Steve walked into the bar and the first thing that he noticed was the thick cloud of cigarette smoke filling his lungs. He wasn't one to come to these kinds of places. Drunk people were assholes and his asthma did not approve of the smoke. But it was good to get out every once in a while.

As he walked further inside, he took everything else in. The place wasn't that busy tonight. It seemed it was just the regulars looking for some sort of liquid cure to their problems. There was a small band playing in the corner. They were playing a soft swing tune and he couldn't help but smile. He loved live music. The band consisted of two trombone players, one trumpet player, a drummer, and a saxophone. The saxophone wasn't small and it wasn't big, so he figured it was a tenor. He always loved the sound of saxophone.

The song led into a solo and the tenor started to play a beautiful solo. He stared in shock. He had never heard anyone play that good the few times he had come here. This guy really knew what he was doing.

Steve took a seat and found himself just watching the saxophone player through the whole set.

When the set was over, the man who had been playing saxophone took a sip of something out of his glass (probably whiskey) and noticed Steve's eyes. He smiled a bit at him before he looked at everyone else, "we're going to take a ten minute intermission."

Immediately, the room filled with the sounds of chatter. A few people had been talking through the whole performance. It drove Steve mental. He didn't understand how people could sit there and not listen to the amazing music being played. When he faced forward again after glancing at the clock, he nearly had a heart attack. The saxophone player was right there.

"I'm sorry," the man was quick to apologize. His voice was so gentle. It was... a little unexpected.

"Mind if I sit down?" He didn't wait for an answer. He just sat down across from him, "enjoying the show?"

Steve tried to keep it cool. He wasn't sure why this guy made him nervous, "I am," he assured the man, "you are really talented."

He shrugged, "it pays the bills."

Steve rolled his eyes, "what's your name?"

"James," the man answered, "and yourself?"

"Steve," he answered.

James smiled, "that's a nice name," he glanced around the room, "what brings a guy like you to a place like this?"

Steve shrugged, "I get bored."

The man nodded in understanding, "can I buy you a drink?" James was a little tipsy and he smelled of whiskey and cigarette smoke.

"I don't drink..." Steve said, "but thank you."

James nodded again, "can I buy you water then?"

Steve giggled, "if you insist."

James smiled and asked the bartender for a glass of water. It was handed to him a moment later and he slid it to Steve.

Steve thanked him and took a sip of it.

James smiled, "I gotta get back up there. You should stick around," he said before he went back up on the little stage.

Something about James made Steve feel... light. He didn't know what it meant, but he did stick around. When the show was over, James put his saxophone in a case and slung it over his shoulder before he went to Steve.

"You stayed!" James said excitedly.

"I did," Steve smiled.

James smiled back, "did you drive here?"

"No, I walked..."

"Perfect! I'll walk you home."

"A-are you sure...?"

James smiled, "I'm positive."

(I have decided to make this one probably two or three parts, so stay tuned!)