Between Songs

by N. Kognytao

  Then, Rebecca left her with her new key and her room.

  She made a list on her phone of things she would need—like sheets, a pillow, and food—and then took a picture of the room and texting it to her mother, father, and Meggie. She then returned to the studio to finish the day, finalizing the chorus.

  When she got home that night to gather some clothes and a few other things, her family surprised her by taking her on a small shopping trip for sheets and some small comforts to break up the color of the walls. Even though there was a sad touch to everyone’s smiles, it was fun for them all to be a part of Leah’s move into the dormitory of RM Entertainment.

  They were brought to the dorm and helped her set up, though it was difficult for all four of them to move around the small space. When her mother complained, she smiled and said it was only temporary until she could afford a large house for all of them to live in with all the royalties she was going to get from her songs.

  When they left, the silence and solitude were overwhelming. Leah did not sleep that night.

  However, she was able to focus on the song the next day, and returning to the dorm afterward allowed her to stay in the same creative mindset and she was able to finalize the second refrain.

  The following morning, Leah was early for the first time in a long while, since she lived so close. Therefore, she detoured to the coffee shop that many of the studio artists frequented on their way in to work. Once again, she found herself enthralled by Muse Café. The entire atmosphere felt artistic and alive with energy. She felt as though she had stepped into a different world now that she was living in the dorms and surrounded by creative people.

  Having the café close to her new dorm room also meant she could find more time to visit there and meet people in the company.

  She walked into the semi-crowded café and waited in line, looking up at the chalkboard covered with different drawings and creative drink names, trying to decide what she wanted.

  When she was second in line, she glanced around and her jaw dropped in surprise, her eyes shooting wide.

  Standing near the order pick-up bar was a man, his wavy brown hair tousled about his face and his green eyes locked on the screen of his phone as his thumb scrolled through whatever he was reading. He was dressed in a long-sleeve sweater and jeans, even though the day was warm, with worn-out tennis shoes on his feet.

  She could not believe she was seeing the mysterious man, yet again.

  “Hey,” a voice behind her said, causing her to jump and turn around. “Line’s moving.”

  Leah darted to the register, though she forgot what she was going to order and went with a standard latte, constantly looking over at the man, hoping to get a chance to talk to him before he left.

  After fumbling with the change and dropping a quarter and a penny, she made it over to the man and stopped next to him. He did not look up at her, so Leah cleared her throat.

  “Excuse me?”

  He glanced up, and then did a double-take when he saw her.

  “You again,” he noted.

  “Me again,” she laughed, surprisingly nervous. She was a little irritated by her own giddiness, reminding herself that she did not know him. However, she could not deny the way his eyes made her heart race. She looked around, trying to think of something to talk about. “Come here often?” she asked lamely.

  “They have some of the best coffee in town,” he answered indirectly, pocketing his phone. “What about you?”

  “I’m starting to come here more,” she admitted. “I’m working at the RM building now, so it’s right across the street.”

  “That’s right,” the man said, nodding slowly. “How is it going? Is it everything you ever dreamed?”

  “I don’t know, yet,” she admitted, laughing. “Still kinda riding the high, you know?”

  “Well, if you’re already working in a studio, they must think that you have some potential.”

  “That’s what they’re saying,” she said, shrugging. “I just hope I can meet their expectations. I’m working with the former producer for 4Ever, so it’s like a dream come true for me.”

  The barista set the coffee down on the pickup bar and the man smiled, thanking the younger man and taking his coffee before turning back to Leah.

  “Then you were a 4Ever fan?”

  “Absolutely! And I’m still a fan of 4U. I’m sure you know who that is.”

  “Yes, I know 4U,” he assured, a knowing smile quirking at his lips. “Is that who you want to be? You want to become the next 4U?”

  Leah hesitated, glancing down at the floor before shaking her head.

  “No, I don’t think anyone can be another 4U, and I don’t think anyone should. I think…rather than becoming the next 4U, I want to inspire people the way he does. I want to make music that touches people, and lifts their spirits, gets them through hard times, the way his music got me through my tough times. I feel like I need to give that to people. But in order to do that, I need to become the best artist I can become.”

  He was quiet for a moment.

  “You have amazing introspection for your age.”

  “I told you I was wise,” she chuckled, stepping out of the way as another person came forward to take their coffee. “And when it comes to music, I have very strong feelings about it. Even if I’m not so good at…all the other stuff.”

  “Other stuff?”

  “You know, life?” she joked.

  He smiled as well.

  “If everyone was honest with themselves, they would all admit that no one is good at life. We all just stumble through it until we get somewhere.”

  Leah nodded in agreement.

  “At least I’m not alone.”

  Yet another person came to collect their order as Leah mustered some courage.

  “So, do you live around here? Or did you drive all the way here for the good coffee?”

  “I do not live around here,” he admitted. “But I do have some family in this area. I came to see them this morning.”

  “Oh, siblings?”

  “Yes,” he said. “My younger sister was actually supposed to meet me here fifteen minutes ago, but she’s cancelled on me at the last minute, as usual.”

