Chapter Five: Steven: A Walk in the Park
'So, here I am again', thought Steven somewhat despondently. 'Another gig'. He failed to see how his job as a professional fan would get him closer to his dream career, but even he had to admit that it was fairly easy work, and certainly better than dealing with nectar fuelled louts at yet another dive bar. Plus the job kept him busy, especially in the evenings when there was nothing much else to do. Busy was good. Yet, what with his gig schedule and Kitty's random sing-a-gram hours, he didn't get to see a lot of his sister these days. She seemed to be doing well though, and she certainly had seemed cheerful enough, if her bright and easy chatter over breakfasts was anything to go by. Even her cooking had improved, although it was mainly limited at this point to waffles, pancakes and salads.
Steven got home form the gig early, it seems his role wasn't needed as the swarm of young girls swooning over Starlight's newest up-and-coming boy band had made it clear. Eating some leftover salad from the fridge and reaching the somewhat clichéd climax of 'Murder in Pleasantview' Steven wished Kitty was home for some uplifting conversation. But realising that she probably had some late appointments to sing for he decided to put the book back on the shelf and head for an early night.
Steven got home form the gig early, it seems his role wasn't needed as the swarm of young girls swooning over Starlight's newest up-and-coming boy band had made it clear. Eating some leftover salad from the fridge and reaching the somewhat clichéd climax of 'Murder in Pleasantview' Steven wished Kitty was home for some uplifting conversation. But realising that she probably had some late appointments to sing for he decided to put the book back on the shelf and head for an early night.
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The following morning Steven was quick to notice that there was a distinct lack of bright and easy chatter. A bleary eyed Kitty greeted him in the kitchen with unaccustomed silence. Steven asked his sister about her evening, not wanting to let on just quite how boring his had been.
"Ummm, you know, the usual, lots of 'grams' to sing, a quick stop off for a drink on the way home. "
To Steven her answer seemed somewhat vague and her manner distracted. She kept her back towards him as she busied herself in the kitchen, but he also thought he detected a sigh and suspected that there had been more than one drink before she came home. Before he could probe any further however, she drank up her coffee, gave him brief hug and then dashed off to work.
"Ummm, you know, the usual, lots of 'grams' to sing, a quick stop off for a drink on the way home. "
To Steven her answer seemed somewhat vague and her manner distracted. She kept her back towards him as she busied herself in the kitchen, but he also thought he detected a sigh and suspected that there had been more than one drink before she came home. Before he could probe any further however, she drank up her coffee, gave him brief hug and then dashed off to work.
Resolving to have a proper chat with his twin later, Steven decided to make the most of his day off. He decided to go for a morning walk and made his way towards one of the town's main parks. Steven liked to walk, it gave him time alone with his thoughts, or with the music which he liked to compose in his head.
Lost in his own world, running through his current composition, he suddenly stopped as a teeth-marked, scuffed red ball landed by his feet. The ball was quickly followed by a very excited Golden Labrador.
”Hey fellow, is this yours?” Steven asked, picking up the ball. Clearly expecting a new playmate, the dog barked and wagged his tail expectantly.
”Maaaax!”
Both Max the dog and Steven looked around at the sound of the woman's voice. Steven found himself staring. Max's owner could have walked straight out of one of those girl-next-door/chick-flick films that Kitty (and secretly Steven) loved to watch. With hair as honey gold as her dog, clear light brown eyes, and a sweet, full mouth which promised a smile which would warm your soul, she looked every bit down-to-earth yet naturally gorgeous. She was smiling now, Steven realised, probably at him staring at her, and he felt his neck flush pink. She then raised an eyebrow and Steven willed himself to speak.
”Erm...hi. I'm guessing you're, I mean, Max..your dog..” 'Oh great', Steven thought Steven to himself sarcastically, 'show her your complete inability to form sentences, that's really going to get you noticed!'
Still smiling, the woman knelt down to stroke Max. ”Yes, Max is mine. I'm Heather and this is one of Max's favourite hang-outs. And I'm guessing you're new in town – I've not seen you in the park before.” She stood back up and looked at him, her eyes twinkling, and Steven felt very much like he was being assessed, like a breed of dog at a show contest.
