I've been invited to see a band play - on the behest of my best friend who has been following them for ages despite them not being overly popular. The venue is a small but busy coffee shop...the kind of place where they have open mic and jam nights and poetry readings. I get there late, as is typically my way, and make my way through the crowd. I order a coffee, and find a piece of wall to lean up against.
My friend is nowhere in sight, and I think I may have missed her. People are mingling and brushing past me, and I'm doing what I can to keep from pouring coffee on myself as I'm wearing a sheer white top that would not be forgiving. The band isn't playing...it's on a break, so I let my eyes wander around the room...seeing a few familiar faces but nobody I would want to converse with at the moment. The band members slowly begin to make their way back to the stage for their second set, and I see you standing and adjusting your guitar...we make brief eye contact and I smile at you, which you blush at and quickly look down.
A few moments later, you're playing your set. It's good music and people are swaying...I like the music but find that you are the only person I'm interested in looking at. You've got on a pair of well worn but comfortable looking jeans and a blue button down shirt...untucked and with the top one or two buttons undone. I start to daydream as I stare at your chest and shoulders, and at the look of concentration on your face...and wonder about how good you are with your hands as a musician, and when I finally let my eyes drift back up to your face, you're staring at me with some of the bluest eyes I've ever seen...and a bit of a cheeky smirk on your face - cuing my turn to blush and break eye contact. You finish the set with stolen glances, and disappear into the crowd. I have a second coffee...still standing against the wall, and I feel a hand touch my shoulder. I turn to see you standing there. You smile, and without saying anything, let your hand trace its way from my shoulder, down my arm, and to my hand, where you give me something. You give me a steady look as you push my hand closed around some paper, and walk out without saying a word.
Feeling as though I've been holding my breath through the whole transaction, I let out a breath of air and look at what you've given me. It is simply an address - I know the area...rural with a number of homes but very few businesses. I feel conflicted because it seems risky, but then I think of your smile and your hands, those eyes and the look you gave me, and decide to go. After driving for about 15 minutes, I come to a quiet street...just rows of houses. I stop my car at the address you gave, and get out. Nothing...as I contemplate leaving, it begins to rain. Then another car turns onto the street and pulls up behind mine. The lights turn off, and I can see you in the driver seat. You get out of the car and walk towards me, and as soon as I move to speak you bring your hand to my face and place one of your fingers on my lips to silence me.