The Drums of War-- Day 5 (February 6, 2317)

[Anwen]

Angie landed once more as the music finished. She looked up at the sky and breathed a quick prayer, "please don't actually send rain!" Then, she looked around.

Two boys were staring at her.

People were watching.

Guitars...

Angie winked at the boys and began to play the flute part in a Joy to the World flute/guitar duet. And then she ran away while playing.

[Brock]

Benjamin and Johnathan looked at each other. "Was she trying to get them to play their guitars along with her music?" they both thought.

"Hey Ben, lets see if you can take the finger picking lessons that I've been teaching you and play along with her. Do you know the song?"

"Do I! I know it better then I know my way around my own house! But why won't you play it?"

I brought my custom electric so mine wouldn't sound as nice as the acoustic that you brought. And by the way, if you can't play as well as she can, then you're buying us coffee."

"Buying Us coffee?" Ben asked, "Who's the other person?"

"I was thinking that girl that you should be playing with right NOW."

"Okay, I'm going. No need to push me along." Ben got out his acoustic, put the strap around his neck, and as soon as she started the second verse of Joy to the World, he was picking in perfect time with the girl's playing trying to follow her as she ran as fast as he could without messing up. He then turned back to Johnathan and said, "About time for an electric solo."

Rolling his eyes he turned on his electric with the built in amp. and started up a solo with just a little bit of distortion, trying as best he could to not blare out the sound of the flute. He soon got into it though because he started using the wain arm on his guitar and did some sliding bars along with some fast finger picking and quite a few bends. But soon his part was over and he turned the distortion off and started accompanying Benjamin with some chords. Then the song ended and they walked up to the girl and introduced themselves, "You're really good on that flute of yours." Johnathan said to her, "I'm Johnathan and this is my friend Benjamin who is also my student."

[Anwen]

"You guys aren't so bad yourselves... Though maybe I only think that since you're better than me. I don't have quite as much of an ear for the guitar as the flute. I'm Angie by the way." Angie smiled impishly. "You teach guitar? Could you give me a few pointers?" She laughed awkwardly. "I'll be the first to admit I have a VERY short attention span though."

[Brock]

Johnathan

"I might." Johnathan said, "do you have a guitar?"

"Hey John," Benjamin said, "Who's buying coffee? Because I'm ready for a mocha."

"I'm in the middle of a conversation right now." Johnathan hushed. "We'll talk about it after I'm done."

[Anwen]

"Of course! I like the guitar, though it's not my best instrument. I'm learning "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" on the fiddle and drums, and I wanted to learn the other parts too. I like a challenge!" She got a twinkle in her eye. "Of course, I'll pay with pastries."

[Brock]

"I'm currently teaching Ben 'The Devil went down to Georgia" on guitar. He is learning it fast and pretty soon he may be as good as me. Maybe." Johnathan said looking over a Ben and grinning.

"I also like challenges," Ben said, "like learning from someone that is really advanced compared to me is a big challenge, especially if the person you're learning from has a big ego. Wait, did you say you would pay with pastries? John, can I teach her the basics so I can get in on this deal?"

"No way. If anyone is going to get paid it's going to be me. You can find you're own client that will pay you with pastries."

"Okay, fine. You'll have to pay for my large mocha that I'm going to get when we go down to the coffee shop."

"Who said, I, was going to pay? I think, I, played much better than you did, and I played a solo."

"I could of played that solo! It was so simple a seven year old could of played it! I was expecting you to do some advanced strumming, some faster finger picking, and more bends. And then all you did was accompany me with some simple chords. Completely breaking all the rules you're teaching me."

"Maybe we need to do that again. A little rematch to find out who buys coffee and who gets the large mocha. I was thinking a little faster and harder song that you would have a hard time on, maybe 'Minor Swing'."

"You're on, some other time. Or we could play 'Battle of the Guitars' after we get back from, you, buying us coffee."

"Fine, but next time you're buying."

"I'm good with that. Hey Angie, you want some coffee paid for by my good friend Johnathan over here?"

[Cytherea]

Caleb

Caleb stepped from the transport and quickly paid his driver. He smoothed his dark auburn hair, straightened his collar, and walked up to the impressive structure before him. The Fletcher residence.

