by JL Paul
She exited the elevator as soon as the doors opened and hurried to the locker room. Once she’d opened the locker, she snatched her notebook out of her bag and took the stairs back to the rehearsal room.
Slightly out of breath, she walked into the rehearsal room to find him fiddling with the piano, playing scales while humming along.
“Um, here,” she said, stopping just short of the bench and thrusting the notebook at him.
“Great,” he said, taking it. He slid over a bit, gesturing for her to sit. She did so, but rather reluctantly. She was nervous enough already.
Opening the book, he carefully studied the first few pages, his eyes scanning the roughly sketched notes and lyrics, mouthing some and humming others. She sat as a statue, perfectly still, her breath coming slowly.
After about fifteen minutes, he tilted his head, smiling in her directions. “This isn’t bad at all, Rookie. It just needs a little fine tuning, that’s all. I mean, wow, it’s really impressive.”
All her breath left her in a rush as her nervous mouth stretched into a smile. “Thanks.”
He kicked his leg over the bench, straddling it, and faced her fully. His smile brightened his face and lit up his eyes.
“I think we should sign you, Rookie.”
Six
Before Sidney had the chance to respond, Rob’s cell rang. Yanking the phone from his pocket, he answered, his eyes still on her.
“Hey, Chad,” he said. “Sorry, man, but I have to bail on you guys tonight. I found some new talent.”
He smiled again, his teeth bright under the lights, while listening to Chad’s response.
“Well, you won’t believe this but our own Rookie sings like an angel.”
She released a sigh as her eyes closed.
“Yeah, I know,” he continued. “You’ll have to hear her. It’s a little late tonight but maybe this weekend.”
Biting her lip, she slowly opened her eyes, hoping that he’d stop with the craziness and just listen to her.
“I’ll talk to you about it tomorrow,” Rob said, ending his call. He set his phone on the piano and picked up the notebook, shaking it in her direction. “We can definitely use this. You’re very good. A little edgier than I expected but I suppose that comes from life experiences, huh?”
“Rob,” Sidney said, shifting slightly. “I’m not a singer. I write music as a sort of hobby. I didn’t come here to be … discovered…”
“Well, guess what? You were.”
“No,” she said, slumping. “You don’t understand. I don’t really sing. I mean, a little, sure, while writing. Or maybe in the shower. Or the car. But I’m not a … a performer.”
“Maybe not now,” Rob mused, flipping through the pages. “But you’re a quick learner. Besides, I’m not concerned with how you perform at this moment. I’m more interested in your voice.”
She wasn’t quite sure what to think about his comment. Deep down she knew he meant it in a good way, but her heart was a bit sensitive at the moment and took it the wrong way. It was a struggle to keep emotion off her face.
“Rob, I just don’t know if this is something I want to do,” she pleaded. “Or something that I can do.”
Taking her hands in his, he gave them a squeeze. “I believe in you. I know you have it in you. I’ve seen you around this studio working your ass off, not afraid to do any job. You can do this, too.”
She couldn’t process it – it was just too much. She’d dreamed of one day being a songwriter but had never imagined standing on a stage and singing her songs herself.
“Give it a shot, Rookie,” Rob coaxed, giving her hands a little shake. “If it’s not for you, well… we can discuss it then.”
She recalled a time in the car with her parents long ago. Her father was teasing her mother about quitting her job at the bank in order to give piano lessons full time. Sidney hadn’t understood it, really, as she hadn’t quite grasped the concept of earning a little money or a lot of money. She’d only known that she’d always had food and new school clothes each fall.
Her father had called her a mooch – shocking Sidney. She didn’t know what that meant or if it was something horrible. But her mother had turned to her with a soft smile and explained.
“He is kidding me, Sidney,” she’d said in her gentle voice. “Only because he has told me for years that I should just teach piano and not work outside the home.”
“So, why haven’t you?” Sidney asked.
“Because your mother is a very independent woman,” her father had said with pride in his voice. “She’s always earned her own way and not depended on anyone.”
Sidney hadn’t understood at that time what he’d meant, but as she’d grown older, it clicked. Especially now. If she did this – if she signed a contract with Ross Records and became a recording artist, she would have financial independence. She could stash that money in an interest bearing account. She could invest carefully and set herself up to be financially set for a long time.
And wouldn’t her parents be proud?
“Okay,” she said with the first genuine smile of the night. “I’ll do it.”
“Excellent,” he said, yanking her into a hug.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled his scent, wishing she could stay that way for a long time. But all too soon, he released her and gripped her shoulders.
“We’ll get started next week,” he said. “I’ll take some time to go over your music with you. There’s not much to do with it, though. And then we’ll get things rolling.”
She laughed, his excitement contagious.
He got off the bench, helping her to her feet, and handing her notebook back.
“It’s late and I hate to think of you riding the bus home,” he frowned. “I’ll take you.”
“You don’t have to,” she protested but he just frowned.
“You know, we should do a little car shopping, too,” he said. “I hate that you take the bus.”
