Jean toyed with his sleeves and rolled them both up just past his elbows. The room felt too small, and he swore everything was a bit too loud. God, he hated crowds and people and all of it. Except that rush he got on stage. The little burst of energy that overcame him when they took the stage and began to play was incomparable. The build-up, however, was gut-wrenching.
His reverie was broken all of a sudden by Ashleigh’s appearance at his side. Jean jumped slightly, but it was masked by him suddenly turning to face her as she spoke hurriedly.
”Yes…” he finally said, giving a soft, breathy laugh. ”A little nervous, I suppose.” Jean looked back to her and forced a smile on his face as he watched her wring her hands. But his smile began to falter as she started speaking once more. The speed of her words raised his heartbeat, and he swallowed nervously. Jean forced out another soft laugh in a desperate attempt to soothe himself.
"It's...ah...it's alright." His accent colored his words, coming in more thickly as he clung onto his persona with everything he could. Jean looked down at his guitar and lifted it up, throwing the strap over his head.
When they went onto the stage, he fell into a sort of spell, losing himself in the music. They were beautifully in sync, his guitar complementing her voice and creating something altogether entrancing. He was almost sad to hear the song end until the sound of applause reached his ears.
Jean slipped his guitar back into its case and buckled it up before he heard Ashleigh's voice. He looked back up and noticed her speaking to another woman. He walked back up onto the stage to stand beside Ashleigh just as she was introducing him to the woman. Wendy.
"A pleasure to meet you, Wendy," he replied, extending his hand to her and leaning a bit too much into his accent. He wasn't an idiot - he knew Americans loved it far too much. "It's lovely to meet you as well."
"I can only hope so. Someone with her talent deserves to go far." He looked back at Ashleigh and gave a slight smile.