Ŧ Tom.

"How long until we meet this guy?" I asked Bill as we sat in the board room, waiting to hear from Alex Richer who was supposed to be introducing us to our new technical producer today. I was sort of testy, since Ella didn't call me back and Bill woke me up early so I wasn't really in the mood for games.

"Alex said he was bringing him in soon, be polite when he comes in will you?" Bill said looking around the room. There was nothing to look at, it is way to bland. The walls are an ugly cream color and the desks and chairs we sat at were the only damn furniture in the room.

"Whatever." I said looking at my baggy pants to try and distract myself.

"Just because that girl didn't call you back Monday night doesn't mean that this guy deserves your pissy attitude." Georg stated as he flipped through another page of a magazine he was reading.

"That's so not why I'm pissy. It's because this guy has been making us wait for like, weeks now.'' I said as I leaned my face against my knuckle on the office seat I was sitting in.

"Now now Tom, be polite when he comes in." Somebody said. I looked up and saw Alex Richer, our manager, walking into the room with a large black folder. Alex always knew what to say and what to do, he was always organized and he had everything ready on time and when we needed it. I couldn't help but wonder what was in that black folder though, I mean just meeting this guy was the suprise, right?

"I will, I will. Now can you tell us a little bit more about this guy, I'm dying to know what he's like." I said as I fixed my oversized pants in the chair as Alex sat down at a chair across from me, folder in hand.

"Ja, please tell us." Bill said as he attentively sat up, wanting more information about our new producer.

"I have his folder right here, now I can read you some things, but the rest you have to ask him, got it?" Alex opened the folder and he looked and sorted through scraps of paper and faxes and lists of phone numbers to get what we wanted. I sat in my seat eager to hear.

"Okay, ummmm . . . .he's 18 and he graduated at the top of his class in his V-Tech school and classes. He's very organized with his work, and he does get very envolved with some of his clients. You know, making sure they know what they want and making sure they get want they asked for down to the smallest detail." Alex said mindlessly as he looked through the folder for more information about our guy.

Okay that's good, 18 . . . we could get along, I guess. He sounds like such a geek, but if he's committed to his job, that means he'll do a good job for us. Okay, this is good.

"What about his social skills?" Georg asked as he flopped the magazine back on the little desk that he found it on, and looked at Alex. Social skills are very important, does he even have any?

"Euhm . . . he is taken, and he is very good with important and higher up people. Like he'll be very polite and he won't be rude when he asks questions. Very good social record." Alex said as he took out a high lighter and made little streeks on the paper that was in front of him.

"How about reviews, client reviews I mean." Gustav asked Alex as he finally decided to join us and our conversation. Good question.

"Uhm . . . clients all said that they wanted him for other jobs, he gets the work done without any problems or complaints."

With that Alex closed the folder and set it on a table next to him. It apparently was time to go get our guy and bring him in. I looked around at everyone next to me. Bill was getting himself ready to meet him, fixing his shirt and straitening his pants and sitting in a more respectful manner. Georg was just sitting, he didn't really seem to care, since he was already presentable enough he was just waiting to meet him. Gustav seemed to zone out again, he was just sitting and staring at the floor, making time pass by.

Me, I'm a wreck. My clothes are just fine, and my pants are on just as loose as they always are. My legs are crissed crossed out in front of me by my ankles, not that you could tell. I drummed my hands against the top of the chair that I was sitting in and every once in a while, Bill or Georg would look over at me and send me a little glare, telling me to knock it off. I did. For their sake.

Alex took a breath. "Everything will be fine."

Gustav mumbled. "But, I can't say he'll be what you expect Alex. He is American."

"That is nice." Georg commented. "At least we can work on our American accents."

"That's not the surprise," Alex said. He walked over to the door and motioned for someone to come in. What we did expect was a man in a suit, but what we got was something entirely different.

She was medium height, brown haired, and most notably, young. I think we all estimated her as being no older than me or Bill. She wore a dark black t-shirt with a white vest over it, jeans, and some converse sneakers.

"Hi guys." She smiled at the band. Though young, her facial expression was strictly professional. We all stared at her dumbfounded.

"Alright boys, meet Mr. Vexx, your new producer for the tour."

I heard Bill gasp in glad shock and even Gustav looked up and saw the sight. It wasn't a guy that was going to be living with us for the rest of the year, it was a girl and a very pretty one at that. Georg's mouth just dropped open and so did Bill's a little.

"Oops, I'm sorry, this is Ms. Vexx. Your new producer." I looked over her, eyeing her up and down. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Curves that accented in all the right places. Place the messenger bag on her shoulder.

"Hmph," Gustav grunted. "Why are you so sure you are qualified to produce us?"

"I have the best qualitfications." she said confidently.

"Ella?" I asked as I stood up and walked over to her. She was standing in the middle of the room and we were all kind of staring at her, mouths hanging open. I can't believe I didn't recognize her sooner.

"Tom?" She said turning, finally looking at me. Her voice was the same, and the smile on her face was still there, just as it was when Bill and Suki came to get me. Her eyes were still as dark as I can remember and her hair was still looking as soft as ever.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I motioned to Bill and everyone else behind me. I just had to know if she was really going to be with us for a year.

"I'm producing your band for a year. Technically, but what I'm really doing is just making sure your stage and graphics and pyrotechnics are all built according to your plans. Alex said you guys needed help with that so . . . here I am." She said. This was unbelieveable, I just couldn't even fathom that I would get to spend all year with her.

"Uehm . . . do you two know each other?" We both looked at Alex and everyone else behind us who still had their mouths on the floor. I fixed my cap and I think I even turned a little pink.

"Yeah, we sort of ran into each other Monday, literally . . . " Ella said as she put another out of place hair behind her ear.

"This could be a problem . . ." Georg said as he rolled his eyes at Ella and me.

"Yes, since you only met Monday, I can understand how you could be excited, but you must keep this strictly professional." Alex stated in his deep voice. Ella looked a little disappointed and so did I. How could I keep this professional?