CHAPTER TWO
Lizzy: Hi, it’s Lizzy. Anne’s sister. We met at band practice the other day, remember?
Ben: Hey. I remember. How u doing?
Lizzy: Good. U?
Ben: Good. How’d u get my number?
Lizzy: Mutual acquaintance.
Ben: Ur sister & Mal don’t want us being friends.
Lizzy: U’ve friend zoned me already? Ouch. I haven’t even made a clumsy inappropriate pass at u yet.
Ben: Ha. U know what I mean. Didn’t realize u were only 20 or connected to Mal. Us talking isn’t a good idea.
Lizzy: Lucky we’re only texting then.
Ben: Bye Liz
Ben: Did u just send me a pic of ur lunch?
Lizzy: No. It’s an artistic representation rendered in fries and ketchup of my immense sadness over u ignoring my texts. See the face in the middle?
Ben: What’s the green stuff?
Lizzy: Those are pickle tears. Stole them off a friend’s burger.
Ben: Cute.
Lizzy: Are u moved?
Ben: Absolutely.
Lizzy: Are u going to talk to me now?
Lizzy: Haha. You’re having pizza for lunch?
Ben: Does it look sad or happy?
Lizzy: It looks lewd. How dare you send such explicit pepperoni. I’m not that kind of girl.
Ben: Ha. Got to work. Later, sweetheart.
Ben: Got no one to jam with & your town’s music scene is crap on Mondays.
Lizzy: Never. Try The Pigeon. A friend goes to their open sessions.
Ben: I’m there. :)
Lizzy: How’d you go last night?
Ben: Good. Thanks for the info. Not Nashville but not bad. Might head up to Seattle for a few days. Friend’s playing up there. Anyway, TY
Lizzy: You’re welcome. Busy day?
Ben: Mal’s walked in. Can’t talk.
Lizzy: Ok. Later.
Ben: Feel shit going behind his back.
Lizzy: Let’s talk later.
Lizzy: Hi! How’d ur day go?
Ben: Busy right now.
Lizzy: Ok
Lizzy: I’m going to assume by radio silence that you’re not comfortable with us being text buddies. Didn’t mean to put u in a bad position with Mal. I’ll delete ur number.
Ben: Don’t.
Lizzy: ?
Ben: I want to know if u need something u can call me.
Lizzy: Thanks. But I don’t want to complicate things for u.
Ben: Problem is I like talking to u. Maybe if we keep it on the down low?
Lizzy: Ok. I’d like that.
Ben: Me too.
Ben: Attached pic is sunset out at Red Rock.
Lizzy: Amazing. What are you doing out there?
Ben: Filling in on keyboard for a friend. His guy broke hand.
Lizzy: Crap. Didn’t know you played piano.
Ben: Grandma taught me. But Dave wanted bass so I learned.
Lizzy: Wow. Play for me sometime?
Ben: How about now?
Lizzy: Over the phone? That would be awesome.
Ben: Calling.
Ben: In the studio in LA for a few. How u going?
Lizzy: Studying for a test. Wish me luck.
Ben: You got this, sweetheart. Won’t distract u. Later.
Lizzy: :) Later
Lizzy: Roses are red, violets are blue, I like u Ben, do u like me to?
Ben: Ur a terrible poet.
Lizzy: True. I think I might stick w psychology. How’s ur day going?
Ben: Slow. Had a business meeting. Boring as shit.
Lizzy: U just want to play music?
Ben: Got me on that. How u doing?