✩₊˚.⋆ 𝔪𝔯𝔰. 𝔭𝔞𝔤𝔢 ☾⋆⁺₊✧

table of contents

may 29, 1998

An unfamiliar creaking came up the stairs into Sabrina's office space. She waited with bated breath to see who her visitor might be.

Throughout her shift, Sabrina had been up to mundane tasks to keep her mind busy. She and Zachary had had a late night of talking and drinking. The pair had finished two bottles of sparkling wine—they'd gone to the liquor store to buy more, but the shop had already closed by the time they'd gotten there, so they took that as a sign to put a premature end to their activities.

As a direct result of her alcohol consumption, Sabrina was blessed with a migraine that had yet to resolve itself. A visitor was the last thing she wanted at the moment.

Nonetheless, the mystery person continued up the short flight of stairs and through the curtain leading to Sabrina's office space. It was Connor.

The two hadn't spoken much since his sleepover at her flat and the night that had brought on their brief cessation of casual contact at work. She smiled at him.

"Hey, long time no see, eh?" She said.

"I know! I heard some whispers that you were hiding up here so I thought I ought to check up on you." Connor said, "I come bearing gifts." He handed her a cup of tea—just the way she liked it: honey and a splash of milk.

"Aw, thanks," she took a sip, "it's perfect."

"Good, I tried to get it that way." A bout of awkward silence fell between them and Connor piped up again with a clearing of his throat. "Can we talk? If you're not busy."

"No, no, have a seat," she gestured to Daniel's empty chair.

The ancient swivel chair creaked under his thin frame as he got situated and he dove straight into what he wanted to say. Sabrina could smell the cigarette smoke wafting off him even four feet away.

"About the other night. Erm, I don't know—there's no easy way to say it. I've done a lot of thinking."

Sabrina hoped he wouldn't say what she thought he was going to.

"You're such a good person, Sab. Shaun fumbled it with you, and I know he was bad to you. I don't know what he did, but I know you were badly shaken up by the end. You tried to hide it, but after working together so long, I could tell." Connor chuckled to himself, "He's a piece of shit. Whatever he did to you must've been life-altering."

"Right," Sabrina deflected.

"Anyway, my point is......" he paused. For a long time. "I don't regret what happened between us the other night."

"Neither do I." Sabrina agreed, though she hadn't fully convinced herself she was telling the truth.

He grinned. "I'm glad to hear that," he chuckled nervously.

"Connor," Sabrina interjected softly. "I don't want to cut you off, erm, but I feel like I know what you're going to say."

"Do you?" he asked, serious, but also with a tinge of fear in his voice.

"Maybe," she collected her words in a brief pause, "I don't....." she didn't have the words. "I can't get into anything right now."

Hypocrite.

Connor stammered, the serious facade giving way to amusement. "No, no, no, Sab," he chuckled. "Don't worry. I've come up to tell you I've put in my notice that I'm leaving Clarence's."

Sabrina felt an immediate wash of embarrassment. Her pale cheeks went tomato-red and she hid her face in her palms as she began to laugh.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" Sabrina almost howled, laughing as she asked herself the rhetorical question. Then another thought occurred to her. "Wait, why are you leaving?"

"My time's come to an end here, simply put. Short version is I found a job that suits me much better. I'm going to to be working at my mum's new business. She bakes and wants me to be her money guy. Much better hours and better pay."

"That's great! But now who am I gonna chat to about the mundanities of this place and hang out outside with?"

Connor smiled. He reached into his back pocket and pulled from it his cigarette carton and lighter. "I'm passing on the torch," he said, stifling a laugh. "I think you should take up smoking."

Sabrina burst into laughter and took the items from him. "I'll cherish these with my life."

"Thanks, Sab," Connor stood up. "My last day is next Friday. We'll have a few more laughs till then."

"Sounds like a plan, then," She said. "I'll miss you. Honest."

"I know. Me, too. You're one of the only normal ones around here."

"Even then I'm fucked up and not normal so that says a lot," Sabrina chuckled.

"I feel like there's hardly anyone who works in customer service that's normal these days."

"Agreed. The amount of weird shit that people do here is indescribable." She said.

"Oh, when I was talking with Dick about my notice, he mentioned something about you probably leaving, too?"

Sabrina furrowed her brow, "Not at the moment. I haven't spoken to Dick about anything like that."

Connor hummed, "Maybe he thinks the rock star's gonna steal you from under him."

