Robbie POV
"Alright Mrs. Valentine, you can come in whenever you're ready." The PA said, then disappeared back into the studio.
"Great, thank you!" Cat smiled, then started gathering up her stuff.
I smile at her and hold her purse for her as she piles makeup back into it.
"Thanks." She smiled at me, and then hugged me.
I smile back. "You ready?"
"Yup."
Cat got to her feet and led the way into the radio studio.
Both hosts immediately hop to their feet once Cat steps into the room.
"Mrs. Valentine, it's an honor. Thank you for coming on."
The female host nodded happily, a smile plastered on her face.
"Call me Cat, and thanks for having me. I know it's not normal to do an interview after noon like this." Cat smiled, and sat down at the little table, where 3 mics were set up.
She hands me her purse, and I sit off to the side like I normally do, and keep an eye on her purse.
"It's no problem, today is a busy day for you, with the release and all." The woman said.
"Now I know you guys use pseudonyms on air. What are you real names?" Cat asked.
"I'm Ryan." The guy said.
"And I'm Jessica."
"Ryan and Jessica. Got it. When do we go on?"
The guy walked back to his station and said "In a minute and 45 seconds."
"Ok." Cat replied, then grabbed the headphones and put them on.
She quickly grabbed her phone and typed something quickly as the hosts started their introduction and sponsor of the segment.
"And now, it is our great honor to have, on the day she releases her 7th batch of songs for all of us to enjoy, Cat Valentine, thank you for coming on!" The guy said.
"Thank you for having me!" Cat smiled back.
"As I just mentioned but it certainly bears repeating, you just released an EP called "Autumn's Paradise" today, and it has already topped the charts!"
The female co-host jumped in and said "Yeah, just incredible! Tell us a little bit about what went into this album."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it!" Cat smiled, then changed tact. "Well, after my last album I really hadn't done much of anything musically since. I was tired, and was ready to be Mom again. So that's what I did, until Sydney got signed and started working on her own music, and it kind of relit my fire, and now here we are." She smiled at the end.
"Oh wow, so she inspired you to get back into the studio?" The lady asked.
"Yeah, I'd say that."
The guy jumped in and said "It must have been kind of strange to feel tired of music after a long and illustrious career like yours."
"It was…I don't know if strange is the right word. I was actually worried to be honest at first because as I said I didn't really miss it. It was sort of a relief to get excited and get my creative juices flowing again."
"That makes sense, and I'm sure all of your fans are happy to hear that you got reenergized."
Cat giggled and said "Yeah, I hope so."
The girl then spoke up. "Cat, you mentioned Sydney just a moment ago, would you mind talking about Sydney, what she's been up to and this new boyfriend of hers?"
I can't help but laugh, and Cat does too. "Uhm, sure. She's good. School just started up, so that's always exciting. Outside of that she worked a lot on her music, and hung out with Austin."
"Austin, the boyfriend?" The host interjected.
"Yes."
"How's he? What's he like?"
Cat snatched up her phone and started typing while saying "He's great, uhm, Robbie and I both like him, and they're going along great."
My phone blinks and I glance down at it.
"Text Syd, ask if I can tell the story of when Austin first came for dinner." –Cat
I screenshot the text and send it off to Syd.
"He's a baseball player right?"
"Yeah, he's a baseball player. I don't know much about it, but he was drafted first overall and is really good."
"Have you seen him play?"
"No, not yet. We need to do that." Cat frowned.
The girl chimed in again and said "It must be odd to have another person around regularly, in a lot of your interviews you always say how you love your routine."
"Yeah, I am pretty routine oriented, but Austin's great, the boys love him and he's fit in great."
"What about Beck and Jade Oliver and their clan?"
"Basically the same really. Everybody is always posting that they're over at our house, and everybody gets along great."
"That's great, especially with so many personalities under one roof."
"Sure. Everybody is listening at home." –Sydney
I reach forward and tap Cat's leg and give her a thumbs up.
She smiled and said "Well, I forgot to mention something. The only spot of bother, and it's really more of a running joke than anything, is Austin and Jade's daughter."
"Ellie?" The host asked.
"Yeah." Cat smiled. "They're always doing silly stuff like pushing each other into the pool or stealing silverware just to aggravate each other."
"So they get along?"
Both hosts are smiling.
"Oh absolutely. It took everyone a while to realize that Ellie wasn't actually mad, since she has a great poker face, but now it's all laughs."
"Any noteworthy stories you can pass along without somebody at home getting mad?" The female host smiled.
"Yeah, actually. It was right after Sydney told us that she had a boyfriend, and Robbie was out at the baseball fields for our boys tryouts. Well guess who approached him?"