She didn’t say a word – it wouldn’t do any good anyway. As determined as she was to be independent, he was just as determined to help her.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the elevator.
***
She spent Saturday morning cleaning her little apartment, keeping her hands busy but her mind free to contemplate the latest development in her life. Excited as she was, she couldn’t help but be a little frightened, too. She was used to performing in front of people – she’d had to play her piano compositions in front of the class and at recitals – but large crowds were a different story. She didn’t know if she’d be able to do something like that.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” she mumbled as she swept the kitchen floor. “You haven’t even stepped into a recording studio yet.”
She gathered her laundry from the hamper in the bathroom and shoved it into two small laundry bags. Grabbing some singles from the top of her dresser, she left the apartment to walk to the Laundromat two blocks away.
Once she had her small loads washing, she settled in a chair next to a magazine rack to wait. She wasn’t exactly crazy about having to use a Laundromat but was she to do? On the one hand, it was nice to get it all done at once. But on the other hand, it felt like a huge waste of time to just sit there.
With a sigh, she rifled through the magazines in the rack. Several of them were old – their covers torn and wrinkled – but the older couple that ran the place usually stocked up on newer material. She selected a tabloid, hiding the cover from the frazzled mother at the other end and the quiet man sitting near the window, reading a novel. Tabloids weren’t her usual reading material but sometimes they were fun and entertaining.
This issue featured several photos of actresses at remote beaches, their body flaws on display for the fans to see. Shaking her head, Sidney opened the magazine. Who cared if these women had a little flab? Most of them had given birth within the last year and famous or not, baby fat was hard to shed – or so she’d heard.
>
Flipping through the pages, Sidney’s heart stopped when she spotted a photo of Rob. She opened the book to a two page spread loaded with pictures of Rob walking down an unfamiliar street, holding hands with a pretty, vibrant brunette.
“Oh,” Sidney muttered as she read the caption of one photo.
Rob Ross was spotted in San Francisco getting cozy with ex-wife, Melanie Green-Ross.
Pulse throbbing in her throat, Sidney shut the magazine, keeping her thumb on her page, and found the date. It was two weeks old.
When was he in San Francisco? She thought. Straining her brain, she recalled a short trip Rob had taken with Chad to scout a band. Had it been in San Francisco? She couldn’t remember. Maybe it was somewhere close and he’d taken a little time to visit with his ex.
Turning back to the article, she read it quickly, trying to keep in mind that it was purely speculation. Someone had obviously seen them together, snapped some photos, and came up with a story. The question was, how far off base was the reporter?
Slamming the magazine shut, Sidney tossed it to the empty chair beside her. She’d known that Rob and Melanie still talked. Lexie had told her that they still had a thing for each other. So, why was she so surprised and, if she was being honest with herself, so hurt to see photo evidence?
Because you’re an idiot, a little voice inside her head said. A stupid idiot. He prefers women like that, not chicks like you who are five foot nothing with short, stubby legs, blah hair, and no breasts to speak of.
Curiosity getting the best of her, she picked up the magazine and shuffled the pages until she found the article again. She studied the grainy photographs, focusing on Melanie more than Rob, and sighed. Melanie was beautiful, although not in the classic Hollywood sense. She was only a couple of inches shorter than Rob (who wasn’t quite six foot), had deep chestnut hair cut in a fashionable bob that was slightly longer on the sides. Curvy and slim, she was dressed in cropped jeans and a cute top that skimmed her waistband. Sidney hated to admit it but they did make an attractive couple.
Dropping the magazine to the chair, she got up with a sigh to switch her clothes from the washer to the dryer.
***
“Sidney, you rockin’ little diva, you.”
Startled, Sidney looked up from the files she was sorting on the long, conference room table to find Lexie grinning.
“Hey, Lex. How was your weekend?”
“Fine,” Lexie said, waving away her question as she plopped into a chair. “Tell me all about this singing and writing thing you got going on.”
“It’s nothing,” Sidney said, dropping her eyes to the table. “I was just messing around on the piano when I thought I was alone and Rob heard me.”
“Good thing,” Lexie said. “I hear you sing like an angel. His words, not mine, since I haven’t heard you utter a note.”
“He exaggerates,” Sidney said, her face growing warm. She collected sheet music from one pile and carefully placed it into a folder.
“Nah, Rob’s not one to exaggerate,” Lexie said as she picked at her nails. “He is very excited about you, though. He thinks that you’ll be the label’s next star.”
Sidney froze, her mouth agape. “No.”
Lexie nodded, a tight smile on her face. “Yep.”
Sinking to a chair, Sidney dropped her hands to the table. “I really hope he doesn’t expect that much from me. I mean, I’m a songwriter, not a singer. I don’t want to let him down.”
“Confidence, Sid,” Lexie said, leaning over the table. “You need confidence. Rob knows what he’s doing and if he sees some sort of raw talent in you, then you should go with it. Rob is pretty good at finding talent. That’s what keeps this place afloat.”
“I know,” Sidney conceded. “I guess I’m just nervous about all of this. I’ve never performed or anything, except playing the piano. And that was just at recitals and stuff.”
