Hey guys, sorry if this chapter looks weird. I am going backpacking tomorrow so I won't be able to update until Sunday! Anyways hope you like this chapter and I hope I get inspiration from where I go this weekend, but it you have any ideas where you want this story to go let me know 'cause I may consider it as a possibility! I don't own any rights to the characters or Hollywood Heights.
Chapter 21 – Albums and Dinners
Recap: Nora is engaged to Don, Trent leaves, and Max kisses Nora, while Eddie is trying out a possible new sound.
Max pulled away from Grace and looked down at his hands not knowing what to say because he didn't know exactly why he did it. Grace lifted his chin up so he was looking into her eyes.
Grace: You know Max I have seen you jump around from girl to girl and been miserable these past two years because you have been trying to feel something again. I noticed an amazing change in you once Loren came into your life she makes you feel needed and happy again. But can I just say FINALLY!
Max laughed and kissed her again maybe this could be the start of something of good.
Kelly: So the concert went amazing! I am so proud of you Loren!
Loren: Thank you Kelly.
Kelly: Now why don't we talk about your album release?
Loren: (excitedly) Okay I already have a few songs you know that.
Kelly: Yeah so I was thinking since it is your first album why don't we have six songs?
Loren: Sounds good! I have three already so I am half way!
Kelly: Sounds great so just keep working on those songs because I want to get this album released as soon as possible before the buzz runs off about the concert.
Loren: Okay I will. Thanks again for being my manager Kelly and getting me through all of this.
Kelly: Of course Loren. I have so much faith in you. You are going to be huge just like Eddie always says!
Loren blushed when she talked about Eddie. Loren gave her a hug and walked out when she crashed into Eddie who was coming to see Jake. She fell to the ground and he fell on top of her.
Eddie: We need to meet like this more often.
Loren: (blushed) Yeah I'm sure you would like that.
Eddie laughed and kissed her softly.
Eddie: So what did Kelly say?
Loren: Just that she wants to release the album really soon so I have to write three more songs quick.
Eddie: Well never force it. Remember that, let the lyrics and music flow because when you try to force it, it never comes.
Loren: See I love it when you give me advice. It makes me feel like I can actually do this.
Eddie: You can do this.
Loren smiled and leaned in to kiss him again. Kelly threw the door open.
Kelly: Loren I…
Eddie and Loren both looked up at Kelly from their position on the floor.
Eddie: Hey Kell what's up?
Kelly: (smirked) I was about to ask you two the same question.
Eddie: Well tell Loren her to not bulldoze over people and then we won't be in this situation again.
Loren: Oh whatever Eddie!
Loren smacked his back since he was still lying on top of her.
Eddie: Hey don't abuse the rock star.
Loren just shook her head and smiled. Eddie gave her a peck on the lips.
Loren: So what did you need to tell me Kelly?
Kelly: Oh yeah! So we are going to have to get into the studio this week do you have some free time that we could schedule it?
Loren: I have no idea ask Eddie since he takes up most of my free time.
Eddie pretended to be hurt.
Eddie: Most?
Loren: (laughed) Okay all of my free time.
Eddie smiled then looked at Kelly.
Eddie: Any time works this week as long as I can be there.
Kelly: (nodded) Okay well its Monday now, how about Thursday? That gives you some time maybe to get another song ready.
Loren looked at Eddie and he nodded.
Loren: Okay that works.
Kelly shook her head.
Kelly: You two are ridiculous do ever decide on something on your own?
Loren and Eddie: No.
Eddie: Why would I not want the woman I love involved in everything I do?
Loren: I couldn't agree more.
They kissed again.
Kelly: I'm done with you too.
Kelly went and sat at her desk and Loren and Eddie laughed.
Loren: Okay I really got to go Eddie plus you have a meeting with Jake.
Eddie groaned but nodded. He stood up and helped her up as well.
Eddie: I will stop by after my meeting.
Loren: Okay I love you.
Eddie: I love you too.
Eddie kissed her cheek before he waved and walked into Jake's office.
Loren had just gotten home when her phone rang.
Loren: Hello?
Don: Hello Loren its Don.
Loren: Oh hi Dr. Masters.
Don: I was wondering if you would join us for dinner at our house. Your mom is coming and you and Adriana could get to know each other a little bit better.
Loren: Umm I don't know I was going to do something with Eddie so I will have to ask him.