"Austin?"
"Exactly." Cat smiled. "So we invited him for dinner. Little did we know that he's a huge fan of mine."
"Oh no." The girl just joking.
"Oh yes. And I'm just cooking dinner, normal day outside of the fact that Austin was coming. Robbie brings everybody home, and we end up zaplooking him and discovering the baseball stuff."
"You zaplooked your daughter's boyfriend?" The host said, then laughed.
"Yeah, in my defense it was actually Jade. But I signed off on it. Anyway, Austin knocked on the door, came in and started talking to everyone. So it's all good."
"Where are you?" The female host asked.
Good question.
"I was in the pantry getting something. I come out, and he sees me. And he froze."
The host laughed and clapped his hands once.
"Why'd he freeze?" The girl asked.
"Huge fan. Looks at everything on line, follows me on Splashface, Sydney says he owns every single one of my songs."
"Oh wow."
"What happened next?" The host asked.
"I said hi, Sydney explained how he was a big fan, then she took him to give him a tour of the house."
"Did he say anything?"
"No. He was too nervous." Cat smiled.
The host laughed as the woman said "When did he start getting comfortable around you?"
"It took a few weeks.
"Aww." She laughed.
"Cat, somehow we're almost out of time, so quickly back to your music."
"Yeah?" Cat smiled.
"How do you think this compares to the last few works you've done?"
"I think it compares well. I wouldn't spend hours away from my family working towards an inferior product. I'm very proud of what's on the EP."
"Wonderful…Cat Valentine, thank you for your time, and we can't wait to see what's coming from you in the future!"
"Thank you!"
…
"And you're clear." The producer said.
Cat immediately took her headphones off.
"Great interview Cat. And again thanks for the time."
Cat smiled and nodded while getting to her feet. "No problem, thanks for the interview."
Then she led the way out of the suite and towards the garage.
I smile to myself when I hear her groan.
"They didn't want to talk about the music. They wanted dirt on Austin and Sydney."
"I wouldn't call them subtle." I say diplomatically.
However, Cat whipped around to me and said "Subtle? I wouldn't even call them good? Who the hell is so insecure about public perception that you use fake names when you're on the air? WHO?" She said heatedly.
"Bad radio hosts." I reply.
"I hate the politics of promoting. Have to smile and put on a nice face to crappy hosts."
I smile and unlock the car.
We silently hopped in and pull out of the garage.
Cat typed on her phone for a moment, then said "Jade and everyone is at home apparently."
"Surprise dinner for the EP."
I glance over and Cat has a shy smile on her face.
"Maybe I shouldn't do any radio stuff for the album. Just Splashface and online stuff. So I never have to leave you guys."
"Cat, we've discussed that before. And you have looked into it. We both know what happened."
She ended up doing radio interviews across the nation and being away from home for a month.
"I know, I know, it isn't feasible. But why not do it? Somebody has to! I mean, I have an amazing fanbase that promotes on its own. Why do I have to do things conventionally?"
"All good points." I say diplomatically.
As I said, we've been down this road.
"I'll think about it. Talk to some people. But that was a shitshow." She said grumpily.
It was.
I know she loves Austin, but the interview was supposed to be about the EP and her music.
Instead those idiots twist it around to Sydney, who is currently the new hot thing.
The next 10 or so minutes she played around on her phone.
"Am I being too negative?"
I laugh quietly and smile.
"No. You have a bone to pick."
"But…this Sydney stuff. We both know what's going to happen. Right?"
Right.
We've never discussed this aloud. But we've both been thinking.
"Robbie?" Cat said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Do you want me to talk?" I ask.
"Yes please."
"Ok. Yeah, we both know what's going to happen."
"Sydney works her butt off, produces a great album, and changes the game. Just like I did. All the focus changes from me to her. And everybody will have to respond. Including me."
Especially her.
"People will key in on you, since you both are under the same roof."
"Exactly. Plus the fact that I haven't really been tested or pushed by someone in years. Out of nowhere I'll have a changed landscape on my hands. And I won't be in control."
"Hey, we both know this wasn't going to last forever." I say simply.
Which is true. She's been saying that for years.
"Yeah, but…this might be the end of the line."
I immediately say "Cat, don't think like that."
"But Robbie, think about it. The industry has been following my lead for Sydney's entire life. Soon, she's going to come and take that from me."
"Not soon. A few years."
"Yes soon, because this next album of mine will be the last one that I'll make that'll be like it. It has to be my masterpiece." She replied quickly.
"Ok. Continue." I say diplomatically.
