Adam Rowe (![]() ![]() @ 2010-03-24 16:55:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2009-07-08 |
You could be my punk rock princess, I could be your garage band king
Who: Adam Rowe and Telyn Broderick
Where: Camelot Place to start
When: Around 9 or so
Adam had spent most of the night before working on his outline of his next novel for his agent, but finally the beast was done, and he was free to get started on the real job ahead of him: the actual novel. Between the outline, and running into Breccán at Lenore's, his day had been a full one. Likely he should have slept in, given himself the morning off before heading to campus for his office hours.
Instead, Adam was pumped, full of energy and up with the sun. After jotting down notes for a few scenes in one of his notebooks, just sketching out potential ideas and brainstorming, he was contemplating heading to campus early when he saw his piano out of the corner of his eye. Some people went for a run each morning; Adam liked to play piano. Uncaring when his neighbors had gone to bed, or what they had going on, he took a seat in front of the instrument, letting his fingers drift over the keys.
He'd never given music the sort of attention he'd paid to his writing, and likely he wasn't ever going to be someone who could play in front of a crowd and receive a standing ovation. His music was something just for him, something that made him happy. In the moment, that was all that mattered.
The song wasn't one he played often, and it sounded cheerier than the lyrics actually were, but it was still one of his favorites. With the window open, the music drifted out elsewhere in the complex, and Adam didn't care if anyone could hear him sing. Just a few songs, and then he'd have to get ready for his office hours.
It was morning and that meant a run for Lucky and Telyn. It didn't matter that it was the first of two days off in a row, one of the perks of working three days of twelve hour plus shifts. The blonde had energy and if she slacked off, she'd never forgive herself. The dog was more than happy to be up with the sun and his mistress. They had just started their second lap when she heard it. Two houses down from her was someone who loved to play piano in the morning. And she loved to listen to it.
Her jog slowed as they neared the house and Lucky let out a little bark. 'One day you'll have to knock on that door and find out who lives there so you're not some creepy stalker chick who hangs out in the front yard listening to music.' Her head whipped around as she looked down at the dog at her side. "What?"
"Okay, that's it. You're not spending any more time with the guys at the house. They're filling you head with weird things and I'm not a fan at all." Telyn shook her head and glanced back at the townhouse, wondering if she should do that. Knock. Would it kill her?
His next song was a little slower, but he poured no less emotion into it. It was the perfect song to ease himself into his morning routine, to convince himself that, yes, it was okay to walk away from the piano and get on with his day.
The lyrics he sang - You watch your life go past, you wonder if you should - was advice he should take to heart, himself. Adam spent too much time wrapped up in his work, in his writing. He didn't mind, but it hadn't escaped him that he was a 23-year-old guy who did almost nothing the typical 23-year-old should. Maybe it would do him some good to get out sometime, and not try to piece together what would work for this story or that novel, but just live. Another thought for another day.
It also hadn't crossed his mind that anyone was listening to him, and so when the song ended, he just sat back and stretched, glancing out the window.
She could hear the words he was singing and she bit her lip. Talk about a sign. Lucky nudged the back of her leg and she paused, unsure of herself. Her headphones were around her neck and she could very well go knock on the door. Be bold. Be daring! Oh, God. Telyn felt herself moving closer to the house and now she could see for the first time the person who was playing through the window. A man. A young looking man. Interesting.
Before she could chicken out, he turned and looked out the window, greeted with the sight of a rather sweaty looking Telyn, curly hair in a messy ponytail. God, that was a great impression to make. Made all the better still by her waving at him like an idiot.
It was only after he'd stopped singing that he realized that, hello, he had an audience! There was a young woman outside, waving at him, all curly blond hair and a dalmation was with her. Adam chuckled to himself, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. Surely she must have thought he sounded ridiculous, but it was a bit too late to take it back now. He was used to being the anonymous piano guy of the complex, but it was better when no one had seen his face.
But still, she didn't look mad at him or anything, so Adam got up from the piano and leaned against the window a little. "Hi," he called down, waving back to her. God, you're an idiot, A.J. He couldn't be lamer if he tried.
"Hey." Smooth. She could hear Lucky laughing in her head. Telyn really hadn't expected him to talk to her. God, she was so screwed. Thankfully, none of the guys from the house were here and would never, ever hear about this from anyone. Including the dog at her side. Her being an elemental was something she had shared with the chief. It was important he know and she knew he had conversations with Lucky every once in a while, for which the dog was grateful. At least he could be heard.
