References: Apple's iPod Touch and the Tapulous company. Really, anything that you recognize here.
"I was beginning to think Lance whisked you off somewhere, drugged you and had his way with you,"
"You just think too much," I snarled back at Leo, who was grinning jovially in Lance's and my direction as he stood at the front door of the cottage.
"Does he, now?" Jordan snickered from behind Leo. I feel very tempted to give him the finger, but instead made do with a glare.
Lance and I had gone back to the room to find that the others were already back at the cottage, waiting for us, so we went back there. Jay, apparently, had been worried, because Lance and I walked in on him throwing a fit, demanding that a search party be sent out to go find us at once.
Now, I wonder whose fault is it that we didn't know they went ahead back to the cottage, huh?
Jay let out a not-so subtle fake cough. He had been rather embarrassed when we walked right up to him, just as he was threatening to kill someone if the aforementioned search party was not going to be sent out. "My dad called. He says we're invited to his label's dinner party next month," he said loudly, "We're gonna be signed with the label, Sacrosanct Neophytes on that day, so it's basically a debut party,"
I repeated his words in my mind. Label. Signed. Sacrosanct Neophytes. Debut party.
"The hell?" I felt dumb and confused, "We're going pro? Since when? I've never heard of any plan of being signed before,"
"Oh, crap," Jordan let out a low hiss; clearly he just remembered something, judging by the look on his face.
Leo sighed. "Everyone, inside. We've got to clear this misunderstanding,"
-
"So?" I looked at each and every one of the guys with a (hopefully) withering look, "What's the business with Sacrosanct Neophytes?"
I have a handful of questions to ask them, but I guess I'll leave out the one where I ask them about the label's name. Sacrosanct Neophytes. Sounds like a freakin' cult rather than a place that caters up-and-coming artists.
Might as well call it Holy Beginners.
"Well, my dad, Byron Dominic, is the president of the Sacrosanct Neophytes. The label's actually quite famous, really," Jay explained, "He was rather adamant about my forming a band with the boys, since the entertainment business is no walk in the park, so he made me promise that if I did anything remotely commercial under the name of the band, he'd have us signed with his label. You should know that Lucifer is signed with him as well, sadly,"
Annoyance bubbled within me. "To hell with Lucifer. Why is it that you guys never told me!?"
"We..." Tyson looked sheepish, scooting to the farthest part of the room, away from me.
"...forgot?" Jordan finished with a nervous shrug, as his fingers twirled around the cords of his headphones.
"I see," My tone dripped with venom, "And I've been in the band for, what, two months? And you've forgotten every time you see me or something? A fact as important as this shouldn't be left out!"
"We'd understand if you want to leave the band now, of course," Leo added hastily, "No one's going to blame you if you do. It's our mistake to have forgotten about this agreement of ours,"
"We were on national television!! It practically screams commercial, goddammit!! What's his number? I'd like to speak to Mr. Do-," I cut myself short from my diva fit, "Byron Dominic?"
A pregnant pause ensued, as the tension in the air got heavier by the second, and everyone gave Jay reluctant looks. A dark look seemed to ghost the guitarist's features momentarily, but maybe it's just my rage taking a toll on my mental coherence.
"Let's just say some mothers aren't as good as they seem," Jay muttered, almost to himself. I think I saw sliver of hatred flash across his face, before it was replaced with a deceptive look of querying, "So, the label, Kitty. You in or out?"
Well, it's definitely the rage playing tricks on my mind.
I tapped my foot impatiently. "In-between," I replied, my words laced with heavy sarcasm, "Honestly, I have to ask my parents, then there's school..."
"Catch," Jordan called out, tossing me a cordless phone, "Go on and call your parents,"
"The Sacrosanct Neophytes are willing to let us continue our studies," Tyson added, somewhat testily as he tentatively inched back to the centre of the room, "In fact, they encourage it. They pay for the tuition of the artists that can't afford the fees,"
I fumbled with the phone in my hands. I honestly had no idea whether I wanted to be a professional singer or not. I still had a problem with not wearing a mask on stage, then there's my career plan to be an artist. "I..."
Jay stood up from where he was sitting and walked towards me, patting my head. "Tell you what, you join, as Lightning Kitty, okay? By the time you graduate and decide you don't want to have a music career, you can leave the label and the band,"
Leo reached out and took my hand in his, giving it a comforting squeeze. "You can leave any time you like," he agreed, "We won't force you to stay with us. After all, it was us who talked you into joining the band."
