Sydney POV
"Can you please add more pace to it?" I ask.
Beside me, Ellie sips her combination of Apple Juice and Big Bull energy drink.
…
…
"No…" I sigh quietly.
"What didn't you like?" Brad, one of the techs asked.
"I don't know. It doesn't sound right." I say, feeling awful.
This is my recording. My music.
And I don't like it.
Brad smiles at me.
"It's ok. Don't feel bad."
"I do. This is all mine." I say.
"Don't." He says reassuringly. "Your mother used to change course halfway thru sessions. This is a piece of cake."
"Maybe that's why your mom usually does stuff at home." Ellie says, speaking for the first time in hours.
"That's mostly vocals though. She does do mixes and stuff, but most of the hardcore work is done here."
"Oh." I say.
Didn't know that.
…
Brad popped to his feet and walked to the door.
"Who might you be?" He asked.
I look up and see Austin, still in his baseball uniform.
I quickly pop up and run into a hug.
I hear "I'm Austin, her boyfriend."
"Oh! Well then, I think it's break time." Brad says, as I look up and smile.
He took off his eye black before he came.
"Thanks." I smile at Brad.
He smiled, then walked past us and down the hall.
Ellie followed.
Both Austin and I turn and watch Ellie.
"Did I miss something?" He asked, still looking down the hall as Ellie took a left.
"No. Not that I'm aware of." I say, still looking down the hall.
Austin shrugged, then let go.
I quickly do the same, and lead him into the studio.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys. But Felipe wanted to know where I was going so he could drop me and get to his date night. "
"Makes sense. How'd it go?" I ask.
"Struck out."
Oh.
I know how his game went then.
In his mind it's a failure.
"Other than that?" I ask.
"2 homeruns and a double that was my 3rd home run, but the ump was blind and called it a double."
"Huh? How can a home run be a double?" I ask.
I'm lost.
"It hit the top of the wall. If a ball hits the yellow line on the top of the wall, then bounces over, it's a homerun. But this idiot umpire missed it." Austin frowned.
He's mad.
He never calls anyone or anything stupid or an idiot.
Mom said it best on splashface a few days ago. She said Austin was "agreeable".
"Oh. Well that sucks. Were scouts there?"
"Tons. Also, Kevin and Matt had a game today. Did you know?" He asked me.
"Yeah, but I decided to come here instead. Did they say hi?" I ask.
"Of course, your Mom hugged me. And they invited me for dinner at 8."
I instinctively check my phone to see it's 7:00.
I'll have to leave in 15 minutes in order to make in home in time.
"Oh. Ok. We can leave soon, I just have to tell Brad soon."
"Okay." Brad suddenly said, peeking around the door.
"It's ok?" I ask.
"Yeah. I'll get what we've got together and send it your way if you want to mess with it at your place later."
"Thank you!" I say.
"No prob Syd, see you next week."
"You too!" I say, getting Austin to smile.
…
"So…this is where the magic is made huh?" He asked, getting to his feet and walking to the switchboard.
I quickly take a picture of Austin's back, then say "Yep. What do you think?"
I open my Splashface app as he says "I…I kinda expected something fancier."
"Fancier?" I say, focused on my phone.
I post the picture with the saying "He has no clue what he's doing. But he's still so happy lol. AustinHarper6."
"Yeah, like more glitz, glamour. Not this simple."
"Simple?" I yelp. "That's not simple!"
There are hundreds of switches!
"Yeah, but I thought there would be more stuff in here."
…
"You don't need more. Booth there, wires transfer the audio to the switchboard and computers. Seats for people and a mini fridge."
"What's in the fridge?" he asked.
I smile. "You're hungry. Let's go."
"Ooh good. I'm starved." He jumped up.
"I wonder where Ellie is." I say.
"I'm here!"
I turn and see Ellie at the door waving.
"Hey, where'd you go?" Austin asked, as I grab my purse and phone.
"Bathroom. How are you Mr. Troublemaker?"
I'm guessing she tried getting some laughs out of that.
"I'm fine." Austin said simply.
I bite my lip and lead the way to the garage.
The draft was the other day. We ended up watching the part where Austin was chosen 1st live.
Austin did one interview via phone, and said he wasn't signing.
Add that, to the fact that on the TV broadcast they said he was a "Signing Risk" and people know his thinking.
But fans of that STUPID team are basically ruining their own chances.
For example, people that send "Hey kid, you better fucking sign with us, or we'll ruin your life." aren't exactly helping.
He's trended three times in the last 4 days since he got drafted, and it's been mostly backlash to the fans.