Well, there was no backing out now. "That song, it's really nice. I hear you play all the time." She smiled up at him.
Now Adam blushed, hoping she couldn't see it through the screen in his window. "Thanks," he said. "I wasn't, I mean - I knew people could hear me, I just thought they ignored it." Though he didn't play piano for anyone else to listen to, it was still nice that someone had paid attention enough to tell him they liked what he could do. Still, this wasn't a conversation to have through his living room window and he held up one finger. "Hold on a second."
Slipping on a pair of flip flops, matching the shorts and polo shirt he'd thrown on that morning, Adam went downstairs and out his front door, shushing Konstantine away as he stepped out. "No, no, little baby kitties stay inside, remember?" he murmured to the grey and white ball of fur, who gave him the kitten equivalent of a pout before going back upstairs. He turned back to face the woman, "This is better, I think." He held out a hand, "I'm Adam."
Oh, God, now he was coming outside. When he disappeared from the window, she smoothed her hand over the fly aways in her hair and looked down at Lucky. "Not a word or no treat later. You hear me?" He gave her that look and lay at her feet, like he really couldn't care less that she was very likely about to make a fool of herself. She watched as the man came outside, kitten following him. She thought it was the cutest thing.
"I'm Telyn." She took his hand, shaking it firmly, knowing that she worked with more men than she cared to admit normally and got judged on her handshakes. "And your music is amazing. I hear it all the time when I'm running. It's nice to finally meet the man who makes it. I live just two houses over. And this," she said, looking down, "is Lucky. He's our firehouse mascot slash all around good buddy. Right, boy?" He gave a happy bark and licked Telyn's leg, making her laugh.
"It's good to meet you, Telyn." His own handshake was on the firm side, something his father had taught him; he was of the belief that you never wanted anyone to think you weren't confident in yourself. Though Adam sometimes wavered on that point, in general, his handshake wasn't lying. And Telyn was a pretty name, not one he heard all the time. "And thank you, again. Never play for anyone but me, so I'm glad you enjoy it."
He kneeled down, offering a hand to Lucky. Likely he smelled like cat, if only because Konstantine had decided that his head was the perfect sleeping spot when he woke up this morning, but that was besides the point. "Seems like a sweet dog," he said, grinning at her. "So when did you move in?"
Lucky was a fan of attention. He licked Adam's hand and panted happily. "I like him," he thought to Telyn. "Even if he smells like cat." He waited for the petting that would likely follow and wagged his tail. Telyn bit back a laugh. Lucky's favorite times were barbecues and visiting schools for all the affection he got. Spoiled pup.
"Um, almost a year ago, actually. Right after graduation." She smiled at him. "I work a lot, run most mornings." Why was she explaining to him her regular schedule? That didn't matter to him.
Adam laughed at the dog, reaching out to scratch behind the dalmation's ears. Seemed like the dog liked him well enough, which was a good sign in his book. It was, after all, hard to make friends with someone whose pet didn't like you, though it was hard to think of himself as being threatening or unfriendly or anything of the sort.
He did like listening to Telyn talk, so whatever she decided to tell him, Adam would soak it up eagerly. "Ah, might explain why we haven't run into each other sooner," he said, running his non-licked hand through his blond hair. "I moved in... two months ago? If even that? And my schedule varies, so I'm not always out of bed in the mornings." Really, it depended on how long he stayed up writing.
"Also explains why I don't always hear you playing." She smiled. "Where did you move from, if you don't mind my asking?" Telyn had lived her whole life in the area and she liked it that way. It was a good thing, to be so familiar with a place like she was. More than that, she wondered what he did that his schedule was so varied.
The dalmatian let out a happy bark, wanting to make sure he wasn't ignored and Telyn knelt down, giving him an affectionate rub and a quick hug before she looked back at Adam. "How are you liking Scarlet Oaks so far? Town's pretty tame, but I do love it."
"I'm actually from around here, grew up in Scarlet Oak." He didn't want to brag about what he'd accomplished, because then he'd just sound like an ass. Telyn looked to be around his age, so there was a chance he might have gone to grade school with her - until they pushed him up several grades, and before his parents decided to homeschool him. Try as he might, though, Adam couldn't remember a Telyn from any of his classes. "I was studying on the East Coast and decided to get a job closer to home - I was living in New York City for a while. I'll admit, it's not the same place I left, but I still love it. You're a native, too?"