Quickly, he stepped inside and into the elevator. He knew he would have to get access to be able to come up, but he was sure Miss Fletcher would allow him to. He surveyed the room she was in from a small camera he carried with him, and quickly punched in a code. The people watching her every move would be blocked, but only for a few precious moments.

Caleb's dark brown eyes twinkled as he pressed a button and began to speak.

"Mistalyn Fletcher, we only have a few minutes. My name is Caleb Jarvis, and I have information about your brother."

[Lithium]

Missy

Her eyes widened in shock and she brought her hand to her mouth. She murmured, "Please come up, Mr. Jarvis."

She numbly pressed a button on the com to let Caleb in. Of course Caleb would have done some digging. Matty is his boss...

The elevator doors opened in front of her and she could barely move.

We'll be found out. Oh no. He's got to go. I have to make it seem like... How do I get rid of him?

[Cytherea]

Caleb

Mistalyn's face looked horrified, and he felt a small twinge of quilt in not contacting her earlier. But now he was, and that was all that mattered.

"Do not be alarmed, Miss Fletcher." Caleb said, quickly stepping up to her. "The cameras are stilled, and they will remain that way for 5 and a half minutes." he went around the room swiftly, scanning everything while talking to her. "We will have to meet somewhere later today and act as though we've been friends for a very long time." he stopped in front of her. "Strategically, I will get you the information you need about Matthew." he promised.

[Anwen]

Stifling a giggle at the two's antics, Angie began to put her flute away. "I would LOVE some coffee!" As she was placing the lid on her flute's case, Angie paused. "Oh. I suppose I should tell you two now... caffeine makes me EXTREMELY hyper. Maybe hot cocoa would be better." She said as a wry smile began to form on her lips.

[Brock]

Ben was about to speak but Johnathan quickly jabbed him in the ribs and said, "I think hot cocoa would be great! I'm not so sure about Ben here though, he loves his mocha with hazelnut flavorings."

When Benjamin caught his breath, he asked Angie, "So, what type of hot cocoa do you want? Mint, raspberry, french vanilla, hazelnut? I think I may try hazelnut cocoa today..."

"As you can tell, Ben loves hazelnut." John said, "Now, shall we be off? What coffee shop should we go to?"

[Anwen]

"Oh, I don't know, the local one I guess. First," Angie added, while pulling out her photosphere, "I think I'll let my family know where I'm going..." Though I'm not always quite so thoughtful. She added silently with a wry smile.

After calling her family quickly, Angie looked back at the boys. "Are you coming?" She said laughingly, taking off at a light run, grinning back at them.

[Brock]

Ben and Johnathan wasted no time. They quickly caught up to her and the three of them were at the coffee shop in no time.

"What can I get for you today?" the woman at the window asked.

"I think I'll have a white coffee mocha with whipped cream and chocolate syrup, and my friend here will have a hazelnut flavored mocha also with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Angie, what would you like?"

[Anwen]

Thinking for just a moment, Angie replied, "I think I would like caramel flavored hot cocoa."

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid we don't carry that."

"O.K. How about Almond Joy cocoa?"

"I'm sorry, we don't carry that either."

"Do you even carry hot cocoa!?!"

[Brock]

"We do carry that. Is that what you would like?" the woman asked.

"Is that what you want Angie?" Johnathan asked, "You can have anything you want. I have enough money."

[Anwen]

"Let's see... how about hazelnut?"

"I'm sor--"

Angie leaned across the counter and interrupted her, "Now don't tell me you don't carry that either! I know you have hazelnut flavorings because that's what he's getting!" she pointed to Ben. "Well, in a mocha anyway." She paused to think a moment. "Also, if you're just telling me this because Cloe O'Shea put you up to it..."

Joan Hernandez started laughing. "Alright Angie, you got me! What did you want again?"

"Dark chocolate caramel hot cocoa. Oh! I forgot introductions..." She turned to the boys. "Guys, this is my friend Joan, Joan, these are the musicians extraordinaire Ben and Johnathan."

[Brock]

"Nice to meet you." Ben said as he leaned over the counter to shake hands.

"It's a pleasure to meet a friend of Angie's." Johnathan said gentlemen-like and making a quick bow. "How long have you two been friends?"

[Anwen]

"Oh, I don't know, a year maybe?" Angie said offhandedly as Joan went to fill their orders. "What about you two? How long have you known each other, and what are your interests other than the guitar?"

