>> chapter two - student for your thoughts?

So far, so good; I kept thinking to myself as we were now three days into the first week of a new academic year. My freshman class had proved to be quite a talented bunch of people that needed work, but were good none the less. But there was one student in particular that I couldn't quite get of my head for the most parts of the day. One: Jacob Holmes. I don't know, what it is but there's something about him that intrigues me to no ends and excites me a little. Could be his singing? His reserved persona? His looks? Or something else entirely. I was just sitting in my office contemplating these very thoughts looking through his file with my feet up on my desk crossed over. There wasn't much to go on; apart from the fact; he comes from Madison Wisconsin, just turned 18, a virgin, he comes from a working class family and has quite the musical talent. "So what is it?" I muttered to myself privately staring at his photo. "What's your story; Jakey boy?" I muttered quietly to myself closing his file and looked over at my office door rubbing my chin a little. I continued to get lost in my thoughts; when I found myself being interrupted by a phone call on my office phone. I looked at it and pressed the loud speaker button. "What is it; Denise?" I asked the receptionist. "There's a call on line 1 for you; Mr. Johnson." replied the female receptionist via the speaker phone.

"Who is it?" I asked curiously. "A Mr. David Andrews?" I sighed, "Tell him, I'm busy would you; Denise. I don't have time to deal with him right now." I requested. "I would sir, but his adamant about talking to you." She replied, "God, Damn it! Argh.." I said a loud sigh of frustration taking my feet off my desk and sitting up: "Fine put him through; Denise." I said with great frustration, I picked up my phone turning off speaker and pressed line 1; as Denise patched me through. "David! What have I told you about calling me at work. Jesus." I said annoyingly. He replied saying he was sorry, but he was sick of waiting to speak to me. "David. Look. I'ts over. I told you this; just let it go; alright!" He refused to let it go telling me; he wasn't going to give up on us. "David, enough! What's done is done. Just move on; please.." I said massaging the temples of my forehead listening to my recent ex-boyfriend go on about how he loved me and stuff, and it was just emotionally draining for me. What doesn't he understand? I kept thinking to myself. I just shook my head from side to side slowly; when a knock on my office door was heard. "Come in!" I shouted having moved the phone away from my mouth for a minute; as the door opened just as I said: "David! Stop it! My decision is final! It's over!" I said slamming my phone down cursing a little to myself rubbing the front of my forehead; as I looked up and saw Jacob standing there. Crap. I thought to myself.

I looked up at an obviously worried Jacob due to my recent outburst on the phone; probably scared the boy half to death. I looked down at the note and remembered rubbing my forehead. "Oh right, yeah. I'm sorry you had to hear that Jacob; some people just don't know that no means no; you know? Please sit." I said calmly gesturing for him to sit down; which he did nervously. "Now, heh.." I took a breath returning to my professional mode: "I've spoken to the Dean and has accepted my request to take you on personally; as your vocal coach. Since I do not feel, Miss. Adams can bring out the best in your voice. I believe, it needs a man's touch; shall we say. I chuckled lightly. "You see Jake, I believe you have a great future ahead and I'd rather use my experience and my expertise to make sure you get the best help imaginable. It took some convincing, but the Dean is letting me trial it for awhile and has given you the option to return to Miss. Adams class; whenever you want. But I can only teach you; if you agree and sign.." I pulled open my draw and lifted out a piece of A4 paper and placed it front of Jacob that has the Dean's signature on it and mine; it just needed Jake's now. "..this contract. Which gives me your permission to do so. But the choice is ultimately yours. You see most of your class-mates are instrumental based; you are the only vocalist in your group; who wants to improve on it. So I felt you deserved the same amount of commitment from the Academy you have paid to come to and study at. But like I said the decision is yours; all you have to do is sign here..I will completely understand, if you do not wish to partake in this exclusive offer. There will be no hard feelings; my friend." I finished informing with a smile and wondered, what he would decide to do; as I pulled out a pen for him and placed it on the paper.

I smiled at Jacob accepting my offer, "Excellent!" I said with excitement taking the now signed contract from him and rolled it up and kept it shut with an elastic band. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Jacob. I believe in all my students, and I just want to do; what I can for them. And you Jake are no exception. I don't normally take on solo students; but there's just something about you: Jacob Holmes that I can't quite put my finger on, and I just had to take you on. You will rehearse with me; everyday after your classes has finished for the day for one full hour inside the main choir room. The sessions maybe become longer, if necessary. So be sure to make a note of that in your diary. Your first session will be after your classes today. Don't be late my friend. Is there anything you wish to ask me? While you're here in my office and all? Anything at all?" I said with a grin keeping eye-contact with Jacob.

I smirk, "You don't sound very enthusiastic, do you Jacob? Any reason, why?" I said raising my eyebrow looking over at him straightening out some papers.