  “Oh…” she repeated, sensing some tension in his voice. “Do you not get along with your sister?”

  He hesitated. “We get along well enough,” he admitted. “She just lives a very different life, and she tends to be a little self-centered.”

  Leah did not know what to say in response, so she remained silent, looking back at the barista, pretending to wonder where her coffee was to hide her curiosity.

  “How is your family? Are they adjusting to having an up-and-coming artist in the house?” the man asked.

  “Oh, well,” she laughed nervously, “I actually moved into the RM dorms. It was getting a little difficult for them. I was recording late and Meggie had school, and…well, I figured it was better to live separately for now.”

  “That must be difficult,” the man murmured. “After everything you’ve gone through as a family, it must be tough to be away from them.”

  She felt a warmth bloom through her chest at the tender tone of his voice.

  “It has been tough,” she admitted. “It’s funny, everyone has been saying how much easier it must be not to have to worry about my family now that I’m living in the dorms…but not you.”

  “I’m intuitive,” he said simply, giving her a short wink.

  Leah’s coffee arrived and she picked it up slowly, trying desperately to think of anything to say while also hiding her blush.

  “Are you heading into work?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she answered quickly. “I’m supposed to have a song ready in a month for the Glaring Nights concert.”

  “Are you making decent progress?”

  “I think so.”

  “That’s good.” He started toward the café doors. Almost as if by instinct, she followed him. “I’m going to head home. My s
ister isn’t here and I’ve got work to do.”

  “Right, well, it was great to see you again. It’s kind of weird that we keep bumping into one another.”

  He let out a soft chuckle, extending his hand to her.

  “It was nice to see you again.”

  She took his hand. The moment their skin touched, it was as if every nerve in her body went on alert, focusing on him, trying to understand every cell of his skin as it touched hers. She became hyperaware of the way his larger hand felt in hers and the way he looked into her eyes. As he broke the handshake to leave the Muse Café, her hand tightened involuntarily.

  He stopped quickly and turned back to her, startled.

  Immediately, Leah released his hand.

  “Sorry,” she said quickly, laughing nervously and looking everywhere but at his eyes.

  “It’s alright,” he said hesitantly. “Best of luck with the song.”

  “Thank you!”

  He left the café and she watched him from the doors, seeing him walk down the sidewalk and toward the parking lot next to the café. Forgetting that she, too, had to leave the café to get to work, Leah kicked herself for, once again, letting him walk away without getting his name.

  * * *

  Jay was frustrated with Leah, but the singer found the frustration flattering more than frightening.

  “No…” Jay groaned, leaning back in his chair. “What do you mean that you can’t think of another verse?!”

  Only a week away from the concert, and Leah was drawing a blank on the last verse of the song.

  “I’m just…I’m not really feeling inspired, you know?”

  “No, I don’t know!” Jay snapped. “What is it with you lyricists? You and 4U, always complaining about needing to be inspired. We can revise the lyrics, but you have to put something down! Here, listen to the track.”

  “No! No!” Leah snapped, reaching forward and grabbing Jay’s hand to pull it away from the keyboard. “I can’t listen to it anymore.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t want to get oversaturated with it.”

  “What in hell are you talking about?” Jay asked, exasperated.

  “I can’t write lyrics if I listen to the track too much. Then, the music doesn’t hold as much power for me.”

  Jay rubbed his temples.

  “This is why I can’t stand working with people who have to feel the music,” he groaned. “It has to have a certain emotion, it has to speak to me for me to write lyrics, blah, blah, blah…”

  “Uh oh,” Aaron chuckled from the couch behind the second table. He was plucking a few notes absentmindedly on his guitar, listening to the banter with a smile. “Sounds to me like someone is having creative differences with a certain somebody.”

  Jay pointed at the guitarist.

  “You know too much.”

  “Wait, who?”

  “Nobody,” Jay snapped.

  “Beck,” Aaron answered, laughing at the way Jay slumped in his seat. “Beckman Porter.”

  “You mean the singer, Beck?” Leah asked, surprised. “He’s not in the RM label, is he?”

  “Nope,” Aaron answered, glancing at the producer in the room with a broad grin. “But Jay over here still helps him produce his music.”

  “He doesn’t pay me,” Jay sneered. “I’m not in violation of my contract and Tim knows all about it.”

  “Why do you work with him if you fight with him?” she asked, confused.

  “Beck is Jay’s boyfriend,” Aaron answered.

  “Ah, that would explain it.”

  “Both of you shut up,” Jay sneered. “Beck has nothing to do with this. You, lyricist, need to come up with the last verse. We’ve got one week. Apart from getting the song finished, we have to do the back track for the performance, then we have to get you into rehearsals. We do not have time for you to feel your way through this song!”

  “No, I feel like we need to spend some time working out your issue with Beck. Clearly it has you upset,” Leah said, folding her arms and nodding slowly, adapting the air of a therapist. “Tell me what happened.”

  “I am not doing this with you,” Jay said sharply. “If you’re not going to put in more work on the song today, then go home already.”