"Oh," she chuckled, "Jimmy did say something about that."

"On a first-name basis, then?"

Sabrina flushed. "Well, it's definitely casual. I'm sure he was teasing me, though. I don't actually believe he'd buy me out. Not without my consent, anyway."

"Well, take all the opportunities you can get. Don't get too attached to this place, Sab." Connor said, standing from his seat. Sabrina mirrored his actions. The two chuckled awkwardly.

"Alright, let's get the hug out of the way." She said, opening her arms to embrace him.

"I'll miss you, Sab," He said into her hair.

"Me, too, Con," she replied, taking a deep breath. The smell of cigarettes was potent on his coat. It was nearly identical to how Shaun smelt. Sabrina tried pushing the thought from her mind.

☽

Sabrina had her dress in a garment bag after having steamed it in the shop. For this reason, she took a taxi home. Lugging around a garment bag on the tube would be more trouble than it was worth. Plus, she didn't want to have any additional stress before her date. That alone was causing her enough inner turmoil.

As she exited the cab outside her flat, Sabrina's phone began to ring. Without bothering to check, she flipped the phone open and held it to her ear. She used her free hand to find her keys in her purse.

"Ha-low," she said.

"Sabrina, it's Jimmy."

She nearly screamed.

"Jimmy! What a nice surprise. What brings you to my cellular device at this hour?"

He chuckled in a way Sabrina thought would make her insides melt. "Just confirming our date for tonight."

"Ah, yes. I'm looking forward to seeing you later this evening, so I can confirm it's still on."

"I see you're more at ease about it, then," Jimmy remarked.

"Yes, I think so," Sabrina replied, pushing open the front door to her building, ascending the stairs to her flat as she continued. "I think I was just very nervous and quite obviously caught off guard when you asked me on the date in the first place."

She could still remember the smell of his cologne on the leather jacket, the water dripping off him and onto the carpet. The feel of the vacuum cord around her fingers. She felt her heart excitedly start to beat the same way it had when he professed his feelings to her just days before.

"Glad you're in a better mindset." Jimmy said, then carried on, "Well, Sab—...rina," he paused, "I'd like to propose a slight change of plans, then." He sounded nervous. Oddly nervous.

He's going to cancel. Of course he is. Why wouldn't he? He realized his mistake asking out the young girl from the shop he hardly knew, he—

"Hello?" Jimmy called.

"Yeah, sorry, I'm still here." Sabrina panicked. She anxiously twirled a piece of hair at the speed of light between two fingers.

"Oh, good. Well, um," he cleared his throat. "I hate to spring newness on you at the last minute, but, I have this—I don't even know—a gallery. My daughters's throwing it, she wants me to stop by—she just called me. I don't know if you want to push plans for later this evening, or if you want to come with me. It's up to you. I'm sorry." Jimmy rushed his words.

"Oh!" What the fuck? "I—" Sabrina began to stutter.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable—"

"No, no, not at all. I— Yes, I'll come." That was not the answer she expected to come out of her mouth. "If I'm not intruding, that is." Her mother did tell her to say yes to more things so...here she was saying yes.

"Yes, well, I'll have some explaining to do, but, I think it should be fine...." Jimmy said softly, as if pondering the situation. "Well, I'll let you get ready. My driver will be by at 8. Do you think that'll give you enough time?"

Seeing as it was half past six, Sabrina would have to rush a little, but it should've been able to give her enough time. "Yes, that should be fine. Do you need my address?"

"Oh that'd be helpful," Jimmy chuckled at his own forgetfulness.

Once he’d jotted down her address properly, the two hung up the phone. In the silence that filled Sabrina’s apartment again, she noticed that her heart was beating nearly out of her chest. She wished for a good night ahead and started into the bathroom to clean herself up for the gallery.

☽

Sabrina had finished putting the final bobby pin in her hair when her cell phone rang. The anxiety that she had been pushing down suddenly sprang back up to meet her as her heels clicked rapidly across the creaky laminate flooring. Never Give Up On The Good Times stopped abruptly when she answered.

"Hey Jimmy."

"Hello, Sabrina," Jimmy answered. His voice calm and buttery soft. It made her want to melt and nearly made her forget how to carry on the conversation. "I'm outside. Black Mercedes with the tinted windows."

Sabrina clicked over to her bedroom window where the exact car was double parked outside her building.

"I'll be right down."

"Perfect," he said. She knew he was smiling.

