This is mostly going to be a filler chapter, it's going to lead up to some big event's in chapters 12,13, and 14. Ah...i'm kinda sad to see that the jealous girl arc is coming to an end, but the new arc which starts in chapter fifteen is going to start soon. Woo! Anyway enjoy this chapter.
-Chapter 11-
"Schemes"
Jesse and Nicki were in awe of the building they stood in front of. The words Metro 2 Inc recording studio proffessional and expensive looking on a massive sign that lit up in bright red cursive. To advertise without a doubt what type of dreams could be made reality here. For the right price of course, Recording music and hiring a team of engineers, songwriters and producers ran a hefty price. At Metro 2 recordings, every producer and song writer that worked there were the best in their field, so in order to record with them, you had to have a label interested in you or be willing to go bankrupt trying to release an album.
"Wow...This place, This is where the band is recording?" said Jessie "Where did they get the money? For this place?" Nicki and Jesse both had part time jobs, Nicki was a pizza server, and Jesse a waitress at the diner. So even if they had aspirations to become songstress's, they were sure that their minimum wage salaries could not afford a studio here.
"Do you think the band is really recording here? Should we call your brother to come and get us?" Asked Jesse, who was afraid of stepping through the double glass paned doors. Her reluctance to enter the building partly because of security, likely kicking them out if they had the wrong place.
"My brother told me he would be here...So I guess we should just go up and check in with the gaurd" said Nicki. One week ago, Zack Fair had announced how the club was to report to the gym on October 8th to fix up the gym for the fall festival. Nicki had already agreed to ask her brother and his band if they were willing to perform at the high school. Which she was sure they would. But he had been unreachable til now. Her brother didn't live at home anymore, he had moved in with someone in his band, even their mother had trouble getting a hold of him.
"Damn!" Nicki had said when she realized that she might not have been able to book her brothers band, as she had promised Zack to book the band. now a week later she her stupid brother finally replying to her messages. She and Jesse had been hanging out at the park when her brother-had the grace- to finally call back and schedule a meet up.
"Hello?" He had greeted her. A little bickering back and forth, before Nicki sighed in relief when the call ended. Jesse who was sitting down then. Found herself being pulled up, and then gently pushed towards the park entrance. Jesse had looked at Nicki with confusion. At which point Nicki filled her in. Jesse knew that it was important to book the band. So, off the two were on Jesse's motorbike across town to Metro 2.
Jesse did not own a Fenrir. She owned a Skoll-series 3, which was considered a vastly out dated model. Jesse loved it because it was a classic (in her opinion) but would have adored a second model in her collection as the Skoll series-3 was hard to upgrade. Nicki had mentioned once or twice that a Skoll- series 12 would be much faster, as they were brand new. Jesse wanted a series 12,but they were too expensive. And she couldn't win a new one in the GSSR tournament, she always came in third and fifth place in the women's division. The prize money wasn't enough to even put a down payment and for what she actually needed it for, she used what she earned at the diner for college and the winnings racing for it as well.
"Can I help you ladies?" A portly security guard carrying a clipboard, asked Jesse and Nicki kindly. He was not scary looking, but he did look awfully bored and unwilling to put up with stalkers and groupies.
"Um...yes...I'm here to see my brother" Nicki stuttered, it was one of the few times Jesse witnessed Nicki act in such a way. Nicki was usually loud and confident, at least at school and in the streets when they hung out. It had to be the uniform, to Nicki, Security guards were the same as street cops. And this security guard had a gun! what kind of a rent a cop actually carried a gun and not a taser? Jesse knew that Edge cops and authority figures were not very kind, and she hoped things would not get out of hand.
"Oh?" The Security guard said ruggedly, he lifted up his clipboard. "What's your brother's name? Is he with a band? And what is your name" he said lastly, he tone strict.
Nicki gulped. Nicki acted as if this man were going to send her to jail if she were to answer even one wrong question. Jesse then stepped in to speak up for Nicki, who was having a hard time answering these simple questions. She wanted to book the band and get back to thinking about Cloud and planning an outfit for the dance.
"Her name is Nicki Redfern, her Brother's name is Reno Redfern. He is in a band called the Turks, he said we could meet him here" Jesse smiled up at the man kindly, who's frightening demeaner quickly changed and he smiled back and lowered his clipboard.
"Nicki Redfern and guest is on the list, as soon as i see your ID you can go right ahead" The robust security guard guided them towards the elevators after Nicki revealed her ID. "The Turks are preforming in studio A on the twelfth floor. Its past the bathroom you can't miss it."
Jesse and Nicki thanked him and proceeded to take the elevators up. The entire time Jesse badgered Nicki about what had just transpired, Nicki was briar red in the face and was trying to downplay her behavior with the not so scary security guard.
