It was three months after Sawyer got her dream job, producing and recording music with a talented singer. Sawyer thought she even got luckier to work with Lucy Hale. A young upcoming singer/songwriter, who also played in one of Sawyers favorite TV-shows, Pretty little liars.
Sawyer stood behind the mixing desk in studio B, together with TJ. She was looking at Lucy, who was standing in the recording booth behind the microphone.
"Well, I guess I shoulda learned how to lie a little better" Lucy sang, the last sentence of her song.
TJ pushed the last buttons down and Sawyer ended the recording. They both took their headphones of their ears and sat down on the office chairs that stood right behind them. Lucy walked through de door from the recording booth to the studio and let herself fall down on the black leather couch.
"Oooh, I'm so tired." Lucy said: "What time is it?"
"It's 7.45pm" TJ said, looking at the clock on the computer screen.
"Oh god. And we still need to finish that last song. Does it have to be today?"
"I think we need to reload our energy," Sawyer said: "Shall I order some Chinese?"
"Yes please," the two others said in sinc.
"The usual?"
"Yeah, but can you ask for some extra mini spring rolls?" Lucy asked.
"Sure."
Sawyer searched for her cellphone in her jacket, took it out of the inside pocket and dialed the number of the Chinese restaurant.
30 minutes later their order arrived.
TJ took the box from the delivery boy, paid him and gave the boy a good tip.
"I'm starving," TJ said and opened his box of noodles with big shrimp.
Sawyer picked out her box with baked rice and fried chicken and poured some sweet and sour sauce over her dinner. Lucy started with a mini spring roll, which she dipped in the slightly spicy curry sauce.
"Okay," TJ started speaking to Lucy: "We just need to record your bonus track and then we're finished for tonight. And then tomorrow Sawyer and I can start finishing you album."
"I just can't believe that it's almost done," Lucy replied.
"Believe it girl. You better start thinking how you want to have your releasing party," TJ said with a push from his foot to her leg.
"I must say, I didn't think that it would go so fast either," Sawyer hurled herself into their conversation.
Lucy turned to Sawyer: "I know, right."
They smiled to each other.
"So, have you thought about the kind of party you want when your release your album?" Sawyer asked.
"To be honest, I haven't really thought about it. I don't know, does there really need be a theme or something?"
"Some singers like it to stay in the theme of their music." TJ answered.
"I think I just want a regular party with everyone who helped me making my album, my friends, my family,… And some cute guys couldn't hurt either."
They all started laughing and ended with a big sigh.
"Come on. Let's start recording that last song so we don't need to stay here 'till midnight" TJ said while setting his dinner down on the table. He stood up and started setting everything right for their next and hopefully last recording. TJ looked over his shoulder to the two girls who were still sitting down with their dinner in their hands.
"Let's go girls." he said, trying to get them on their feet again. Sawyer and Lucy giggled and stood up. They walked to their places, put on their headphones and they were ready to go. Sawyer pushed the button to start the music while in her mind she encouraged herself for going on just a little longer and not to fall a asleep.
At 11.10pm, Sawyer put her key in the door lock of her apartment. When she opened the door, Caillee turned her head from the TV to her.
"Wow, you look very tired, like you haven't slept for days." Caillee said with a shocked face. She immediately stood up from the couch and walked towards Sawyer, who let out a bit sigh: "Heu… I feel like crap. I just wanne go to bed and sleep for a whole week."
"Man, this job really takes every energy you've got. Are you sure this is your dream job?"
"As tired as I am…Yeah, I love it" Sawyer smiled to Caillee: "But I'm going to sleep now. I have to get up early again tomorrow. We're gonna start finishing up the album, which means this was definitely not my last long day. Goodnight."
Sawyer walked towards the hallway.
"Sweet dreams" Caillee said before Sawyer walked into the hallway.
Caillee got startled by a hard blow.
"Everything okay there?" she asked her roommate.
"Yeah. I just forgot that my bedroom was on the left side of the hall and not on the right" Sawyer answered.
Sawyer finally got safely in bed and fell asleep.
The following three days, TJ and Sawyer were busy, every minute of the day, trying to finish up Lucy's album. But then came Sunday and they all had a day off, including Lucy. She didn't even have to go the set of Pretty little liars, and that didn't happen very often.