She flipped her cell phone shut and shoved it back into her minuscule purse. Just big enough to fit her ID, credit card, cell phone, and keys. She figured she wouldn't need much else that evening. Plus the credit card was for emergencies—assuming the millionaire would be paying for their dinner.

Millionaire....

Sabrina didn't dwell on that thought for too long. Instead she started down the noisy steps that led outside. At the bottom of the stairs, she composed herself and appeared to be calm and collected as she approached Jimmy's vehicle. The door had been opened for her by Giuseppe, his driver, and Sabrina thanked him graciously as she slid into the backseat.

It was a moment before she took notice of Jimmy. His curls were shiny and wet like they were that evening, but the only difference being that this time it was purposeful. Each curl looked meticulously placed. His soft, aging features made him cute, but in the most sexy way she could have imagined.

Then, she caught a whiff of his cologne. She stopped herself from moaning aloud. Instead she smiled politely. "Hi there, stranger."

"Sabrina," Jimmy fully looked her up and down. It sent a wave of warmth into her core. "What am I to do with you?" His eyes paused at her cleavage for a fleeting moment, then he focused back onto her face.

Sabrina smiled shyly, "Do I look alright? I figured this would be okay for the dinner, but I think it also works for the gallery."

"More than okay," Jimmy reached out for her hand. She extended it to him as the car began to pull away from her building. Let's get this show on the road, she thought nervously. He kissed the knuckle on the back of her hand and the two looked nervously at each other. Well, Sabrina was nervous. If Jimmy was, too, she couldn’t tell behind his calm facade.

“How was your day?” He asked.

“It was fine. One of my dear coworkers is leaving the company, so I was quite disappointed with that. Although he gave me his cigarettes and lighter to remember him by,” She laughed.

“Do you smoke?” Jimmy asked, reaching for his pocket ever so subtly.

“No, no, I hate the stuff. My ex smoked and I hated—well, I shouldn’t talk too much about that so early on our first date, should I?” she said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Jimmy moved his hand away from his pocket. “What did you hate about it?”

“Just the way it made him smell. It made me sick,” she waved off. She really didn’t want to be talking about Shaun so soon.

“Oh, okay.”

“Do you smoke? I wouldn’t want to—“

“Yes, I do, but not nearly as much as I used to. Just something to pass the time nowadays, really. Hope I don’t reek.” Jimmy said, leaning into himself to see if he smelled of nicotine.

“Absolutely not, you don’t smell at all. I actually noticed your cologne as soon as I stepped into the car. You smell very nice.”

“Thank you, Sabrina. You smell quite wonderful, yourself. I also noticed,” he smiled enough for his dimples to show themselves.

“Guess we’re two lucky ducks, then…” she paused, “So tell me! How was your day? What did famous Mr. Page get up to?”

“You flatter me,” Jimmy chuckled. “I didn’t do much of anything, really. Just prepared myself for seeing you tonight, then my daughter, Scarlet, called and informed me she had a gallery tonight and that she wanted me to attend and meet some folks she was in touch with.”

“You said she’s a photographer?”

“Yes, she, uh, is one of those concert photographers. Travels all over and takes. pictures of musicians performing. It’s very good work, I have to admit. And I don’t say that just because she’s my daughter.”

“I understand. And how old is she? I didn’t know you had any children.”

“She’s,” Jimmy paused to count the years, then the realization hit him before Sabrina could notice what he was realizing. “She’s twenty-seven. Same as you.”

Sabrina tried her hardest not to look apalled at the fact. Instead she met Jimmy with tepid surprise, “Is that so?”

“Yes, yes, Twenty-fourth of March ’71.”

“Oh, you’re joking…” Sabrina replied.

“I wish I was,” Jimmy laughed awkwardly.

“I was born fourteenth of February in the same year.”

"Valentine's Day." he remarked.

"Quite so," she chuckled.

"So is that annoying? To have a birthday on Valentine's Day?"

Sabrina shrugged, "I don't think so. It's a fun fact to pull out at parties and whatnot. But luckily it hasn't been too much of a problem."

"So do you have any other fun facts about yourself?" Jimmy asked, reaching for Sabrina's hand again, his touch light as he stroked her bare fingers.

She moved her hand closer to his, allowing their fingers to lace together. Sabrina pondered on his question, before finding something of worth in her personal history.

"My grandmother taught me how to sew when I was seven. Well, more customization and tailoring of clothes than sewing, really. That led me to working at Clarence's."