Don: Well by all means invite him along to. He is my future daughter's boyfriend he is already family.
Loren: Okay well I am sure we can make it then. What time?
Don: Seven. Thanks Loren for coming.
Loren: Of course see you then.
Loren hung up the phone and groaned.
Mel: What's wrong?
Loren: Everything!
Jake: Eduardo glad you could make it!
Eddie: Sure Jake what's up?
Jake: I want to release your album ASAP!
Eddie: I know I have three new songs to put on there.
Jake: That's great! So we already have four so we just need to record those three and you are good to go.
Eddie: Okay when were you thinking?
Jake: Right now!
Eddie: Okay let's go.
Loren was about to tell Mel what was going on when she got a text from Eddie.
Hey babe so I have been ordered to the recording studio with Jake. We are on our way there right now. I am going to record three news songs and then my album is done! So as soon as I am done I will rush over to see you.
That is great Eddie! I am so proud of you. I'm sorry to say that we won't get much time together tonight. Dr. Masters called and invited me to dinner. I was hoping that you would come with me I don't want to be alone?
Anything for my girl
Thank you. I love you and I know you will do great today.
I love you too.
Loren: Sorry that was Eddie.
Mel: It's fine, but what is going on with you Lo. I didn't get a chance to talk to you after Nora stopped by yesterday.
Loren: Well Nora told me she was engaged to Dr. Masters. So now do I not only have to be related to both of them I have to go to dinner tonight with them.
Mel: Oh my gosh! I was not expecting that.
Loren: Well neither was I and now I have to go to dinner over there I just can't believe I have to deal with them now.
Mel: No you don't Lo. You and your mom barely talk so you don't really have to talk to them. Let's just think about the positives!
Loren: (smiled) Yeah like Eddie finishing his album today and me finishing mine in a few weeks!
Mel: That is so awesome Lo! I am so happy for both of you!
Loren: Thanks Mel. Thanks for being such a good friend during all of this. I don't know what I would do without you.
Mel: You couldn't do anything without me of course.
Loren: Oh of course.
They both hugged tightly. This is what Loren needed she needed her upbeat positive friend to help her only think of the positives. She could get through one night at the Masters especially if Eddie was there with her.
Eddie had recorded "Atmosphere" and "Know who I am" he was now going to record a new song that was about Loren of course, she was his muse after all.
What I would do Cause time is on a thread I want you, I need you Chorus: I'm falling into you What I would do I see you, I feel you Chorus: I'm falling into you You can't have what you can't touch Chorus: I'm falling into you
To see you again
What I would say
For the first time
You don't know what you lost and broken
Turn your head away but it's pretty safe to say
I was foolish
There's nothing I would change
I'm falling into you
There's nothing I can do
I'm breathless without you
So I will breathe in and breathe out
To feel you again
I'm standing on the edge
And I know that you're my ledge
And I hold
And I hold
There's nothing I would change
I'm falling into you
There's nothing I can do
I'm breathless without you
So I will breathe in and breathe out
So I will breathe in and breathe out
And it hurts, babe
Some birds are too bright to cage
It's so strange how the strong ones
Are the first ones but I don't want you to fall
There's nothing I can do
I'm breathless without you
So I will breathe in and breathe out
So I will breathe in and breathe out
Jake: Eduardo all those songs were fantastic! Not what I am used to hearing from you, but it's a good different. I know the fans will love it!
Eddie: Thanks Jake. I have to run, but let me know when everything is finished.
Jake: Absolutely my man.
Eddie gave him a hug then left.
Eddie opened the door to Loren and Mel's apartment and Loren was standing there like she had been waiting for him.
Loren: (smiling) I want to know all about how today went!
Eddie: Really because I just want to talk about how beautiful you look in this dress.
Loren smiled she brushed her white sundress with her hands before she grabbed Eddie's and dragged him to the living room.
Loren: No really tell me how it all went! I want to hear everything!
Eddie smiled and kissed her softly. He loved how she was so interested in his career.
Eddie: I recorded my three new songs and Jake said they were amazing and that the fans would love it, and he said he would let me know when everything was finished.
Loren: That's so great Eddie! The fans are going to love it! Not as much as me of course.
Eddie: Of course not.
Loren laughed. Eddie kissed her again but she pulled away suddenly.
Loren: What's this mysterious third song? I haven't even heard it!
Eddie: Because it's a surprise I am going to perform it at the album release party.
