Free London Harmony: Feel the Beat by Erik Schubach Page A

Amy. She was jealous. I tested the waters. “You realize they'll think we're dating.”
    She didn't even look at me and just smiled smugly with that bloody dimple threatening to overheat me. “The 'date' in double date would imply that.” Then she pulled me to a stop and locked eyes with me, both of hers on my right eye, and spoke in a serious tone. “I've been trying to figure out if you were gay or not since I saw you because quite frankly Abigail...” She raised a hand to my cheek. “...you took my bloody breath away when you walked into the shop.” Dear Lord all I wanted to do was lean into the heat of her touch.
    Then she started walking again while I tried to breathe. She grinned. “Then Amy confirmed my suspicions and asked you out on a date for me in one fell swoop.”
    I stared down at her gape-mouthed. “It's a date?”
    She scrunched up her face cutely. “Do try to keep up Abi, we've already established that.”
    A warmth spread through me and I scrunched my head down to my shoulders and smile and found I had a little skip in my step as I nodded and said in a tiny voice, “Okay.”
    Then I waggled my head and repeated. “It's a date then.” I was panicking on the inside, I had only dated once, back in secondary school. Lyra. Until her parents pulled her from school to enroll her in a private academy to keep us apart. They were some of the most hurtful and bigoted people I think I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. They spoke as if being gay were a disease. They even spoke with my mum, accusing me of tricking their daughter into thinking she was a lesbian. They wouldn't believe the fact that it was Lyra and her awesome freckles who had seduced me, even though we both told them so.
    I hadn't thought about her in years. She made me feel okay with how I was, even though, my prosthetic eye grossed her out. She rarely met my eyes. The other girls I have been attracted to were always taken, or worse, were straight. Rayleigh being a prime example. I've gone out on blind dates a time or two that friends have set me up with, but they either wanted sex on the first date or never called back.
    I was brought back to the present when Isabelle changed the topic. “So tell me about how busking works. Isn't it just street performing for money?”
    I shook my head, was she wondering if I were a beggar? I couldn't read her expression as I guided her deeper into the Garden to find a good corner. I shook my head thoughtfully and said, “In the most simplistic of terms. However, it is more to hone our performance skills in front of an audience, than for the lolly. I mean, sure we can support ourselves on the money people donate, but we earn every quid of it. If they appreciate our performance, that is how they choose to express that appreciation.”
    She nodded equally as thoughtfully, taking in what I was sharing. She grinned and cocked an eyebrow as a way to prompt me to continue. I rolled my eyes and hugged her arm tighter and said, “Okay, where to start... Busking 101.” My attention was split between talking and the little voice inside my head jumping around and whispering, “She wants to date me!”
    I started at the beginning. “Most people who aspire to become performers learn quickly that hard work and practice are the only way to become more proficient. On that same token, you may sound great in a controlled environment of a classroom or studio where you can rehearse your music.”
    I tilted my head thinking about how to proceed then added, “But there is a huge difference between making music in that controlled environment and performing in front of people. That is where a lot of performers fall apart.”
    She nodded understanding and I continued, “So street performing is a dual purpose exercise. It lets you gauge the reactions of the audience to learn what works and what doesn't, thus allowing you to adjust and mature as a performer. Then you have the added benefit of building on your practice