Kydania

Lydia is getting pretty competitive. It's just a silly game and she doesn't have anything to prove. With the score tied at two to two the game is really heated. The boys couldn't get Bill trying to be a duck so all that's left is for Megan to charade and have us understand to win.

First Megan points to herself. Then she squats low and pretends to aim a gun of sorts. We all stare at her incomprehensively at her. She repeats her actions over and over. Time is quickly ticking down as we try to understand. Then out of nowhere Lydia shouts paintball. When the hostess jumps up and congratulates us I decide to be a good sport and mouth to Bill and the boys a, "You guys did great." After this the hostess says her goodbyes to the nonexistent audience before she lets us leave.

Having all pleasantries done and over with I check my watch. Thirty minutes until the girls and I need to be to the recording studio. My hope it sot get six or seven songs recorded and the album layout planned.

"Hey Kyda the girls and I are famished are we going out to eat?" Tilly smiles at me hopefully.

I sigh, "No, we are eating in the studio Til. I promise if everything goes well we will go out for dinner."

I expect her face to fall in disappointment but instead she surprises me. You would think I should know better that Tilly always does the unexpected.

"You didn't say 'if everything is perfect'! That means we actually might get to go." She jumps over to me excitedly and hugs me tightly.

I just blink a few times trying to adjust to her reaction and do my best not to ask exactly how she came up with that conclusion. I don't give Tilly enough credit. She may come off as an airhead but in all realty she is very observant while she is being her enthusiastic self. Nothing ever gets past her even if she doesn't let you know she knows. Kind of like the time she knew for three weeks that my neighbor had a crush on me but never told us. She said she didn't want to ruin his opportunity and whatnot.

"Kydania!" now what?

"Yes?" I turn to face Bill.

"The guys and I are going out to eat do you girls want to come?" His smile makes me curious if his brown eyes are sparkling behind his aviator sunglasses.

"I'm sorry Bill but we have to do some recording."

"Oh well good luck. See you later tonight?" his face seems excited and hopeful.

"I'll see what I can do." He grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze before joining the boys.

Looking down I hurry off towards the girls. As I walk I replay the hand squeeze over and over in my head. Bill didn't have to do that. He could have just walked away with no physical contact needed. I can still feel the gentle long fingers wrapped around my own with his rings slightly pressing against the edge of my palm. These facts and feelings run rampant circles around my head dizzyingly, all posing one question; why?

Lydia

This six-eight time is going to kill me. One two three four five six seven eight on two and ahhhh!

"Lydia? Are you sure we should do this one?" Tilly looks at me with a concerned gaze; always the observant one. I sometimes wished she didn't.

"The time is messing with me." I notice Meg nod having the same problem.

"Try thinking of it as a rag time four-four. You almost have to sway with it or be lazy." Tilly always knows how to explain the details of music.

I ready my sticks and try the song one more time shouting out, "One and two, three, four!"

Meg and Til strum out a sad harmony. We push it forward building up the intro into Kyda's killer entrance.

"You said it was over." It's low and menacingly beautiful as Kyda sings it, "but it ain't over. Cuz I'm hiding in the back of your mind."

We get louder and stronger throughout the song building up to the bridge angst and anger expressed not only in the lyrics but in the overall sound of the vocals. It feels like we can't get any louder and then all sound but Kyda's voice stops. It fells dangerous, almost like the calm before a storm.

"You'll never..," dramatic but not too long pause, "get rid of...,"

We all tense up for a single but synchronized moment before letting loose and giving the song everything we have.

"Me!" Kyda sings the last word before pushing on and out to the end of the song.

I can feel the anger and challenge now. I know how she feels and push through it and put it out with my own playing rhythmically hitting, rolling, and beating my drum set.

"Great Job guys." Tilly giggles bouncing around glad that with finished recording the last song on Kydania's list.

Kyda is already in the control booth checking it over making sure it's what we want to put on our new record.

I still don't feel that the song should be over. I want it to keep going; to last forever and never stop. This is why I love music. This is wy I am away from home. This is my dream and I am lucky enough to live it.

"Girls," Kydania's voice comes over the intercom, "We did it!"

Just then a figure comes up behind Kyda; tall dark and looming. Had they been there the whole time? All I know is my best friend might be in danger and that I have to get in there to protect her.