"Oh, really? Me too." She smiled brightly as she stood back up. Telyn was trying to figure out if he was just a year or two older than her, but she would have likely at least known who he was. She didn't have a face to go with the name Adam from school. "Did you go to private school or something?" she asked, unable to help her curiosity. "Wow, New York? I've been there on vacations and stuff. My parents used to live there but that was before I was born." Lucky stood beside her, watching the pair with interest.
Now Adam got a little flustered, running a hand over his hair. "Um, no, home schooled actually. I was pushed up through a few grades in elementary school and I kept getting bored by what the teachers gave me, so my parents decided to teach me themselves." He gave a little shrug, nothing in his voice implying that he was bragging or being cocky about it, it was just what happened and that was how it was. "Your parents are from New York? What part? I mean, I lived in the city, but I did some travelling around there." Not that Adam was ignoring the dog now, he just had no idea Lucky was listening in to what they were talking about with any idea of what was actually going on.
Well, that was pretty smart. More so that she'd figured. For some reason, it brought the idea of Doogie Howser to her mind. Maybe he was like some super genius. It was an interesting thought, one that would have made her laugh if she had been thinking about it in the comfort of her own home rather than standing in front of his, sweaty. "They lived in Manhattan. They were from Ann Arbor, but Daddy worked on Wall Street for a while, so they lived in the city. I always liked all the museums and stuff, though the library is my favorite place." She smiled at him.
At least Telyn didn't laugh at him, or get really intimidated when he talked about his schooling. It was really one or the other, with him; Adam liked to think that there was more to him than his brains, so he tried not to brag about it. It was just a part of who he was. "I went to Columbia for my master's," he said, "and I love that area. I could spend every day in one museum or another, just taking everything in." At the mention of the library, he perked up even more, "And I love the library. Any library, I don't even care. Books, you could say they're my weakness." Both reading them, and writing them.
Masters? Now she felt like an underachiever. He seriously didn't look much older than she was. But then again, looks could be wrong. She didn't know anything about him really. But clearly he liked books. Telyn grinned. "I know what you mean. I have this whole room in floor to ceiling bookshelves. It's the closest thing I could get to my own personal library. I'm addicted to books." Lucky nudged her leg a little, as if to say that he seemed nice and she leaned down to pet him again, hoping he'd keep quiet.
Adam's intention wasn't to make her feel like an underachiever, it was just an unfortunate side effect whenever he talked about his education. It was one of the moments when he felt he was too damn smart for his own good. His eyes lit up, hearing her talk of her bookshelves. "That's it, I wish I had your apartment," he said, laughing. "I have two desks to keep my personal work and my job's work separate, because then I lose books and papers and everything else between the two. You can't go three feet in my house without finding another book of some kind." Disorganization was one of Adam's faults, and he wasn't ashamed of that.
Telyn laughed. "Maybe you should come see it, get some ideas for your place." She wondered what he did that he needed two desks. That seemed interesting to her. "Two? How much work do you do?" she asked, curiously. The more she talked to him, the more she wanted to know more about him. He seemed like a nice guy and they seemed to have a few things in common. Plus, he was cute. Very cute. In that slightly nerdy, totally adorable way.
"I think I might have to." Okay, so how was he managing to almost, sort of flirt with her and not even know it? This wasn't like Adam at all, usually he got all flustered around a girl he thought was pretty. And he did think Telyn was pretty, even when it was obvious she'd gone out for a run with her dog. "Well, I teach English, at the university. Creative writing, really. So I have one desk for everything my students turn in and then one desk for the stuff I actually write. My fascination with books isn't just with reading them."
"Really?" Okay, that was impressive. "You mind my asking how old you are?" She couldn't help it. Telyn was beyond curious. He taught and wrote. That was more than she could possible expect for someone around her age, really. "What kind of books do you write any way?" Lucky nudged her again and she laughed at him, scratching behind his ears. 'I like him. A lot. Have him over for dinner or something.' That pup was going to get her into trouble.
At that, Adam made a little face. Everyone always asked his age. "I'm 23," he said, looking a bit sheepish. "And I've been writing for as long as I can remember. Most of it's realistic fiction - I like examine relationships, how people interact with each other. I've been very lucky to have some of my work published." He didn't want to brag, that wasn't his way, but still she'd asked, and Adam would be nothing but honest with her. "So now you've got to tell me how old you are, fair is fair."
