Ch. 21: Recording the Album
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Disclaimer: Any songs I use the lyrics to work better if you listen to the songs when they come up, just saying. There's a list at the tail end of this story, just look them up read along. I also tend to leave some space for imagination, so just imagine what's happening if you'd like while the songs are playing.
Also, if you guys wanna point out any grammatical, spelling, or continuity errors I accidentally let slip by, please let me know either through reviews, or PMs. They'd be greatly appreciated in the long run.
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12/31/16 (Timeline A, B, C) 11:55 AM:
Austin walked out on stage with the others as the crowd cheered.
"All right! How the fuck are all of you? Well, since we're 5 minutes from the new year, & we're hoping it's a fuckton better than this shitty year. It's weird, almost 5 years ago, I was just about to release my first real studio album, I was falling for my future girlfriend, being online didn't make you wanna kill yourself, & I was just a stupid 17-year-old. Now, I own my own label, I have several albums under my belt, I went out with that girlfriend for a while, YouTube sucks ass, there are too many SJWs & people who either can't take a joke, or are too over sensitive online, we have a business man with the maturity, & intellect, of a 14-year-old entering the White House, & I'm 22. Let's say we just go fucking crazy tonight, huh!?" the crowd cheered loudly.
3/11/12:
"You sure you don't wanna come to the session?" Austin asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I have to track down my mom anyways."
"Ok. Just don't get your hopes up too high. For all you know, she could've moved on by now. That information you have is old."
"I know, but I have to hope. (Sniff). It's just been so long since I've seen her, Austin," she said, starting to cry. Austin walked up to her & gave her a hug.
"Hey, hey. Don't worry," he said in a quiet voice. "There's still a chance she's there. I hope she is," he said, reassuring her.
"Thanks," she said, hugging him back & closed her eyes. She then felt him pull her away from him a bit, so she opened her eyes & he started to kiss her. She closed her eyes again, but when she opened them again, it was as if it didn't happen. She realized it was her imagination. "Thanks for the hug. You're a really good friend."
"Actually, I just wanted to feel your boobs on my chest," he said with a chuckle. She chuckled, knowing his humor.
"Well, Chandler," she said as they stopped hugging. "Thanks for the hug anyways."
"So, if I'm Chandler, does that make you Monica?"
"We…are so much alike," she said, imitating Chandler's speech patterns. They both laughed. Then there was a moment of silence & they looked at each other.
There was a knock at the door. They breathed out. Ally opened the door. Trish & Dez were at the door.
"Hey, Ally. You ready to go?" Trish asked.
"Yep," she said & grabbed her jacket.
"Austin?" Dez asked.
"Uh, yep," Austin said, coming out of his daze & put on his jacket, exiting the room with his guitar case in his hand.
At the recording studio…
Everyone was set up.
"All right, Austin. You guys wanna warm up, or do you wanna jump into it?" Stump asked.
"Well, we wanna include some covers as bonus tracks, so I think this would be the perfect opportunity to do that."
"Ok. We're recoding, so start when you're ready."
"Ok, guys. Blink's 'The Rock Show,' ready? 1, 2, 3…" he said & they began playing, with Austin having his back to Stump as they played the opening, then turned around where his mic was & sang.
Hanging out behind the club on the weekends
Acting stupid, getting drunk with my best friends
I couldn't wait for the summer and the Warped Tour
I remember it's the first time that I saw her there
He backed away from his mic for a sec & played, then came back to it.
She's getting kicked out of school 'cause she's failing
I'm kinda nervous, 'cause I think all her friends hate me
She's the one, she'll always be there
She took my hand and I made it, I swear
Because I fell in love with the girl at the rock show
She said "what?" and I told her that I didn't know
She's so cool, gonna sneak in through her window
Everything's better when she's around
I can't wait till her parents go out of town
I fell in love with the girl at the rock show
When we said we were gonna move to Vegas
I remember the look her mother gave us
17 without a purpose or direction
We don't owe anyone a fucking explanation
I fell in love with the girl at the rock show
She said "what?" and I told her that I didn't know
She's so cool, gonna sneak in through her window
Everything's better when she's around
I can't wait till her parents go out of town
I fell in love with the girl at the rock show
He stopped playing for the first 3 lines, grabbing his mic.
Black and white picture of her on my wall
I waited for her call
She always kept me waiting
And if I ever got another chance
I'd still ask her to dance
Because she kept me waiting
I fell in love with the girl at the rock show
She said "what?" and I told her that I didn't know
She's so cool, gonna sneak in through her window
Everything's better when she's around
I can't wait till her parents go out of town
I fell in love with the girl at the rock show
With the girl at the rock show
With the girl at the rock show
(I'll never forget tonight)
With the girl at the rock show
With the girl at the rock show
With the girl at the rock show
With the girl at the rock show
They played for a bit more for the fade out.
"All right, guys. Good take. We'll listen back to it later. Ready for more?"
"Yep. All right, guys. 'Caroline,'" he said & they started playing.
Spend another weekend, getting closer than your clothes
In and out of bed you always keep me on my toes
A natural disaster, you're such a pretty mess
You're a ticking time bomb, darling, wrapped up in a dress
It's always her, and me, and you
Caroline, you keep me up at night
You're the only one I wanna do
Caroline, please take me home tonight
Tell your friend there's just no room for two
Cause you're the only one I wanna do
They kept playing as the scene went to All & Trish.