It was Sunday morning, around ten o'clock and Sawyer just got out of bed. It felt good to have nice long sleep after such a long time. Her roommate was already in the kitchen making breakfast for herself.
"Do you want some cereal too?" Caillee asked.
"Yes, please."
Together they took place on the couch in front of the TV, each with a big bowl of cereal and a spoon in their hands. Sawyer just put a spoon full of cereal in her mouth when her phone rang. Looking at the display of her cellphone, she saw it was Lucy calling. The phone rang a couple times before Sawyer could swallow the food and pick up her phone.
"Hi Lucy," Sawyer said, answering the call.
"Hey Sawyer. Are you busy tonight?" Lucy replied.
"No, I don't think so. Why?"
"I was wondering if would like to come over later. I invited some friends from the set and I'd like you to come too. If you want to. We're just gonna hang out and maybe play some games."
"Euhm, yeah. Sounds fun. At what time should I be at your place?"
"Around 7pm is fine."
"Okay, see you tonight."
"Yeah. Bye."
After Sawyer put down her phone, she told Caillee what her plans were for that night.
"Oh that's okay. Now I can invite my special friend over," was Caillees response.
"Who is it this time?" Sawyer asked.
"Eric. I met him at the coffee shop."
Caillee was still playful when it came to relationships. She didn't really had the need to have a steady one. So it happened that Sawyer woke in the morning and met a new guy who was standing in the kitchen in his boxers. In the beginning it was very uncomfortable for Sawyer but after all these years she got used to the adventurous character of her roommate.
They both laughed.
"So, do you think...you know… Is she gonna be there?" Caillee asked.
"I don't know. I guess I'll have to wait and see."
"How long has it been?"
"In a week, seven years and six months."
"Woow. Do you think you're ready to see her again?"
"I don't know. I really don't."
A couple minutes after 7pm, Sawyer rang the doorbell at Lucy's house. She didn't have to wait long for Lucy to open up. She looked happy and fresh. She clearly had caught up some sleep too.
"Hi, come on in" Lucy greeted Sawyer.
Sawyer walked through the door and closed the door behind her. She followed Lucy into the living room where everyone was sitting convivial together.
"Hey everyone," Lucy tried to get their attention: "this is my assistant producer and a new good friend, Sawyer."
Sawyer looked around the room and sighed relieved. She wasn't here.
Lucy continued with her introducing: "Sawyer, this Ian, Shay, Ashley, Keegan, Tyler and Troian."
"Hi," Sawyer said with a little bit of a nervous sound in her voice: "it's nice to meet you all."
And she gave everyone a quick handshake.
The first one to approach her more closely, was Troian: "So you're the famous person who is helping our goose."
"Yeah, I guess so" Sawyer responded while her mind was processing what Troian exactly said: "Wait did you just say goose?"
Everybody started laughing except Sawyer who was kind of confused.
"That's our nickname for our little one," Ashley explained.
When everybody settled down, Lucy told Sawyer where she could find what: "Okay, so drinks are in the fridge and there our snacks on the table. Later we'll get the deserts out too. And euhm… Oh, the bathroom is down the hall. If there's still something you can't find, just ask. Okay?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Hey Sawyer do you want an aperitif?" It was Ian who asked her.
"No thanks."
"Something else than?"
"Ice tea, please."
"Sure, coming right up."
The doorbell rang again.
"Ooh, I think our last guest is here" Lucy said while standing up from her chair and walking towards the front door.
"Who's the last guest?" Sawyer asked Troian, who was sitting next to her.
"Lindsey." Troian replied.
Sawyers heart started to beat faster with every beat. Her hands got sweaty and her stomach suddenly felt like it got tangled up. She heard Lucy in the hallway greeting Lindsey and inviting her to come in. Both Lucy and Lindsey walked into the living room. Sawyer stood up from her place on the couch because she knew Lucy wanted to introduce her to Lindsey, not knowing it wasn't really necessary. The only thing that prevented Sawyer from seeing Lindsey at the moment was Shay who was standing right between them. But after Shay said 'hi' to Lindsey, she sat back down on the chair beside the sofa. And then their eyes met again after 7 years and 6 months.