"Why were you so intimidated? You looked like you were about to cry!." Jesse laughed, Nicki pouted her lips.
"Well, I'm only human!, I can get scared to you know!" Nicki slammed her hands on her hips, and stuck her tongue out at Jesse childishly, Jesse laughed.
"Your such a kid" Jesse teased.
"Right back at ya" retorted Nicki.
Once on the twelfth floor, Both Jesse and Nicki found the studio right away. When they opened the door, they were met with an ear splitting screech. Both girls had to cover their ears, it had been so loud! Who would allow that to be recorded onto an album?
"Nicki! You're here sis!" A tall lanky man, with bright red hair similar to Nicki's ran up and hugged her. Nicki gagged and pushed him off. The tall man chuckled. Jesse had never really spoken to him but had seen him around Nicki's house before he moved out as well as seeing him during school last year. Reno Redfern; the wise cracking , undeniably good looking red head whom always walked with a swagger, he had a way with the ladies and was unapologetic aboutit. it wasn't so hard to believe that he and Nicki were brother and sister.
"Sorry about the sound girls, it's a play back of Rude over there playing the guitar" A man sitting at the controls explained, all the while motioning with his head to a tall bald man with sunglasses. The bald man named Rude, nodded his head courteously and stepped forward to shake hands with the girls.
"It's a pleasure to meet you miss?" Rude was staring at Jesse, Rude had met Nicki before, several times actually. So there was no need to ask for her name.
"I'm...Jesse, Jesse Merrywhether." The brown haired girl shook his hand, she felt her forehead produce sweat. she was nervous and she had thanked the gods that she always sported a bandana around her forehead.
"Hey Guys, why don't we take a break huh? It's lunch any way." Reno suggested to the men and women manning the control room. Many were hungry, so the room emptied out quickly. Only Reno, Rude, Jesse, and Nicki remained. Well, them and two others. A blond women with a short haircut sat on a nearby lounge chair, and a handsome man with long glistening black hair sat next to her, he also sported a bindi on his forehead which was odd considering he was a man and it was something women commonly wore.
"Elena, I play drums" The blond introduced herself sweetly and tapped a drum stick on a nearby table. Jesse smiled at her, she then felt Nicki tug her and whisper in her ear.
"Elena looks sweet, but don't be fooled! She's meaner than a hornet"
If that was true, thankfully Elena did not hear it.
"My name is Tseng" The dark haired man came up to the girls and kissed the back of their right hands after taking hold of them. Nicki and Jesse blushed, what a gentlemen he was. Jesse cleared her throat once she caught a stare from Elena, how quick her expression had changed-this look that she had thrown Jesse was fierce and It was clear to Jesse then that Tseng was Elena's man. He was off limits, darn.
Well, not that it mattered. Jesse only had eyes for Cloud, who was way cuter than Tseng. Jesse learned from a short conversation with Tseng in the minutes that followed that he played four string bass guitar for the band and was the founder of the group. Jesse had always thought that it was Reno who had started the band being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist.
"Reno just likes to take credit, we don't let him know that we use him to draw in the female crowd." Joked Tseng. Elena laughed as did Rude and Reno, the duo walked over to Tseng and the girls.
"I think he knows, I'm in a band is his pick up line" Smirked Elena. Reno shrugged.
"What's wrong with that? Girls love guys in bands." Reno added coolly. The group laughed and talked a bit more about this, it was turning into a pretty nice get together. Though the conversations mostly drifted towards music, and the rest of the entertainment industry. This made Jesse realize one thing about Musicians; they were not her type at all. Jesse could not see herself dating one. They would have had nothing in common. Sure she liked music but she wasn't as into music as she was into motor bikes. Jesse liked bikers, like Cloud. She nearly blushed thinking about him...to her, Cloud was perfection.
"So your club wants us to perform at Nomura?" Reno scoffed while scratching the top of his head, messing up his already wild hair do. Jesse must of zoned out because she could not recall bringing up the subject, Nicki must have brought it up while she was thinking of Cloud, Jesse could not help but think that she was being a bit rude. Well, Thinking about a gorgeous racing champion could do that to a girl.
"I dunno, what do you guys think?" Reno looked around the room, at his band mates. Elena did not look like she was up for it, Rude and Tseng on the other hand-seemed interested. "We'd be going back to our old stomping grounds!" Reno encouraged.
Reno, Rude ,Tseng and Elaina. Had all attended Nomura High school. Reno, Rude, and Elaina had graduated last year. Tseng two years ago. The band itself was around four years old. During their time at Nomura; they had built up a following, of course that following faded shortly after each had left the school. But soon they would have their days of glory back!. The crew was confident that they would make it big on the music charts, back in high school the music had been well liked.
