Trance Page 4

  “Jason Green? I don’t know him. I really don’t. Besides I don’t want to think about him anymore.”

  “Why? Did he hypnotize you?”

  “Of course not. It was a job interview.”

  My grandfather began to sing as he strummed the ukulele. “There once was a girl who got put in a trance, she lost both her legs so she couldn’t quite dance, give me your money said the smooth charming voice, she crawled away fast, what else was her choice.”

  I grinned.

  “You should do your own show,” said my grandfather. “You know the tricks.”

  “No one would want to see a female magician.”

  “They’d see you.”

  I shook my head. “There’s a reason there are no famous female magicians.”

  “Oh really?” said my grandfather. “And what would that reason be?”

  “You can’t hide a rabbit in a sequin dress.”

  FIVE

  Pete and Andy sat across the table from Lacey and me. Two waitresses with pens tucked behind their ears and hair piled high, bustled around the restaurant’s thirty tables, all but one of the tables filled with patrons. It’s busyness was the reason we were here on a Tuesday, rather than a Friday or Saturday night. Unless you were Gwyneth Paltrow, or booked two months in advance, getting a seat here was near impossible. Not that I expected Gwyneth to ever turn up in our town.

  Lacey reached across the table and touched Andy’s hand. “Tell me more about your band,” she purred.

  I looked across at Pete who was intent on studying the menu, then across at the tables nearest ours. The best way to order food was to see what other people had ordered. That way you never got dinner envy. What sounded good on a menu didn’t always look the same on the plate. Words were deceiving.

  Just up from us, someone was munching on a burger and fries. Not the fast food kind, but deluxe restaurant style. My mouth watered. I’ll have what she’s having.

  I looked back at Pete. “The steak burger.” I smiled at him.

  He scrunched his face up. “Have you been here before?”

  “No.”

  “Then don’t you want to look at what they have?” He held up the menu for me.

  I waved my hand at him. “Don’t need to. I know what I want.”

  “Right.”

  I exhaled. “Right.” This was going to be a long night.

  Lacey had convinced me to double date with her and in one of my weak moments, I said yes. Even so, I had always wanted to come here, this restaurant had a good reputation, it was stylish but not stuffy. Plus they usually had live entertainment, not piped music. The stage was set up, although no band had started yet. I looked forward to seeing who would perform, even if it did mean sitting across from Mr. No-Wit for another hour.

  The waitress arrived at our table. She smelled like coffee, as if she’d spilled a mug of it on herself. Her dark uniform was clean though, and no red marks touched her skin, so perhaps it was a marketing ploy. Something like what perfumers did by having a bowl of coffee beans on the counter so it could clear your nose and help you concentrate. “What’ll it be?” she asked, pulling out an electronic device from her apron, in which she used the pen behind her ear (which I realized wasn’t a regular pen at all), to input our orders.

  I was the only one who ordered the burger. Andy ordered steak (safe), Lacey - rack of lamb (not bad). Pete ordered fish. I shook my head. He’d be sorry when he saw my burger.

  “So, do you know, like, magic?” asked Pete.

  I winked at him and picked up a napkin and his fork. I folded the napkin carefully over the fork and then with one shake, the fork seemingly disappeared. I grinned at him.

  Lacey gave me a tiny clap.

  “Cool. But, can I have my fork back. I’m hungry,” said Pete.

  I looked at the clock and sighed.

  The rest of dinner went slowly. So slowly. I couldn’t even recall the small talk if I’m to be honest. I did enjoy my burger though.

  It was getting closer to when the entertainment would start and tiny excited butterflies were dancing in my stomach. I was itching to get up, sing, dance, whatever I could.

  A man walked onto stage and stood in front of the microphone. “We have a treat for you tonight, ladies and gentlemen. But before our special guest gets underway, I’d like three volunteers to help with the show. What about it folks?”

  Lacey stood up, “Two here!”

