Stay With Me

We ended up walking again because it was once again just about perfect outside. Jimmy had gotten a call from his friends who I assumed were the ones I saw on the beach, and they wanted to meet up. At first Jimmy didn't want to because he wanted to stay with me which made me feel like melting butter, but I said we should and he eventually agreed. Jimmy told me we would meet on the pier so that’s where we started walking.

“Are you in a band?” I asked quietly and unexpectedly. Jimmy put his thumbs in his pockets. His black sunglasses shielded his eyes hiding any emotion that could come from them.

“Yeah,” That was all he said for a second.
“That's real cool,” I saw him smile and nod. I looked down at my steps.
“I wish I was in a band. I...” I paused. I hate talking about myself a lot but I was curious about Jimmy and maybe if I shared some things about myself, he would too.

“I play the drums. Well I try to anyways when I can, not in front of people. I have stage fright,” Jimmy lit up.
“Oh no way! Man, that's awesome cuz' I do too! What do you play?” He turned around and started walking backwards. I laughed at his sudden burst of interest. It was so weird how interested he was about people’s lives, he was very caring.

“Well I know a lot of Metallica, AC/DC, Nirvana, all the old stuff, but I would like to learn the double base and play things like this one band called Avenged Sevenfold. I wish I could play metal but I'm really not that good especially since I only have limited times to play”
“You want to know something?” Jimmy said devilishly. His smile was so wide, it could have stretched off his face.
“Educate me,” I replied sticking my thumbs in my back pockets.
“That band Avenged Sevenfold?” I nodded suspiciously.
“That’s my band!” I stopped in my tracks for a split second as Jimmy excitedly jumped around. Was he serious? I felt a little embarrassed all of a sudden at myself. I was seriously walking with a rock star, drummer. I felt so insecure but then exited too. They were my favorite modern band. I was so energized.
“No way!” I finally jumped too. It was all I could say at the moment.
“So you like our stuff?” He said with a big grin. I blushed again and looked at the ground in front of me.
“Yea. You guys are like majorly talented. I can't believe how, how I didn't recognize you!” I wanted to facepalm myself.
“I don't really look at bands though, just listen to their music,” I hoped that didn't offend him but all he did was nod his head.
“A true music fan, not swayed by the looks. That's good, nah that great!” I tugged his at Jimmy's shirt to move him out of the way of some people on the same sidewalk as us.
“Can you play any of our stuff?” He asked. I shook my head dispointly.
“No but I wish,”
“So, you want to learn to play metal?” Jimmy questioned me. I avoided eye contact nervously and rubbed my arm.
“Yeah. I think it would be fun,”
“It is,and I could teach you! If you wanna, I mean,” We walked up the steeps of the pier. I saw who I thought might be Jimmy’s band. I looked at him in excitement.
“That would be amazing if you wouldn’t mind,” He smiled at me sweetly.
“Not at all,” His friends saw Jimmy and waved. They were all very, very attractive. Jimmy put his hand on my back as he introduced everyone.
“Guys this is Jessie,” Jimmy said and waved his hand like he was a magician's assistant and I was the magic.
“Jessie, this is Matt, Brian, Zacky, and Johnny,” He smiled at me again and whispered “Their in my band,” I couldn’t have guessed differently.
Matt almost towered as tall as Jimmy. He had low, dark brown hair and the warmest smile I had ever seen. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses and he had a lip ring. Brian and Zacky were around the same height and shorter than Matt. Brian had black spiked up hair that I guessed must have had some time spent on it. He had real defined cheekbones that could make girls pee their pants. Zacky had black, real low cut bangs that were slightly ruffled and he had gorgeous green eyes and two lip rings. They all had tattoos all over and chains, some leather, they looked like the typical rock stars of now and days, but they were kinder, funnier. They didn’t act how you would picture them to act.

I mumbled some trying to say hello.
“H.h..he..,” I quickly gave up and just waved my hand. My cheeks felt like they were on fire and my stomach dropped. Allready I was making a fool of myself by being socially awkward. They all were looking at me and all I could do was smile nervously. I realized I was walking backwards when I ran into Jimmy and just about tripped over my own feet, but he was there and he held on to me. I didnt want to look at his friends. What if they were laughing at me? I didn’t want to be laughed at by famous people. All I could do was look up from Jimmy’s chest into his eyes pleadingly.
He looked down at me and just smiled. Not like I was a fool, but like I was a friend. It was just more than anything my NC friend had ever done. I strained myself up and looked back at the group nervously but with some will to not make an excuse just to go home.

“So guys Jesse also plays drums too and I was thinking we could go have a jam session at my place,” Jimmy said.
An alarm went off in my head. Beep, beep. Abort, Abort. Beep. Beep. No, no, no, no ,no. Absolutely not. I told him, I told him I was no good and I told him I had stagefright! I couldn't play in front of these rockstars, or any rock stars, or anyone. I was socially awkward with extreme stage fright and could only play around my ‘friends’ and even then I was some kind of nervous reck.