"Alright I say yay, who else is in?" asked Reno while looking at his band mates.
"Of course I'm in" said Rude, Tseng only nodded for his response. And Elena rolled her eyes, it was three to one and she admitted defeat.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to say hi to a few of our old teachers." Elena reasoned, both Nicki and Jesse squealed in delight, and the band laughed. Elena coyly hid a smile at the high schooler's reactions. The guys were laughing out loud.
The heavy door opened then, and a tall, handsome well-dressed young man walked in holding a cell phone, he strutted as if he were without a care in the world. Jesse and Nicki's jaws dropped to the floor upon seeing him, it was...it was really him!. It had only been a year, but it felt like a lot more since they had last seen him.
"Hey, Rufus!" Reno shouted, there was no need for him to be so loud-for Rufus was right there in front of him! Rufus of course found the boisterous red heads greeting impolite but let it slide. He was a refined young man, one who was taught to let silly things like that go. Far too kind to boisterous folks like Reno. But that was just Jesse and Nicki's opinion of Rufus. Only the Turks knew what Rufus was really like.
"what is it?" Rufus eyed him, his stare calm and piercing. Jesse swore, if she had not looked away, she would have fainted. Rufus was a handsome man, an intimidating one at that and he was only nineteen! Jesse could only imagine what he would be like in ten years.
"Guess where were playing, in a few weeks?" Reno chirped and before Rufus could reply Reno answered "Nomura high! and from what I hear all the girls still talk about you." Reno winked, Rude sighed, Jesse heard Rude mutter the word 'lucky' Elena only rolled her eyes as did Tseng.
"Nomura High?" Rufus snapped his cell phone shut,with his interest peaked a confident grin graced his lips. Eyeing both Nicki and Jesse he said "You two girls are from the motor club right?, I remember you from last year- before I graduated of course."
Rufus Shinra had remembered them? he had even known which club they belonged too? No way! Jesse and Nicki had not ever even noticed him looking at them during freshman year. It was flattering really, to think that one of the hottest and most unantainable guys in school had noticed two tomboys.
"Y-yeah were in the motor club" Nicki gushed. so flattered by him and so enchanted by Rufus's beauty; soft long blond hair that covered half of his face, it brushed along his cheeks like silk. It took every fiber of her being to hold back from tucking the strand of his hair away from his face to view both his gorgeous blue eyes-Oh! She would have died right then and there if he had allowed her too!
"So, do you know a girl named Tifa? Tifa Lockhart?" Rufus dropped the name the two girls hated the most, and then the world crumbled-Nicki's little scenario dying with it. "I used to go out with her, but I hear she started seeing some crazy guy or something, can't be healthy if she's dating a nut. So do you know her?"
"Ah hell! Rufus why don't you just forget about that girl, she dumped you okay! Get over it!" Reno muttered bluntly "Besides the girls in the music industry are way hotter..." Jesse saw Reno grin as he looked out the door which had been left wide open, two girls had just walked by. Songstress's or groupies most likely.
"Way hot!" Reno sang smoothly and ran a hand threw his hair before sauntering out of the room to follow the two girls, Nicki scoffed. Truly she hated Reno when he did stuff like that. That damn lanky Lothario!
"So do guys know her or not?" Rufus went back to his topic, Elena and Tseng watched them, Rude by then had sat down and had begun reading a magazine. Ignoring what drabble that went on concerning Rufus's year old ex-girlfriend.
"Yes we do, she's dating my friend Cloud..."Nicki began, a grin lit up her face "But...she's always talking about you and how she wants to get back together with you!" Nicki fussed outlandishly, not surprisingly this made Rufus Shinra, and heir to the Shinra billion dollar fortune raised his chin up proudly showing that he had interest in what she had to say.
"Nicki!" Jesse was appalled, Tifa never said those things and she sure as hell never spoke to Nicki at school! Nicki smiled at Jesse and winked. Confusing Jesse all the more.
"Jesse you don't have to hide what Tifa says about Rufus!. We're not in school, where everyone can hear." Nicki turned her attention back to Rufus, who wished to hear more about Tifa. "She feels really stupid for breaking up with you, she says you were the best thing that ever happened to her, you should come to the festival with the band and see her! She'd be so happy!"
Rufus stared skeptically at Nicki for a second, before breaking out a satisfied sneer. It was a lie, a bad one, but Rufus's believed it. Of course he would believe it, Rufus was a guy who preferred to hear what he wanted to hear, growing up with a silver spoon he had been surrounded by yes men.
"I knew she would miss me" He gloated "I'm the band manager, so I have to go wherever the band performs.
"Since when?" Elena spoke up loudly, her voice skeptical.
