The Tchaikovsky Affair Read Free

occasionally lifting her hands in a conducting pattern. Neither was actually paying any attention to their tasks, and would instead steal glances when they thought the other wasn’t looking. A few times Jackie opened her mouth to say something, but could never figure out the right words. She wanted to make things right, but she knew a further apology would not be well received. She momentarily thought about starting small talk, but didn’t want to disturb the blonde who looked so cute with her eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
    Jackie shook her head as if trying to rid her mind of inappropriate thoughts and glanced at her watch. Still half an hour until rehearsal. Were they really the only two who wanted to get there early?
    “Oh thank God,” Jackie muttered when the door to the room was kicked open, Evan Bayer and his ungainly double bass appearing in the entranceway. He whistled as he sauntered forward, carrying his bass as if it weren’t a huge, heavy block of wood. A fedora was perched atop his salt and pepper mane. Yep, jazzy hippie , Jackie mused to herself, a small smirk on her face. She glanced up to see Shannon looking at her quizzically, presumably wondering what was amusing her.
    The three engaged in pleasant small talk while the others filed in, Evan acting as a buffer for the women’s palpable tension.
    Shannon ’s first sectional ran smoothly and she felt that it was quite productive. Jackie found herself in awe of the blonde’s leadership and directorial skills. Similarly, Shannon admired Jackie’s clear dedication and poise. She was an obvious choice for principal cello.
    Shannon ended the sectional with a rhythmically difficult passage for the basses that was taking longer than anticipated to correct. She briefly gave notes and asked the basses to be more aware of their cues, before asking them to repeat the system. Shannon was acutely aware of Jackie’s gaze, her eyes boring holes through Shannon’s carefully constructed façade. During a fancy rhythm change, Shannon chanced a look in Jackie’s direction. Big mistake. Her heart sped and their eyes locked, while Shannon’s arms fell clumsily out of tempo. A few of the basses tried to keep up, before they lost their groove all together.
    “I’m really sorry, guys,” Shannon said, clearly flustered. “You know, why don’t we just call it a day? You’ve all been working really hard, and I’m sure you won’t have any trouble with that passage when we add in the percussion.” As she said this, she was already shuffling her sheets of music into a pile, trying to remove herself from the situation as fast as possible.
    As she walked off the podium to grab her purse, she heard someone calling her name.
    “Hey, McClintock!” She turned to see Evan smiling at her. “We were all thinking of grabbing a bite to eat at O’Leary’s, wanna come?” 
    O’Leary’s was the epitome of a dive bar, with it’s dark and dingy décor (the owner, Jim O’Leary called it rustic charm), just blocks from their rehearsal space. They often found themselves throwing back a few pints and playing a few rounds of darts or pool to blow off steam after a long day of rehearsal.
    Shannon smiled at Evan and spared a glimpse at Jackie, who cocked her head expectantly.
    “Sorry, guys. I have no time for socializing, I have to work on my solo.”
    Diva , Jackie thought.
     
    *              *              *
     
    Shannon and Jackie didn’t see each other until rehearsal on Monday morning. Both spent the weekend trying desperately to keep the other woman out of their thoughts. Both tried in vain.
    Rehearsal seemed longer than usual to both of them. Of course, the 1st violin chair and 1st cello chair were on opposite sides from each other, the conductor’s podium in between. Whenever Gallo reached forward, Jackie got a glimpse of Shannon’s golden waves, and Shannon had the opportunity to watch Jackie swaying into her instrument.
    Their