Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 06:11:07 +0000
From: Spoon Mike <col_dot@hotmail.com>
Subject: Playing from the Heart - Chapters 1 and 2

Hi everybody! Spoon Mike here. I've been one of the many silent readers of
the Nifty archives since I stumbled onto it, while unbelievably sick, in
March of 1999. Ever since then, I've been hooked. I never though of myself
as a writer, but here I am, stuck with nothing to do on break from college,
so I decided to give it a try.  Please be nice and send comments, even if
it's just a short "Nice job. Please Continue". Oh well. Oh, and to
alleviate any confusion anything in between these (** *) are thoughts of
characters other than the main character.

Now for the inevitable disclaimer: All of the following characters are
pure, unadulterated fiction. I do not pretend to know N'Sync, Ben Affleck,
or any of the other celebrities that appear in this story. I have no idea
what their sexual or even food preferences are; so don't look to me for the
truth. If you are a minor, scram! If this type of material offends you, why
the hell are you here at this site in the first place?

Now, ON WITH THE SHOW!


Playing for My Heart - Chapter 1
By Spoon Mike

	Canterbury Music Hall was full of sound, as the orchestra had
already begun its regular ritual of warming up and practicing. This was
also known as showing off, but I'll let that pass. As I entered the hall,
breathless from running 10 blocks through the city during rush hour, I
reflected on how lucky I was to have the opportunity to play with this fine
group. I just love creating music!

	Jeff Williams, my best friend in the world, came running up to
me. "Whoa, Mike, thought you were going to be late for a second there! We
got a new piece today!"

	Jeff and I were born next door to one another, one day apart, and
have been best friends ever since. We started music together, and, well, we
basically do everything together! He's always been so bouncy and energetic,
though. However, I just wanted to sit down!

	"Give me a sec, Jeff, Let me take a breath first! I just ran here
all the way from performance class," I said. How I hate performance
classes! Playing for the rest of the clarinet majors, one after another,
and then having them critique your playing? I could definitely pass on
that!

	"That's what you get for playing the clarinet and having your
performance class right before this. You should've listened to me and
learned a brass instrument like I did!"  Jeff then proceeded to serenade me
with his French horn. Cute.

"Oh, yeah, you're a riot. I'll talk to you after rehearsal, okay?" I picked
up my music and went to sit in my section. Tim Feldman, the principal
clarinetist, was already set to go. Just like always, perfect Tim.

	"Hi Mike, how are you doing today?" Tim asked.

"I'm doing well, just a long day of classes," I said as I assembled my
clarinet and set my music out.

	"Ah, yes, college. How is that going?"

"I'm doing well. I'm trying to get some students so I can get some teaching
experience."

	Our conductor, Kenneth Fenton, took the podium at this moment.
"Hello people! I hope that you all have had a relaxing week. We have a
difficult concert approaching soon, so please continue to play at your very
best. He turned to our principal oboist.  "Gretchen, a lovely "A" from your
oboe, please, so that we may tune." All conversation ceased, and Gretchen
proceeded to play the tuning note.

	I'll take this moment to introduce myself. My name is Michael
Russell, and I go by Mike. I'm a 22-year-old Connecticut native attending
New England Conservatory in Boston. I'm a senior clarinet performance major
there; I'm a decent clarinet player if I do say so myself. When you watch
professional orchestras on TV, have you ever noticed that virtually all of
the musicians are over the age of 40? Well, it's the same here, with the
exception of Jeff and I. We both successfully auditioned for empty seats
here in the Canterbury Philharmonic Orchestra! It's a real thrill, being
two 22-year-old college students in a room where the next youngest player
is Tim, who is 42! I play second chair clarinet (there are four clarinet
players, but the other two are extras, and don't play in everything like
Tim and I do), and Tim is the principal French horn player.  Also, I am
gay.

	I've had lots of trouble coming to terms with that, but Jeff has
helped me.  He's the only one who knows about me. Although he's straight,
he took it very well. I was SO relieved! Other than that I am a total
closet case. I would like to find a handsome, wonderful, smart, successful
man who I happen to fall madly in love with and live happily ever after
with, but I'm just too shy for that. Oh, well, back to rehearsal.

	Everything went so well today. The new piece, Igor Stravinsky's
"The Rite of Spring" went extremely well. Our orchestra was so big for that
piece. Both of the other clarinets were playing today, and I even go to
double on a bit of bass clarinet. Normally there are only four French
horns, but the Stravinsky needs 8! Jeff was so happy to have so many new
people today. He gets happy about things like that. He played his solos
exceptionally well, and I was so proud of him. Afterwards, I caught up with
him.

	"Bye Tim! Have a great weekend! Hey Jeff, you rocked on that solo!"
I said, after running over from my seat.

	"I did, didn't I?"

	"Someday, Jeff, you're going to meet a girl with that attitude, and
she'll slap it right out of you!"

