My name is Mike and I'm 26 and a guitar player in a band called "All request weekend" We do all requests so I pretty much know every song ever written with the exception of the classical stuff. I have the good fortune of working for one of the major movie studios as a technical advisor and kind of an all purpose production assistant, in other words if somebody doesn't show up I fill in and I make great money.
I was working on a movie called the New Guy and one of my dream girls was starring in it, Eliza Dushku so I was more than happy to get up and go to work every day just to see her. I was surprised at how friendly and polite she was to everyone cast and crew alike, it was a nice change compared to some of these young movie stars who think everyone is there to serve them.
My job was to work with the actors who were members of the band in the movie and we all had a lot of fun doing it, on breaks I would check over the equipment, guitars, bass keys etc. to make sure everything was OK.
One afternoon I was doing my check during lunch when I picked up a guitar and had started playing when one of the grips asked me if I new any Hendrix tunes, I ripped into Hey Joe and everybody on the crew really got into it. Everyday after that during lunch they all tried to stump me with some real obscure tunes and I said anyone who can stump me gets $50. Miss Dushku would always wave and kind of smile hello but never requested a song or actually talked to me until about a week later when she yelled out,
"Do you know Goldilox by Kings X?"
She stumped me so I went over and handed her a fifty dollar bill, she didn't want to take it. I told her a bets a bet and she said she'd take it on one condition that after they wrapped for the day I come by her trailer because she wanted to give me something so I nervously agreed!
Later that day as promised, I went to her trailer and as I approached I heard yelling and arguing. I stood out of sight and when the door opened I saw her driver walk out slamming the door behind him. I waited about 5 minutes not really knowing if I should knock on her door or just leave. Finally, I knocked. When she answered the door she was holding her cell phone and I could tell she'd been crying,
"If this was a bad time I could come back."
She pulled me into her trailer by the arm, threw me into a chair and continued her call. I was sitting there slightly confused when she asked, "I need a ride, do you have a car?"
Without hesitation I said, "I have a truck."
She rolled her eyes in response then resumed her conversation saying she was covered for now but she needed a new driver tomorrow and hung up. I stupidly asked if she was all right and she exploded, "Does it look like I'm fucking all right?"
She started to cry, I didn't know what to do so I stood up planning on leaving and when I did she ran to me and hugged me. I was initially surprised by her reaction but I threw caution to the wind put my arms around her and prayed she wouldn't freak out on me. I was relieved when she squeezed me tighter and we just stood there for a few minutes holding each other.
She never looked up until I kissed her lightly on top of the head then she looked at me with tears in her eyes and quietly said, "Please get me out of here" So that's exactly what I did.
We drove off the location at about 4:30pm and I asked where she wanted to go, but as I was asking the question I remembered I had a gig that night in Burbank and I needed to pick up my guitar at the repair shop.
I nervously asked if it was all right if I made a quick stop and she just nodded never looking at me. I called Lou and told him to be outside in 10 minutes with my guitar and not to ask any questions.
10 minutes later we pulled up in front of Lou's music and he was waiting out front with a puzzled look on his face I got out and he asked, “What’s up?"
I just nodded to my passenger, not getting it Lou just stared at me like I as nuts. Miss Dushku turned looked out the window at me and said, “We really need to go."
I told Lou I'd settle up with him next time I saw him, then got in and said OK Miss Dushku where do you want to go and without hesitation she said, "With you but it’s not what you think, I just need a friend right now and a quiet place. Oh, and please call me Eliza."
Handing her my cell phone I asked, "Do you need to call anyone, family, agent, boyfriend?"
“No.” Was all she said.
Hesitantly I brought up the next topic, "I have a problem I'm not going home I have a gig tonight at 11:00 and I have to be at the club to set up and do a sound check at 5:00."
Finally a smile came to that beautiful face, "Can I go with you and watch? I promise I'll be good." She sounded like a little girl; I just laughed and nodded yes.
"Is there was a hotel near the club" She asked.
"There's a Hyatt half a block away."
"Excellent" Was her reply and as we passed it I pointed it out to her.
We got to Jakes about 5:15, the guys were already unloading. I got out and came around to open the door for her and she said, "Give me the keys."
I stared at her, "What?"
"Your keys can I have them please?" She just grabbed them out of my hand kissed me on the cheek and told me she'd be back in an hour and drove off.
Bill, my Bass player asked, "Who's the hells driving your truck?"
"Eliza Dushku" I answered. He laughed told me I was full of shit and that I needed professional help, the guys were tired of me constantly talking about her.
At 6:45 we were done setting up and we were playing an old Cream song when the door opened the sun blasted in blinding us all and while we were squinting to see who it was I heard Jake the owner yell, "we don't open until 9!"
I stopped playing as did the rest of the guys and I heard a sweet voice say, "I'm with Mike the guitar player."