They entered the hospital & walked up to the reception desk.
"Hello, welcome to Bellevue Hospital. Is there an emergency?" the woman at the desk asked.
"Um, no. I just needed to see if there is someone working today. A Penny Dawson, or Penny Morano. I'm not sure which name she goes by now."
"Penny Dawson née Morano…let me see…" she typed on the keyboard. "Ah, yes. Penny Morano…I'm sorry, she last worked here two years ago. She was here for 5 years after her rehabilitation program was completed elsewhere."
"Rehabilitation?"
"Uh, yes. It says here she was put here because she was found in a crack house. She was half-dead when the ambulance brought her here."
"Huh. Did she say where she went to?"
"If she did, it's not here, sorry."
"Oh. Well, thanks," Ally said, then walked out the door.
"Ally, you ok?" Trish asked as they walked.
"No, Trish. I'm not. This was my chance to meet my mother & I missed it."
"Ally," Trish said, getting in front of her. "You knew there was always a possibility that she wasn't here.
"Yeah, I know. I just wanted it to be in my favor. I just wanted to be able to meet her. She's my mom," Ally said, then started to walk passed her.
"Hey," Trish said, grabbing her wrist & Ally looked back at her. "Yeah, she's your mom, but she wasn't there for you. She left when you were little. She doesn't matter. You're almost 17 & you've gotten this far without her. You can go a while more without her. You may never see her in her life The fact that that's reality is always going to bug you, but you can't let 'what if's' dictate what you feel," Ally looked at her, surprised.
"Where'd that come from?"
"Call me a writer of cliche's. Now, are we going to the studio, or not?"
"You know what? You're right. I can't let my mom not being there for me bother me. Let's go."
"All right," Trish said & they started walking.
A bit later…
Ally & Trish entered the studio, then went to the room Austin was recording in & entered. Austin & the others were gearing up for a take. Pete was waiting by the door.
"Are we too late?" Ally asked him as they took ff their jackets.
"No. They're about to start a take of another one," he answered.
"Oh, good," she said.
Austin counted them down.
"1, 2, 3…" he said & Rydel started hitting notes on her keyboard & he started singing the backing 'Oh's.'
They all played their parts as he sang. Ally started smiling as she knew what song it was.
I'm gonna be first to the finish line
Never givin' up 'til we're out of time
And I'm gonna make it there no doubt
Thats what I'm about, I'm about
Not gonna break 'til the music stops
Keep on climbing 'til we hit the top
If you got a dream, gotta let it out
Show 'em what you're all about, all about
They sang the 'na na's.'
Na na na na na
I got a feeling that tonight's the night, yeah
Na na na na na
I got a feeling that it's our time
It flashed back to the new year's concert 5 years later as he walked out on the platform jutting out from the stage.
Let's take this out to the streets
Everyone following me
We'll throw our hands to the sky
We're celebrating our life
Come on let's give it a shot
This may be all that we've got
Right here, the moment is now
Let's show 'em what we're about
He started high-fiving the crowd around him with his left arm as he held the mic in the other one.
Oh woah
Let's show 'em what we're about
Oh woah
He held the mic in his hand as we went back on the stage & walked around.
If you don't try then you'll never know
Just how far that you're gonna go
We can take off, fly the world around
See what it's all about, all about
I can hear music in the air
And I see people everywhere
I can feel the magic in the crowd
Cause that's what we're all about, all about
Na na na na na
I got a feeling that tonight's the night, yeah
Na na na na na
I got a feeling that it's our time
He put the mic on a stand as he played his guitar.
Let's take this out to the streets
Everyone following me
We'll throw our hands to the sky
We'll celebrate it all night
Come on let's give it a shot
This may be all that we've got
Right here, the moment is now
Let's show 'em what we're about
Oh woah
Let's show 'em what we're about
Oh woah
We're gonna be first to the finish line (Oh)
Never givin' up 'til we're out of time (Oh)
And we're gonna make it there, no doubt (Oh)
That's what I'm about, I'm about
Not gonna break 'til the music stops (Oh)
Keep on climbing 'til we hit the top (Oh)
If you got a dream, gotta let it out (Oh)
Show 'em what you're all about, all about
It went back to the studio.
Let's take this out to the streets
Everyone following me
We'll throw our hands to the sky
We're celebrating our life
Come on let's give it a shot
This may be all that we've got
Right here, the moment is now
Let's show 'em what we're about
It went back to the concert.
Let's take this out to the streets
Everyone following me
We'll throw our hands to the sky
We're celebrating our life
Come on let's give it a shot
This may be all that we've got
Right here, the moment is now
Let's show 'em what we're about
Oh woah
Let's show 'em what we're about
Oh woah
Let's show 'em what we're about
Na na na na na, yeah
Let's show 'em what we're about
Na na na na na, yeah
It went to the studio again. Austin saw Ally & went out to greet her. She hugged him. He stood there & gave a hug back as he let her hug him.
"Thanks," she said.
"For what exactly?"
"For just being there."
He looked towards Trish.
She then mouthed, "I'll explain later."
They just stood there for another little bit.
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PEACE
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