As everyone began grabbing some food and filling their plates, I couldn't help but look over at Joe. He looked really good tonight and I couldn't help but think about everything he had done in his career. It still blew my mind that he would hang out with someone like me. I grabbed a couple of spoons and put some food on my plate. I didn't take much food because I didn't know it was a dinner party and I wasn't that hungry. I ate my food quietly while I listened to the other guests sharing stories about time spent with Gio. They were all acting colleagues who had some fun stories from the sets of what they worked on. I finished my food and sat there for a little while. I looked at Joe and he also didn't seem interested in his food.
"So," he started, looking right at me. "Tell me about the music business." Gio's plan seemed to be working well.
"I wouldn't really call it the 'music business'. But, it is good, especially the gig I have going. I work on a cover once a week, upload it online, and then take whatever time is left in the week to do whatever I want. I can also book a concert if I want to in a small theater and know that people will show up; either fans or people who just want to hear a cover artist. It's pretty nice, but it is a bit nerve-racking." I loved talking about my job, especially the music part. But, I had to admit that the job wasn't everything it was chopped up to be.
"How so?" He asked, seeming completely interested in my career path.
"Well," I tried to think of a way to describe this to an actor in a way he could understand. "When you get paid, you get a flat rate for the work you have done, whether it's by the hour or by scene, you know what you're going to be paid by the end of the production, right?" He nodded his head in agreement. The other guests were still talking to each other and Gio, so they weren't listening to us. It felt like we were back at the first party. "Well, I don't know what I'm going to get paid. I get paid per a certain number of views. So, if a video does well, I get more money than a video that does poorly. But, I can never tell what will do well and which ones won't, so it's always a gamble." I looked into Joe's eyes and he still seemed interested even though I was babbling about something he probably didn't understand.
"That's not great, but at least you get paid every week, right?"
"Yeah, don't you?" I liked that he was engaging with me.
"Well, not when I'm not working." He laughed. "I'll be back to that soon enough. I'll just enjoy my break for now." He flooded his arms behind his head and acted like he was lying in a lounge chair on vacation. I had to think of something to ask him. I didn't want to talk about the Jurassic Park thing now because I didn't know if he wanted all these other people to know about that. So, I decided I would talk to him about it later; maybe in private.
"What's your favorite movie?" I asked. I had always wanted to ask a successful actor what their favorite movie was. I was like asking me about my favorite band or a chef about his favorite food.
"It's a Wonderful Life. I know it's a Christmas movie, but it's just so good. Every scene is wonderful and you feel for each character so much. I end up crying every time I watch it, but it's that good kind of crying. Like happy crying, you know?... What about you? What's your favorite?"
"Some Like It Hot. It's an old movie too, but it's just so brilliant. It balances comedy and drama so well. I also really like Forrest Gump, but everyone likes Forrest Gump." We both chuckled at my joke. We were both more relaxed now and we kept talking. Everything from other movies we loved to ones we hated. We ended up getting to the topic of music.
"So, now I have to ask, what's your favorite band? You know I had to ask at some point, Miss Musician." He smiled while I thought.
"I can easily say the Beatles because they completely changed my life and introduced me to classic rock. They will always have a special place in my heart, but my day to day favorite changes all the time. I think, and I'm not just saying this, right now it might be Queen." I couldn't help but smile as I said this. There was something about the band that drew me in. Something about the charisma of each member and their ever-changing line of music that stuck with me. Plus, they practically had a song for every occasion. Happy or sad, you could listen to a Queen song.
"Come on." He retorted with a scoff.
"I'm serious! I'm not just saying that. When do you start that project anyway?" If I got him talking about his new movie, maybe then I could find some more common ground.
"The new year. They're going to fly me out to London to start bass rehearsals and get me started with a movement coach. I'm working on getting the character day and night it feels like. He was a pretty quiet guy, but I also need to emulate his accent perfectly." He talked with his hands as he spoke and it was really cute. You could tell he was really passionate about not just the movie, but also the band. He wanted to do Deacy justice.
"You do really look like him," I added. Whenever he smiled, I could see it in his face. Deacy had always been the quietest member, but his stage presence was always felt. I knew that Joe would be amazing in the role.
