Asking Favors

Tegan and Sara try to get some friends to join their band

After shaking Chris' hand Tegan walked over to Ted. She was nervous, but she knew that Ted would love to play guitar again.

"Hey Ted," She smiled as she walked up to where he was wiping down the counter, "I have a question."

"What's up Tee?" He looked up from his work and gave her his full attention.

He nerves started to kick in from the mix of excitement at the opportunity, and the fear of Ted being too busy to help them out, "Would you like to play guitar again?"

"You know I'd love to Tegan," He looked more serious at that moment than Tegan remembered him being when she first met him, "But I'm way too busy, unless this is like a one night thing."

She felt her hopes fall straight to the depths of her stomach and her insides twisted around each other. Tegan thought for a minute that she would actually throw up because of his reaction.

"Are you okay?" Ted's demeanor changed immediately from the stressed business man to the concerned big brother, "You don't look so good Tee. Let me get you a Sprite or something."

"Thanks…" Tegan mumbled as she sat down on the nearest stool.

"Here." He handed her a Sprite, "What's wrong?"

"I was really hoping you could play guitar again."

"Why is this suddenly so important?"

"Because that man that Sara and I were talking to was Chris Walla," She could see Ted wracking his brains, trying to figure out why he knew the name, "From Death Cab For Cutie. He's also a producer, and he wants us to record at his studio in Seattle."

"Shit! Seriously?" Ted had a Cheshire grin, "That's incredible!"

"So," Tegan joined him in smiling, "Do you want to come down and record some guitar?"

"I'd love to!" Ted looked like a five year old who had been invited to Legoland, "When?"

"Whenever we're ready." She smiled even wider, "So we'll let you know in time for you to find someone to hold down the fort."

"Sounds like a plan." He gave her a hug over the counter, "I'm so proud of you Tegan. I knew you could make it."

"Thanks Ted."

She walked back over to where Sara was cleaning a few booths.

"Hey bella." Sara said when she saw Tegan approach.

"Hi there angel." Tegan smiled, "Can you believe what just happened?"

"Hell no!" Sara broke into a huge smile, "It's way too good to believe."

"I know!"

Tegan then said goodbye and drove home. She spent almost the whole night collecting old notebooks filled with lyrics, and even tried writing down a few new songs. She finally passed out at around five.

Sara, on the other hand, went to bed immediately, expecting to wake up from a dream when she did so. But when she woke up in the morning she knew it had really happened. So she called her only friend to give him the news.

"Hey Sara." Shaun answered after just one ring.

"Hey Shaun." She smiled as memories of Montreal came to her, "I have huge news!"

"Is it about Tegan?" She could hear his excitement.

"In a way, yes."

"Well, what is it?" Shaun had always been eager and a little impatient.

"Tegan and I are gonna record in Seattle!"

"Holy god!" He half shouted, "That's awesome Sara!"

"Yeah! And our producer is Chris Walla from Death Cab."

"That's fantastic!"

"So," She took a moment to think of how to word her question, "Do you think you can play bass for us?"

"Sara I don't know." She heard a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I thought you loved playing bass. You used to say you would play in a rock band."

"But that was before." She felt tears enter her eyes, "I haven't played since."

"Please Shaun?"

"I don't think I can Sara."

"Jess would want you to." She had tears spilling out now.

"You can't just say that every time you want me to do something. It's not fair." She could tell her was trying to hold his emotions in.

"But you know it's true. She supported your bass playing better than anyone. She went to your bands shows; she bought you a new bass for your birthday when your old one was starting to get to worn out. You can't just let her last present to you sit in a closet untouched. She bought it so you'd be able to keep playing." She was crying freely and she could hear the sobs from the other end of the phone as well.

"Dammit Sara." She heard him chuckle amidst his pain, "You're right. And I know you're right. But I can't just leave Montreal to record."

She had feared that answer, "Please, it's just a weekend."

"I'll make deal with you."

"Okay."

"If you record an album, and get over ten thousand sails in three months, I'll play with you on tour." She couldn't refuse that offer.

"Deal." One less musician to look for, "One thing though."

"What's that?"

"If I haven't told Tegan about Jess by then, you can't talk tell her."

"That's fine by me Sara. Congratulations on your recording opportunity."

"Thanks Shaun. I'll call you again soon."