Loren: (groaned) I have to wait that long? I thought I was different can't I get a sneak peek of it?
Eddie: Of course you're different, you are my girl. But you have to wait.
Loren: Please…
Loren ran her fingers up and down Eddie's arm causing goose bumps to break out along his skin.
Eddie: (groaned) No I can't it will be more fun if it is a surprise.
Loren: Fine.
Eddie kissed her forehead. He looked at his watch and it said six thirty.
Eddie: Lo we need to go if we want to get to dinner on time.
Loren: (sighed) Fine but let's think of a signal so if one of us wants to get out of there we can tell the other without saying anything.
Eddie: (laughed) Okay what should the signal be?
Loren: We can just squeeze the other person's leg under the table then nobody will notice.
Eddie: Okay sounds like a plan.
Loren: Can I just say I love you. Thank you for willing to come and sit through this dinner with me.
Eddie: Like I said before I will do anything for you. I love you too, let's go.
Max walked down from his apartment and saw Grace finishing up at getting things ready for the club to open. She really was gorgeous. Max liked her a lot. She looked up and smiled when she saw him.
Grace: Where have you been?
Max: Just went up to call Eddie to see if he is stopping by tonight.
Grace: Oh is he?
Max: He is going to try he has to go to some dinner that they are hoping will only last an hour or so then they will stop by here.
Grace: So why do you want him to stop by?
Max: (smiled) because I want him to meet the girl that I am dating.
Grace: I like the sound of that.
Max: Me too.
Grace leaned across the bar and Max kissed her.
Don opened the door and let Loren and Eddie in.
Don: Thanks again for coming you too.
Eddie: Sure it's no problem.
Loren stuck like glue to Eddie's side which he didn't have a problem with he liked that she felt safe when she was close to him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and she smiled up at him in a thank you. He kissed her forehead before they followed Don into the house. Nora and Adriana were already sitting down at the table.
Nora: Loren you came! And Eddie I'm glad you could make it.
Eddie nodded he still couldn't figure Nora out. She loved him one minute and hated him the next, no wonder Loren couldn't get along with her.
Adriana: Can we just eat now. Enough with the greetings it's not like Loren or I really want to be here.
Loren looked at Adriana suspiciously. She sat down and Eddie sat down next to her.
Ian: Love are you okay? You haven't touched any of your food.
Mel: (sighed) I'm sorry. It's just that Loren came to me today and her mom is getting married to a jerk and his awful daughter who tortured Loren through high school is going to be her sister. I just wish there was something I could do.
Ian: Just you being there for her is enough. She just needs you to be there for support so that she knows she can count on you.
Mel: She always can.
Ian: No about that dessert you aren't touching.
Mel: Don't even think about it.
Mel started eating and Ian smiled he was glad that he was able to make her feel better.
Don: So Loren how is your music going?
Loren: Good I will be finished with my album in a week or so. Eddie finished his today.
Don: Oh is that so? Well congratulations I'm sure it will be great.
Eddie: Thanks. I'm excited about it. So how did you and Nora meet?
Nora: We used to work together and we started a relationship. But when it ended I started working somewhere else. But we both decided we couldn't live without each other so here we are.
Adriana: So basically my dad was her boss and he was hooking up with her, but then he decided it was something more.
Loren was trying to suppress a smile. Even though she didn't like Adriana she couldn't have said it better herself. The table suddenly got silent. Loren squeezed Eddie's leg.
Eddie: Well we better get going. Pop asked if we could stop by the club tonight.
Loren: Yeah, and you don't want to forget about pops he won't let you forget it if you do.
Don: Well thank you for stopping by.
Eddie: Thank you for inviting us.
Loren stood up and Eddie followed her out. They were at the door and Eddie was helping Loren put her jacket on when Adriana walked in.
Adriana: Loren I know you don't like me, and I know neither one of us is thrilled about this marriage. But I was wondering if you could get Phil to talk to me? I really miss him.
Loren: (smiled sadly) I will see what I can do.
Adriana: Thank you.
Max was sitting at the bar when Eddie and Loren walked in. People were immediately taking pictures of them.
Max: You guys made it!
Loren: Yeah!
Eddie: So what did you need to tell us?
Max: I'm dating Grace.
Loren: Wait Grace the bartender Grace?
Max: That's the one. I was wondering what you guys thought about it.
Loren and Eddie looked at each other.