Tada! She's back. And the concert was AMAZING. Omj…. I can't believe I just typed that… but OMG it was so good. Armor For Sleep was awesome, Atreyu was awesome, Street Drum Corps was awesome. Linkin Park? They were effing amazing! dies Okay, so now that I'm back from my mini vacation, I must inform you that I've been informed I'm going to be gone from the 1st to the 7th. Sorry? I promise to try to update as much as possible. I've got a bunch of random future scenes in my head. After the next chapter, the weird time jumps are going to increase. Possibly. But like I said, future scenes are totally being planned and/or written. Okay, so, new chapter.
Chapter 9:
I was shaking. Caitlyn and I were sitting in an office at Berklee, awaiting our names to be called. We had auditions today. Caitlyn was confident that we'd be fine. However, I was nervous as anything. All Caitlyn had to do was hand over her CD, explain some things, and make a good impression. I, however, had to live up to the fact that I was dating Shane Grey and had released a number one hit with him.
Caitlyn, however, had just as much to live up to, though neither of us realized it. She had been credited with the music of said number one hit. They were expecting something absolutely amazing from her. Thankfully, because we weren't aware of this, she wasn't nervous and was confident in her music. She actually was using the track she'd made for another one of my songs. She and Nate had been working on it for weeks. Though they wouldn't be listening to my voice, it was on there.
Shane knew nothing of this song. He thought it was an old song Caitlyn wrote music for, not a new one. I still didn't want to tell him why I wouldn't do the contract with Lava. I wasn't with him just for that, and I was determined to show the world I deserved where I got in music.
While Caitlyn was in the room, I was left to shake nervously all alone. There were other people there, but I was scared.
Caitlyn came out looking a bit pale but very excited. "How'd it go?" I asked.
"It wa-"
"Michaela Torres." A lady called, cutting off Caitlyn's reply. I quickly stood up, leaving my stuff with Caitlyn, except for the track I was going to be singing over.
"Miss Torres." They greeted, smiling evilly. They seemed nice yet conniving. It scared me even more. "What did you plan on singing for us, today?"
"A song I wrote, Who Will I Be." I answered. Brown loved it and had suggested I sing that for my audition when he heard.
"Actually, we have a request. Normally, we don't do this. However, we've heard various rumors that we'd like to confirm or deny." One explained.
"Oh. What is it?" I asked, scared even more.
Another sighed, looking wary of this idea. "You've recorded a number one hit with Lava Records. However, we know in this line of work, your voice may not be just yours. We'd like you to sing This Is Me sans Mr. Grey.
"Oh. Do you want me to sing his parts as well?" I asked.
"Can you?" One asked skeptically.
Out of nowhere, I had a sudden burst of bravado. "Actually, I can. I wrote the song, I know the words. And the parts Shane wrote he wrote for me. The notes are almost the same." I explained, my nervousness slowly disappearing. My need to show them that I deserved this overpowered my shyness and stage fright.
"Begin." The wary one instructed, and began playing the instrumental of my song. I was shocked, but began singing nonetheless.
As I hit the last note, my nervousness came back. "I'm sure it sounds better with Shane, but-"
"No. No. That was amazing, Miss Torres. Your voice… it sounds almost the exact same. It sounded familiar, though, not just from this song." She mused.
"You also just heard one of my other songs when my best friend Caitlyn came in before me. She's an amazing mixer and likes to take my songs and mix the music to them." I saw them look at one another out of the corners of their eyes, shocked I was promoting someone else, and not doing it in a obvious way. I was genuinely and sincerely speaking of Caitlyn, and they could see that.
"Miss Torres, I'm curious." The skeptical one asked. "Why haven't you recorded a CD of your own with Lava? I'm sure they made you sign a contingency contract."
I nodded, choosing my words carefully. "I want to prove I deserve what I achieve. In all honesty, Connect 3's producer offered to help me with a demo, but I declined. I want to be able to say, I got there on my own, with the help and support of my family and friends. I don't want anyone to be able to say, 'Oh, she's only gotten this far because of Shane.'" I explained. "You doubted my abilities when I came in here, and I believe I proved you wrong and showed you what I can do. I want to be able to show the rest of the world that, too."
The third one, who hadn't said much yet, asked, "Miss Torres, how do we know that you won't drop out or take a semester off to go on tour with your boyfriend or to go on your own tour or something of the like?"
I nodded in understanding. What fair was it if I was accepted and not someone else and then I dropped out or something? "You don't." I answered. "I don't. Me leaving to go on tour with Shane… well, most likely not anytime soon. While he's gone, I really put myself into my school work. I focus better than I ever have in my life because it's a distraction from missing him. And I don't plan on going on my own tour until I finish school. If then." They seemed impressed by what I had said.