"Wow. Well, I'm glad to see the art of making clothing isn't lost on your generation."

"Definitely not, I hope to pass it down eventually, but I'm not that good of a teacher to be honest. Daniel's been my apprentice for almost a year now and I don't think he's learned a damn thing from me."

"How so?"

"He asks me the same questions over and over again about how to fix certain things. I don't think I'm teaching him well enough."

"Well maybe he needs more exposure. Like, he needs to learn to figure it out rather than relying on you constantly." Jimmy said.

"Maybe. That's what my boss says."

"He'll definitely need to learn since I'll be poaching you from your position at the shop."

Sabrina looked to Jimmy with a glint of uncertainty in her eye. "You are joking about that, aren't you? Rumors have started among my peers."

"Not in the slightest," Jimmy replied, a sly smirk on his face. Sabrina pursed her lips, nervous, verging on hoping that it was true and at the same time that he was merely pulling her leg. Some part of her did want to do private work, or at least find another job. Maybe this would be a good thing.

"I can't take you seriously." She laughed, turning to look out the window into the London nightlife. People were strewn about the street; laughing and walking to their next destination.

"Why not?" Jimmy asked, reaching for her chin to turn her face towards his again. Sabrina touched his hand and held it in hers, looking at each curve, vein, and tendon as best she could in the moonlight coming into the vehicle.

"I'm scared of change." She said, focusing her eyes on his, "And things have changed a lot for me this year."

"Hm?" he prompted her to continue.

Sabrina shook her head, "I'll tell you some other time. It's too much trauma for a first date," she smiled shyly.

"Alright. All in your own time." Jimmy said as the car slowed to a stop outside a modern-looking building. The windows were tall, and the lights inside bright. From their distance, she could make out photos in frames, but their subjects were unclear. "We're here. Are you sure you don't mind? I can tell my daughter I can't make it."

"No, no. I don't mind at all. I'd hate to impose."

Jimmy nodded. "Well, let's go in, then?"

"Yes, absolutely." Sabrina replied, ignoring her rapidly beating heart.

☽

Sabrina had half a drink of champagne in her system warming her up. It had already soothed her shaking hands, next she needed the alcohol to soothe her racing mind.

Not only was she on a date with Jimmy Page, but she was also meeting his daughter—on their first date, of all things. Meeting of family members normally took place only around dates four or five. It was a massive step forward that took her by surprise. But she was trying to play it as cool as possible.

In the reflection of a photo of a musician called Dave Grohl appearing to scream into a microphone and playing his guitar in unison, Sabrina caught herself in her dress. She looked good. Like, really good. In a way that her own mirror couldn't do her justice. Who knew?

"Excuse me?" a man's voice called gently.

"Hi," Sabrina said before she could take notice of the man she was speaking to. Then she turned to face him after peeling her eyes away from her own reflection.

It was Dave Grohl, the man in the photo. Sabrina's face flushed immediately.

"I couldn't help but notice you looking at the photo," his American accent was wholly clear when he spoke now. Sabrina hadn't realized he was American. He pointed at the photo of himself. "That's me—"

"That's you," they spoke over one another. "It's a great photo. Really captures the...." what the fuck was she talking about? "Aura!"

"Right! Yeah. Scarlet does a great job of photographing us during the shows. I didn't catch your name. I'm Dave." he said, extending a hand out.

"Sabrina. Pleased to meet you." She shook his hand.

"What brings you to the gallery, Sabrina?"

"Uhm, actually, I'm here with—" she paused quickly to scan the room for any sight of Jimmy. She could hardly believe this musician had approached her to speak with her. If she hadn't known any better, she would've thought Dave was going to ask her out.

But she'd had her own bad luck assuming that earlier in the day. Perhaps he was going to ask that she stop checking herself out in the reflection of his photo.

She locked eyes with Jimmy in a second, smiled shyly at him before spotting who he had in tow. A blonde woman who could be his twin—his daughter. Her smile wavered and her heart started back up again.

"Him!" Sabrina pointed to Jimmy as vaguely as she could.

Dave followed her fingertip and his countenance became much more serious. "Are you—Is that—?"

"Do you know Jimmy?" Sabrina asked rather stupidly. She knew he was famous but didn't want to suppose anyone else knew who he was. She certainly wouldn't have.

"He's like the greatest rock star of all time! He's Scarlet's father. How do you know him?"