  I stood up too, but she was pointing to Andy and Pete. I wanted to be the third but the announcer chose someone else. Andy reluctantly got up at Lacey’s urging and Pete followed behind since I was now sure he couldn’t do anything without his brother.

  “Not fair. I would have loved to get up there,” I said.

  Lacey winked at me. “Come on, you’ll enjoy the show much better as audience.”

  “Since when would I rather be audience?”

  “This time you will.”

  I frowned. “Who is going to be on stage, Lacey?” I looked back at the stage, then back at her. It was set up as if a band would be performing, but perhaps that was just its usual set up. What if someone else was on tonight?

  “Come on, if you looked at the internet once in a while, you’d know who was performing tonight.”

  I groaned. “No. I don’t want to see him.”

  “Of course you do. You want to check out his show. Or his abs. Both of which I wholeheartedly approve.”

  “You got Andy to book us here, didn’t you?”

  She looked at me like I was crazy. “Well, duh! You think I’d let anyone take me on a date somewhere without my choosing?”

  The announcer placed three chairs on stage that faced the audience.

  “He’s going to think I’m following him.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Sit back and enjoy the show. It might be enlightening.”

  I slunk down in my chair, moving it further away from the stage. The butterflies were gone filled with a pit of dread.

  The lights in the restaurant faded just as those on stage began to blink at a rapid pace. The slow music that accompanied dinner transformed into a high tech beat that vibrated through the air. Everyone was on the edge of the seats, their faces turned toward the stage in expectation.

  Pete came out first. He looked relaxed if a little goofy. He sat down in the first chair. A woman followed next - short, plump. Finally, Andy walked on stage and took the last chair. He waved to the audience with a huge grin on his face. The audience laughed at his dopey expression.

  I wondered how much Jason had paid them to act this way. I didn’t think Pete and Andy were the type to go along with something like this without an incentive.

  The music slowed and a strong drum beat pulsed making my skin tingle. He certainly knew how to make an entrance.

  “Ladies and Gentleman,” said the announcer. “Put your hands together and give a warm welcome to your guest for this evening, Mr. Jason Green, the man who can blow your mind, create a new reality, and make you believe you can do anything.”

  Cheesy. I rolled my eyes. If I were in charge, I’d change that tag line.

  The lights pulsed again in time to the drumbeat. Jason walked on stage. He was wearing tight black pants and a fitted black t-shirt. The t-shirt accentuated his arm muscles. I bit my lip.

  He must have known I was watching, but it didn’t distract him. He went right along with his performance like a pro. I was impressed.

  Jason bent down and peered into Andy’s eyes, whispering something in his ear. Andy stood up immediately, snapped to attention. Jason turned to the audience. “Isn’t it cold in here? So cold. I think there’s ice forming. Don’t you, Andy?”

  Andy nodded and began to shiver. He wrapped his arms around his sides, rubbing them to keep himself warm.

  “I think a bit of jogging on the spot might help warm you up.” Andy began to jog on the spot.

  “And perhaps, growling like a bear. Bear’s don’t get cold, do they Andy?”

  “Gr
owwl.”

  The audience laughed. Even I cracked a smile. It was amusing to see a grown man rubbing his arms around his body, jogging on the spot and making weird noises, which in reality, sounded nothing like a bear. The other two simply looked straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to the fool Andy was making of himself.

  The plump woman was next. Jason got her to ballroom dance with the man of her dreams. The man of her dreams was an old broom. The woman even placed a sweet kiss on the handle, on suggestion that she was kissing her date goodbye on the cheek.

  Now it was Pete’s turn. I wondered what Jason was going to get him to do. Cluck like a chicken?

  Jason picked a teacup from a nearby table and told Pete to stand.

  He had him put his hand on his hip and sing the children’s song, I’m a little teacup. At the end, when the teacup bent over to pour tea out of his crooked arm, Jason placed the teacup underneath it. Actual tea came out of Pete’s arm. The crowd cheered as they laughed. I was impressed, I didn’t realize Jason did tricks as well.