  “Alrighty. See you tomorrow!” Leah said, leaping out of her seat and grabbing her bag. Jay ground his teeth together and shook his head. Aaron chuckled and also stood, putting his guitar back in the case.

  “Admit it, she’s got charm.”

  “Sure, if that’s what you want to call it…”

  “You like her, I know you do.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Because if you didn’t like her, you wouldn’t have worked with her up to this point,” Aaron said with a knowing grin. “See you tomorrow, Jay.”

  Aaron had to jog to catch up with Leah.

  “You heading back to the dorms?”

  “I was thinking about it,” Leah murmured, “but I doubt I’ll find any inspiration around those walls.”

  “Let’s got have dinner then,” Aaron said. “My treat.”

  “Getting treated to dinner by the son of a wealthy lawyer,” Leah said, placing a hand over her chest. “My fairy tale hero.”

  “I seem to recall the last time I tried treating you to dinner you said something about not being a cliché damsel,” Aaron laughed, nudging her. “Changed your mind?”

  “Food is a higher priority,” Leah said strongly.

  The two took a bus to the downtown area, walking around the various shops and restaurants, taking in the early evening air. Aaron was talking about menial gossip he had heard around the office, trying to get Leah’s mind off the song. He could tell from knowing Leah that the singer was upset about not being able to come up with more lyrics and he wanted to get her mind off the problem, though it seemed not to help. Leah was walking with her head down, distraught at her lack of inspiration for the last refrain of the song.

  “Cheer up. It’s okay, we’ve still got a week,” Aaron finally said. “Come on, you’ve got this powerhouse song about breaking free of society. What would inspire those final lines?”

  “Hell if I know…”

  “I’m running of ideas about how to help you. I’m not a guru or anything, but there has to be something in your mind. It’s the last refrain. It’s gotta be powerful. I mean, what was the most recent thing that’s surprised you?”

  “Um, everything.” Leah rolled her eyes, having to step closer to the shops as they walked toward the bus stop when a large group of teenage girls ran toward them, hurriedly going into the bookstore. “I mean, I always hoped I’d be working at RM and that I would actually perform in front of a huge audience, but the whole experience has been a bit surreal so far.”

  “Why not talk about those overwhelming feelings, then? The fear of the unknown.”

  “It’s just not speaking to me.” Leah sighed. “Don’t you get overwhelmed by the idea that we’ll be on stage in one week in front of a huge audience?”

  “No.” Aaron shrugged. “But I’ve been training at RM for years. I guess the novelty of it all is diminished.”

  Leah let out a frustrated groan and leaned her head back.

  “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing!” she barked. Aaron laughed, shaking his head.

  “I doubt the sky has the answer.”

  “I…” She stopped, her eyes catching the large picture of a man in the bookstore window. Next to a large display of books with the title “New Release from Kyle Hayward” was the picture of the man she had run into in the park in the middle of the night, at the congratulatory dinner at Griffin’s Point, and then at the Muse Café. She pressed her face to the window, staring at the black and white picture of the man’s profile as he looked pensively downward.

  “What is it?” Aaron asked, stepping up to Leah.

  “Him.” She pointed at the picture.

  “Kyle Hayward?” The guitarist’s eyebrows raised. “He’s becoming a b
igger name with each book. Some dark stuff, honestly, but I guess you could call them romance books. A lot of women really like his novels.” She playfully nudged Leah. “You read romance novels?”

  “No!”

  “It’s okay. I know you haven’t really had time for relationships.”

  “No! That’s not it! I know him!”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “No, I really do,” Leah said strongly. “I met him at two in the morning in the park by my apartment. And then again at Griffin’s Point two weeks ago. And then at Muse Café yesterday.”

  “Seriously?”

  Leah looked over the picture, words from their strange meetings ricocheting in her mind.

  Before she could think better of it, she pulled out her phone and began typing hurriedly.

  “Who are you texting?” Aaron asked, confused about the sudden strange behavior, but not worried.

  “Myself. The last refrain.”

  Chapter Five

  Leah sent a text to Aaron apologizing for being such terrible company at dinner that night. She had been so absorbed in getting the lyrics right in the last refrain that she sat in the diner booth, listening to the back track on repeat from her phone, tapping a pen against a notebook and bobbing her head, her mouths forming the words as she tried to get the words to fit correctly with the beat.

  She had said a half-hearted goodbye to Aaron as she returned to the dorm, still listening to the backtrack, constantly repeating the words while she rode the bus, and only realizing how distant she had been once she took out the headphones and sat down on her bed.

  Even though she had pulled herself out of the world of composing lyrics, her mind was still buzzing with the man who had suddenly inspired the words.

  He had not been in her thoughts much through the days as she had been working on the song, however, at night, when she was alone, she would think about his green eyes and the way they continued to bump into one another. Seeing him in the window of that bookstore had been such a shock to her system that she could hardly comprehend how eager she was to learn more about the author.

  Before she could question her actions, she jumped up and ran out the dorm, walking through the area around RM Entertainment until she found a bookstore.