"What about Gabriel?" I asked, "Is he going to still be our manager or something?"
All of us looked at Gabriel, whom Tyson had finally chosen to sit next to. "I have no qualms about this decision. I was planning to take a major in public relations anyway," he said, "Helping you guys out is pretty good experience, actually,"
"Therefore," Jay said with a grand flourish, "Our only hitch is you, Kitty dear,"
Egad (Heh, I've always wanted to say that). They've planned everything out so elaborately already. And it doesn't help that he makes it sound like it's my fault.
"Fine. You better keep your word, all right?" I warned, hoping that the menace in my words was loud and clear, "I'll sign with you, as the Lightning Kitty. I'll be with you until graduation. Then I'll decide whether I'll stay or not,"
The guys all erupted into a frenzied cheer as they started jumping around, whooping and slapping high-fives all around, as if they won some football game.Thankfully, they did not touch me. I think I'll not be able to stand their mini-celebratory moment. It's too testosterone-filled for me, thank you very much.
I did a mental count of the guys, out of sheer joblessness. Leo, Jay, Gabriel, Lance, Tyson and Jordan...wait. Where's-?
"Chace?" I asked, "Where's Chace?"
Tyson raised his hand. "Chace said he had to go back to his salon. A client of his had booked an appointment," he informed, "It's too bad, really. I asked him if he'd like to join us for a bite before heading home,"
I dismissed this without a second thought. Busy Chace's always busy Chace, after all. I've decided to keep this from my parents, since I don't think I'll take the boys' offer for a music career. I mean, I didn't work my ass off for nothing to get a spot in the Art Institute of Boston. Yes, I know, it's so close to my former home.
"Okay, since this case is solved, we shall pack up and go home, yes?" I asked.
-
I really should find something to do in my spare time. Sitting in the van waiting for the others with Gabriel, who is engrossed with university application forms, really have got me feeling like a jobless freak. I'm thinking I'd like to save up for an iPod Touch. I heard that Jay's gonna have the Tapulous company put some of the band's tracks as playable songs when the band's famous enough, so I'd really like to see how that goes. I wonder how the other artists who have their songs put on the game feel?
"So what did you and Lance talk about?"
I jolted from my 'When-I-get-an-iPod Touch' reverie, startled by Gabriel's sudden and not-related-to-him question. "What? Whaddya mean?"
"You and Lance talked about his being an orphan, right?"
"Well, yeah, something like that..."
"So, what did you talk about?"
Somehow, I'm getting concerned with the idea that Gabriel might be an obssessive-Lance-stalker. I mean, what with the creepy sidelong glances he gives stalked-person-in-question when he thinks no one's looking and now the question that doesn't really give him any benefit. Well, seeing as they act like total strangers most of the time, it's as if...
"Are you gay?" I blurted.
Go me.
Note the heavy sarcasm used there.
"Wha?" Gabriel's obviously shocked by my tactless question.
I could feel the familiar creep of warmth on my cheeks. "Sorry. I know it's idiotic of me to say this, but I swear, I'm not a homophobe or anything like that!"
I almost felt like crying and slapping myself for asking him such a stupid and rude question, when Gabriel suddenly burst out laughing. "What? You're not angry?" I asked, puzzled by his way-too-sudden reaction, "I mean, I asked you such an insensitive question!"
"Well, what in the first place made you ask such a question?" Gabriel asked with his usual mega-watt smile on his face. It's so blinding; I think I need a pair of sunglasses.
I nervously laced my fingers together, the words forming in my mind and exiting my mouth in an unsteady stuttering stream. "W-well, y-you see, I see you l-looking at Lance when you think no one's l-looking and now you're as-asking me weird questions..."
I dramatically held my breath as Gabriel pieced my near-incoherent words together and he ran a hand through his super-thick and soft-looking hair.
Dude, now is so not the right time to be making me jealous.
"Well," he began, a rather embarrassed look on his face, "It must've been strange,"
I wouldn't say strange, but it was creepy all right. Stalkers are not on the top of my favorite people list. "Not really..."
"Actually, the reason why I watch Lance like that is not because I'm gay. I'm into girls, thank you very much," he justified, "I just do so because I've known him before,"
"I see, I see..." I said, nodding like a bobble-headed doll, "Wait, what?"
-
So here I am, sitting on a pretty comfy sofa, mask on, listening to the conversation Jay, Leo and the rest of the band are having with this uber-sexy-supermodel-material blonde woman with hefty assets. As a girl, I am very much intimidated by her, but that's not the reason why I am not in the conversation. That's just because I'm too mysterious (i.e. a masked person) to be part of the music video cast.