"Since now!" Rufus looked over his shoulder and winked at her, Elena rolled her eyes "so you can bet I'll be there. Just make sure to tell Tifa that, will you?" Rufus seemed sincere for a second there.
"No problem! I will tell her when I see her" Nicki smiled cutely at Rufus. Nicki and Jesse left the recording studio shortly after that. Nicki did not even bother to track down Reno so that she could say her good byes. Explaining to Jesse that he was probably off somewhere buying a drink and flirting with those two groupie/songstresses whatever the hell they were.
"Why did you tell Rufus that? Do you want him to get back with Tifa? So that she can break his heart again?" Jesse began to scold Nicki when they were outside of the building.
"Yes!" Nicki snorted as she said this, sounding very insensitive in the process. She grabbed Jesse's shoulder and shook her friend slightly. "Think about it! Rufus goes to the festival, Tifa will be there because of Cloud since he's in the committee, and when she sees Rufus..."
"Yes he'll be there...and...?"
"Tifa will see Rufus and remember he is rich, she's a gold digger remember? A total hanger on, She'll run happily back into Rufus's arms and-"
"She'll dump Cloud and get back together with Rufus!" Jesse jumped up excitedly.
"She gets it!" laughed Nicki, Jesse hugged her. The two girls jumped up and down garnering bizarre looks from pedestrians that walked past them. Jesse's feelings of excitement began to fade and soon turned to doubt. A frown formed on her face.
"What if it doesn't work?" Jesse pulled away from Nicki, who was stone faced confident in her plan.
"It'll work, trust me, We'll make it work." Nicki said fiercely. Her fists were balled, showing that she was serious about this, determined to carry out this plan and make sure Tifa was outed as the slut she really was.
"How are we going to go about it?" Jesse asked, eagerly waiting to be told the rest of her best friends plan.
"Well there are some kinks that we have to work out, But for now just flirt with him any chance you get? Like the original plan okay?" Nicki instructed, Jesse remained doubtful, Nicki shook her head and told Jesse to trust her.
"I know this sounds half baked, but we can do this! Snuggle up against Cloud!, touch his hand by accident, smile and wink at him! Sashay across the room when he's in it! Show him your interested and when they break up, he'll come to the girl who cared for him all along!" Nicki finished with a satisifed grin. Jesse was still skeptical about Nicki's plan...But now they had Rufus back in the picture. Hell it was worth a shot... right?
I'm so sorry that Cloud and Tifa are not in this chapter, this was actually the first half of chapter 11, but when I saw the pages i realized it would be roughly fifteen sixteen pages. So i decided to post the first half as a separate chapter, so that the next one won't be to long. I'll probably finish with chapter 12 in a week or so, I'll do my best to meet a Sunday deadline!.
Dynasty Warriors- woah! If you did not like Jesse and Nicki in the last chapter, I can only imagine what you think of them now. (yipes!). In a way this makes me happy! It means that I'm doing a good job at presenting good antagonists. Yay! Thank you so much Dynasty Warriors!.
Riku and Zack's Kitty- Ah...the mary sues, we've all been there. Lol. I'm going to be making another story soon that one is full of OC's ... think you can read their profiles over? I would love to hear your opinion. I'm so sorry that happened to your friend, what a jerk that guy was! I hope he got beat up by bikers or something, that jerk. I hope all is well for your friend now though!. And don't worry, I don't plan on making Cloud and Tifa break up.
Ch0knat- But i like papayas!...throw bananas instead!. wahahaha!
Shade the Raven- and it gets worse for everyone involved. O . O I think i have revealed to much!.
Anonymous (but i presume is bookworm!) - Honestly, I think you and I share a brain...are you reading my thoughts? O . o. I think we are spiritual cousins, (laughs) You have very good assumptions, someone will find out about the baby, but its not Jesse and Nicki its..nah...I shouldn't tell you I'll reveal to much. Tee hee. And no way you miss the power puff girls too! i love that show!...i need to get the DVD. (laugh). You really are finding all the clues aren't you? Because Yuffie will get into trouble, big time.
XxkoeyxX- Oh i wouldn't say evil, just misguided and jealous. Glad you like Jesse and Nicki, I'm having fun writing about them, shame they won't be antagonists till the end, (sniff). your right, love will prevail!...i hope.
Loaf...- Oh anybody can write if they just practice! I've learned to put in a lot of detail, in the past i would just write dialouge. Lol. But thank you so much for complimenting me on my style, i still have a long way to go before I truly call myself a writter, but as long as you guys encourage me! (smiles) I would love to read your stories!...just can't see the link, try e-mailing it to me. I think I can get it then.
XfamousXLastXWordsX- thanks! I updated for you! (laughs) I usually don't update so fast, but I was on a role this week. Hope you liked this chapter.