Some columnist people have said that it's horrifying to see people act this way to a 15 year old. Which is true.
But Austin takes it, and is still taking it. He ignores it, and has only posted on the issue once.
"You know guys, if you keep sending flames, it's not going to make me sign out of guilt. I'll spell it out. I'M NOT SIGNING. Talk to your management, I told them I won't be coming months ago."
People didn't like that. But that's their problems.
As we walk by the front desk, there's a tall guy with black hair and a tattoo on the inside of his wrist.
Wait…
He just waved.
Ellie smiled and waved back.
…
…
Austin and I look at each other, and it's clear we're thinking the same thing.
That was her bathroom break.
The elevator ride and walk to my car is silent, since Ellie is texting, hair wrapped around her finger.
"So, what's his name?" Austin asked once we're all inside the car.
"AUSTIN!" I yell angrily.
She will fly into her little impenetrable shell if you poke and prod her!
"Who are you talking about?" Ellie played dumb in the back seat, buckling in.
When she looks up, Austin and I are staring at her.
We're smarter than that.
"Nobody. At least for now." She said, then blushed.
"Is it that guy?" Austin asked.
…
"I can find out his name…" I try to move things along.
"Do that. I'm not talking. Just texting. Can we get going? I'm starved." Ellie said, back to texting.
"Fine…" I grumble.
Austin turned on the radio, but surprisingly nothing good was on. So we ended up on some channel that was talking about Foreign Affairs and explaining their complex histories. We caught the end of Russia, and started Chechnya.
If you think it sounds boring, then you're wrong. It's actually fascinating.
Ellie even stopped texting and listened.
We even sat in the drive way for 5 more minutes as we heard another segment, and then caught the website for more information, including where to download the program.
Which was just as well, because in that period, like 10 kids came out of the house about Corey's age.
Don't want to get caught up in that tornado of screaming.
Corey, ok. I can handle him. He's sweet and couldn't hurt anyone.
But not all 8 year olds are Corey.
"Good call avoiding the munchkins." Ellie said.
"Don't call them that in front of my parents." I tell Austin who nodded and was taking…
"Why are you taking off your shoes?" I ask.
"I doubt your dad would want me to walk on his floors with cleats." Austin said, as I opened the door.
…
"Theater?"
"Clean!" I hear Corey chime.
"Outside area in between the bedrooms?" Dad asked.
"Clean!"
"Your room?" Mom asked with a smile.
"Clean!"
I walk past the stairs and look to the kitchen, where Mom, Dad, their friends and Corey are.
"Doubtful." I say.
"Sissy!" Corey cheered, then tackled me.
"Hi!" I smile.
"Sydney!" Aunt Jade cheered.
"You're early. Everything ok?" Dad asked.
"Hi Austin!" Mom smiled.
"Yeah. I guess so." I say, as Austin smiled shyly.
"Why are you in your socks?" Uncle Andre asked.
"I went straight from my game to Sydney's studio, so I had cleats on."
"Where are they?" Mom asked.
"Outside the front door."
"I got it." Mom zoomed off.
…
All the adults look amused, but shake it off.
"How'd you do?" Dad asked Austin.
"Two home runs and a double. And a strike out." He frowned.
"Go Austin!" Corey tackled him into a hug, and then jumped away.
"Ahh! Gross!"
"You have clothes here don't you?" Ellie asked Austin.
"They're in my room." I say.
"Yeah, your mother put them there like you asked. But dinner will be here in 20 minutes. That's time to change." Dad said.
Austin looked at me.
"Do you have a shower?"
"I'll show you." I smile, then lead the way up the stairs to my room, then the bathroom and sink in the back, tucked away past my closet.
"Thanks. I won't be long." He smiled as I dug out a white towel for him.
I don't think he'd want the pink ones I usually use.
"Thanks. Do you mind if I use this?" He asked, holding out my backup shampoo.
I immediately blush madly.
It's mountain scented.
"Sure, if you want."
"Thanks. I'll be right out." He smiled, then jokingly ushered me out of the room.
Only to find Ellie sitting on my bed.
"Uhh…why are you here?" I ask.
She looked up from her phone and smiled.
"Oh. Hi. Just relaxing."
"Okay…I'm going back downstairs."
"Cool. Olivia just woke up from her nap. Kevin is changing her." Ellie told me.
"He is? When'd he learn to do that?"
Ellie shrugged and went back to her texting.
I start walking back downstairs.
I'm so confused.
When I get back to the kitchen, Corey's gone, and all the adults turn to look at me.
"Hi." I smile.
"Hi. Where's Austin?" Mom asked.
"Taking a shower so he smells better." I say.