"I've been told that a lot recently." We both chuckled and we kept talking about bands we liked and Queen. I guess he saw this as an opportunity to pick my brain about John. "Since you're a fan of Queen, tell me about John."
"Well, he's my favorite, but I couldn't tell you why. It's just something about him. Maybe it's the fact that he was the eye of the storm. He kept the band together and level-headed. He didn't really want to be famous. He just saw that the band was taking off and he followed it. He would have been happy with a job living in the English suburbs, which is where he ended up living after Freddie died. But, he became this almost rock God, writing some of the band's biggest hits. And, he did it all with some impeccable style, I might add. Be ready for lots of sweater vests, booty shorts, and bell-bottom pants. And don't even get me started on his hair." I smiled when talking about Deacy. He was not the typical rock star, but he was still incredibly important.
"I know, his hair is insane! I feel like I'm gonna have a lot of wigs." We laughed and kept talking at the table. He made me feel calm and secure when with people I didn't know. Eventually, people started leaving and it was just Joe, Gio, and me. We said our goodbyes to Gio and we left his apartment together. "Can I walk you to your car?" he asked as the door closed behind us.
"Sure," I answered with a small shrug. We walked outside to the sidewalk and walked down the road to my car. I walked with my hands grasping the strap of my purse, something I did when I was nervous, and he walked with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders tense up by his neck. It was colder now than when we came to the party and we were both feeling it as we walked the short way. When we came up to the car, I opened the door and then put my hands on it. I could tell that Joe wanted to say something through the walk, so I made sure to pause to give him an opportunity to say it.
"Would you mind if I called you sometime?" His shoulders became less tense.
"I would like that. A lot." I smiled wide and he smiled too. "Well then, I'll talk to you later." He began to turn to walk away, but then I remembered what I came to the party for.
"Wait," I said. He turned back around and walked closer to the door that was in between us. "How come you didn't mention that you were in Jurassic Park?" He had two nights now to mention it, but he didn't. So, I needed to ask him.
"It's not something that I usually bring up in regular conversation." He chuckled.
"Well, if I was in a movie like that, I would mention it all the time. At least, to impress people." I tilted my head to the side as I spoke. I felt my hair fall in front of my face, but only slightly in front of one eye.
"I might bring it up if I'm trying to impress a girl," he answered. I looked down and clenched my lips together. I see. He didn't like me. "But, I didn't think I needed to do that with you." He brought his head down to my eye level to make sure I saw him. I looked up at him and smiled letting some air release out of my nose that I didn't know I was holding in. "You seemed like someone I could just talk to. Like a normal person, and not be an actor in an interview for a while. And, I was right." He spoke in a soft, almost whispered tone. I brushed my hair off of my face and gave him a soft smile.
I placed my hand back on the door. Joe's hand left his pocket and placed it right on top of mine. I took in a quick gasp of air as his warm hand laid down on my cold hand. He used his thumb to stroke the back of my hand. I stared at his hand as he did this. My heart was beating faster and faster. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn't want to overstep in any way. I decided to talk.
"It was nice to talk to you too. You're easy to talk to." I smiled and looked up at him. I stared into his brown eyes that looked like burnt honey. I dropped my shoulders and felt like I could melt once more. He leaned in slowly and planted a warm kiss on my right cheek. I could feel his stubble on my face for a split second before he pulled away. It was quick, but it sent a shiver through my whole body. He slowly removed his hand from mine.
"I'll call you. Good night." He waited for my response, just watching me for a second.
"Good night," I replied, trying to keep it together as best I could. He took a couple of steps backward before turning around. Both hands were in his pockets again as he half-jogged back the way we came to get his car. I got into my car and closed the door behind me and just sat in the moment. I was smiling from ear to ear and I couldn't stop even if I wanted to. I started the car and started the drive back home. I wasn't paying attention to the road; all I could think about was Joe and his kiss. How soft and warm it was. When I got home, as soon as I closed the door I was squealing and giggling. I collapsed onto my bed and smiled. I liked him and he liked me. I couldn't believe it. But, now I had to wait for his call, and waiting would be torture.