"I met him at the—erm, I tailor his suits. He's recently hired me." Sabrina fibbed. If anything, to make herself look better. Maybe she could start to get behind Jimmy hiring her for personal work.

"Oh my god, that's awesome! Congrats."

Jimmy approached that moment with Scarlet. He greeted Sabrina and Dave with a curt nod. "Hello, Sabrina. I see you've made acquaintance with Mr. Grohl here." he turned to Dave, "Hello, Dave. Nice to finally meet you. Scarlet's told me lots about you." Jimmy extended his hand, which Dave accepted gratefully.

"I'm a huge fan of your work, Jimmy. So good to meet you."

As they made their introductions, Scarlet took the first step in introducing herself, "Hi, Sabrina. Nice to meet you, I'm Scarlet. I hope you're enjoying the gallery."

"Most definitely!" Sabrina agreed, "Your work is beautiful. You really have an eye for photography. I've been admiring your images."

"Thank you so much. My dad's told me a bit about you since he came to fetch me. I love your dress, by the way." Scarlet said.

"Thank you! I just bought it today, actually. I fixed up the hem myself. It was a bit long." Sabrina replied, horrified already at her awkwardness.

"My father's had many tailors over the years. You're the first woman, though. I appreciate that he's expanded his scope. The female eye can certainly capture other things in terms of fashion. Are you classically taught or did you go to school?"

"My grandmother taught me and I've picked up odd jobs here and there, but your father's my first personal client." Sabrina surprised herself with how well she was lying tonight. She couldn't wait to get out of there.

"Excellent. I was home-taught as well," Scarlet chuckled. "I went to photography school in university, though, to really hone my skills. I've been incredibly fortunate in what I've achieved."

"I'm sure the Page name has certainly helped you along?"

"Oh yes, but it's not what I solely rely on in terms of attaining gigs."

"Your skill alone accounts for that," Sabrina said, pointing to the photographs around them.

A man approached carefully, seeming to want to gain Scarlet's attention. She sensed his presence, turning with a smile.

"I'm sorry to intrude, Scarlet, but can I grab you a moment?" he asked, gaining Jimmy's attention in the process.

Jimmy touched his daughter's shoulder softly, "We're going to get going, dear." he whispered.

"Of course. So glad you could stop by, dad." she said, giving Jimmy a quick kiss on the cheek and silently saying goodbye to Sabrina, "Pleasure to meet you, dear!"

"Likewise!" Sabrina smiled, turning her attention back to Jimmy. "Let's go?"

"Yes, yes," Jimmy replied. He turned to Dave, "Again, a pleasure to meet you, Dave. We've got a dinner reservation which we must be headed to. I'll have Scarlet give you my contact information. I'd love to talk more."

"Great. Sounds good, man." Dave said, shaking Jimmy's hand again and giving him a strong pat on the shoulder. It was more than obvious the man was over the moon to have met Jimmy. "Sabrina, it was a pleasure," Dave took her hand gently, "If you're not already spoken for, I'd love to take you out sometime."

"Oh!" Sabrina blushed, "Should I become single, you'll definitely be my next call." She looked to Jimmy with a flirtatious smile.

Dave seemed to have taken the signal and it quickly became his turn to turn red. "I'll be awaiting your call." he winked.

☽

"Well that was certainly eventful," Jimmy said once they'd gotten back into the car.

"To be hit on by a rock star who was totally infatuated with you is a first," Sabrina laughed.

"Oh yes." Jimmy agreed.

"What did you tell your daughter about us?" Sabrina asked. "I was saying I'm your new tailor."

"I told her more or less the same," he said, scratching at his nose lightly.

"Hm?" Sabrina now prompted him to continue.

"I said there may be some sort of..." he paused to find the word, "Involvement."

She nodded. "Okay... she's very talented. And practically your twin."

"I hear that a lot," he chuckled. "The twin part, I mean. Well, she's also very talented, but, I—"

"I know what you meant, Jimmy," she said, laying a soft touch to his thigh.

Jimmy exhaled, then smiled. The two fell into a comfortable silence, Jimmy's hand creeping towards Sabrina's and once again interweaving their fingers.

Passing through the London streets, Sabrina finally let herself relax. Her cautiousness set itself aside a moment and she felt a small smile grow across her lips.

When she turned to look at Jimmy, he was also peering out the window, unknowing of her gaze. With a glance down at their hands, she allowed herself to feel secure in what was happening. Even if things didn't work out between the two, Sabrina felt that things would be okay.

She would be okay.

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