”I haven't..erm, I mean yes, new. Hi, again...I'm Steven Laine.” 'Come on brain, sharpen up,' scolded Steven inwardly.
Still smiling, the woman knelt down to stroke Max. ”Yes, Max is mine. I'm Heather and this is one of Max's favourite hang-outs. And I'm guessing you're new in town – I've not seen you in the park before.” She stood back up and looked at him, her eyes twinkling, and Steven felt very much like he was being assessed, like a breed of dog at a show contest.
”I haven't..erm, I mean yes, new. Hi, again...I'm Steven Laine.” 'Come on brain, sharpen up,' scolded Steven inwardly.
”So, are you going to throw that or are you in the habit of tormenting over-excited canines you just met?”
”Huh?” Steven looked down and realised that Max was wagging his tail now in a decidedly impatient manner, as Steven still held the ball in his hand....
”Huh?” Steven looked down and realised that Max was wagging his tail now in a decidedly impatient manner, as Steven still held the ball in his hand....
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Once Steven's ball throwing credentials had been established, Max seemed happy to have someone new to play with. In-between the many rounds of fetch, Steven and Heather chatted. Some of Stevens shyness began to evaporate as Heather's infectious personality drew him out of himself. Eventually Max tired of playing and Steven invited Heather to join him for a snack at the ice-cream parlour. Heather seemed impressed by Steven's music ambitions, but agreed that his current job wasn't really going to get him anywhere, and wasted no time in telling him that he needed to get promoted and start getting more involved in the actual performing side of things. It was refreshing to hear someone else confirm what he already felt to be true. Steven asked Heather about her work as an artist in Starlight, and as she talked about her love of painting and photography Steven sensed a passion similar to his own.
An hour or so went by, and Max started to get restless.
”I'd better take him home – it's his lunchtime.” explained Heather. ”I'd lost track of the time!” She smiled and a hint of blush pinked her cheeks.
Steven felt immediately that he didn't want her to go – which he knew was crazy as he'd only just met her, and besides he wasn't looking for a relationship at the moment – well at all actually. He'd never been one for having a string of girlfriends – he was far too shy and too much caught up in his music. But Heather made him feel a lot less shy and more – alive somehow, in fact more alive than he'd felt in weeks.
”Erm, Heather I don't suppose you'd like to meet up for dinner later this week? I've got a couple of nights off coming up. I don't know much about the restaurants here, but I'm sure you have a favourite.” Steven realised that he'd just offered to take Heather on a date, to any restaurant in town, when he was still struggling to pay the bills – this wasn't like him at all!
”I'd better take him home – it's his lunchtime.” explained Heather. ”I'd lost track of the time!” She smiled and a hint of blush pinked her cheeks.
Steven felt immediately that he didn't want her to go – which he knew was crazy as he'd only just met her, and besides he wasn't looking for a relationship at the moment – well at all actually. He'd never been one for having a string of girlfriends – he was far too shy and too much caught up in his music. But Heather made him feel a lot less shy and more – alive somehow, in fact more alive than he'd felt in weeks.
”Erm, Heather I don't suppose you'd like to meet up for dinner later this week? I've got a couple of nights off coming up. I don't know much about the restaurants here, but I'm sure you have a favourite.” Steven realised that he'd just offered to take Heather on a date, to any restaurant in town, when he was still struggling to pay the bills – this wasn't like him at all!
”I'm sorry, but I'm not much of a fan of restaurants,” apologised Heather. Steven's heart sank. What a fool! Of course she wouldn't want to go on a date with him. He was just about to mumble a ”good-bye, maybe see you around, then”, when he realised that Heather was still talking.
...”you see, the food's ok but it doesn't compare to home cooked meals. I much prefer to cook for a friend.” Heathers eyes twinkled at him and Steven tried to process the way in which she'd linger over the word ”friend.” ”Besides,” Heather smiled, as she walked off after giving Steven her number, ”Max would be furious at missing out on your company!”
As Steven wandered back towards the beach hut for perhaps a drink and a spot of pool, he noticed just how brightly the sun was shining, just how sweetly the birds were singing. Even Kitty's strange behaviour this morning had kind of melted away into a fuzzy memory, as Steven started to compose a new, uplifting, golden melody in his head.