"Very well, Miss Torres." Wary said.
I said good-bye to all of them and left the room. Caitlyn began asking a million questions, but I simply sat down and sighed.
"Cait, just call Mom." I said taking a deep breath. "I can't process at the moment." Mom had dropped us off at the school and headed to the Grey's to spend time with Shane's mother. Shockingly, they spent quite a bit of time on the phone together. They didn't get to 'hang out' much though. Mom was taking advantage of us being up there.
45 minutes later, Nicky and Mom pulled up in front of us. "Nicky, why are you driving?" Caitlyn asked, climbing into the back.
"Because I got my permit and Connie is awesome." She said back happily.
Caitlyn and I shrugged. I never got my permit because I didn't like driving, and Caitlyn had her license, she just never drove, also not liking it much.
"Are we staying or something?" I asked.
Mom nodded. "We're going to stay for dinner and spend the night. I know you've missed Nicky and I haven't spent time with Anita since Thanksgiving." She explained.
"Cool." Caitlyn and I said together.
20 minutes later, we pulled up to the Grey's. "Wow, Nick, you drive better than your brother." I complimented. Caitlyn agreed.
Mom gave me a curious look as if to say, 'Oh really?', but I quickly ran into the house.
"Mommy number 2." I hugged Mrs. Grey when I saw her. After one random conversation between Shane, Mrs. Grey, and myself, she became my second mother, or Mommy number 2.
"There's my favorite daughter-in-law." She smiled, hugging me back.
I smiled playfully, "I'm not yet, and if I was, I'd be your only daughter-in-law."
She laughed indifferently. "You're close enough." She said knowingly.
"So… I'm curious." Nicky said dragging us up to her bedroom. "You still haven't?" I laughed.
"Nicky, seriously…" I shook my head. "A. is that all you think about? And b, it'd be with your brother. Do you really want to know about your brother's sex life?"
"No, that isn't all I think about. I just… it's like living vicariously because I've never been with someone long enough to want to. And I know you want to." She explained.
I shrugged. "Yeah, but your brother wears a purity ring. So, it's not going to happen, Nick."
She shrugged back. "I guess." She had a weird look on her face. "How can you hold out?" She asked softly. "I mean, the world knows he wants to, too, so how can you possibly not just jump him?"
I smiled. "That vow means a lot to him. That's how. If I let him break that vow, then how can I ever expect him to keep any others he makes?"
"I get it." She answered.
Caitlyn spoke up next. "Nicky, it's hard, but you just have to remember what can happen. Trust me, it's tempting, especially once you do, but you have to make sure your relationship can handle it."
I smiled knowingly. "Ya know, this is different. Usually you just pester me about not believing me. Why all the questions this time?"
"What?" She asked alarmed, surprised that I caught on.
Caitlyn did as well. "Nicky, you aren't thinking about sleeping with Riley, are you?" She asked.
Nicky was quiet for a while. "Maybe. I mean, I do but I don't. Like, I really, really want to. But I don't know if I should."
I smiled. "You guys are coming up on a year soon, right?"
She nodded. "Yup. And, I don't know… I kinda feel like… maybe it's time… I've never had a boyfriend this long."
We smiled at her. "Neither have we. And they both wear purity rings, so we aren't in that situation." I said apologetically. "But, maybe you should to talk to Riley about this. I mean, maybe he isn't ready for that, and therefore you've no reason to be worrying."
She shrugged. "Maybe. I guess, I just assumed, teenage male equals horny."
We all laughed. "No, not every teenage male only wants sex. I think if that was all he wanted, he wouldn't have stuck it out this long. And the fact that Shane petrifies him."
"Speaking of my brother…" She said changing the subject. "Has he said anything more about proposing?" I had told her about the Valentine's Day conversation we had.
I shook my head no. "Nope. I don't know. I'm only 17. I'm not really worrying about it. I'm good with my promise ring for the moment. I mean, I'm getting ahead of myself looking for it. He's going to surprise me and completely blindside me, I know it. And, I guess I want it that way. I'd rather not see it coming."
Caitlyn nodded. "Yeah. I just want a heads up so I know I'll like my ring." She teased.
Nicky giggled. "Yeah, if Nate plans on proposing, we best make sure Mitchie and Shane help pick out your ring."
"Yeah." Caitlyn agreed. "Mitchie, future reference: white gold, sapphire cut."
I smiled, laughing. "I like." I teased.
Nicky turned to me. "What about you Mitch?"
I shrugged. "I don't know." I bit my lip thinking. "You're brother is pretty good at buying jewelry." I commented. "Um, I guess, just gold so it matches the rest of his jewelry. Princess cut, maybe?"
"He does have good taste in jewelry." Caitlyn and Nicky agreed.