Lexie stretched an arm across the table to pat Sidney’s hand. “This is big for you, I know. I’m here for all the moral support you could possibly need.”
“I appreciate that,” Sidney said, her heart lightening a bit. “How about some moral support with this sheet music?”
“Sure,” Lexie laughed as they got to their feet and finished the chore.
As they gathered the folders, Rob burst into the room, laptop tucked under his arm, all smiles.
“Rookie, I found you a car,” he said as he opened the laptop on the conference room table. After punching a few keys, a blue car popped up on the screen. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s great,” Sidney said, mentally calculating how much she had left in her savings. It wasn’t a lot. Even though she was now receiving a paycheck, her savings account still hadn’t recovered from her big move.
“I know it’s probably a little more than you were expecting,” Rob said, sensing her hesitation, “but you can finance it. I’ll co-sign if you need it. You finance it through your bank and have payments taken directly from your check.”
Sidney bit her lip. She did need a car but she wasn’t so sure that she wanted to go into debt. Still, it wasn’t like it was brand new and well out of her price range…
“I’d like to go look at it first,” she said.
“Of course,” Rob said, closing the laptop. “I’ve already called the place. The guy that runs it is a friend of mine. Let’s go now.”
Three hours later, Sidney happily drove her new (used) little blue compact car back to her apartment, singing on the top of her voice to the radio. Her hesitation hadn’t lasted long once she’d climbed into the driver’s seat and taken it for a test drive. Rob walked her through the entire process, making her feel a slight bit helpless, but once the paper work was finished and she’d purchased an insurance policy, all other concerns flew out the window.
Now that she had her own wheels, a desire to explore more of her new neighborhood burned inside of her. She didn’t feel brave enough to explore all of LA but the smaller areas surrounding the metropolis didn’t frighten her so much. Like the neighborhood where the studio was located – a cute little burg called Villa Springs – which featured many restaurants and countless boutiques. Or Woodridge Beach, the small but posh suburb that Rob resided.
The world seemed to have opened up to her again. She could go anywhere she wanted. It was liberating.
Her exploring, though, was limited as things began picking up at the studio. A band that Chad and Rob had discovered in Florida had come in to begin recording. Sidney spent hours in the booth, learning the ropes under Rob’s direction.
Shortly after, Rob’s band finished recording and started editing, leaving her to weed through his email, marking important messages, and organizing calls and meetings. She often wondered why he didn’t have a secretary until Lexie explained that he hadn’t wanted one – he’d wanted to take care of things himself. But now that things were piling up, it seemed as though Sidney had taken on that role as well as handling her other duties. It was a lot of work but she loved it. She thrived under Rob’s tutelage and quickly caught on to the things that he taught her. For the first time in a long time, she was extremely happy with where her life seemed to be headed.
Her growing feelings for Rob were the only dark mark on an otherwise spotless page. She did her best to smother them and keep them locked away in the deep recesses of her heart. He had quickly become the best friend she’d longed to have during her lonely childhood and she didn’t want to do anything to ruin that.
In the evenings, when the building was pretty much empty, Rob would spend time with her, going over her music, helping her to tighten it up, teaching her his methods. These precious hours truly tested her resolve to keep things on a friendly level. Oftentimes, electricity would fill the air, compelling her to lean in closer or him to look at her in a weird way. Those times were the worst, causing her utter confusion; making her wonder if perhaps he was feeling it, too.
“Well, Rookie,” Rob breathed Thursday night, leaning
forward on the piano bench to rest his hands on the piano, “I think we’re pretty set. I just need to sort out a band for you and we can get started rehearsing.”
An excited smile popped up on her face as she clasped her hands, staring at the new music book in which they’d transferred her edited writing.
“What do you think?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.
“I think, okay. I’m ready.”
He grinned, dropping a hand to her knee, giving it a squeeze. “You’ll be amazing, I’m telling you.”
“I hope so,” she said, her brain fogging. She focused on his face and not his hand. “I don’t want to screw this up.”
“You won’t,” he said as he edged closer. “I have extreme confidence in you.”
His face was so close to hers that his breath ruffled the stray hairs lining her cheeks. Her heart thrummed, her pulse singing, as she, too inched a bit closer.
“I appreciate that,” she said, her voice a near whisper. “I really do. I appreciate all that you’ve done for me, Rob. I don’t want to let you down.”
His smile softened as his eyes gentled. “I don’t think that could ever happen. You think I’ve done a lot for you yet you don’t realize what you’ve done for this place. You’ve stepped up to the plate when I’ve needed you the most and that is something that I truly appreciate.”
His words caused her heart to glow. Her cheeks hurt from the large smile and for just a second, they said nothing.
This is it. He’s going to kiss me! This is the moment.
But it wasn’t the moment.
His phone rang, breaking whatever spell had been cast between them.
“Oh, hell,” he said as he checked the screen. “I have to take this.”
Standing, he answered his phone, walking away from the piano.
“Sorry. So sorry! I know I was supposed to meet you but I got tied up at the studio.”
