Chapter Text
Bradley's fingers slid across the piano with ease, his aviators slipping down his nose as he belted out the lyrics to Great Balls of Fire. The bar was alive with energy, everyone dancing and singing along. Returning to Top Gun was fraught with a minefield of emotion and childhood trauma that he'd prefer not to think of. Reviving his father's favorite routine for a few minutes was a reprieve.
He finished with a flourish, the bar erupting into cheers and his name being chanted. His smugness was rather tame compared to someone like Hangman, but even he could not resist standing and doing a little (ridiculous, he acknowledged) victory dance.
“Come on, Katie.” He heard a female voice nearby. “Play for us.”
“No,” another hissed. “Absolutely not. Nope.”
“Katie, you're such a good pianist”
“Maybe in a concert hall, but I haven’t played for an audience in years.” Rooster finally located the source of the voice - a beautiful young woman, perhaps a few years younger than him. Her shoulder length, curly auburn hair fell on her bare, freckled shoulders. Those freckles were scattered like constellations over all of the skin exposed by her sky blue, knee length dress, her face twisted in uncertainty, lower lip held tightly in her teeth.
Bright blue eyes suddenly met his brown ones, the aviators slipped down again. He nodded to the piano, a question in the gesture. Before she could make the decision herself, her friends pushed her forward.
Few people noticed, she could back out if she wished to. She didn't. He watched as she strengthened her resolve, so Bradley held his hand to guide her to the bench.
“Thank you,” Katie murmured, releasing his hand to stretch her own nervously. How had this happened? It was supposed to be a couple drinks with friends, her first night out in years, a celebration of her move to San Diego. The bar Tess had picked was unlike anything Katie had ever experienced in New York. It was a welcome escape from the mess of her life.
Until now.
She enjoyed the piano solo. There was nothing like music to bring people together, especially live music. That's why she loved it. And the pianist was…well, freaking handsome, to be honest. Military, she assumed from the crowd around him, though his Hawaiian shirt lent him a more free-spirit spirited vibe. And that moustache, it shouldn't look good, but God, it did.
What was going through her head or her heart? She hadn't been this viscerally attracted to someone at first sight since she was in her early 20s, maybe even her teens. But this man drew her in – it was more than his looks, maybe it was his spirit.
She couldn't even consider it right now, though.
Why was she at a piano? How had Tess and Abigail got her here? She hadn’t played for anyone other than her students, occasionally friends, and herself in years. Her fingers shook as they hovered above the keys. Could she do this?
Rooster, what an odd name, moved into her eyesight, gaze focused on her, even as the other patrons shook his hand and slapped his back. Something about his gaze quieted some of her fear, steadied her hands. Taking a deep breath, Katie concentrated on those 88 keys that had been so much of her life.
Those first few notes were low, quiet - a test of herself. Selecting Someone Like You by Adele, a song she had recently started working on with one of her new students, she let the notes flow, volume increasing as she lost herself in the music, adding her own style and flourishes. Perhaps not the most upbeat song, especially after the last one, but it was all she could think of in that moment.
The bar fell silent as her music rang through the space. No one was more enthralled than Bradley. She played like the music was flowing through her, her body vibrating with it. She was extraordinary.
He vaguely recognized the song she played, something popular from the radio, though it was far better than what he'd heard there. The music was haunting and passionate, making his heart race and stomach swoop. He was actually kind of desperate to hear her sing, he expected it would be beautiful.
Katie reached the end of the piece, playing those final notes to a silent bar. Her eyes fluttered open, when did they shut, finding Rooster’s again.
Woo! Clapping and cheers erupted, startling Katie from the handsome man in front of her. Her face flushed bright red. She was not used to the attention anymore.
Abigail pulled her up from the bench, wrapping her in a hug. “Babe, that was amazing,” she yelled, trying to be heard over the crowd.
Tess jumped in next with another exuberant hug, “Let's get you a drink.”
“Yes, please.” Katie snuck a glance behind as she was tugged to the bar, but Rooster was gone.
“A pint from my amazing friend,” Tess asked the bartender, a lovely brunette woman.
The brunette handed her a pint with a smile, “This is on the house.”
“Thank you,” Katie said.
“Her next one’s on me,” a deep voice said from behind her.
Katie turned around, oddly hopeful that it was Rooster. It wasn't. He was a soldier, Katie assumed Navy, but she really didn't know the difference of the uniforms. He was gorgeous, like really classically handsome. Blonde, clean shaven, perfect white teeth, absolutely filling out his uniform,…and the cockiest smile that Katie had ever seen. Maybe she shouldn’t judge at first sight, but this was not the kind of man she was interested in.
“Thanks, but one is enough for me,” she smiled politely, trying to indicate her lack of interest without insulting him. From her experience, guys like this did not take kindly to being rejected. Abigail nudged her hard in the side, obviously telling her to go for it. No, thank you! If Abigail wanted him, she could have him.
He obviously didn't take the hint either. “How ‘bout a game then?” he gestured to the pool table.
Guess she’d have to come right out and say it. “Thank you, really. I'm flattered, but I'm just not interested.”
“I am,” Abigail jumped in, a flirtatious smile and a hand on his bicep.
His attention was quickly transferred to her friend and the pair headed off to the pool table. Katie could admit that she was rather relieved.
“Don't worry,” Tess wrapped an arm around her. “You don’t have to jump back in off the deep end. And that guy,” they watched a rather handsy game unfolding in front of them, “well, he's the deep end.”
“At least Abigail's having fun.” Katie was a little jealous of her ability to love so freely and openly. Tess had married her long-time boyfriend a couple years ago, the pair together since they were 18. Katie had married in her mid 20s and had been so focused on school and her music before that to spend much time with the opposite sex. Abigail was happy single – she sought company for the short or long term when she wanted it and was good on her own the rest of the time.
“Come on, you had fun too. Admit it,” Tess pushed. “It was nice to play for an audience again.”
“It was,” Katie admitted, sipping her beer.
“Maybe you should consider auditioning for an orchestra again.”
It's not the first time they suggested it, nor would it be the last she expected. Being friends since primary school, they knew each others’ strengths and weaknesses, when to push and when to pull back. “Perhaps,” was all Katie could offer tonight and Tess was happy to take it.
“Let's join Abby,” Tess tugged her hand.
“Alright,” Katie gave in, the pair wading into the crowd. Concern about interacting with Hangman, his name turned out to be, was unwarranted as he paid her little attention after her rejection. She really didn't mind. He and Abigail were focused on each other and that was great.
It was great, right?
Katie was not interested in Hangman. Rooster, maybe, her mind supplied unhelpfully. But perhaps she was feeling a pull towards…something again.
It was too much for a Friday night. “Tess,” she whisper yelled over the rehooked up jukebox. “I'm going to get some air.”
Breathing in the salty sea air, Katie settled on the beach a few yards from the door. Shoes slipped off, she scrunched her toes in the sand.