Hi everyone! I know it's been a looong time but I've finally finished with course work and am currently in the dissertation stage. So I finally have free time to write. If it's any compensation, I've agonized over this unfinished story the entire time. I haven't done much creative writing in the past few years so I apologize if the writing for the next few chapters isn't great. I really feel like I'm using a muscle that had begun to atrophy. Either way, I hope you enjoy what I have so far and I'll be back with the next chapter soon.

The song in this chapter is Gasoline by Audioslave in case you want to listen along.

Chapter 9

"Good Morning, This is Isaac Wakeman, manager of Beca Mitchell. I'm returning a missed call from Cynthia Rose regarding the American Dream tour. I just want to confirm Beca Mitchell's participation. We can discuss the finer details in person in person but for now I can be reached at 213-555…"

Beca adjusted one of the settings on her computer screen before looking up to where Jesse stood on the other side of the soundproof glass. She clicked on the small red button in the corner of her screen to unmute the talk-back mic near her face and said, "Jess, that was alright, but I think you could push it a bit more. The song falls flat if you're not putting your all into that note."

"Gotcha, Becs. Pick up at the chorus?"

"Nah, take it from the top," Beca said and muted her mic. Waiting for Jesse to put his headphones back on, she hit record and then the appropriate buttons that allowed music to stream in throughout the studio. The reverb of the band's guitarist signaled that the first verse was to begin, and Jesse nodded at her to signal he knew to begin in 4 bars.

House is haunted

I just want to go for a ride

Out and on

Before I set this room alight

Left alone

Forever, and for crimes unclear

With my patience gone

Someone take me far from here

Beca held her breath waiting to see if Jesse would belt out the note like she knew he could. She watched as his right hand went up to hold the right cup of his headphones and he leaned back slightly as the first note of the chorus poured out of him.

Yeah, burning that gasoline

Yeah, burning that gasoline

Beca hit mute, cutting off the music before the music of the second verse could begin.

Jesse removed his headphones and placed them on the stool next to him.

"How was that?"

Beca turned on her mic and told him, "It was exactly what I wanted. I think I've got enough for the final mix." She glanced at her watch, "Besides, we've been going at it for a while. You probably want a break."

While Jesse made his way out of the recording room, Beca saved her work and exited the music program. Closing out her desktop, she grabbed her cell phone and met Jesse in the kitchen where her housekeeper, Tanya, was making lunch. She took a seat at the breakfast bar just as the older woman placed a platter of sandwiches in between she and Jesse.

"So…" Jesse began, letting the word hang there. Beca looked up from where she was squeezing mustard onto her sandwich.

"What?"

"I saw the latest edition of Rolling Stone. Why didn't you tell me you were doing the tour?"

Beca paused. She looked away from Jesse and pretended to be preoccupied with her sandwich. The silence settled between them for a long moment before she looked up and sighed. "I didn't know there was a tour until just recently."

"What do you mean, you didn't know?"

Beca rolled her eyes and pushed her plate away, the conversation having ruined any semblance of an appetite. "I mean, this tour is some half-assed attempt by CR, Amy, and Legacy to get the band back together." Beca stood up and walked over the liquor cabinet and pulled out a barely touched bottle of scotch. She poured herself two fingers full and gestured to Jesse. He declined and she shrugged, before throwing back the entire glass in one gulp.

So…I take it you don't want to do it?" He asked, his voice uneasy afraid of setting Beca off.

"Of course, I don't want to do it. Forget going behind my back, I finally put her out of my mind."

"Them."

"What?"

"You said you finally put her out of your mind. Don't you mean them?" He waited for a response that never came. "And since when did you start drinking again?" He stood and walked over to Beca taking the glass bottle out of her hand and walked over to the sink to pour it out. "Isn't it only a summer tour? It's not like it's a ton of shows."

"You don't get it," Beca said and pushed past him and returned to her seat at the kitchen island.

"No, I do. I totally get Chloe screwed you over and…and I'm not sure why you're mad at the rest of the band."

Beca rolled her eyes, "You know what, it doesn't even matter. Isaac says Dexterity is pulling the 'it's in your contract' card so I have to do it."

Jesse smirked, "Well, I think it'll be good for you, getting back to your old sound. You new album sounds great, but nothing beats what you wrote for Degradation Trip or S(h)e." He saw Beca move to disagree, but he held up his hand to silence her. "C'mon, you know recording for the movie felt really good. Maybe going back to your roots will help with some of that animosity." He looked at his watch, "I've got to go." He reached across and grabbed Beca's neglected sandwich, "Just try to keep an open mind. Go listen to a few of your old albums. You'll see what I mean and realize you miss them too." He walked to the door and deposited the empty glass scotch bottle into the recycling bin. "And call your sponsor too."

Beca waited until she heard her front door shut before dropping her face into her hands. The only sounds that echoed were Tanya moving around in the laundry room. It wasn't the first time Beca remembered just how much space she had to fill in the house with just herself. However, she couldn't ever remember herself feeling as suffocated by the loneliness like she was now.

A chime pulled her out her reverie. She reached over and grabbed her phone, swiping up to open the text message she got from her bass player. It was a live photo of him holding a vinyl record in front of a large display with a goofy grin and the caption "Look what's on sale at Target?" Like Jesse, Brady, thought she was making a mistake turning away from what he considered to be her "true sound."

She stared at the cover of their first EP "Girls Talk Shit", a quick photo that Pieter took on disposable camera of them from the waist down standing in front of his old car. She hated the photo at the time that was taken initially for their flyers for blandslam but became the cover of their re-recorded demo. Now, it only inspired a heavy nostalgia in her chest.

Another chime rang throughout the room and the message "Is this true?" popped up on her screen followed by a voice recording. She clicked on the play button and her voice filled the room with the very first words of the album, "For the record, this was recorded with stolen drug money"

She couldn't help the large intake of breath at the very first chord that followed. It inspired a feeling in her that confirmed to her that no matter how much she tried, she couldn't run from what had happened. What they had done. What they had accomplished as a band. Together.