Jumping Ship

Chapter One

"Bastard!" Howard cursed to himself. He'd actually done it!

He wasn't sure how he felt right now. Jason had finally decided to leave the band and they were all a bit shell-shocked. Not because they were really all that surprised - the signs had been there for a some time - but because it was such a shock to hear him confirm it. Secretly Howard had thought that Jay would eventually be won round by their enthusiasm and his sense of team spirit.

Jason had been very evasive for a while and had barely been in contact with any of them for weeks. They'd emailed and texted him regular updates of how the album was progressing but to little response. In the end they decided to ask him to a BBM (big band meeting) something they knew he wouldn't avoid.

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"Hey!" Jason breezed into the conference room of their management's offices, looking tanned and healthier than they had seen him looking in months.

"Hi!" Howard and Mark replied simultaneously and walked over to hug their returning band-mate. Gary hung back, watching closely, trying to suss out Jay's body language, but it gave nothing away. Jason noticed Gary's wariness and quickly went over to him and gave him a big hug, without saying another word, seeming to understand Gary's worries.

They then all stood slightly awkwardly, knowing this was a big moment for them all. The tension was broken by their PA, Sarah, hurrying in with an armful of paperwork, followed by their manager, Jonathan, looking very serious.

They all took their seats around the large conference table and Sarah distributed legal documents and several sheets of plain paper, which she'd been carrying. Jonathan took a sip of water from the glass in front of him and cleared his throat to speak.

"Well, we all know why we are here" He looked over at Jason.
Jason stared back unblinking.
Howard was opposite Jay and looked at him intensely, wondering what he would say.

"Yes, and I have made my decision" Jason spoke softly but with a decisive tone to his voice.

Everyone held their breath. Gary felt his heart beating quicker with the tension in the air and chewed the inside of his cheek. Mark felt anxious and bit his lip. Howard looked down at his hands. If he didn't look at Jay, then maybe this was all a dream and he'd wake up soon.

"And?" Jonathan asked, hoping against hope it would be a positive answer.

Jason looked at them all one by one and then paused.

He sat there for some moments before he said, "I've decided to leave the band"

His answer hung in the air. Everyone just sat and stared at him for several seconds.

"Really?" Gary was the first to recover his voice.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes" Jason replied, "Absolutely."

"I understand why Jay" Mark said sadly.

"I don't!" Howard huffed and stood up, roughly pushing his chair back and stalking out of the room.

They all watched in surprise as the normally placid Howard left the room.

"I'll go after him" offered Sarah, making for the door.

"No, I'll go" Jason said and quickly got up and left the room.