Page 98 of Rock Me

"Nope... nope... nope..." I say, flicking through the channels.

"Bingo," I stop on the MTV channel, laying back and turning the volume up as high as it will go.

There's a string of pop songs, some I know, and some I know so well that I’m soon singing along as I splash around content in the tub.

The end of a classic Britney song fades out and the beginning of a music video I've not seen before starts up.

It's set in the middle of a forest at night, spot lights focus on the center on the band, set up in a clearing among the trees.

When the music starts, I close my eyes and lay back.

It sounds slightly familiar, I may have only heard it one or two times before. It's starts out like classical music, and then it suddenly blends into a fast-paced lyrical rock song. It's amazing. Strings weaving in and out of simple melodies and complex harmonies. It’s atmospheric and yet punches you in the stomach as well.

I open my eyes to see who it's by. The camera is spinning up and over the trees, not focusing on the band. I squint, reading the caption of song and band.

"Forest Lullaby by The Rock Chamber Boys." I read out loud. “Oh, of course," I say to myself. I'd heard their songs on the radio before, but never an original. Or seen a music video.

The camera flies back in through the trees and zoom in on the band.

One by one.

Right up on their faces.

On his face.

Oh my god.

No.

"JEZ!!!!!" I yell, pulling myself up in the tub, causing a wave of bubbles and water to splash on the floor. "Oh my god. JEZ!" I yell again.

He comes running in, almost slipping on the floor.

"What? What's wrong? Are you okay?" he shouts, looking me over, face stark with worry.

"Oh my god," is all I can say, pointing to the TV, not really believing what I’m seeing. "It's... oh my god. It's you."

He spins around, facing the TV, and freezes as he his own face staring back at him.

I look from him, to the screen and back again, slack jawed. I can’t believe it.

"Oh my god. That’s you!"

"Shit." He says and grabs the remote from me.

"No!" I snatch it back, and focus back on the screen. He's... fuck. The Rock Chamber Boys have won a Grammy! Maybe more than one.

And he's... he's one of them.

And he's... fucking amazing.

I watch as the camera zooms in on his fingers, moving up and down the neck of the cello like he's tapping out Morse code, calling for help. His head bent over the neck of his cello, sweat dripping from his fringe and catching on the spotlights, his bow thrusting back and forth, drawing magic from his instrument.

I can't turn away, not until the song is over. And then I wish I could hear it again.

There’s a loud drum beat as the next song starts up, and he slowly reaches out and takes the remote from me and turns the TV off, avoiding my eyes.

"Jez. You're…. you’re…” I don't have a word for it.