What had started as a pretty regular day soon evolved into the first lesson day. AJ didn't even notice how the time flew by until he saw his new and excited new student smiling from the door with bright eyes and a guitar case attached to his back.
Everyone turned around to see him walk across the store on his way to the counter. It was always a show to watch him walk with his long strides, making his loose clothes wave like a proud flag in the wind. Just as always, his fashion style was loose slacks and a button up with no print this time; there were no flowers or weird patterns, instead just thin vertical lines designed in a deep blue over a white thin fabric. He was going for a more conservative look, so it seemed.
Even when everything in him screamed uniqueness and a huge personality, his shoes were simply an independence statement in capital bold letters. Most people would have chosen moccasins or a pair of derby shoes to go with the outfit, but this guy would rather use flip-flops with thick leather straps that allowed him to display his bare toes that wouldn't stop wiggling. It was the kind of shoe you use at the beach during a summer walk with some shorts or a bathing suit, but the mystery continued as he was killing it like no other.
"Let's see what you've got there," AJ welcomed him with a smile while he cleared the counter for him to place the case.
Curious onlookers gathered close by, attracted by the shop owner's interest in this particular guy and his instrument. No amount of attention or whispers could have erased the grin on the newcomer's face. Quite the contrary, he seemed to bask in the attention even when he didn't strike like the type of guy to look for that effect; he sure wasn't afraid of it either.
The black leather case was nothing ordinary either, nor something that would be expected of a beginner. AJ couldn't deny that after seeing it, his interest in the instrument hidden inside grew exponentially. However, AJ was not one to rush things regarding his passion. It was meant to be a process he intended to enjoy to the fullest. He never got tired of the tingle on his fingers whenever he ran them down a guitar. It was almost as if the instrument were communicating through vibrations meant only for him.
By opening the lead, the musician did nothing to hide or tone down his shock when he saw a beautiful work of art. A perfect curvy body of a classic black and white design that some would call plain, but to him it was elegant and soothing. His heart got excited with the familiar vibration when the musician ran a lonely finger down following its curves, followed by an immediate ache, remembering how the poor instrument had suffered all this time, losing string after string at unqualified hands.
"Will it work?" The little devil asked with his cheeks painted in a soft pink. He clutched his leather strap as always when he was nervous, but now he truly seemed to be on the brink of a heart attack. "Why don't you take it out?"
The instructor had spent a good two minutes only staring at the instrument and tracing its shape with his finger as if it was the most delicate object in the world. While, in the meantime, the crooked smile guy was having a breakdown, thinking he could back down of his offer at any minute if he didn't find it worth it. Time kept ticking and the people that gathered around all seemed to hold their breath at the same time, only adding to his anxiety.
"Easy." AJ held his hand up in a sign of calm. "You can't just take her out and start playing her like any cheap thing. A beauty like this needs time and respect." The seriousness in the musician's tone was new, but worked to ground the impatient boy a little while longer.
Once it was enough, he slid two fingers over the strings, letting the rough feeling of the thicker steel strings run through his skin and straight to his chest. He would have opted for nickel strings to avoid a major wear to the fret, but it was a rookie's mistake to assume all the strings were the same.
"Her?" finally questioned the guy, not able to hold it any longer. "What are you talking about? You can't play it if you don't take it out." A hard slap on the hand hindered his attempt to do it, just like a child about to steal from the cookie jar.
Everyone around gasps as if knowing that had been a very bad move. The student held his hand against his chest, trying to hide the hurt in his eyes, suddenly feeling very conscious.
"Lesson number one!" The air around the musician changed from joyful to intense, and a new fire lit his eyes. "This is not just any guitar. This is a beautiful Fender American Stratocaster," the name rolled out of his mouth with reverence, as if he was talking about a deity and not just a simple instrument.
The guy looked back at him, completely lost for an answer. Fear was crawling its way into his gut, afraid of messing it up again. Somehow, his new instructor seemed a lot more severe than he had initially thought and took matters really seriously.
He looked at the guitar, still laid down in the case. There was nothing particularly notorious for it. It had six strings just like any other, and it was only black and white; not like some other he had in his store that sported bright colors and designs. He looked back at the instructor once again and knew better than to point out his assessment.
He had already made a fool of himself in the first ten minutes of his lesson. He didn't need to do it anymore.
"Do you even know what that is?" Damned. He had to ask. He couldn't play it safe by keeping quiet if he asked him directly.
He lowered his head, ashamed, while he replied with a silent shake no. His fingers squeezed the strap tighter than ever to help him hold back the burn in his eyes that only predicted a major embarrassment for him. The musician would reject him for sure now, he had let him down. He should have never asked to be tutored.
What were you thinking?
"Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, The Eagle, are just some of the legends that have had one of these." He continued with his unwilling attack, not noticing the tears welling in the other's eyes. "God! I can believe you've been torturing this beauty all this time." This tutor gig was not for him.
He should've known.
But despite knowing he was a rookie, his gut told him he would differ from the other guys. He thought he had seen something in him worth the time, but he was just another silly boy who thought by buying the most expensive instrument there was, he would automatically become the next Jimi Hendrix.
A shaky breath called his attention, but the sight in front of him made him feel like a jerk. His bubbling anger instantly recoiled.
The musician sighed, frustrated.
It was his first class, and he had already intimidated and embarrassed his student in front of the entire store. He had never called someone out for not knowing about music like he did. It always annoyed him when someone made fun of others for not knowing instead of explaining them, and there he was doing the exact same thing. He saw with deep regret how the light and excitement extinguished from the guy's eyes and the stares of concern and pity of the surrounding audience.
Good job, you dick.
On the other hand, the crooked smile was having his dreams crushed. He had planned his first lesson to be very different from what it was so far. They were supposed to laugh about it and just have a good time while getting to know each other, enjoying the music. Then, he would have ordered dinner and they would have continued to laugh about silly things.
What were you thinking?
Of course, the musician would take things seriously. Music was practically his life. At this point, he was just glad he wouldn't know he had kept the guitar in the corner of his room working as a clothes rack. He flinched just by thinking about it.
This wasn't going as planned.