[Brock]

"Well," Ben begun, "I think we've been friends since I was four or five. Our friendship started when I threw a baseball and it hit his face smack in the cheek. Since he was older by about half a year and was three inches taller than I, I ran back to my house when he started to run towards me with a bat."

"Oh your telling it wrong," Johnathan interrupted, "I just moved in next door and Ben invited me over to play baseball with him. I wasn't ready when he threw the ball and it didn't hit me in the cheek, it hit me in the nose and I was bleeding for half an hour. I went home crying and later that day Ben came over and apologized for throwing the ball and hitting me in the nose. We than played baseball every day and became best friends. Than our love of baseball stopped when I got a guitar for my birthday. Once I got good at playing it (Which didn't take long) I started teaching Ben which he took a bit longer than I to learn the basics." Now there mocha's and hot chocolate were done and they said bye to Joan and started walking in no particular direction.

"Where should we go now?" Ben asked, "You got any ideas Angie?"

[Anwen]

Angie walked in silence for a moment, pondering. "Well, we could continue to wander around, talk, and drink our cups of hot delight, or we could drink quickly, go back to the park, and practice our instruments together." Brightening up, she added, "We could even stop by my house and pick up my guitar! I-if you guys can stand my playing anyway. I've only been doing guitar for a year or so now."

[Brock]

"Wait," Ben stopped in his tracks, "you play guitar?"

Johnathan elbowed Ben in the rib and said, "Of course she plays guitar. Look at the calluses on the tips of her fingers. Honestly, I would of thought you would of seen that by now. I think we should do both, drink our hot cups of delight slowly and head to your house to get your guitar."

"May I ask," Ben started glancing over at Johnathan to see if he would elbow him again, "what type of guitar do you have? I mean, what brand and type? Is it electric or acoustic?"

"Excuse him, Ben isn't used to being around girls and doesn't know what to say. If he did, he wouldn't of asked you like that."

[Anwen]

Angie laughed to herself at Ben's open astonishment. Hiding it quickly did her no good however, as Johnathan tried to patch up afterwards. However, she managed a straight face and replied. "No problem Johnathan. Or would you rather I call you Jon? As to you Ben," Angie began to speak like a commercial, "my guitar is an acoustic, produced by Bradley and Co. which is the leader in the music industry. And," she paused for effect, "my father's business."

Barely pausing, Angie continued. "Also, didn't we already have this discussion? In the park?"

[Brock]

"Wait," Johnathan paused, "Your father owns a guitar business? That's awesome!"

"I think I have a couple of his guitars at my house." Ben said, "There're really nice to play and they have a good feel to them."

"I agree. They are nicely balanced and they thankfully don't have a weird design. I have a couple that were really nice when I bought them but I look at them now and am like, 'Why did I ever buy that?'"

"I'm okay with 'Jon', I have a selected few who I allow to call me 'Jon'. That would be my Mom, Dad, and now you." Johnathan said with a smile.

"What about me? Why don't I get to call you Jon?" Ben asked.

"Because, your not a girl or part of my family."

"Fine. You don't get to call me 'Ben' anymore."

"As you can see, although we are good friends, we do have some arguments about things. Particularly in names and brands of guitars."

[Lithium]

Missy

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank God I'm not the only one who knows."

Her body relaxed a bit on its own, and the fatigue she'd bee feeling diminished slightly.

"They might know that we aren't close friends. Perhaps you could tell me about the business you're conducting or... something. And, if you out where he is," she said, steeling her jaw and looking him straight in the eyes, "you'd better let me come with you."

[Cytherea]

Caleb

"You'd better let me come with you."

Caleb immediately flashed a bored look to cover his would-be evident surprise.

"Well... If you indeed wish it to be so, then I don't suppose I can stop you." he smiled coolly. "But I will warn you." he stepped up close to her and looked down into her eyes. "There's many people who don't like me, or appreciate my work. Involving and, possibly, entangling yourself in my life and business, may prove challenging and dangerous. Dangerous for you, Mistalyn." he stepped away and walked around the room lightly before turning and looking at her again. "And I don't think Matthew will praise me at your injury."

Suddenly seeming to appear less mysterious and cruelly sly, he flashed a smile.

"Shall we, Miss Fletcher?"