“Ten seniors from the high school,” began Jake. “A couple have real potential. You’ll spot them soon enough. They’ve come up with five songs to be recorded. Pretty impressive stuff for high school kids but it needs the Dr Marrs magic.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” promised the older man. “Tour then bass and drums?”
“That’s the plan. Grey and Paul are coming in. I’ll go out back with the others for guitar and vocal stuff today. Garrett promised to drop in later this afternoon and Ellen will swing by tomorrow. There’s one girl I want her to coach for me.”
“Anyone else you’re bringing to the party?”
“Just the head of the music department. She’s wanting some time with Paul. Needs a drum clinic with him if we can squeeze it in.”
“Going to be a busy few days,” mused Dr Marrs.
“Gives them a taste of the real business. Shows them its hard work and not all about those two hours a night on stage,” countered Jake, sounding like the music teacher he was at heart. “Life lessons.”
“Well, if you can instil even half of your work ethic into them then they’ll be halfway there.”
Shortly before nine, Nicole arrived with nine of the students. After a quick roll call, Jake asked, “Where’s Miss Riley?”
“Insisted that she was driving herself out here,” replied Dorrian before Nicole could reply.
“Ok. Grab a drink before we get started,” suggested Jake. “We’ll give you the full studio tour when Riley gets here then map out the schedule for the day.”
A few minutes later, the door flew open and Riley burst into the lounge, “Sorry I’m late. I had to stop for gas.”
“No harm done,” said Jake with a smile. “We’re just about to start the tour.”
Half an hour later, as he led the class back in from the rehearsal studio, they met Grey and Kola in the lounge. Politely excusing herself, the ever-shy Kola retreated to the sanctuary of the control room while Jake introduced Silver Lake’s bass player to his students.
“Plan for the remainder of the morning,” began Jake firmly. “Drums and bass, stay here with Grey. Paul will be in soon to support. Everyone else can follow me back out to the rehearsal studio. Bring your bags and instruments with you.”
“What about me?” asked Nicole softly.
“Do you want to hang out here for this morning?” suggested Jake, checking the time. “Paul should be here in about an hour. He could do with the moral support on drums.”
Nodding, Nicole said, “Works for me.”
“Ok. Golden rules, folks,” cautioned Jake. “If the light is on above the live room and the control room doors, you do not enter. You do exactly as you are told out here. Do not touch anything you aren’t told to. Be prepared to work hard. Be prepared to stay late if necessary. Any questions?”
“Will you be playing on our songs or singing with us?” asked Angel hopefully.
“Maybe,” replied Jake. “Right, let’s get to work, folks.”
By the time Jake reconvened the class in the lounge late afternoon, each of them was exhausted. They had had a productive day and three of the tracks now had bass and drums laid down. Out in the rehearsal studio, he had fine-tuned the guitar tracks with Garrett’s help. The older musician had dropped by after lunch and supported Jake as he worked up the five guitar tracks with the young musicians. Leaving Garrett to it, Jake had then spent the final hour with the vocalists. He’d pulled Riley aside for a few minutes to prime her for her early morning tuition with Ellen. Deliberately, he had avoided revealing who was coming into JJL next morning, advising his little green-haired songbird to be at the studio, fully warmed up, by nine o’clock for a one to one vocal lesson.
“So, folks,” he began as he opened a bottle of water. “How has today been?”
“Awesome!” sighed Cody as he stretched out on the couch.
“Amazing,” declared Gabriella with a smile.
“Hard work,” added Landon, who had been playing bass with Grey for two hours straight.
“Today was the easy day,” revealed Jake with a wink towards Nicole. “You’ve all made great progress but we’ve a lot of work still to do. We need all the tracking finished tomorrow so that you can be involved in the mixing on Friday. Tomorrow could be a late one.”
“Are there anymore surprise guests coming in tomorrow?” asked Cole, still a bit star-struck after meeting Grey and Paul.
“Maybe,” teased Jake. “You’ll have to wait and see. Now, home, rest, practice and be back here bright and early ready to work your butts off.”
Still smiling, he watched his weary students troop out to the waiting school bus. Last to leave was Nicole. Gracefully. she brushed past him then turned back to face him, “I got those fuses. Would you have time to stop by later to fit them?”
“I’ve still a few things to finish up here. Give me a couple of hours,” replied Jake, trying to keep his tone casual. He could feel her green cat-like eyes gazing into his soul. “I’ll drop by on my way home. It’ll only take ten minutes.”
“I’ll have a cold beer waiting for you.”
Before he could reply, she had disappeared down the hallway.
From behind him, Grey stated bluntly, “Watch yourself. That one’s hitting on you.”
“No, she’s not,” laughed Jake. “She’s mid-divorce, new in town and in need of a new fuse in her AC unit.”
“If you say so, Mr Power,” replied Silver Lake’s bass player. “Looked like she was after more from you than a new fuse.”
“Well, a new fuse is all she’s getting.”
As he parked the truck beside Nicole’s sports car, Grey’s words were preying on his mind. Was the music teacher after more than help with her home repairs? Dismissing
