Chapter 56: Hermosa Beach

Monday, January 2nd, Morning

The sun was bright as she walked out on to the roof deck of the place she rented. Stretching out she reached back and combed her fingers through her brown hair. Her hair fell back down her back as she kept stretching for the sky. After holding that position for a minute, she brought her arms down and smooth down her short black silk robe.

Dr. Candace "Candi" Scott took a few steps forward and leaned her forearms on the deck's rail. Looking around it was still early on Hermosa Beach, so there were not many people out. She shifted from leaning on her forearms to her elbows and rested her chin on her hands. After a minute she yawned.

"Really, boring you already?" Dr. Fawn Cabot said as she walked onto the deck, carrying two mugs of coffee. Fawn and Candi were about the same height, Candi maybe being four inches taller. Both were brown haired, with Fawn's being darker, and blue eyed.

"No, not at all," Candi said, turning, just slightly, to look as Fawn took a spot next to her on the rail. Fawn passed over one of the mugs.

"I know, we have a boring life compared to your life," Fawn said, joking.

Candi reached over and took the mug from Fawn. This caused her to shift back to resting on her forearms and warming her hands on the mug. After a minute Candi brought the mug up to her lips and took a sip of her coffee. After she swallowed the black liquid, she turned her head to Fawn, "My life wasn't that exciting," Candi said.

"Don't bullshit me, I've gone back to your hometown with you," Fawn said.

Candi shook her head, "Others have the exciting life, I just went along for the ride," she said.

"Not hardly," Fawn said, with a laugh.

"This won't sway your belief," Candi said, "James texted me this morning and I have tickets for the games on Friday and Sunday, four each."

"Which one is which?" Fawn asked, her voice betraying the remains of a southern accent.

"I believe the Lakers are Friday and the Clippers are Sunday," Candi said.

Fawn nodded, "James is what to you, again?" she asked.

Candi laughed, then sipped her coffee, "My cousin, I know it's hard to keep track. His Dad and My Dad are brothers," she said.

"Miami and Lakers, that's crazy, and always interesting when James plays, considering his Dad is still beloved here in LA," Fawn said.

"I thought you weren't sure who James was?" Candi asked.

Fawn laughed, "I knew who he was, I just couldn't remember how he was related to you," she said.

Candi chuckled, "I know, I get confused too," she said.

The door behind them swung open and then closed as someone walked along the stairs to join them on the deck. She slowly walked over and joined them leaning on the rail, on the other side of Candi. She was also a tall woman, maybe close to Fawn's height then Candi's. The new person was blonde, unlike the other women. She was also younger than both.

"Are the fish biting?" Dr. Kaelyn McCullough asked, her blue eyes showing the earnest hope.

Fawn shook her head, "Nah! No big fish are out, and anyways those that are out, are well they're not biting," she said, "And we do that on the patio, not the roof deck."

"No, friend Kae?" Candi asked.

Kaelyn shook her head, "No, he went home after the concert," she said.

"Win some, lose some," Candi said, drolly.

"How would you know, Candi? You don't play the game," Kaelyn said.

"Maybe I do, and maybe I don't," Candi replied.

Fawn shook her head, "Kae, with the way you were dressed, you shouldn't have had an issue closing that deal," she said.

"With Daddy's money she should've been dressed to kill," Candi said.

"Look at who's complaining about money, the woman with expensive clothes in her closet," Kaelyn said.

"Which spend more time on your, Fawn, or Mads back then mine," Candi said.

"Who's fault is that?" Kaelyn asked.

"Enough you to," Fawn said.

Kaelyn shook her head. "I think it was just so overwhelming for him, the concert, VIP, and meeting the band," she said.

Fawn chuckled, "If he wants to run with the big dogs, he's got to be able to hang," she said.

Kaelyn shrugged, "Oh well, no big loss," she said and looked at Candi, "Candi, could have had her choice of guys the way she was dressed last night."

Candi shrugged and took a sip of her coffee, "No one caught my fancy," she said.

"You had all the bait out last night," Kaelyn said.

"It was fun, and anyways Kae, not everyone is looking for someone," Candi said, there was an unseasonable chill in her voice.

Kaelyn nodded and took the hint, "Tacit Blue was awesome," she said.

"They're not bad," Candi said.

"I know you said you know the lead singer from when you interned at that record label," Kaelyn said.

Candi shook her head, "I wasn't at the label when they were signed. It's where I met Alix, but I wasn't when I worked there," she said.

"Okay, but why does she look familiar?" Kaelyn asked.

Candi shrugged, "I don't know, because she's on all the Tacit Blue Merch?" she replied and took a sip of her coffee.

"No, no, not that," Kaelyn replied, "She looks like someone famous."

"Duh! She looks like herself, she's kind of famous," Fawn added and then she sipped her coffee.

