Stereotyping Rock (Stereotyping Series) | ✔️

Chapter Thirty-Two

Gee

"I can't believe I let you convince me to do this," I sighed. 

The traditional Italian restaurant I'd spent every quiet Friday night at, was having an open mic night. And it was all Matt freaking Wellington's idea. 

I handed my coat to the waiter, warm air from the heater breezing across my bare arms. Matt handed his jacket to the waiter as well, allowing me to hook my arm through his. He led me carefully to the table in the middle of the room. 

I had to admit, although it wasn't Grandma's plan for this restaurant, it had brought in quite a lot of customers. 

"Era uno buona idea, il mio amore? " Matt asked across the table.

I blushed slightly, rolling my eyes at him, "One, don't call me that. Two, I'll admit it brought in quite a crowd."

Up on stage was a piano player. The girl on the keys didn't sing along but the melody spoke for itself. Soft and delicate, it set the right mood for the restaurant. 

Grandma's usual waiter approached our table quickly, "Miss James, Master Wellington. How are you both? It's been a long time..."

"Hi Dan," I greeted with a small smile, "We're good. Can we just get sparkling water and bruschetta to start?"

"Of course, Miss James." He turned from the table before pausing and turning back around, "Also, I'm looking forward to hearing you both, later."

"What?" Matt asked. 

"You're both signed up for the eight o'clock slot," Dan furrowed his eyebrows, "Mr Hart signed you up for the open mic. Good idea, by the way, Matt."

Dan walked away.

Mr Hart? Will...

My furious gaze crossed the room before landing on the conspicuous trio of blondes in the corner, holding menus up to their faces. 

The smallest blonde lowered the menu, revealing her bright blue eyes pointed right at us. The menu snapped right back up to her face. 

I sighed, "Will, Lena and Jen..."

Matt smirked, "This will be fun."

"Y-you think we're going to go through with this?" I squeaked.

"You mean you don't want to," Matt stated, frowning.

I shook my head quickly, the lie strengthening with each shake of my head. I said frantically, "It's fine. We can... do this."

"So what songs are we-"

He cut himself off to thank the waiter who brought the bruschetta.

"What songs are we going to sing?" he continued.

"I have a few in mind," I smiled, despite the reluctance to perform with Matt. 

***

Jen

"I'm proud of the three of us," I chuckled, raising my glass. 

Lena's glass clinked with mine, "Cheers to that."

For the first time since I could remember, she was actually being nice to me. It felt like I'd finally been accepted. Will's watch beeped across the table, faintly. I glanced across to him. He smiled, "Eight o'clock."

I turned in my seat to watch Gee sit down at the piano. Matt took one of the acoustic guitars from the rack near the back wall. 

Matt walked over to Gee's tense frame and he squeezed her shoulder. I smiled as she visibly relaxed, melting beneath his hand. He stepped back and then quietly counted them in. 

Matt just watched Gee's fingers move down the keys and back up fluently, scaling up and down beautifully. Will gasped quietly. 

I whispered, "What song is this?"

Will answered, "At Last by Etta James."

Although I'd never heard it, I still knew it. It was the most famous rock song about love ever written. And then Matt's chords came in with Gee's first vocals. 

"At la~st," she began, sending shivers down my spine. The beautiful sound of those first few notes hit me like a ton of bricks. Her crisp and high voice sang over them easily but didn't miss a single note. 

"My life has come along," she continued after an appropriate break. 

More shivers. 

"My lonely days are over," Lena stood up beside me, swaying ever-so-slightly. She was entranced by the music. 

"And life is li~ke a song," Gee hit the high, sustained note perfectly. 

Matt and Gee worked in perfect harmony and were most likely the best duo I'd ever heard. I stood up beside Lena, swaying along with her, leaning on my crutches. 

We weren't the first. Some tables close to the stage had decided to stand up and simply sway as well. It wasn't too long before pizza and pasta were abandoned and the entire room was wrapped up with the gorgeous music. 

The song was over way too soon. I could have listened to that for the rest of my life if I had the choice. Like a perfect Winter night in front of the fireplace, with the family, it felt as if everything was in place. 

The others sat down, leaving me and Will to be the only ones still standing. We were the only ones that knew that where that came from, there was much more. Much more.

Gee and Matt shared a ghost of a smile, which I took to mean that they'd "kissed and made up". Then, the next few notes came in to a surely recognisable song. 

I sat down, unable to lean on the crutches for much longer but remained twisted, entranced in the music. 

As they perfect riff for A Thousand Years began, I put two and two together. 

Love songs. They both still loved each other. 

***

Song: At Last - Etta James.

And yes^ I have used this song before. It is the theme song of the book if you didn't know. It's one of my all-time favourites and I suggest you listen to it. 

Thoughts? 

Thoughts for next chapter?

xx Sharky.