Chapter 4

Lovebirds to Songbirds

SCOTTY'S POV

I was looking forward to today.

I was glad it finally came.

I had a great song for Jimmy Iovine to hear.

The judges also mentioned something about a surprise.

I hadn't cared much about that.

I quickly rolled out of bed. Stefano had his head buried under his pillow.

I flicked his forehead.

He stirred.

"One more second mom." he murmured.

Everyone who was downstairs was up and dressed.

Given that, I looked like a hobo crossed with a zombie.

I saw Thia grin.

"The zombie lives!" She teased.

I looked at her.

Her hair fell perfectly atop her shoulders. Her perfect eyes glinted.

I felt the urge to hug her.

Again.

Everyone was crowded around Paul.

He was holding his iPhone in one hand.

Everyone peered into the tiny screen. Haley sat away from them.

She was obviously bored.

Stefano came charging down the steps behind me.

He immediately saw the crowd and managed to squeeze himself in.

One second later he emerged from the group.

He had Paul's iPhone; he tossed it in the air casually.

He turned to me.

"You are one lucky son of a -"

"You're paired with Thia." Casey cut him off. He seemed proud of himself.

They must have seen the look of astonishment across my face.

"We're doing one song in pairs," Haley glanced at James, "Or groups."

Stefano stared at the tiny screen.

He threw his hands in the air.

"Seriously, Lauren?"

Lauren looked hurt. She quickly dabbed at her eyes.

Thia smacked his shoulder.

I heard her whisper something in his ear.

"Stop being mean." She had said, "She really likes you."

Stefano looked at Lauren.

"Fine!" He threw his hands up in the air again. But this time in protest.

He gave Thia another look.

He strode away.

I waltzed towards her.

"What's with him?" I asked.

She looked towards his direction.

"Just upset, that's all."

She said it so convincingly that I nearly believed her.

Nearly.

She quickly changed the subject.

"So, what song are we singing partner?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

I immediately noticed Paul and Pia having an early argument.

It was obviously about song choice.

I turned back to Thia.

"Your choice." I said in a gentlemanly manner.

She shook her head.

"This girl is no good with song choices." She pointed at herself.

I looked at her with disbelief.

"You pick out great songs." I said.

She laughed softly.

"Two words. Yeah. Right." She grinned.

She passed by me taking the plate positioned in front of me.

She was smiling.

All I could do was sigh.

THIA'S POV

Before we went for breakfast.

Lauren was crying.

We were sitting in our room.

Her eyes puffed more than they originally were. They were red too.

"He hates me." She sniffled, "Why can't I be like you, all perfect. Every single guy likes you."

I stared at my teary friend.

I had a faint idea of what she was talking about.

"Lauren, slow down. What are you talking about?"

She looked at me.

"I'm talking about Stefano." She grabbed a handful of Kleenex. "You're taking him from me Thia."

I probably would burst out laughing at the last comment if it

didn't mean that much to Lauren.

I tried to reply in a civilized manner instead.

"So, you think I have something for Stefano?" I blurted out."STEFANO?"

She looked at my face.

"I know you do."

The very last comment she made stuck in my mind through out the whole trip to the Record Studio.

I know you do. She had said.

What was that all about?

"Thia?"

Scotty waved a hand in front of my face.

"Hey, Thia?"

I blinked.

"Huh?"

"I just said that we're here at the Record Studio."

Scotty smirked.

"Can you stand, or do you want me to carry you out?" I saw him grin. "Again." he said.

I smiled back.

"I'm fine, just dazed." I said.

He shrugged like it was nothing. But his concerned eyes gave him away.

He jumped out of the now empty limousine. Everyone else had already ran, leaped or bounced out of it

I followed him out.

Like the freak I was, I tripped on my own shoe.

And fell on top of Scotty.

We fell into a puddle of marshy water. Where'd that puddle come from?

I had tiny brown bubbles that had formed on my dress, Scotty was soaked.

"Sorry." I managed to mumble.

From underneath me I saw him smile.

"Nah, its fine to get a cute girl on top of me." he got onto his feet. "And get soaked."

I took the comment as sarcasm though I didn't find any hint of it in his voice at all.

Was he being serious?

Of course not.

Though I didn't convince myself completely.

He offered an outstretched hand.

"We'd better get going now."

I brushed of some of the water off my dress.

"Yeah." I agreed.

I had a feeling that today was going to be a very, very long day.