So he was the same age she was. That floored her a little. He was a published author. Okay, that was more than a little cool. It was very impressive. He had to be a wiz kid. "Do you write just novels or short stories too?" Telyn wondered if she'd read anything by him. If she hadn't, she might have to get a book from the library or something. She loved library books. If she liked it enough, it was added to her collection. "I'm 23 too, actually. That's such a crazy coincidence." She tried to remember him from school, but it seemed like forever ago. He didn't seem familiar but she knew she had yearbooks at home.
Adam watched her face, trying to judge her reaction. No freaking out, no brushing him off, that meant she was cool with what he did for a living, right? He hoped so, anyway. "Mostly novels, I'm working on my third right now. I do short stories every once in a while, but my imagination gets carried away and they always turn into longer works." He grinned at her, "I think that's awesome, actually. We probably went to school together at some point, but I think I might have been off in my own little world too much to remember much of those days." If Adam got bored in class, then he started to daydream, and then he'd get in trouble for not paying attention. It wasn't his fault if the work was far too easy for him.
"I was a busy kid." Understatement of the year, but the difference than more little rich kids was that she wanted to be busy. She liked trying new things, riding, dancing. It was fun for her. He still wasn't sticking out in her brain but then again, it was ages ago at this point. "And novels is really cool. I used to write every once in a while in school, but mostly journals now. Nothing even close to publishable. Maybe I'll have to read one of your books sometime. What's your last name? Maybe I've read you already," she said with a light laugh. That would be pretty funny if she had.
"Busy with what?" Adam couldn't help it, the writer in him was curious and if he saw an opportunity to ask a question, he would. He did want to get to know Telyn better, to see if they had anything else in common besides a love of books and libraries. That in itself was probably more than enough for him, but Adam was never content with knowing just the quick details of a subject, always needing to dig deeper, find the real story. "If you do read it, let me know what you think about it, I'm always curious if people enjoy it or not." Adam wrote for himself, but it was always nice when his work could reach out to someone else, too. "And it's Rowe. Publish as A.J. Rowe, though, if you go looking for them. And your last name?"
"Dance. Horseback riding. Music lessons. Volunteering. I liked staying busy then. Kept me out of trouble." She laughed a little. Most kids weren't like her growing up but she supposed someone who had done so much by 23 could commiserate with that. "Hope you're not offended that I haven't read anything you've done but I just might have to now that I've met an author." Telyn smiled at him, mentally remembering A.J. Rowe for future reference. "It's Broderick," she admitted, knowing her family's name was known in town and she hoped that it wasn't going to be a big deal. That she was rich and all. It wasn't something she admitted often nor was it something she used often either.
He chuckled a little with her. "And I thought I had a lot going on when I was a kid," he said. "There's nothing wrong with having a hobby or three. Do you still dance, or horseback ride?" Adam wasn't good at either one, but he was the curious sort and he was always interested in other people and their lives. Telyn, though they'd just met, had captured his attention already. "Trust me, I'm not offended. There's so many books out there I haven't read yet, that are on my list of things to get to." The stack by his bed was always growing, finish one, add two more. He did blink at the sound of her last name - she was one of those Brodericks? It didn't phase him, just wasn't what he expected. Adam, though he had a little bit of fame from his books being published, still came from a very middle-of-the-road kind of family. "Still very happy to meet you, Telyn Broderick."
She shook her head. "Sadly, I don't dance anymore. At least, not in a class." Telyn had been known to dance around her house to whatever music was playing just for fun. "But I still ride horses when I get the chance." And yes, she had owned one. Part of her monthy expenses was making sure that her horse was taken care of until she donated it to a charity for kids with learning disabilities. "I'll make sure to put one of yours on my list." She couldn't help but notice his reaction to her name. It wasn't an uncommon one. "I believe the pleasure is all mine, Adam Rowe." She grinned at him.
"Who said you needed a class to dance? I always thought that was something you could just do whenever." He smiled, sheepish again, "Unless you're me and my two left feet, but that's besides the point." Adam didn't dance, at all. He was much happier hanging out at a corner booth watching everyone else make fools of themselves. He'd never actually tried to ride a horse before, but figured it would likely end up with him on the ground. "I'm honored. Both by meeting you, and that you might read something of mine." Oh god, he really was flirting with her!