	"Ha, ha! Now YOU'RE the riot. So, are you ready to rehearse?
	Jeff and I, along with Gretchen, Molly (our second flute player),
and Bill (our principal bassoon player) have our own woodwind quintet. We
play all around Boston and New York, but tonight, we're playing at a
wedding. It's high security, and we don't even know who's getting married.
Must be a celebrity.

	"Yes, I'm ready. Come on guys; let's get to work. I want to get
done soon so we can get there in time." I said, sitting down with clarinet
in hand.


Playing for my Heart - Chapter 2


	JC Chasez sat, smiling at his frazzled friend.

"I'm so nervous," Justin Timberlake said, adjusting his bowtie for the
eighth time.

	"Don't worry, Justin. Everything will go fine. Just think of it: in
a few short hours, you and Britney will be man and wife," JC Chasez told
him reassuringly.

	"I know, and I can't wait. I'm just so nervous, that's all."

	"You're going to make a perfect husband, I know it. If only I could
fine the right man for me."

	"JC, you know that you will. You a fine catch, and If I weren't
straight and wasn't hopelessly in love with Britney, I'd be all over
you. Now, my best man, go check on my family and see how they're
doing. I'll see you soon enough."

	JC went to the garden and spoke to Lynn Harliss, Justin's mother
for a while. By the time he left her, the garden was already tuning into a
circus. This would be a widely attended wedding, JC thought, **I should've
seen this coming*. Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick were acting as ushers,
and JC went to help them out.


	At this moment, Ben Affleck and his best buddy Matt Damon entered
the spacious backyard/garden where the ceremony would take place. Ben
marveled at the setting, and took in the amount of people in attendance.
**Wow, I'm glad I came. To think that Matt had to drag me out here!*

	Matt turned to Ben. "This is a nice place, isn't it?"

	"Yeah, buddy. I wonder how Justin is?"

	"Probably nervous and twisting is bowtie somewhere"

	"Probably.Hey Lance!"

	"Hi guys! Great to see you!" Lance Bass came up to them, giving
each a firm handshake. He seemed a little worried about something.

	"Lance, my man! How are you?" Matt asked.

	"I'm cool, but I wish the musicians were here. I'm getting
worried," Lance replied.

	"Musicians? I thought that you guys were the musicians!" Ben joked.

	"Very funny. I hired a woodwind group to play music for the
ceremony.  They're musicians from the local symphony, and my friend Molly
plays flute in it."  Lance said.  "Oh, there's Molly, they're here!" Lance
ran off.

	"He's energetic, isn't he?" Matt asked.

	Ben replied, "He sure is!"

	"I've got to run to the bathroom for a minute. Be right back," Matt
said.

	Ben was going to reply, but stopped in his tracks. He had glanced
over to where Molly was standing, and saw the most beautiful guy he'd ever
seen in his life. Ben knew that he had to meet this new guy. As luck would
have it, Lance was bringing the group his way! Ben started to sweat a
little.

	"Hey Ben, I wanted to introduce you and Matt to Molly and her
group.  Where's Matt?" Lance asked.

	"Oh, he went to the bathroom.  Hi everyone, I'm Ben."

	"I'm Molly, it's nice to meet you," Ben and Molly shook hands.
"These are the other musicians, Gretchen, Bill, Jeff, and Mike."

	Ben shook their hands in turn, but couldn't take his eyes of this
beautiful guy.  Mike, huh. I'll have to get to know him better.

	I was in awe! BEN AFFLECK just shook my hand! I have such a crush
on him.  He seems to be staring at me. I wonder why? This is quite a
wedding! It seems that Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears are getting
married I'm going to get to see it, up close and in person! Also, This most
likely means that N'Sync is all here, which means that I will probably meet
JC Chasez! I have been practically in love with him ever since I saw that
Disney special that they did a few years ago. He's the perfect guy, if only
he liked me back. But why would he like me? I'm just a college student;
he's a pop superstar. Oh well, time to set up!

	On the other side of the garden, JC, having just seated his family,
turned around to where the musicians were setting up. **Oh, this must be
the group that Lance was talking about,* JC thought. **Wow! Who's that?*
His eyes rested on the clarinet player, who was currently joking around
with the French horn player. **I don't know what it is about him yet, but
I've got to meet him!* JC started planning how to catch Mike alone at the
end of the ceremony, but Lance came up to him.

	"JC, Justin needs you now!" Lance urged JC, pushing him along.

	Ben's mind was going a mile a minute. **Wow, he plays the clarinet?
What a break! The new script that I got, "The Benny Goodman Story" would be
an awesome part to play, but I don't know anything about the clarinet.
Maybe Mike can teach me!* Ben started planning how to catch Mike alone at
the end of the ceremony, but Matt came up to him.

	"I'm back! C'mon Ben, we need to find seats!" Matt urged Ben,
pushing him along.


END Chapters 1 and 2
To Be Continued...

So what'd y'all think? Please email me at col_dot@hotmail.com. Suggestions?
Questions? Threats? All are welcome! Remember, if one person responds, I'll
continue. I have the story mapped out, but you can influence changes. Hope
to hear from you soon!

Spoon Mike