“Yea, man. Sounds great,” Matt said and leaned on the pier’s railing giving me a smile.
“What all do you play?” Johnny asked me. I tried to talk clearly.
“I, uh, mostly classic rock, I play a lot of Metallica and um, AC/DC and stuff like that,”

“This girl has a good taste in music,” I think Brian winked. Oh god I could feel my cheeks burn pink.
“Where you from sweet cheeks?” Zacky asked. I tried looking him in the face but I just laughed and looked away then looked up at Jimmy. He was looking at Zacky smiled at me when I looked up at him.
“North Carolina. Im just here on vacation,”
“Aw thats a shame,”
“Yea. I’d like to live here. Its really nice,”
After a little more chit chat we started for wherever Jimmy’s house was. I pulled his hand down so I could whisper to him.
“I can’t play in front of people, Jimmy,” He smiled at me and walked at my height by crouching low. I shook my head at his silliness.
“Yes you can, Jess. Just dont worry about it; were all friends. I believe in you,” I froze for a split second. That was something I had never heard before. I believe in you. My friends never said it, my teachers never said it, my parents never said it. Did he mean it? I quietly walked by his side as he talked with his friends who asked me questions constantly. They were all too friendly.


Jimmys house was huge! It was like a mansion compared to my house back in North Carolina. He had three cars and a pool and his house itself was like 4 stories tall surrounded by a gate. I couldn't believe it. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to leave but It would be rude, and I really liked Jimmy. He was a friend, a better friend, than people back at home.

Inside his house was all nice and clean. There was a bar that separated the kitchen from the living room and a staircase going to a huge upstairs. All of his music equipment was stored in his own music studio. His drum set was simply amazing. The one he had at his house was an 8 piece set with at least 7 different symbols. It was black and white with the the band’s deathbat symbol on the heads of the 2 bass drums. I held my breath. As much as I hated to admit it, I was a nerd for those things.

Brian, Zacky and Johnny picked up their strings and started goofing around. It was weird because it was like they got beer from out of nowhere. I laughed at them. Matt and I followed Jimmy to his kit, me probably much, much more nervous than Matt. Jimmy didn’t get behind the but just leaned up on the wall and smiled at me.

I looked at Matt and he too, was smiling at me. They want me to play… I took a step back and held up my hands.
“Oh come on, Jesse!” Jimmy pleaded. “Just play one song!”
“No reason to be shy,” Matt joined in. “Were all friends here,”
I didn’t move an inch.
“I’m really not that good,” I said quietly.
“Ppht! Says who?” Jimmy asked. I shrugged. I felt a hand gentle on mine and it pulled me towards the set. It was Jimmy.
“No please! I’m too embarrassed!” I said but didn’t resist his pull.
“You have to get over stage fright some time, Jessy” Matt said with a cute smile as he leaned up on a wall. Jimmy handed me his sticks. They had a little black skull with wings on them.
“Just do what ever. Do you need sheet music?” Jimmy said as he sat on a chair in front of me. I shook my head. I remembered everything I had ever played. I was sweating really badly and was worried I smelled. I did a quiet sound check tapping every symbol and every tom. What should I play? I thought. Something quick. I think I know one of their songs, maybe I should play it. But what If I mess up? An its double bass and I don’t do that, that well. And the actual drummer is right there. I’d just make a fool of myself. He’ll think I suck. But I’m going to do it anyway because it’s fun. Shit.

“Can you play a track for.. Afterlife.. if you have one, please,” I whispered. Jimmy jumped up.
“Afterlife? Yeah!” He ran into the control room. Matt handed me a pair of headphones.
“If you feel troubled, dont stop. You're not performing, you can relax. Just have fun,” He said and gave me a thumbs up.
I heard the music click on and I started counting. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and… The orchestra was progressing and I lightly bobbed my head. I tightened my grip on the sticks, rose them to the symbols, and started playing.

I was so nervous at first. I was playing so stiff but I felt like I was doing it right. At first I was so worried about them watching me but quickly I was just playing. I was in the moment where I was having fun doing something I loved to do and didn’t care who liked it or not. I just wanted to play. I started imagining a crowd as I always do. People smiling and cheering encouraging me on. I didn’t feel I messed even once, even with the double kick. Neer the end of the downg I was moving all over the place just having a good time. Usually I only felt like that alone because no one bothered to play back at my house. But this time, when I came back to reality and I was out of my musical imagination, there were friends smiling at me.

I slowly took the headphones off but I didn’t get up. I was hoping they would let me play another song.