  Pete curtsied to the audience like a shy ten-year-old girl and sat back down. I couldn’t see where the tea had been hidden in his sleeve. Very discreet.

  Jason got them to do a few more crazy tricks that had the audience doubling over in laughter. I laughed too, it was far more amusing that I expected. It wasn’t just about the hypnotism, but about the antics that he got the participants to engage in.

  At one stage, he had convinced them all they were babies and they were crawling on the ground sucking their thumbs. I’d never considered that his show would be funny.

  At the end, Jason clicked his fingers in front of each of the participant’s faces. A flash of recognition blinked across them. The woman’s face turned bright pink and she buried her face in her hands.

  One last bow and it was over. I looked up at the clock. The show had taken half an hour, but flew by so quickly. I wanted more.

  “You like?” asked Lacey.

  “Did you see what he did when he got them to pretend to fish? I’ve never seen that done. It was so realistic. Andy’s a good actor, it looked like he was really enjoying eating that lemon.”

  “He’s not an actor any more than any of them. Jason is just a good mind manipulator. And good eye candy too.”

  I bit my lip again.

  “Are you going to talk to him?”

  “Oh no, I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’ll think I’m following him. Not after yesterday’s disastrous interview.”

  Lacey put her hand on my shoulder. “Just go and say hello. I’ll make an excuse to Pete when they get back to the table and tell him you’ve gone to the bathroom or something.”

  I hesitated. Should I go and say hi? I guess I could tell him I enjoyed the show. I know I liked it when fans came back and told me how much they liked ours. Was I just a fan? I took a deep breath. “I guess it can’t hurt.”

  I walked confidently to the back stage area. It didn’t help that my knees were wobbling. If I lifted my head and acted like I was just coming to say a casual hello, so it wouldn’t look like I was going to jelly inside. Which I wasn’t. I’d only seen him twice for goodness sakes. No one can, or should, have an effect on you with such few meetings.

  Jason had his back to me. He was leaning over a counter with a book on it. The book held lined pages like a hairdresser appointment book. He was writing something in it.

  He must have heard my heels click on the floor, because he turned before I reached him.

  “Enjoy?”

  “I did. It was wonderful. I had no idea your show was so entertaining.”

  He lifted one eyebrow and cocked his head to one side. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

  “Take it as one. I’ve become a fan for life.”

  “Oh really. So are you here to get my autograph?”

  “Um, sure.”

  He laughed. “I’m kidding. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It means a lot coming from you.”

  “Do many women come backstage to get your autograph?” Not that I cared.

  He grinned. “Never any as cute as you.”

  As if on cue, two middle aged women, giggling like schoolgirls, came into the hallway. “Ohmygod, you are so talented.” They were talking so fast their words ran together into one. One of them thrust a pen and piece of paper toward Jason. The other got out her cell phone. “Can I have a picture, prettyprettyplease.” He obliged. I stood back as they gushed over him, touching his shoulder and arm, as they both got a photo with him. One of them looked at me and narrowed her eyes. She didn’t say anything though. “Thankyou, Thanks, Thankies.” They blew him a kiss, grinned at each other, and left us alone.

  “Typical fans?” I asked.

  “What can I say? I’m big with the forty year old set.”

  “Well, I just wanted to come and say hello, and let you know I enjoyed your show. I’ll let you get back to it.”

  “Sure, don’t want to interrupt such a hot date.”

  I scoffed. “I’d hardly call it a date.”

  “Dinner, show. I’d say it’s the absolute definition.”

  “It’s a favor for Lacey. She wants to hook up with Andy.”

  “So it was her idea you came here?”

  I nodded.

  “Would you have come tonight, if you’d have known I was performing?”

  My mouth felt dry. “I don’t know. Rocking up at a restaurant solo seems a little sad and desperate.”