The woman, Halley Vaughn, is a well-known music video director who has directed many award-wnning MVs (none of which I'm familiar with, pardon my music illiteracy) who works under a contract with Jay's dad's company, the Sacrosanct Neophytes.
Since the news of the debut party, the moment we crossed into Sandfields, we've been quite busy. Jay's dad demanded (via phone-call conference) that an album be made in two weeks (he's a spartan, no kidding, and I haven't even met him) as well as an MV of the hit single which they released without our knowing (apparently Mr. Eccentric-Billionaire sneaked into Jay's room and took the first track we recorded since I joined the band, Blast From My Past).
Yes, it's a lot to take in a space of one day. In fact, I almost had another fainting fit.
And here we are, presently talking to Halley about the script for the MV.
"Jayden, what do you think of this storyline?" Halley asked, handing over her clipboard to Jay, pointing at some place on the board.
Winking, Jay replied her with a, "It's Jay, if you're feeling informal. And I'm afraid you'll have to ask the songwriter, not me,"
He passed the clipboard over to a reticent and confused Lance and dropped into the empty space beside me.
"You didn't write the song?" I asked, surprised as I automatically smacked Jay's arm away from snaking around my shoulders.
Jay made a face as he rested his chin on his hand. "Well, I may be an extremely talented musician and song-writer, but I give credit to my boys accordingly,"
Cue the grin.
It looks like sometimes Mr. Narcissist is quite the gentleman after all. "But since I'm dripping with good looks," Jay continued, "I'll obviously be the lead male in the video,"
I take back my words.
Obviously, someone has still got to learn a few lessons in humility. Anyways, it makes sense that Lance wrote the song. So it's not about a childhood love, at all. It's about a childhood friend.
Although now I know this fact, I'm pretty sure they're gonna have a guy-girl love story theme, since it's really up to the director herself to make the final decisions. She's just asking opinions on her portrayal of the song.
Although it has been like, three weeks nearing to a month, it's still really shocking to know that Gabriel's the childhood friend that Lance was talking about. Even more so to know that Lance doesn't know that Gabriel is.
I wonder why?
--------------------------------------------
"I was beginning to think Lance whisked you off somewhere, drugged you and had his way with you,"
"You just think too much," I snarled back at Leo, who was grinning jovially in Lance's and my direction as he stood at the front door of the cottage.
"Does he, now?" Jordan snickered from behind Leo. I feel very tempted to give him the finger, but instead made do with a glare.
Lance and I had gone back to the room to find that the others were already back at the cottage, waiting for us, so we went back there. Jay, apparently, had been worried, because Lance and I walked in on him throwing a fit, demanding that a search party be sent out to go find us at once.
Now, I wonder whose fault is it that we didn't know they went ahead back to the cottage, huh?
Jay let out a not-so subtle fake cough. He had been rather embarrassed when we walked right up to him, just as he was threatening to kill someone if the aforementioned search party was not going to be sent out. "My dad called. He says we're invited to his label's dinner party next month," he said loudly, "We're gonna be signed with the label, Sacrosanct Neophytes on that day, so it's basically a debut party,"
I repeated his words in my mind. Label. Signed. Sacrosanct Neophytes. Debut party.
"The hell?" I felt dumb and confused, "We're going pro? Since when? I've never heard of any plan of being signed before,"
"Oh, crap," Jordan let out a low hiss; clearly he just remembered something, judging by the look on his face.
Leo sighed. "Everyone, inside. We've got to clear this misunderstanding,"
-
"So?" I looked at each and every one of the guys with a (hopefully) withering look, "What's the business with Sacrosanct Neophytes?"
I have a handful of questions to ask them, but I guess I'll leave out the one where I ask them about the label's name. Sacrosanct Neophytes. Sounds like a freakin' cult rather than a place that caters up-and-coming artists.
Might as well call it Holy Beginners.
"Well, my dad, Byron Dominic, is the president of the Sacrosanct Neophytes. The label's actually quite famous, really," Jay explained, "He was rather adamant about my forming a band with the boys, since the entertainment business is no walk in the park, so he made me promise that if I did anything remotely commercial under the name of the band, he'd have us signed with his label. You should know that Lucifer is signed with him as well, sadly,"
Annoyance bubbled within me. "To hell with Lucifer. Why is it that you guys never told me!?"
