[@Carlsberg] [b]"Ain't we all these days."[/b] Mike laughed taking another drink, nearly choking on it when he heard the girl mention something about her profession. A sputtering cough racked his throat for a moment before he spoke. [b]"Hey, that's your business, girl. Ain't none of mine. Wanna swig?"[/b] He seemed alright with sharing his whiskey with her, even if she was a bit young. He and Liz shared a drink all the time. Liz...he got to thinking about her, and this girl too. [b]"Hey uh, I know it ain't none of my business, but what's your name?"[/b] [center]-------------------------------------------------------------------- [img]http://www.fremontstreetbars.com/wp-content/gallery/griffin/img_0812.jpg[/img][/center] As it turned out, the bar was called [i]Jackson Hill[/i], a small joint on Cranberry Street, just a couple of blocks from the nearby college. Every night, college kids, artists, hipsters, struggling musicians, and a bunch of other eclectic company would gather here, either to share a drink or two of some of the best drafts, ales, and imported beers and lagers on tap, not to mention a fine selection of bourbons and other whiskeys, vodkas and spirits, have a casual conversation while listening to some choice music and enjoying the lively atmosphere, and maybe meet that special someone. But as much business as this place got on a few nights, it wasn't really packed when Liz showed up at the front door. Not a single person was sitting at the bar or at any of the tables; the only soul around was just the bartender, who she figured was [url=http://0.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/69/99/b58fc49527e0d26bec0f29d935f9d232.jpg]Seth.[/url] He was wiping down the bar when Liz ambled in lugging her guitar on her back, his tired, heavy eyes looking towards the door when he heard the small bell above it chime, then looking at the scraggly, black haired chick standing in front of him. [color=f7976a]"Sorry."[/color] He said with a sigh and an apathetic blink as he resumed wiping down his bar with a damp cloth. [color=f7976a]"Can't sell you any drinks. It's after hours, and I'm about to go home."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Oh, that's okay."[/color] Liz replied mumbling. [color=6ecff6]"I'm not really looking for a drink. You're...Seth, right?"[/color] Seth shrugged, wringing the cloth in his hands and setting it aside. [color=f7976a]"Last I checked I was."[/color] He quipped dryly, Liz giving a small chuckle. Seth then noticed Liz's guitar, raising an eyebrow and giving a wry smirk; he had a hunch why she was here now, [color=f7976a]"Let me guess, Christy sent you here."[/color] That girl, always hooking Seth up with acts. It's just the last three wasn't his forte, nothing but a bunch of loud and crazy emo punk bands. That might be good for some of the other clubs he's been to, and yeah he's had his fair share of punk, like the Ramones, the Clash, and the Sex Pistols, but at his bar, people came to chill and unwind after a day of classes or work, not to kill in the mosh pit. [color=f7976a]"Cute girl, Christy. Too bad she's a lesbian."[/color] Seth chuckled. [color=f7976a]"Yeah, she's hooked me up with some [i]talent[/i] in the past. I say talent, but really it was just a bunch of noise. These guys don't know shit about music, just beating the fuck out of their drums and trashing their guitars on stage, screaming like they got their balls caught in a lawnmower. Damn."[/color] Liz couldn't help but giggle at Seth's description, more or less the wit in his voice. Seth resumed, [color=f7976a]"Nah, what I need is something a bit more...."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Less earache inducing?"[/color] Liz added. [color=6ecff6]"I don't really play much electric, and I'm not a big fan of heavy music, maybe old school stuff like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin. Pink Floyd's pretty good too."[/color] Seth grinned, leaning close to the bar as Liz took her seat. [color=f7976a]"Sounds more like you're trying to hook up with me instead of a gig."[/color] He purred. Liz however gave him a smirk and a snicker, [color=6ecff6]"Well, sucks for you cause I'm a lesbian too."[/color] That got him. Seth laughed standing up and scratching the back of his head, [color=f7976a]"Shit. Well that seems to be my luck. Still, nice taste in music. What else do you listen to?"[/color] He asked while fishing from his denim vest a crumpled cigarette, lighting it and taking a drag. Liz shrugged her shoulders, a short sigh, [color=6ecff6]"Eh, just whatever sounds good. I'm more into indie music than anything else. You know, bands like Message To Bears, Syd Matters, Local Natives. You mind if I have one of those?"[/color] She asked him motioning to his cigarette. Seth laughed again handing her one and lighting it for her, [color=f7976a]"Damn, it does suck you're into chicks. Those are some of my faves."[/color] He figured given that, she'd probably be a good pick for some nightly entertainment. Just one thing left, [color=f7976a]"Tell you what. Why don't you play me something, and if I like it, you got the gig on Friday. Sound cool?"[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Totally."[/color] Liz agreed with a bright smile, breathing a mist of smoke into the air. She grabbed her guitar, her hand shaking a bit as she slipped the strap over her head and fiddled in her pocket for her pick. It was different when she was playing in the streets or at the park, mostly because she wasn't thinking of anything. Here, she didn't want to fuck up possibly her only opportunity at a well paying job. A few slow, steady breaths she took inward and exhaled calmly, playing a few strings trying to find the right sound. Then, once she had it down in her mind and on the frets, she began to [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaQv9wC9UY]play[/url] for real, putting all her heart into the lyrics and the melody she composed from just a simple wooden acoustic. At that point, everything just seemed to disappear from her, the bar, Seth. She wasn't so worried about screwing up in front of him now or if her singing voice sucked or the tone of her guitar was either too high or too low. Instead, she just focused on the music as it was. Seth stood there while she played. Unbeknownst to her, his head was bobbing slightly with the tempo, a rather coy smile curling his lips while he finished up his smoke and snuffed it out on the bar. Liz was pretty good he thought. Once the girl finished, slipping the strap from her shoulder and setting her guitar down, the last few notes a distant hum, he stood there quietly, a rather mute expression on his face. Shit, that didn't look good, Liz thought. Did she fuck up? Did he not like it? Nervously she chewed at her bottom lip, a perplexed stare towards him in a moment of silence, indeed unnerving silence. [color=6ecff6]"Umm...was that good?"[/color] She asked, her tone timid. He didn't say anything, just standing there. [i][color=6ecff6]Fuck... It was worth a try. Figured I wasn't that good anyways.[/color][/i] But then, to Liz's surprise, clapping ensued from his hands, a wide, jovial grin across Seth's face beaming bright. [color=f7976a]"You kidding me?"[/color] He chuckled giving her a thumbs up. [color=f7976a]"That was awesome! You got the gig!"[/color] [color=6ecff6]"R-really?!"[/color] Liz blurted out excitedly. She nearly fell off her bar stool the moment she heard those four magic words, but yes! She got it! If everything else goes good, she wouldn't have to worry about money anymore....and neither would Jen. This was perfect! But....if only she could find Jennifer and tell her the good news...