Play For Me
Chapter 1: Brief Prologue
A/N: Edited, re-edited, cut, copied, pasted, and thrown out a window. Put it together and what do you got?
A piece of shit. That's what.
"Soul," Wes warned, though he did not look up from his book. Soul turned his irritated glare to his brother who lazed on a tan sofa outlined in smooth mahogany.
Wes still did not look at him and Soul sighed before the knives that were his fingers shrunk back to their normal form. "It's cool," if anyone other than Soul had used that tone, Wes would have called it a pout.
"It wouldn't be 'cool' if Mother ever saw you." Wes retorted nonchalantly, flipping a page.
Soul mentally shivered at the thought. A few seconds of silence passed. Soul warily glanced at his brother who was absorbed in his book and held up his hand again-
"Don't even think about it."
Soul growled and collapsed on a matching recliner, "Why do they even drag us back home when they know we hate it here?"
"Speak for yourself, I actually like a place to call home." Wes disagreed, finally looking up from his book. His amber eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Please, you just like messing with Mr. Red." Soul snorted, running a hand through his tousled hair.
"So do you."
"I have an excuse. He pushed me out of a window."
"Funny, I thought you were trying to run away and the rope you made wasn't tied right." Wes snorted.
Soul glared in response, "Are you on my side or not?"
"Always neutral my dearest brother."
"There you two are," a crisp voice spoke from the open doorway. She-who-must-not-be-named, stormed in. Looking like she smelt something nasty, she eyed Soul meticulously.
"What the hell are you wearing, boy?" she snapped.
"Clothes, Ma'am." Soul responded in a bored voice.
"Change. Now."
"Right here?" Soul mocked a worried voice but reluctantly complied at the icy stare. Wes watched him trudge out the room with mild amusement.
"Ah, Wes. Just who I wanted to see." a more polite voice took over her features, "We've received word from the manager of Tsubaki Nakatsukasa. They would be delighted to do a duet with your talents and I've arranged a studio meeting tomorrow."
"Mother," Wes almost whined, "I came home to rest not sell another album."
"And you are resting," she said firmly, "..for now. Be ready to leave at 6 tomorrow."
"Yes, Mother." Wes sighed lightly and she left without another word, her heels clacking in echoed beats down the hall. A beat of silence.
"Is she gone?" Soul peaked from behind a large vase of flowers near the doorway.
"I thought you went to change," Wes' lip twitched.
"Psh, no way in hell." Soul grumbled, "I'm going out tonight, don't bother to wait up for me tomorrow."
"Not a problem." Seriously.
Maka's grip on her duffel bag tightened unconsciously at the sight of the Evan's studio. It loomed above the vast foliage and buildings around it, towering up to the heavens where the name "EVANS" in large letters stared down at the awe-struck public.
She felt another hand on her own then and turned to see her best friend, and personal client, staring with genuine concern, "You sure you'll be alright?"
"I'll be fine." It felt like she was saying it more to herself than to Tsubaki, "No big deal. Just another client, right?"
Tsubaki pursed her lips but Maka cut her off.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've been causing you. Sometimes I think you're my own bodyguard." Maka laughed with an edge of hysteria.
"Don't be ridiculous Maka," Tsubaki smiled and it eased Maka's nerves… a little bit. "We've been friends for ages. I know how much this means to you."
"It's just," Maka slapped a hand over her eyes before her emotions could well up, "You know I was just using you at first but now we've grown so close. If I mess this up for you.."
She was surprised enough when Tsubaki snorted that she brought her hand out of her face.
"Maka," Tsubaki began, this time her smile eliciting one from her body guard, "Just like you'd do anything for me, I'd do anything for you. And besides.."
The limo had stopped then, and Tsubaki took out her sun glasses, "Wes Evans made the top ten most eligible bachelors; it's great publicity for the company. And it makes me even happier he's the man you've been searching for all this time."
She beamed while the chauffeur shuffled to the other side to open the door, "It's like killing two birds with one stone, how can this possibly be any trouble?"
As the chauffeur opened the door, Maka's lip could only twitch in response as the view of the studio without the tinted windows gave her a sense of foreboding. She spotted a woman walking towards them, cell phone and notebook in hand.
"We'll find out soon. There's his manager."
+Short and sweet. Second chapter should be up… maybe tomorrow, maybe not.