"You can't be that bad. Trust me. I've seen horrible dancers." She smiled at him. Telyn adored being active and dancing, riding horses. All of that was stuff that she had been doing since she was a kid. Things that she loved. Like playing the guitar. He was honored? She couldn't help but blush, something that Lucky seemed to notice and caused him to nudge her again, attempting to move her towards Adam. He was totally flirting with her. "A writer is honored that someone like me would read his book? Some woman you have never met before?"
Adam laughed at that, "No, seriously, I'm the stuff bad YouTube videos are made of. And not the kind you laugh at, the kind that make you wince and feel bad for the guy." Adam knew where his skills were and, sadly, dancing wasn't one of them. He was okay with that, for the most part. She was blushing and by now Adam was too, grateful that none of their neighbors could see them in that moment, how ridiculous they must seem to everyone else. "This writer is honored, anyway," he said, smiling at her. "And I'm glad I've met you. Even if we might have gone to school together forever and a day ago."
He was blushing a little too and Telyn grinned. Yeah, they were flirting. It was nice to flirt with someone. "I'm sorry that I can't remember you," she admitted sheepishly. "I know it was ages ago, but still. I'm usually good with names and faces and all that." Lucky barked at the pair, panting, which was as close to grinning as the dog could get. "You should come over some time, though. I can show off my library. And I'm a pretty decent cook. They say firefighters are, and in my house, that's definitely not a lie."
Okay, so any doubts he had about whether or not this was flirting were completely out the window, the moment those words came out of her mouth. Holy crap, a girl was actually asking him, Adam "I am socially incompetent" Rowe, to hang out with them, even if it wasn't exactly datelike. It was still going to her apartment and having food, that was kind of like a date... right? Hell if Adam knew. "I would love that," he found himself saying, before his second guessing could step in and wreck the whole situation. "Both the food and seeing the library. I can cook pasta and all of that, but you know, I'm kind of a bachelor."
She couldn't believe that he'd actually accepted. Seriously? She looked like crap. "Maybe day after tomorrow? Can't let you have that whole being a bachelor thing be your excuse for not cooking. Maybe you'd like to help?" It might be fun. Lucky nudged her leg again and she laughed, reaching down to pet him again. "Seems Lucky wants you to come too." Did she seriously just get herself a date with an author?
Why would Adam not accept her offer? Hello, she was a girl with an almost-library in her townhouse, that was more than enough to get Adam interested. "I can help, but I make no promises if anything comes out terrible," he said, chuckling a little. He was the reason why they made food delivered right to your door, and maybe seeing him in a kitchen would prove that. "And day after tomorrow is... Friday? Yeah, that sounds perfect to me." It also gave him two days to figure out if this was a date, or potential friends hanging out.
"Friday. I'm off around five, so you wanna say around six thirty? Gives me a bit of a cushion in case things go over at work, you know?" The last thing she wanted was for there to be an emergency and she not be able to make it. Actually, exchanging numbers wasn't a terrible idea. "You know what? Let me give you my number so that I can text you in case something happens and I'm running late, you know?"
Adam was already nodding, going through his pocket to find a pen. "Six thirty sounds perfect, I'll definitely be back in Scarlet Oak from campus by then." Sure, this might not have been the smoothest way a guy could ever get a girl's number, but it worked, Adam was all for it. He could find a pen easily enough, but he'd left his phone and all his notebooks back in the townhouse. "Number sounds good to me," he said, scribbling it on the back of his hand as she told him what it was. It was only then that he caught a glimpse of his watch - he had to leave for his office hours soon. "I'm really looking forward to it, and I'd love to stay and talk, but I have to leave for work. We're definitely on for Friday, right?"
Being that she didn't have her phone either, Telyn took his pen and copied his number to her hand as well. "Definitely." The blonde smiled. Now that she had a date, was it a date, she felt accomplished for the day despite the fact that it hadn't been her goal. "Have a good day." Before she could turn to leave, Lucky gave her a good nudge from behind and pushed her forward. Which ended up in her hugging Adam and blushing more than she had all morning, hands on his shoulders.
"You too." Smiling widely, Adam gave her a wave and turned to leave - only to find that Telyn was hugging him a second later, before he'd even taken a step back to his townhouse. Now Adam was full-on blushing too, not necessarily embarrassed, but definitely surprised. When was the last time a pretty girl hugged him? Not any time in recent memory. Pulling back for a moment, Adam grinned sheepishly, "And that's a good note to start my day on." Better even than playing his piano. With that, he went back inside and finished up his morning routine, wondering exactly what was going to happen when they hung out on Friday, and how well the day would go.