"Alright. Syd comes and takes the industry by storm. She's the hot new thing. Changes the way people perceive pop music. Not everyone can make a good, fast paced pop album Robbie."
"I know. I remember back when we were kids."
"Exactly. We were kids last time this happened. Now we have kids. This is going to be totally different."
I pull past the gates and they swing shut behind us.
"Cat, we need to just let this play out. You're worried, and justifiably so. Do what you do best, and channel that into the album. Heck, even allude to the fact that pop music is about to change. That'll get people thinking."
"No, that'll put pressure on Sydney." She countered.
"She already has pressure." I say.
"Yeah, and I don't want to add more." She said.
"Which is fine. But we should stop because we're home." I say.
Cat took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
I pull to a stop and kill the ignition.
Cat softly pulled me to her and kissed me.
"Love you."
"Love you too. We'll figure a way thru this." I say reassuringly.
She smiled, then hopped out and led us to the door.
The second the door opened we hear footsteps running towards us.
Quickly Corey, Matt and Kevin all are hugging Cat.
"Mommy!" Corey said.
"Hi!" Cat smiled.
"We heard your interview." Kevin smiled.
Cat smiled and kissed his cheek. "What'd you think?"
Matt bit his lip and said "More Austin than I was expecting."
"EXACTLY!"
We all laugh and walk to the kitchen, where everyone else is.
Cat quickly doled out hugs to everyone, and I see that somebody bought dinner and a cake.
"You guys bought dinner?" Cat asked.
"Yeah, beat you to it." Jade smiled.
"How'd the interview go? As you may have heard, we listened live." Andre smirked.
"It went ok. Weird." Cat frowned.
"Way too much me. They didn't seem too interested in your music." Austin said.
"Exactly. And you know I love you Austin, but that wasn't what it was supposed to be about. So I'm not going to be too positive about the hosts." Cat said darkly.
"Is it true? About the fake names for them?" Jade asked, as Ellie started dishing out food.
"Yup. They're actually named Ryan and Jessica."
"I don't get why they were so focused on us though." Sydney spoke up.
I immediately look down and avoid her eyes.
"Sweetie, you're the hot thing right now. And I'm an old staple. So why talk about the staple when everybody wants to talk about the cool thing right now."
"But you're the greatest pop singer ever. Why should what's new and popular matter? You have more hits than everybody else combined." Ellie said simply.
"It's how things go. Just part of the business."
"Stupid business." Kevin frowned.
"I agree." Austin said.
"Less talking, more people getting food. Chop chop." I clap, and people converge on the food.
Austin and Sydney hung back, and I see that Sydney is wearing a hoodie with Austin's number on it.
"Nice look." I msile at her.
She smiled and hugged me.
"He gave it to me. It's comfy."
"You know I don't mean that personally. Right?" Cat hugged Austin, then looked up at him.
"Yeah, I know. You went it thinking about your career, and you ended up talking about Syd and me. It's part of the game. No harm, no foul."
Cat smiled and hugged him again.
"You're smarter than you get credit for."
"Professionally. He forgot his backpack today, and had to borrow stuff from people in class." Sydney said, smirking at him.
I smile, and Cat laughed.
"I'm not perfect, what can I say?" Austin said defensively.
"You can say thank you for giving you paper and pens after lunch." Sydney smiled.
"How did you not have your backpack? Didn't you notice?"
"No. Sam was in an awful mood this morning and I was late to first period. I got there, sat down and realized what I forgot. And of course, since school is a closed campus, I was screwed."
"At least you didn't get in trouble." Ellie said, holding a plate and smiling.
"Yeah, because I kept my head down."
"Kept your head down about what?" Jade asked, sounding concerned.
"Austin forgot his backpack today and didn't have anything for school."
Beck look confused, Jade laughed, and Tori appeared with Olivia.
"Hey! You're home!" Tori smiled, then came over.
Olivia giggled and grabbed for Cat.
"Hi!" Cat smiled, taking her. "How are you?"
"AGA!"
"You're Aga. Ok. I can understand that."
The whole room laughed, as Corey snuck past us with food and walked to the table.
I look to Austin who is red and has his head in his hands.
"It's always something with you Olivia. Silly girl."
Olivia turned at the sound of his voice and giggled maniacally.
The whole room busted out laughing again, causing Olivia to jump and look at me.
"Don't pay attention to them Olivia." I wave her off.
As if she understoof me, she turned back to Austin and said "AGA!"
Austin smiled and took her. "Yes yes, I'm here. Now do you want food?"
Olivia frowned and laid her head down on his chest.
"That's a no. But you should get yourself some food." Sydney pushed him to the island.
"Good idea." Austin smiled.