I simply couldn't resist having them sing this song (sing Jeremy sang it in "Love Comes to the Executioner"). Hope you like this next chapter. It's also a bit short, but hopefully full of some chuckles and mystery. ;D

"So we're singing 'American Pie' huh?" Addie said after practicing the song that night. "I like it! That was fun!"

"It was Brandt's idea. Apparently it's one of his favorites." Sheri turned to said man with her guitar slung around her shoulders.

"What can I say? I have a wide range of music likes." He grinned simply at his co-conspirator in matchmaking.

She understood the message and turned to Addie and Benji with a slight frown. "But you guys seemed to be having a disagreement about tempo back there. Can you two work on that while Brandt and I go talk with Ethan really quickly about something?"

"Sure." Benji shrugged with an upbeat smile and a twirl of his drumsticks.

Sheri rolled her eyes simply and placed her guitar on the stand, striding out with Brandt following closely behind her.

Benji turned to Addie, twirling his drumsticks some more. "So, where do you want to start in the song? What's worse? Maybe the beginning?"

"Are you trying to impress me, Benji? Because if so, it's a very interesting method." Addie commented with an amused expression as she watched him continuously fiddle with the percussion instrument in various ways.

"Wha-? N-No, of course not!" He laughed it off and stopped twirling. "Unless you're jealous!" The technician teased.

"Well, maybe a little bit…" She chuckled, half-joking.

"Here, let me show you then." He hopped to his feet.

"We're supposed to be practicing for tomorrow though, Benji!"

"It can wait for a little bit." He reassured, waving a hand carelessly. "Besides, I'm sure Brandt and Sheri won't mind if we take a small break. Sometimes you just gotta have a breather."

"… Yeah, I guess that's true." Adelaide joined him in front of the drums. "So you're gonna show me how to do this huh?"

"Yep." He handed her one of the drum sticks and proceeded to slowly spin the other in his hand. "It's kind of a rolling motion off your fingers as it rotates between fingers…"

"So, kind of like this?" Addie tried to spin the way her explained but fumbled with it and in trying to recover, simply allowed it to drop on the floor in failure.

"Darn it! Sorry, I'll just—"

"No no, here I got—"

The pair both made a move to pick it up and continue on with the mini lesson, but they butted heads and ended up on the floor on their rears from the impact.

"Goodness, bloody hell…" Benji groaned, rubbing the point of contact painfully. "That could've gone better."

"Uh, yeah. Agreed." Addie replied, standing and trying to rid herself of the now sore sensation in her forehead.

"Maybe we should just get back to practicing."

"Yeah… That sounds good." She chuckled sheepishly.

-l-

"See, that was cute. And proof of just how attracted they are to each other!" Sheri told Brandt as they watched from the doorway. "Now if only we could get them to admit their feelings… Or better yet, just kiss and get it over with."

"Pft, good luck with that one. That's not exactly an easy goal." Brandt chuckled.

"I thought you were gonna be my partner on this. Coward!" She teased.

"I'm not backing out and I'm definitely NOT a coward. I'm just saying that it's going to be a difficult task."

"We've had worse. We can do this. And Brandt?"

"Yeah?"

"You mind not trapping me between the wall and you? It's a bit uncomfortable."

-l-

The day of the introduction session came and the four of them sat in seats towards the middle of the Center while Ethan and Jane interacted with the other managing peoples in the back of the room.

"Got eyes on the senator's daughter." Sheri spoke quietly, only intending for the mic on her to pick it up so the rest of the team heard.

The daughter, Julia McCallister, with her ginger red waves tumbling down her back and emerald green eyes sparkling like the belonged in a jewelry store, was laughing with one of her bandmates as they waited for the host of the competition to come on stage and talk to them all. What caught Addie and Brandt's eye, however, was the dark, shaggy black-haired guitarist speaking on his cell phone lowly, away from the rest of his band. His piercing cobalt blue eyes shifting warily as he looked around to make sure no one was watching.

They had their first potential subject.

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Love to you all, xoxo