  “So does going out to dinner with someone you have no interest in whatsoever.”

  I could feel his eyes burning into me.

  “I’ve got some business to tie up here with the manager,” he said. “Meet me outside in fifteen minutes.”

  “And ditch my friends?”

  He turned back to the book he had been writing in. “Only if you want to.”

  I took the hint and returned to my seat. Only if I wanted to. Did I want to?

  “You’ve gone pale,” said Lacey. “What did he say? If he said something douchey, I’m going to hunt him down and give him a piece of my mind.”

  I looked up at her. “He wants me to go outside with him, alone. What does that mean?”

  “He’s either going to kiss you, or kill you with a chainsaw.”

  “Should I go?”

  “Either way, your heart is going to end up in tiny pieces.” She grinned. “I’m kidding. Perhaps he just wants to talk.”

  “About what? What was so important that he couldn’t tell me backstage?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.”

  “Would you go? Seems kind of risky.”

  “Falling in love is the most risky thing you’ll ever do.”

  SIX

  I hesitated at the door that led to the back courtyard of the restaurant, contemplating a backup plan if Jason did turn out armed with a chainsaw. I could see the picture in my head - when I opened the door the night would immediately turn darker and I’d end up in a seedy alleyway filled with dirty trash cans. The air would be scented with rotting food and stray cats would fight over scraps. A police siren would wail in the background.

  Or perhaps, my problem was I’d seen far too many bad crime shows? I held my phone in my hand, just in case.

  I opened the door into a well-lit courtyard. Jason sat at a table, which had two seats, in the centre of the area. Tiny lights hung from lanterns overhead across beams. Potted herbs like rosemary scented the area. Background music from his phone. No visible chainsaw.

  He smiled as I approached and casually waved his hand to the chair across from him. I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. “Another date? I’m not sure I can handle two in one night, especially since this one was sprung on me.”

  “Wasn’t your first sprung on you too?”

  “Well, I did have prior knowledge of that one, even if it wasn’t my idea of a perfect partner.”

  “I see, so what is your idea of a perfect partner? You have me curious.” />
  I sat down opposite him. There was no way I was going to answer that. “So many questions, are you interviewing me again?”

  “I wouldn’t dare.”

  “Interesting. Then what would you dare? Since you bought it up, of course.”

  He grinned and leaned forward. “You’d be surprised what I’d dare to do.”

  “Are you challenging me to a game of Truth or Dare?”

  He leaned back on his chair, lifting his fingers to his lips and tapping the point they made on them. “I wasn’t, but we could go with that, if you like.”

  “Why not? I like games.”

  He snapped his fingers and I gasped.

  He laughed. “Relax. I’m not trying to hypnotize you.”

  “How can I be so sure? Pete says he can’t remember anything you made him do.”

  “Nonsense. Everyone can remember what they did under hypnosis. He’s just embarrassed. I was tempted to make him do even more embarrassing things. But I didn’t.”

  A waiter bought out two drinks. A bottle of beer for him, and a glass of wine for me. Jason slipped the waiter cash, although I couldn’t tell how much.

  “Trying to get me drunk?” I asked.

  “Don’t you like wine?”

  I held the glass in to my lips. “I like it well enough.” I took a sip as the smooth fruity liquid glided down my throat. It was sweeter than I expected. The taste lingered on my tongue.

  “I’ll have to find out what you like better then.” He took a swig of his beer.

  “I’ll go first.”

  He looked at me like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

  “Truth or Dare. Which do you choose?”

  He hesitated. “Truth.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “I thought you liked dare’s? Wasn’t that the whole point of this game?”

  “I’m just warming up.”

  “Okay then.” I took another sip of my wine watching him closely, wondering what I should ask him. He was looking at me just as intently. “Okay, first question. Why didn’t you want me to take the job?”

  “I said you could have it, if you wanted.”