Kaelyn shook her head, "No, someone else, that's famous," she said.

Candi chuckled, "She's tall, slender, blonde and in LA, there are at least five women around the corner like that," she said.

"No, not that," Kaelyn said.

"Then who?" Fawn asked.

"I don't know," Kaelyn said.

Candi chuckled again.

"What's so funny?" Kaelyn asked, a bit annoyed.

"Do you like the band Nordwind?" Candi asked.

Kaelyn shook her head, "Never heard of them," she said.

"Really Kae, never heard of Nordwind?" Fawn asked.

Kaelyn shook her head, "No," she said.

"Deprived child," Fawn said.

"How about High-Performance Heart Attack?" Candi asked.

"Sounds like an EMO Band, and nope," Kaelyn said.

"Kids these days," Candi said.

"Can't blame her there, they did go EMO after the first album," Fawn said.

Candi shook her head, "How about Mental Lapse?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's a great band," Kaelyn said, "They have that song back on the charts, Me and The Devil."

Candi nodded, knowing the song, when Mental Lapse had pretty much started relying on covers for their singles, "Ever hear of Kat Hartmann?" Candi asked.

"The name sounds familiar," Kaelyn said.

"Kat was the original bass player and primary songwriter of both Mental Lapse and High-Performance Heart Attack, and currently she's the lead singer for Nordwind," Candi said, "She's is also Alix's older sister. In fact, Alix is a spitting image of Kat when she was younger."

"Oh!" Kaelyn said, "So, how do you know this?"

Candi sighed and shook her head. She took a sip of her coffee and counted to five, "One, I worked at the label all those bands were once signed to. Two, Kat and I went to high school together. Three, as I've said Brian Scott is my cousin," she said, and then to calm herself again, she took another sip of her coffee.

"So, that mean's James Scott is also your cousin," Kaelyn said.

Candi nodded, "Yes, that's usually the case with brothers," she said, "Your cousin with one and you are with the other."

"James still plays for Miami, right?" Kaelyn asked.

Candi nodded, and took a sip of her coffee, "Last time I checked," she said.

"Miami's coming to town this weekend, they'll be playing the Lakers Friday," Kaelyn said.

"So?" Candi asked.

"Kae, what are you getting at?" Fawn asked.

"I was hoping to go to the Lakers game," Kaelyn said.

Candi nodded, "I'll let you know," she said, and turned away to roll her eyes.

Kaelyn nodded.

"So, Alix was amazing last night, but she is so different from Kat," Fawn said, changing the subject.

"Different people," Candi said.

"I know that," Fawn said, "Wouldn't you think coming from the same background they would have similar styles?"

Candi shrugged, "Kat was always more focused on music. Alix well, she's Alix," she said.

"What does that mean?" Kaelyn asked, confused.

"One is serious about her music, and the other isn't as much," Candi said.

"To me, it seems though not as into music as her sister, the music that Alix sings is more personal to her," Fawn said, "But Kat not so much."

"That's the band dynamics," Candi said and sipped her coffee.

"Oh really?" Kaelyn asked.

Candi nodded, "Yep, it affects the music quite a lot," she said.

"You learned all this from interning?" Kaelyn asked.

"For six years, I'd say so," Candi said.

Kaelyn nodded. Fawn sipped at her coffee, "So, how do those band dynamics differ?" she asked.

"Nordwind is Arne's band, and he writes most of the music and lyrics. Tacit Blue, well Alix's writes the lyrics to the songs," Candi said, and looked them both over, "It's in the liner notes."

"I see," Fawn said.

"Who's Arne?" Kaelyn asked.

"The keyboardist, songwriter, and Kat Hartmann's husband," Fawn said.

"Oh," Kaelyn said.

"Also, the genres affect it too, they play in two different genres. Nordwind is more power, symphonic metal, so Kat sings to fit that. Tacit Blue is more Pop-punk and Alix sings to fit that music," Candi said.

Kaelyn looked at Candi, "How do you retain all that information?" she asked.

Candi shrugged, "I don't know, I just do," she said.

"Have you ever been tested for Asperger?" Kaelyn asked.

"Kae, that's not nice to ask," Fawn said.

"It's okay, Fawn," Candi said, "Yes, and no I don't fall on the spectrum."

Kaelyn nodded. Candi finished her coffee and turned away from the beach, "No fishing today," she said, "The fish aren't biting, and this isn't the fishing spot."

"Damn," Kaelyn said.

"Where are you headed?" Fawn asked.

"I have a work out to do before I head into work," Candi said.

"Have to work today, bummer," Kaelyn said.

Candi shrugged, "Got to do, what I've got to do," she said and started walking towards the house. Fawn shrugged and turned back to the beach. Kaelyn did the same. Their silence was only broken when Candi descended the stairs and opened the door.

..