Later that night, we were sitting around the dining room eating dinner.
"So, Caitlyn, how are things? We haven't really talked much." Mrs. Grey commented. "Jason and Nate are like my children, and I feel bad I don't know you all that well."
Caitlyn blushed. "They're good. Nate and I have been working on a lot of music lately."
Mr. Grey nodded, impressed. "That's good. Seems like Shane and Mitchie will be writing the words while you and Nate write the music."
She and I shrugged, laughing in agreement. "Probably." We admitted.
"Now, both of you are going to be going to Berklee in September?" Mrs. Grey asked,
"Hopefully." We answered and laughed.
She smiled. "I'm sure you will. Well, you two are more then welcome to come stay for a night or weekend or whatever if you need to get away. Together or by yourselves." She offered. We nodded, not expecting ourselves to actually ever take her up on that offer.
"Mitchie, are you excited for your birthday?" Kevin asked, during a lull in the conversation.
I was surprised he remembered. "Yeah. You guys are coming down for the party, right?" I asked.
"Of course." He smiled. Kevin and I weren't nearly as close as Nicky and I were, but we had a mutual oddness. We would kid around and talk occasionally, but we had boundaries, I guess. We never really spoke on too intimate of a level, though I had given him advice about his girlfriend the one time we did talk on a more personal level. He stole Nicky's cell phone and called me. We hadn't really talked one on one prior to that, but now we spoke more frequently when we visited.
"Awesome." I smiled.
After dinner, we decided to go to bed. Caitlyn and I were staying in Shane's room, while Mom slept in the guest room. I smiled as I laid down, nuzzling Shane's pillow a bit. Caitlyn laughed at me.
I fell asleep quickly, but didn't stay that way. I crawled out of bed around 1 and headed down stairs. I curled up on the couch and called Shane.
"Hello?" He answer sleepily.
"It's weird." I commented softly.
More awake, he asked, "What is?"
"Sleeping in your bed without you in it." I explained. "I can smell you all around me, but you aren't there and it sucks."
"Now you know how I feel when I'm up there and you aren't." He commented.
"What?" I asked, not understanding.
"I can feel your presence there, even though you aren't there, which makes me want to hold you and you aren't there, so I can't."
"Oooh." I said.
"Go back to sleep, baby." He said softly. "Just, pretend I'm there."
I giggled. "Caitlyn doesn't hold me the way you do." I teased.
He groaned. "Not an image I needed, Mitch."
I laughed at him. "Sorry. It was too easy. I'll let you get back to sleep. Love you."
"Love you, too." He said back as I hung up the phone.
"You're so pathetic." A deep teasing voice said from the doorway. I looked up to see Kevin standing there, smiling at me. "I thought something was wrong when I heard you get up." He explained his stalker-like appearance.
"Oh. No, I just missed your brother." I laughed,
"So I heard." He came and sat next to me on the couch. "He's lucky he found you. I don't think he ever expected to find the one after becoming so famous."
I shrugged. "I guess."
"Seriously," He laughed, "We'd be messing around or something, and he would be like 'Mom wants grandkids, remember that. I'd hate for her not to have them.' Which usually was a warning to stop whatever I was doing before I got hit in the… yeah. But I would taunt him saying there was always him and Nicky for that. But he would just shake his head and say Nicky was never having sex." He laughed again. "Somehow, I see him being the only one giving Mom grandkids."
"Not you and Nicky?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Maybe Nicky, I don't know. Me, though? I just… can't think that far into my own future. I can barely see my relationships lasting another week much less long enough to have kids."
"You're only 15, it's alright." I smiled at him. "I hate thinking about the future. Or, I used to. I've started to more thanks to Shane, but it's rare that I do. Sometimes you can' t see the future because you aren't meant to. If you can't see yourself with someone long enough to have kids, it's probably because you aren't going to be."
"Why is when we do talk it's all philosophical and stuff?" He asked smiling.
I shrugged. "I don't know. At least you don't hate me anymore."
His smiled dropped a bit. "I didn't hate you. Nick did. I just, followed her lead. I'm not good with new people." He admitted.
"That's cool. And I don't mind if the only time we talk it's meaningful. So long as we talk sometimes."
He nodded. "Yeah, unlike my sister, I don't need to know about my brother's sex life. Of course, if I did want to know, I'd ask him, personally."
"Good." I replied. "Let's go back to bed, shall we?"
"Well, I need to go to bed before I can go back." He laughed. I shook my head as he helped me up.
I smiled before I fell asleep again. Kevin was a lot like I used to be. But Shane changed that. I saw myself looking toward the future and the life I was sure I'd be enjoying with Shane. Sighing, I fell asleep with peaceful dreams of Shane and I and our future.
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