Silent -  A Dangerous Game

Two Years Ago, Gavin

I woke in a state of confusion, wondering why another person was in the room.  Jace lay in a peculiar position on the floor, covered by a blanket he'd nicked from somewhere, his left arm bare, displaying a line of tattoos.

From his position on the floor, he stirred, stretching out and offering me a grin. 'Alright, posh boy. What's the time?'

I glanced at the time on my phone. 'Half-seven.'
 
'Cheers, posh boy. Wicked, last night. Your friends are sound. What're your plans?'

'I'm heading back to London.'

'No way, man. Because of Philippa?'

'No.'

'Don't lie to me, mate. Are you going to let her do that to you?'

I didn't say anything. Too tired.

'It's your career,' Jace went on. 'You can't let her ruin it. I think you should stay.'

'Maybe.'

'You've got to stay, mate. I wish I could play the piano. Those friends of yours last night really liked you.'

'I know.'  That was a point.  Dawn had forgiven me after the way I'd treated her at Jace's party on the pier a few nights earlier.

'You can't leave today.  No way. I'm coming to the workshop to hear you play, so you'd better be there.'

'Why would you want to come to a piano workshop?'

'To listen to you play the piano, stupid. I've heard you play really well. Anyway, you've got to stay. I'm your bodyguard. Terence's asked me to keep an eye on you.'

'What?'

'Last night, when Terence heard I was here, he gave me strict instructions: I've got to look after you and make sure you don't get into any more trouble.'

'You're joking?'  But Jace looked serious about it.

'I'm not joking. Terence came to find me last night. He told me to keep an eye on you. I promised I would.'

'Why did he come to find you?'

'He's worried about you…and I feel a bit responsible because of the other night with Steve. I should have done more to stop it.'

'Does Terence know about that?'

'No.'

Silence. For the first time, I could tell that Jace regretted his part in jumping me. It showed in his eyes.

'So you and Terence get on well then?' I said, to change the subject.  

'Steve's dad, yeah? I've known Terence since I was three.'

'I thought Steve and Terence don't talk.'

'They argue.'

'What's Terence really like?'

'What do you mean?'

'Isn't he …?'

'Isn't he what?' Jace said. 'Dangerous?  A nutter with powerful connections?  He's a pretty caring, kind bloke.  But never double cross him because he doesn't forget. He holds grudges, so don't mess with him, mate. I'm warning you because you're sound, even for a posh boy and a southerner.  I don't want to see you get into trouble. Watch your step, mate.'  Grinning, Jace picked up a pillow he'd nicked and threw it at my head. 'Shut up. Breakfast. I'm starving.'

***
After breakfast, Terence drove Jace and me to the Grand Theatre for the morning sessions and I performed the Chopin Scherzo on stage again in preparation for tomorrow's lunchtime concert.   Dawn was talking to me again.  Brilliant.  

Jace and Paul were shadowing me. Not so brilliant.  

You'll probably know how my mind works by now.  Coffee break. No sign of Philippa.  Kept looking for her.  Second coffee break.  No sign of Philippa. Kept looking for her. I double-checked my phone in case she'd texted and changed her mind about getting back with Aidan. Bad move. Don't think about a girl who's used and dumped you just to make their own boyfriend jealous.  Don't prod a tooth that's become swollen, infected and painful. Same thing. Sore, sore, agony.  By lunchtime, I was getting agitated all over again.  Ready to do anything Philippa wanted.  Ready to yank the tooth out. Then, my phone rang and her name flashed up on the screen.

'I'm waiting for you,' she said.  

'Where's Aidan?'

'He's stormed off in a rage. We had a big argument last night.'

I bet.  'So he's really gone?'

'He texted from Preston, saying he was going to jump on the track.  He won't.  He just does it for attention. Come back. I'm missing you so much.'

Jace and Paul were talking by the alcove to the auditorium.  They didn't see me on the phone.  I tiptoed away as quietly as I could and had just reached the main door when a hand touched my shoulder.

The hand belonged to Agnes Harlesden. 'Aha,' she said, eying me with suspicion. 'I've been looking for you, Gavin. Were you going somewhere?'

'I was just getting a bit of air.'

'Well, don't go too far, please. We're having a dress rehearsal for tomorrow's concert at two thirty this afternoon. '

'Is it compulsory?'

Agnes gave me a long, hard stare. I wouldn't have liked to receive one of those stares during a public master class. Finally, she spoke: 'You need to decide, Gavin, what's more important to you: the possibility of a promising career as a concert pianist or a brief relationship with a destructive young lady who thinks of no one but herself. Of course the dress rehearsal's compulsory. I'm amazed that you should ask me that question. What's more, there'll be many important people at tomorrow's concert and I shall be expecting a professional standard of performance from you. Please be prompt this afternoon or I'll get very, very angry and cross your name off the performers' list. And Terence will send you home in disgrace, and that will be it. You will receive no further offers of help'  

'I'm sorry,' I told Philippa when I called her back. 'I'm going to be delayed. There's a dress rehearsal and I can't get out of it.'

'Fine. I'll be waiting.'

'Aren't you coming to the rehearsal?'

'Nope,' Philippa said. 'I have no interest in performing at their stupid concert.  I have better plans.'

'What are those?'

'You'll find out soon enough,' Philippa said, in a teasing voice.  'Another fire.  A big, big fire. Only you and I will survive, but everyone else will die.' She laughed, mischievously.

'What did you say?'

'I was teasing you.  See you after the dress rehearsal. Enjoy.'