: "Hey there." Martijn looked up to me and smiled: "Baby, hey." He reached out and pulled me in for a long kiss before he asked: "Is it that late already?" I got out my phone and showed him my lock screen: "You asked me to come pick you up at 11pm. It's almost half past 11 now." He chuckled: "Oops. I must have missed that. But beautiful picture you have there as your lock screen, baby.." "Ahhh don't pretend you didn't realize it was late already.", I laughed and poked him in the side, "You just preferred spending time with Miss... Gibson here... Instead of spending it with your beautiful girlfriend." I pointed over to his Gibson guitar that was lying on the couch next to a few sheets of scribbled notes and pretended to be as offended as I could be. "You jealous?", he smirked. "I might be.", I answered and tried my best to keep a serious face. Martijn got up from the desk, reached for my hand and made me sit down on the couch. Then he grabbed the guitar, put it back into the guitar stand and came hobbling back to me. He put on an innocent face and asked: "Ohhhh poor you. How can I make things alright again? You're my one and only, princess, I..." "Stop exaggerating, you idiot.", I laughed. "See? I can always make you laugh. You can't keep a serious face for long.", he triumphed. "I know a way you could make things alright again.", I decided to play his little game. "Oh, would you be so kind to let me know, Madam?", he asked. "Kiss me.", I whispered. "Oh, if you're that easy to please, Milady...", he whispered and gently pushed me down so we were both lying on the couch. Martijn held me in his arms and after a long and passionate kiss I let my head rest on his chest. Listening to the soothing sound of his breathing and the pounding beat of his heart, my eyes closed, feeling the touch of his fingers and the strength of his arms. I enjoyed not having to be strong and independent for once, simply being able to indulge in the safety of his presence. I loved little moments like these. They were the most precious. As I opened my eyes again after a while, Martijn kissed my forehead and asked: "Feeling not so jealous anymore?" I chuckled as he squeezed me before I could even answer his question: "I... ahhhh Martijn.." We both started to laugh and then he added: "Though I wasn't joking when I said you'd be my one and only. And I hope you know that." "If music is the only girl I have to put up with, that's alright to me.", I answered. "Hey, silly, you know I mean it, right?" "I do, Tijn.", I nodded, "I never questioned that." "I know you didn't and it's weird to think that one could be jealous of music... but... I'm aware of how much time I am putting into this passion. You know how much I need it to keep sane. But I also need you, okay? Never forget that. I love you, Line.", he said quietly. "I know you do, honey. Just as much as I love you.", I replied. Then I pointed over to the screen of his MacBook: "What were you working on earlier? Anything you can play to me?" Martijn's face lit up at my question and I immediately knew I had asked the right question. Sometimes I felt like he was holding back on showing me stuff he was working on just so it wouldn't all be about music when we spent time together, but I genuinely enjoyed listening to his demos and unfinished songs. Maybe because they were so full of ideas and creativity, yet not completely polished, just raw melodies. "I do have something I could show you...", he said and got up. While he was pulling up another project in his software than the one he worked on when I came in, he explained: "I want to have as many songs as possible done when I get back on stage. I want this break to have some kind of positive impact. I want to come back with so much new music and make up for all the missed shows and I..." I followed him and then gently interrupted him, letting my fingers run through his hair: "Martijn. I know. And you will do just that. I have never seen you work as hard before. You're doing a wonderful job, okay? I'm proud if you." "Thank you.", he said and I could sense that he genuinely meant it. Then the project was done loading and Martijn was ready to press play. "I've had an old vocal buried somewhere deep down in my files. I came across it yesterday and I couldn't believe I never continued to work on it. It's a song I wrote with Kris and Albin and it's about spending summer nights with friends and people you love and... You'll just have to listen. And pay extra attention to the strings and the piano, alright? I spent hours fixing these today." "Alright, I will! How's the song called?", I wanted to know. "It's called 'No Sleep'.", Martijn said and started the song. The song was only starting out and it already gave me goosebumps. Martijn had the typical "it's still just a demo" look on his face, but there was no need to be protective of it. The song was amazing. "How did you like it?", he asked after the song had finished. "You know, sometimes I'm missing the vocabulary to describe your music in the correct terms, but I can tell you what it felt like for me. Remember when you took me on a boat trip in Spain? Like super early in our relationship? This song perfectly captures the freedom of the sea, speeding through it with the boat, the sunshine, holding your hand, all the butterflies in my stomach.", I said. "We still have to work on some of the lyrics and I need some more layering and..." "Martijn!", I interrupted him, again. "You're right, you're right. Thank you.", he gave in. "You shouldn't talk your work down so much. It's amazing, honey." "I'm glad you feel that way.", he answered. "What was that other project you were working on when I came in, by the way?", I asked. Martijn hesitated a little bit, then he answered: "Remember the promise I made in Vegas, before the show during which I fucked my ankle? I promised you to premier your song. Forever. But I never got to play it. I went over it again today and I polished it even more and fixed some stuff. I want it to be as perfect as it can even be." "Ohhh Martijn, I....", I said, "Will you play it for me?" He shook his head: "Not tonight, baby. I'm gonna make a new promise tonight. The first show I'm gonna be back on stage, that night I will play you your song. I want you to hear it on a big stage. To see how the crowd reacts. I want you to share that moment with me." "That sounds beautiful. I can't wait for that night. Thank you for doing that for me, Martijn. It really means the world." "You mean the world, baby.", he said and gave me another kiss. Then he looked at the clock on the wall: "Wow it's super late already. What do you think? Studio sleepover?" "You're crazy." "Maybe I am. But who cares? Crazy is fun.", he smirked. "Alright. I'm down.", I agreed. "You are!?", Martijn repeated, completely surprised. "Of course I am. Crazy is fun, right"?