Wednesday
Somehow April looks perfectly natural, seated pensively on the stairwell, resting her chin on both wrists.
Deej is perfectly natural laughing with Irene in the kitchen.
Ned is perfectly natural in the small den reading the paper and, mainly, not being in the living room.
What's increasingly natural is Sam playing Nick's acoustic right there on their couch, albeit, Nick doesn't find his own electric playing all that natural.
Deej had woken up not feeling any worse and never recorded a fever, just felt warm, although she flashed him a couple looks that hint Uncle Frank has pulled up to the curb.
Evidently Sam took some guitar at Eastern and really got into it, she seems such a natural, even hums melodies.
"Nice," he comments.
Sam flashes a grimace, "It's just chords."
"Know any minors?"
"Yeah...what?"
"Minor chord progressions, like E minor or somethin', it's the sadder chords."
"Oh...yeah, I just kinda ramble, but like this?" and starts an arpeggio in what he recognizes as A minor.
"There it is...can you harmonize, like, keep it in that key?"
Hesitantly, "I think so..." This chick clearly has no way to know the depths of her talents.
So they go on, he does some stuff in that scale and it fits, she goes to some major chords, who knows if from training or instinct. Eventually she finds what must be a seventh, looks like an E, hangs there, then gracefully resolves.
Irene chimes in, "That's pretty guys, I could almost join in on piano."
"Wow would you look at the time - " Nick starts.
"Be nice to your mother!" Deej blasts.
Sam just keeps on playing.
Nick glances over at April who's smiling over her preoccupation, he tries to find where Sam's at now and it kinda works, tries some major scale but had never gotten inspired with those.
At some point Deej comes over and leans on him, but it's a cover. She talks softly to stay below the music. "Can you hear me? Be subtle."
"Mmmm hmm."
"April is staying with us. Long story but she had a huge fight with her mom last night."
"UMMMM ummmm."
"Exactly."
"You do look hot with that guitar."
"Even though it's a knock off?"
"I'll knock you off."
"Always do."
She looks at him wryly. "Carry on," then gets up to go sit by the little brunette.
Irene starts snapping pictures.
Nick jabs, "Did you get one of Dad in there?"
"He's off duty. Smile."
Nick makes a mock grin and she snaps it anyway.
"Alright girls -"
He hears screams and looks to see them whimsically try to prevent each other from crawling up the stairs while Irene grabs a couple shots.
Sam stops playing to laugh.
Nick switches to a boogie and tries to embellish.
Sam starts to imitate.
Nick pauses, "Hey if I send a tape with you can you record some of those chords you do?"
Sam looks up, "I don't have one of these, remember?"
"Take it with you."
Her eyes get huge, "Serious?"
"Yeah, as long as you play it, hang onto it."
She jumps up and grabs him around the shoulders.
Irene had been standing by and yells up the stairs, "Danni someone's making moves on your fella."'
"She can have him."
Sam starts in with the mock moves, "Oh dahhhhling mwah mwah mwah."
Nick turns down the master pot on his knockoff, sets it down and tries to walk towards the stairs with this pint-sized prosthesis hanging on as she spews all kinds of Pepe le Pew epithets,
"...mwaha MWAH...I am zee flow-ehrrrr and you are ze bee, no? Ah mwahh ah mwah ah mwah.."
"Deej, fix this!" Nick pleads up the stairs to where the babes are probably exchanging babe glances as they look around his room.
Irene laughs hysterically.
Nick is pretty sure Ned peeks in for a few moments to get an eyeful.
Deej appears at the top of the stairs and just drinks it all in before motioning April out.
Finally Sam plants her feet, Nick turns to find her grinning maniacally at Deej with the eyebrows in motion.
"Nick did you make a new fwiend."
"She can use that guitar all she wants."
This gets a howbout-that kinda glance from Deej.
April seems genuinely amused at this point, good.
They start to ascend and he meets Deej halfway.
"Any news from that interview?"
"Not yet, I gave them both numbers just in case."
"Does this mean you're in limbo?"
"Kinda, yeah, Bob would call if he really needed me."
"Well enjoy it while yer young, kid."
She rolls her eyes. "So she can borrow that?"
"Of course, I won't play it much and did you hear that?"
"I had never heard her play, had no idea. She's really good at art and Mom had her try piano but it didn't go anywhere."
"Well if she ever wanted to try it again look no further."
"Who knows. Thanks again babe."
They do a quick peck but not inconspicuous enough to get a wooo out of Sam.
Deej just fires, "So you wanna walk home, is that it?" Then turns back to Nick.
"We should take off, school night and all."
"Why does it feel like I should offer help moving?"
Rolls her eyes again, "Hold that thought, we'll have to see how things settle, this has gotten weird."
"Yeah."
Lowers her voice, "I can't get <nods toward April>...to talk but...she seems impatient and really wants what we have."
"A lightning strike?"
She smiles, "Boy, don't make me drag your ass up these stairs, you know I can."
Nick sighs.
"But you're right...she's...well she's talking to your mom at least."
"That's a good sign I bet. Oh, tomorrow night I get with Deke for the Chinese bribe thing."
She smiles, "Very cool, call me after that if we don't talk before 'kay?"
"'Kay."
They pause and lean in for a longer one, this time to no fanfare.
"Well give Uncle Frank my best."
She rolls her eyes once again then grins, "That old bastard is doing a number on the basement, just hope the rug can hold up."
Nick grimaces.
"You're welcome," then she craftily pinches his ass and joins the gals.
Nick runs up to find a blank cassette and gets another squeeze from Sam, and notes, "You really are a talented little shit aren't you?"
This gets a very bright smile.
Deej cuts in for a final hug, "You're so good with her, she needs this."
"Reminds me of a younger Noreen."
This gets a raised eyebrow and a smirk, "Do I need to worry?"
"Nah, cartoons are for laughs."
"OH she's a cartoon alright."
They hug, she leaves, Nick settles in.