“That was amazing! I dont understand why you were doubting yourself so much! I’m just bahhhhhh!” Jimmy acted like he was exploding. Zacky and Brian walked over.
“Do you take lessons?” Zacky asked still paying on his guitar. I shook my head but smiled. I didn’t really feel… uncomfortable anymore. Should I be? I asked myself.
“No, unless you could watching videos as lessons,”
“Self taught! Thats pretty cool!” Brian said. “Do you want to play with us?” I jumped inside. And to think, I wanted to leave and go home and do nothing. This was way better than anything I could think of.
“Yea,” Is all I said.
“You can choose what to play, I bet we can play it, I don't know about Johnny,” Zacky said dancing around with his guitar. Johnny just smiled and ignored him.
“Don't worry Johnny, If I can play a thingy, you can play a thingy too,” I smiled at him and he laughed.
“Well what thingy do you wanna play?” Matt leaned in from a door and smiled wide.
“Do you know… Home Sweet Home?” I asked. It was slow and short but I always enjoyed playing it.
“Yea, man, I love Motley Crue,” Brian said and started strumming what I believe was Girls, Girls, Girls.
“Ok but I have an idea,” Jimmy piped in as he lifted me of the drum kit stool and sat me on his lap. I felt myself blushing as red as an apple and even redder when I hear little chuckles and an “ooooo,”
“Lets play it, but lets make it heavy!” All the guys went “Yeah!” and threw their hands in the air. I just laughed at them and fiddled with the drum sticks in my hands. What did they mean heavy? No, they didn’t mean turn this softer classic song into metal? I wasn’t skilled enough to change it; to play it differently!

“Add a little Avenged Sevenfold touch to it,” Matt said. The guys were all laughing but I turned to Jimmy and gave him the sticks. He looked confused but smiled.

“Wha?” Was all he said. Though I was compelled to just get off of him and let him take over his own set. I didn't for two reasons. One, I felt oddly, safe and comforted in his close presence. It felt right, and though I had only knew him so long, I was wanted him there, just anywhere around. But what was I thinking. Thats not how I rolled. Not for anyone completely out of my league anyway. Second of all I didn't want to upset him or leave him in question like I was pushing him away. My thoughts on this man were confusion.

“I don’t know how to do this!” I whispered. Jimmy gave me a funky look that made me laugh then smiled at making me do so.

“You don’t need to know how, you just play what feels right,” That was so real. I realized these people are probably the most interesting people I had ever met.

I was turned towards him still on his lap, so our faces were close. I told myself look away, but I didn’t. His eyes were so blue and they quined when he smiled. He was smiling right then. Such a smile. The contagious kind of smile that brightened a room, that made you smile back. I realized Jimmy was looked at me the same way I was looking at him. I was so warm inside. It was so new to me, whatever I was feeling. I was mentally melting in his arms. “Why? Stop.” I told myself but I didn’t. “What are you doing!?” For the first time I caught myself actually ignoring myself. No not ignoring myself, just listening to the other part of me that just said “Why not?” A third part of me, whispered You are going to get hurt. I didn’t want to think like that.

Jimmy gave me back the drum sticks without breaking eye contact but when my hand touched his neither of us let go. I felt shockwaves in my hand and my stomach flip flop.
“Hey, you two ready or, what's happening here,” Zacky winked at us with a big smile.
“We were just waiting for you beepity beeps” Jimmy smiled. I realized I still had hold of Jimmy’s hand and quickly pulled the stick away, my face red.

“Okay, how do I do this?” I said trying to build up confidence. I turned and smiled at Jimmy. He smiled back.
“Like I said before, you just play what feels right. You know the song, just add to it,”
“Could you do the kick for me? I mean you're already right here,” His face brightened if even possible.
“I sure can!” Jimmy said and adjusted his feet on the pedals. I laughed and started doing a little thing on the snare. Then I had an idea.
“Here,” I gave Jimmy my sticks. “I have an Idea,” I said before he could resist. I grabbed another pair so we both had some. He immediately got it and laughed.
“It might sound a little funky, but I bet you it will be fun,” I said. That was so not me, but I liked it. It was fun.
“Okay, okay. OK,” Jimmy said excitedly. You will do the main beat and I will do all the fills,” He said and started playing in unison with my little snare patterns. To e honest it sounded a little cool.

Suddenly I heard the beginning piano and looked over to see Matt playing with a big smile. Johnny walked around starting to add bass to the song. Then Zacky and Brain came in with two guitars. It sounded so cool already. Jimmy added a kick beat and I decided to wait after the first fill to begin. Matt was singing and I had never felt my smile be so big. Brain and Zacky were dancing around like ballerinas.

Then it kicked in to hard core mode. Jimmy did a big fill then I started playing the main part, but added more crashes and the splashes and a little ghost notes here and there. Jimmy had the double kick going and I was shaking in his lab. I don’t know how he did it. He must of had really strong leg muscles because it must of been hard to kick with my weight. But he was pulling it off while hitting the toms around me, while singing along. This was bad ass.

Soon the solo came up and Brian did an impov solo with his own touch. It was so cool. Neer the end the song got heavier and both me and Jimmy were playing at the same time. Some how, it worked. It just worked. My heart was bursting with joy. Why weren't all of my friends like this? Oh yeah because in the little, little town I lived in, everything is pour. Maybe I should stay here, I thought. I could possibly find a job here while on vacation that way If I move I’ll have a little money to live off of. I brushed of my thoughts to think about later. Right now, I was in the zone.

Me and Jimmy ended the song with rolled on all the cymbols. In the end all of us were laughing. Jimmy picked me up and slung me over his shoulder and started jumping around. My God he must of been strong. He was so full of energy and so kind it was amazing. Still carrying me, he ran out of his studio and down the stairs shouting and laughing.

Notes