Thomas & January Read Free

Casey, but now I’m no longer interested in whether you’ve seen Casey,” she said, her eyes roaming the crowd around us. She pulled me closely. “Who is this scout?”
    “Seven Seas has a scout here to see Circumvent.”
    “Oh yeah, Casey mentioned something like that to me.”
    I stared at her in wonder. “I swear, woman! This is a huge deal!”
    “I know, I know! I remember now.”
    I rolled my eyes playfully at her. We talked for a few minutes before The Belle Jar began to set up their instruments at eleven, readying for the show.
              “Be right back,” I said. “I’m going for a water. You want one?” I asked Sunny.
              “Nah, I’m fine.”
              “’Kay, save my spot, missus.”
              I ran toward the bar and stood behind a few people waiting to be served. I kept throwing a head over my shoulder to spot the scout. I’m a freaking maniac! Why can’t I get this guy outta my head? I need to focus!
              “What’s your poison?” The guy next to me asked.
              I smiled at him. “I don’t drink. Still underage.” I held up my black x-ed hands in proof. “I’m in line for water. Boring, I know.”
This usually worked, but not with this guy.
              “That’s cool. What are you doing out here tonight?”
              “Oh, I’m here for The Belle Jar. I helped them clean up a few songs for tonight’s show. There’s a Seven scout in the audience for Circumvent tonight and I want them at their best. They’re brilliant.”
              “Very cool. So, you’re a musician?” he asked as we inched closer to the bar. It was still ten feet away.
              “Yeah, a pianist.” I turned my head away and fought a private grin.
              “What’s so funny?” he asked, confused.
              “Oh, nothing. I-well,” I said, facing him, “it’s just, I threw away a full scholarship to Berkeley for music to stay in town and help other musicians become successful. It just dawned on me how ironic that was. I find that hilarious.”
              “That is ...funny,” he said, not finding it funny in the least.
              “I know it’s not funny, ha-ha, it’s funny, ridiculous.”
              “Ah, I see.” He looked around a bit, decided he was bored enough to continue the conversation and asked, “So do you like Circumvent?”
              “Yeah, I mean, I wouldn’t dare step on an Austin staple like Circumvent’s toes but, yeah, they’re okay.”
              “No, really, tell me. I don’t know about them. First time seeing them, actually. Enlighten me.”
              I bit my bottom lip, contemplating ragging on this band that was merely okay. “You tell anyone I thought this, I’d have to kill you, capiche?”
    “Lips are sealed,” he said, leaning closer.
    “Circumvent,” I began, “have an incredible base which is fairly impressive, but I believe that’s because of longevity mostly. Their talent is mediocre, their songs catchy but a bit too commercial, and their stage presence lacks. They’re just, ‘meh.’ They lack the talent to really push themselves over the edge, to put them in a position to gain a national following.” As I spoke, the guy was leaning closer and closer to me. He looked at me like he’d just noticed me. “What?” I asked.
    “What are you doing for a living right now. ...?”
    “Oh, sorry,” I said. “I’m January.”
    “I’m Jason,” the guy said, holding out his hand.
    “Nice to meet you, Jason,” I said, taking his hand before dropping it. “I’m, uh, currently unemployed,” I said, laughing.
    “Cool, cool. Don’t go anywhere after the show, okay?”
    “Uh, okay,” I said, eyeing him strangely.
    “I’m not a