"In your bathroom?" Jade yelped.
I open my mouth, but the looks of surprise from everybody but Dad are telling me I messed up.
"Uhh…" I sputter out.
Dad sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, nothing we can do about it now."
Mom whacked his arm.
"You could have told him to take it down here in the guest bathroom! That's HER bathroom!" Mom chastised him.
"They were gone before I could say anything. It was her and Ellie mostly. They said "Oh, you have clothes! Upstairs! Poof." Dad said defensively.
Mom opened her mouth but is cut off by a scream.
"SYDNEY!"
That's Ellie.
A rush of footsteps tells me she's running downstairs.
Then she dashed to me.
"You left me? ALONE?" She grabbed my shoulders.
"Huh?" I ask.
"What are you talking about?" Aunt Jade asked.
"You left me alone with your boyfriend! You didn't tell me he's built like a roman GOD!" Ellie said loudly.
I cringe, and then realize what she said.
Oh no.
Ohhhhhh no.
I hear a quickly stifled laugh from Ellie's mom, and see Mom bite her bottom lip.
"This is happening. Isn't it? You just said that in front of God and everybody didn't you." I say, eyes firmly closed.
"Yep!" Aunt Tori said cheerfully.
"I didn't. I have temporarily gone deaf and cannot hear a word any of you are saying." Dad said, twirling his thumbs and looking at the ceiling.
I open my eyes and give the death glare of a lifetime.
She's bright red.
"Tell me next time!" She told me.
"Roman god huh?" Aunt Jade asked.
"Ellie has a secret guy!" I blurt out.
"WHAT?" Aunt Jade and Uncle Beck jump.
Ellie quickly looked furious at me.
"Name! What's his name?!" Mom beamed.
"I don't know. She won't tell Austin and I." I smile at Ellie.
"C'mon Ellie! We promise not to laugh." Aunt Tori smiled happily.
Then the doorbell went off.
"I got it!" Ellie zoomed to the door.
"That's not a name!" Aunt Jade chased after her.
"Thanks for telling us." Her dad smiled at me, then hugged me from the side.
"Why'd you come home early?" Mom asked me.
"Music wasn't right. Which makes me mad because I recorded the sounds and did the beats myself. But it's still not right." I frown as Dad walked to the door.
"Don't worry. If anything comes to you, you can use the booth and equipment downstairs." Mom smiled at me, as the door closed.
"PIZZA!" Dad yelled upstairs for Kevin and Corey.
Rumbling footsteps and cheers gave them away as they tore downstairs.
Dad has 3 boxes, and Ellie has 2.
Mom took them from Ellie, only for Ellie to be whisked away by her mom.
"Here's your payment…" Uncle Andre handed my mom a bill.
Uncle beck did the same.
"Thank you. Everyone knows where the plates are."
"Gaa!"
I turn and see Corey holding Olivia, who is pink cheeked and smiling.
"Hi!" I grab her and hug her.
She made a happy sound, and I give her another squeeze.
"Olivia!" I hear Ellie say, then get hugged by her.
Olivia made a happy noise and moved to grab Ellie.
But Ellie's looking at me.
"Don't EVER do that again."
"I could say the same to you." I say right back to her quietly.
Then she let me go and took Olivia.
I grab 3 slices of pepperoni, and 2 of meat lovers for Ellie.
Everybody settled around the island or little bar area nearby and ate, while also talking to each other.
My brothers and Matt are all together talking.
Dad, Aunt Jade, Uncle Andre and Ellie are discussing the radio show we listened to on the way here I think.
Aunt Tori and Unlce Beck are just chit chatting.
And I have Olivia on my lap sitting at the bar.
"Did I hear the doorbell?" Austin's voice rings out.
"Yeah! Food's here! Come get some!" Dad replied.
I hand Olivia to her mom, and move to get him some—
The sound of Austin's footsteps suddenly were interrupted by a yell, then the sound of a fall.
OH NO THE STAIRS.
In front of my eyes he crashed violently to the floor, then lying in a heap.
"Austin!" Mom, Ellie, Me and Aunt Jade all hop over to him.
I heave him up to where he's sitting.
"You ok?" Dad asked, as Mom is giving him a once over.
"yeah. Matt? Kevin? Corey?" he called out.
"Hi. Are you ok?" Kevin asked, as al 3 boys are looking at him.
Everyone is.
"That's why your mom and dad say not to go running down the stairs." Austin joked.
Everybody laughed, and then Beck and I heaved Austin to his feet.
"Ooh, pizza!" he smiled.
I turn to mom and say "he's fine. He's thinking with his stomach again."
Mom just smiled.