I smirk, "I see. Tired are we, Jake? And if you want to be the best; then you best listen to the best right?" I said with a grin. "What, do you mean?" asked a curious; but confused Jacob. I continued to smile confidently, before I picked up my wooden guitar and placed the strap over my muscular torso. I picked up the remote to the portable stereo on the piano's surface; where all my papers were and look over at the stereo pressing play on my remote seeing the door had already closed and the music began to play; whilst I started to strum away at my guitar smiling with confidence at Jacob. Who raised his eyebrow, as I started to sing the opening verse of my chosen song:

"Let's go to the beach, each..
Let's go get away..
They say, what they gonna say?
Have a drink, clink, found the bud light..
Bad b-tches like me, is hard to come by..
The patron on, let's go get it on!
The zone on, yes, I'm in the zone!
Is it two, three? Leave a good tip..
I'mma blow off my money and don't give two shits!"

Jacob started to smile, as I continued to sing with strength, power and rhythm with a huge grin on my face heading into the next verse..

"i’m on the floor, floor..
i love to dance..
so give me more, more, ’till i can’t stand..
get on the floor, floor..
like it’s your last chance..
if you want more, more..
then here i am!"

I kept my eyes on Jacob; as I continued to strum away on my guitar with some help from the up-tempo backing track. I tilted it back a little on my heel, before walking towards Jacob singing to him with the softest of smiles meaning every word and making sure; he knew that..

"Starships were meant to fly!
Hands up, and touch the sky!
Can't stop, 'cause we're so high!
Let's do this one more time!
Starships were meant to fly!
Hands up, and touch the sky!
Let's do this one last time!
Can't stop..
higher than any other..
higher than any other..
higher than any other!"

I smiled at his moving my body to the beat of the track moving my guitar around to my back leaving just my strap across my chest. I took Jacob by the hands and pulled him up off his chair into the centre of the room. I let go of his hands and clapped looking at him, as the instrumental was coming to an end; where I pulled my guitar back round and started to strum it again hoping Jacob would sing the next part for me..

He had obviously seen the recent episode of Glee that combined the two songs; I wasn't expecting that. He was kinda cute you know with his interpretation and he seemed to be enjoying himself a little; which was good enough for me. Did I just call my student cute? I'm sure, it was nothing. I don't know, what it was but as we sang together; I felt drawn to him, and it's like I didn't want our duet to end just yet. I smiled at him keeping our eyes locked on each other, as I started to circle around him singing softly to him; as he followed my every move with a shy smile. Our eyes were locked on the other's, as I winked at him to keep going and smiled warmly..

"i’m on the floor, floor..
i love to dance..
so give me more, more, ’till i can’t stand..
get on the floor, floor..
like it’s your last chance..
if you want more, more..
then here i am!"

I smile at Jacob continuing to strum away enjoying our performance together..

"Starships were meant to fly!
Hands up, and touch the sky!
Can't stop, 'cause we're so high!
Let's do this one more time!
Starships were meant to fly!
Hands up, and touch the sky!
Let's do this one last time!
Can't stop..
higher than any other..
higher than any other..
higher than any other!"

Jacob's chorus was about to come into play again, and I took a few steps back keeping our eyes on each other and smiling at the other, but a small gap remained between us..

I didn't know; what it was but I saw fear in Jacob's eyes, they looked like they were in pain as well. It was like; I was really seeing Jacob for the first time. The song was coming to an end; as it entered the chorus for one final time with the music slowing down completely; almost haunting and I stopped playing the guitar and moved it round to my back. I slowly closed the gap between Jacob and I; one step after the other singing gently to him in a very softened tone..

"Starships were meant to fly..
Hands up, and touch the sky..
Can't stop, 'cause we're so high..
Let's do this one more time..

The song came to an end, as I stood right in front of Jacob staring deeply into his eyes; my facial expression had turned straight, not giving anything away. Jacob looked at me gulping a little, it was like I was looking into his soul. I slowly raised my hand and gently placed it on the side of Jacob's warm face. He jolted a little, but soon felt comfortable; safe even. What I was about to do was about to shock even myself. I started to lean towards Jacob; who's nerves I could hear and feel from his breath. I soon found my lips gently pressing up against Jacob's; as my eyes fell closed as did Jacob's and slipped my tongue carefully inside his mouth deepening this kiss; I was giving Jacob. It was slow and passionate; which saw my other hand place itself on the other side of his face. I kissed him more with a little resistance from both of us, but our lip-lock was strong..

"Jacob..wait! Come back!" I saw him run out of the choir room with his things. "Shit!" I said loudly kicking the floor running my fingers through my short hair. "What the hell am I doing? What's going on here?" I said quietly to myself feeling more confused by the minute. If this gets out; I could lose my job. I just have to trust Jacob won't say anything; until we get a chance to talk.