Jest has been on his own since his mid-teens and still blesses the chance that let him realize his dream of playing percussion in a band that has become his substitute family. Although he misses the close sharing, he doesn't expect to find a partner and certainly not one as clearly out of his element as the man who one night wanders into the club where Jest's band plays, looking totally lost and friendless.<br><br>Greene has struggled to build himself a life far from the undisciplined communal community in which he grew up. He's lonely though, and not sure how to remedy that, so he works as a game programmer in Silicon Valley until he makes a faux pas at a party. Traveling aimlessly, he meets Jest and the other members of Taken By Storm, and is intrigued but terrified of slipping back into a disorderly world like the one of his childhood.<br><br>They say opposites attract, but can a rebel drummer and an uptight programmer find enough common ground for a relationship?

A Different Drummer

“Uhh, well, yeah. I guess I am. I’ve never been in Vegas before, have no idea where it’s safe or bad or anything. Don’t misunderstand. I don’t need a handout. I’m not broke or homeless. I could go check into any hotel in town.”


Jest grinned. “Didn’t say you were. I just saw you had that look about you…a look I know ‘cause I’ve had it a time or two. Needing something, anyway.”


“I’m not musical, and I don’t do…well, drugs or anything. I don’t even handle liquor very well. That’s kinda why I’m a long way from home.”


“San Jose, Silicon Valley. Worked at MegaGames.”


“No shit? You work at MegaGames?” Next to saying you were part of a big name band, to Jest that was like saying you came from Nirvana. After drumming, he really loved games.


“Yeah. I’m not sure if I still do or not.” The other guy shook his head again, blinked fast a couple of times and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m…er…on vacation right now.”


Chapter 5