"We..." Tyson looked sheepish, scooting to the farthest part of the room, away from me.
"...forgot?" Jordan finished with a nervous shrug, as his fingers twirled around the cords of his headphones.
"I see," My tone dripped with venom, "And I've been in the band for, what, two months? And you've forgotten every time you see me or something? A fact as important as this shouldn't be left out!"
"We'd understand if you want to leave the band now, of course," Leo added hastily, "No one's going to blame you if you do. It's our mistake to have forgotten about this agreement of ours,"
"We were on national television!! It practically screams commercial, goddammit!! What's his number? I'd like to speak to Mr. Do-," I cut myself short from my diva fit, "Byron Dominic?"
A pregnant pause ensued, as the tension in the air got heavier by the second, and everyone gave Jay reluctant looks. A dark look seemed to ghost the guitarist's features momentarily, but maybe it's just my rage taking a toll on my mental coherence.
"Let's just say some mothers aren't as good as they seem," Jay muttered, almost to himself. I think I saw sliver of hatred flash across his face, before it was replaced with a deceptive look of querying, "So, the label, Kitty. You in or out?"
Well, it's definitely the rage playing tricks on my mind.
I tapped my foot impatiently. "In-between," I replied, my words laced with heavy sarcasm, "Honestly, I have to ask my parents, then there's school..."
"Catch," Jordan called out, tossing me a cordless phone, "Go on and call your parents,"
"The Sacrosanct Neophytes are willing to let us continue our studies," Tyson added, somewhat testily as he tentatively inched back to the centre of the room, "In fact, they encourage it. They pay for the tuition of the artists that can't afford the fees,"
I fumbled with the phone in my hands. I honestly had no idea whether I wanted to be a professional singer or not. I still had a problem with not wearing a mask on stage, then there's my career plan to be an artist. "I..."
Jay stood up from where he was sitting and walked towards me, patting my head. "Tell you what, you join, as Lightning Kitty, okay? By the time you graduate and decide you don't want to have a music career, you can leave the label and the band,"
Leo reached out and took my hand in his, giving it a comforting squeeze. "You can leave any time you like," he agreed, "We won't force you to stay with us. After all, it was us who talked you into joining the band."
"What about Gabriel?" I asked, "Is he going to still be our manager or something?"
All of us looked at Gabriel, whom Tyson had finally chosen to sit next to. "I have no qualms about this decision. I was planning to take a major in public relations anyway," he said, "Helping you guys out is pretty good experience, actually,"
"Therefore," Jay said with a grand flourish, "Our only hitch is you, Kitty dear,"
Egad (Heh, I've always wanted to say that). They've planned everything out so elaborately already. And it doesn't help that he makes it sound like it's my fault.
"Fine. You better keep your word, all right?" I warned, hoping that the menace in my words was loud and clear, "I'll sign with you, as the Lightning Kitty. I'll be with you until graduation. Then I'll decide whether I'll stay or not,"
The guys all erupted into a frenzied cheer as they started jumping around, whooping and slapping high-fives all around, as if they won some football game.Thankfully, they did not touch me. I think I'll not be able to stand their mini-celebratory moment. It's too testosterone-filled for me, thank you very much.
I did a mental count of the guys, out of sheer joblessness. Leo, Jay, Gabriel, Lance, Tyson and Jordan...wait. Where's-?
"Chace?" I asked, "Where's Chace?"
Tyson raised his hand. "Chace said he had to go back to his salon. A client of his had booked an appointment," he informed, "It's too bad, really. I asked him if he'd like to join us for a bite before heading home,"
I dismissed this without a second thought. Busy Chace's always busy Chace, after all. I've decided to keep this from my parents, since I don't think I'll take the boys' offer for a music career. I mean, I didn't work my ass off for nothing to get a spot in the Art Institute of Boston. Yes, I know, it's so close to my former home.
"Okay, since this case is solved, we shall pack up and go home, yes?" I asked.
-
I really should find something to do in my spare time. Sitting in the van waiting for the others with Gabriel, who is engrossed with university application forms, really have got me feeling like a jobless freak. I'm thinking I'd like to save up for an iPod Touch. I heard that Jay's gonna have the Tapulous company put some of the band's tracks as playable songs when the band's famous enough, so I'd really like to see how that goes. I wonder how the other artists who have their songs put on the game feel?
"So what did you and Lance talk about?"
I jolted from my 'When-I-get-an-iPod Touch' reverie, startled by Gabriel's sudden and not-related-to-him question. "What? Whaddya mean?"