"Alright. Bye."

"Bye." She hung up and laid back down. She thought back to all her good times in Montreal with her best friend.

"Come on Sara it'll be fun!" Jessie wined at her best friend as she tugged at her sleeve.

"Oh come on." She rolled her eyes, "I've seen his band play before. They aren't even that good."

"Yes," Jess agreed, "But he's my big brother! I have to support his music career!"

"Fine. I'll go on one condition." She knew Jessie would agree to anything.

"Okay, what is it?" Sara smiled know she had won.

"You have to ask Amanda out." She laughed at the look of dread on her friend's face.

"No way!" She giggled, "She's straight! She'd say no."

"So?" Sara shrugged, "You're the one with a crush on her."

"Fine, but you have to promise me you'll listen to Tegan Quin. I know you'll like her music."

"Deal." Sara smiled, she had been listening to Tegan ever since Jessie and Shaun showed her the cover of Tegan's EP.

Jessie turned and walked across the student lounge. Sara watched as she talked to Amanda, a girl they had English with last semester. She giggled as she watched her best friend turn beat red and mumble something. Then she actually laughed out of shock when Amanda nodded her head and handed Jess a slip of paper.

"Turns out she's bi." Jess mumbled as she sat back down next to Sara.

"So basically you're saying that you owe me one." Sara smirked.

"Fine. I owe you one." Jess rolled her eyes and laughed.

Four hours later they were at a bar filled with students form their college. Shaun's band was playing and everyone was having a good time.

"They aren't so bad when you're drunk." Sara slurred as she hung onto her best friend's shoulder.

"Maybe I'll drink just so they don't sound so bad then." She laughed and grabbed the Martini out of Sara's hand and downed it in one swig.

"That was mine you asshole!" Sara laughed and shoved her friend, "I'll go get us more."

"Sounds good." Jess smiled and turned to watch her brother on stage. He was playing his heart out. He was always so much happier when he was playing bass; which is why she had bought him a new two weeks ago. He was so happy on that day. He told everyone it was the best birthday he had ever had. Now Jess took pried as she watched him play his new bass with precision and a lot of passion.

"I'm back!" Sara smiled and handed her a Martini.

"Thanks." She took a little more time drinking this one.

After an hour or so of hanging out Jess decided it was time to go home.

"Hey Sar! I'm gonna leave now." She called out to her friend.

"Really? Cause Shaun said there was an after party and I really wanted to go." Sara made puppy dog eyes at her friend.

"Okay, give me your keys and I'll drive you there. Then I'm walking home."

Sara agreed immediately and tossed her keys to Jess. They drove ten minutes to the lead singer's house and got out of the car.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Sara begged again.

"Yeah I'm fine. I just am really tired and I have some homework to finish." Shaun walked out the door as she finished talking, "Bye Shaun you did good tonight."

"You're leaving?" He looked a little upset about it, "Do you need me to drive you back to your place?"

"Shaun you're drunk." She laughed at him, "I'll be safer walking."

"True." He smiled at her, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

She waved goodbye and gave Sara a quick hug.

Sara sat in her apartment and cried. That had been the last time she had seen her best friend. And that was the memory that always came readily to the front of her mind. She knew it would do her good to see Shaun again. Maybe a reminder of her friend was what she needed, something that gave her a clear connection. She smiled when she thought about hanging out with Shaun again. Maybe she'd be able to remember the happier times with him around.

Tegan called her Grandpa as soon as she woke up.

"Tegan!" He always talked with a smile.

"Ciao Nonno." She greeted, "I have good news."

"What is it?"

"I am going to professionally record an album."

"That's magnifico!" He turned away from the phone and shouted, "Il nostro nipote sta per essere famoso!"

"Slow down Nonno." She chuckled, "I'm not going to be famous. But I will be getting a better income than I am right now."

"I'm so proud of you Tegan. Your mamma would be too."

"Thank you Nonno." She smiled thinking about the times her mom was happy, "Tell Nonna I love her."

"Okay."

"Arrivederci."

"Arrivederci."

She hung up and smiled to herself. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. And it had been offered to her. Well, her and her girlfriend. She smiled at the thought, she would get to record an album and possibly tour with the prettiest woman she had ever met. She never saw her life going this well. Or at least, not before she was much older. She was only twenty-five and she had direction in life for the first time.