"You and Lance talked about his being an orphan, right?"
"Well, yeah, something like that..."
"So, what did you talk about?"
Somehow, I'm getting concerned with the idea that Gabriel might be an obssessive-Lance-stalker. I mean, what with the creepy sidelong glances he gives stalked-person-in-question when he thinks no one's looking and now the question that doesn't really give him any benefit. Well, seeing as they act like total strangers most of the time, it's as if...
"Are you gay?" I blurted.
Go me.
Note the heavy sarcasm used there.
"Wha?" Gabriel's obviously shocked by my tactless question.
I could feel the familiar creep of warmth on my cheeks. "Sorry. I know it's idiotic of me to say this, but I swear, I'm not a homophobe or anything like that!"
I almost felt like crying and slapping myself for asking him such a stupid and rude question, when Gabriel suddenly burst out laughing. "What? You're not angry?" I asked, puzzled by his way-too-sudden reaction, "I mean, I asked you such an insensitive question!"
"Well, what in the first place made you ask such a question?" Gabriel asked with his usual mega-watt smile on his face. It's so blinding; I think I need a pair of sunglasses.
I nervously laced my fingers together, the words forming in my mind and exiting my mouth in an unsteady stuttering stream. "W-well, y-you see, I see you l-looking at Lance when you think no one's l-looking and now you're as-asking me weird questions..."
I dramatically held my breath as Gabriel pieced my near-incoherent words together and he ran a hand through his super-thick and soft-looking hair.
Dude, now is so not the right time to be making me jealous.
"Well," he began, a rather embarrassed look on his face, "It must've been strange,"
I wouldn't say strange, but it was creepy all right. Stalkers are not on the top of my favorite people list. "Not really..."
"Actually, the reason why I watch Lance like that is not because I'm gay. I'm into girls, thank you very much," he justified, "I just do so because I've known him before,"
"I see, I see..." I said, nodding like a bobble-headed doll, "Wait, what?"
-
So here I am, sitting on a pretty comfy sofa, mask on, listening to the conversation Jay, Leo and the rest of the band are having with this uber-sexy-supermodel-material blonde woman with hefty assets. As a girl, I am very much intimidated by her, but that's not the reason why I am not in the conversation. That's just because I'm too mysterious (i.e. a masked person) to be part of the music video cast.
The woman, Halley Vaughn, is a well-known music video director who has directed many award-wnning MVs (none of which I'm familiar with, pardon my music illiteracy) who works under a contract with Jay's dad's company, the Sacrosanct Neophytes.
Since the news of the debut party, the moment we crossed into Sandfields, we've been quite busy. Jay's dad demanded (via phone-call conference) that an album be made in two weeks (he's a spartan, no kidding, and I haven't even met him) as well as an MV of the hit single which they released without our knowing (apparently Mr. Eccentric-Billionaire sneaked into Jay's room and took the first track we recorded since I joined the band, Blast From My Past).
Yes, it's a lot to take in a space of one day. In fact, I almost had another fainting fit.
And here we are, presently talking to Halley about the script for the MV.
"Jayden, what do you think of this storyline?" Halley asked, handing over her clipboard to Jay, pointing at some place on the board.
Winking, Jay replied her with a, "It's Jay, if you're feeling informal. And I'm afraid you'll have to ask the songwriter, not me,"
He passed the clipboard over to a reticent and confused Lance and dropped into the empty space beside me.
"You didn't write the song?" I asked, surprised as I automatically smacked Jay's arm away from snaking around my shoulders.
Jay made a face as he rested his chin on his hand. "Well, I may be an extremely talented musician and song-writer, but I give credit to my boys accordingly,"
Cue the grin.
It looks like sometimes Mr. Narcissist is quite the gentleman after all. "But since I'm dripping with good looks," Jay continued, "I'll obviously be the lead male in the video,"
I take back my words.
Obviously, someone has still got to learn a few lessons in humility. Anyways, it makes sense that Lance wrote the song. So it's not about a childhood love, at all. It's about a childhood friend.
Although now I know this fact, I'm pretty sure they're gonna have a guy-girl love story theme, since it's really up to the director herself to make the final decisions. She's just asking opinions on her portrayal of the song.
Although it has been like, three weeks nearing to a month, it's still really shocking to know that Gabriel's the childhood friend that Lance was talking about. Even more so to know that Lance doesn't know that Gabriel is.
I wonder why?
