| "What was that about?" His eyes were searching hers for an answer. "It's almost March." She tried to downplay the answer. She knew Michelle wouldn't want a stranger to know her business. Many of her now close friends didn't know. "What happens in March?" Suddenly, he was growing very curious. "Nothing." It wasn't a lie. Nothing happens, something did once, but not anymore. Michelle didn't have the life she once had. Atleast not in March. Year round she was the bubbly best friend she had always known. Then March hit. "Yeah, I'll grill you more later." He was only half joking, he planned to get some insight. He followed the sweet humming that filled his ears until he found Michelle. Her eyes were closed and her head was laid on the head rest of the chair she was perched in. His ears caught the tune of the song and he soon knew what it was. Good Ridance by Green Day, did it have something to do with March? "I love that song." She was on her feet seconds after he began. "Thank God you're here." "I haven't heard that in a while." His lips parted to show his teeth. "Get in the booth." She pointed to the room with all the microphones. "Why?" "I wanna make sure all the mics are working before they get here. It takes away from thier time if they aren't." "Oh, okay." He stood infront of the first microphone he came to. "What should I say?" Michelle pressed a button and her voice filled the room. "Anything you want. Confess if you must." "Confess to what?" He said into the second microphone. "Confession, like to a preacher." "Sounds like fun." His voice turned to respect. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. When I was younger I stole a candy bar." He waited for her to nod her head and went to the next microphone. "I was the one that broke the TV on the tour bus. It was an accident." He walked to the next microphone. "I met a girl once and..." "Ok, that's good." Thinking it was one of many one night stand stories, she didn't want to hear the rest. "I'm not done." A playful whine showing in his voice, he threw her a pouty look, but her head was turned from him.. "Ok, finish." Not wanting to hear the words, she thought of covering her ears, but decided against it. "Ok, father, like I was saying before I was so rudely interupted, I met a girl once and she made me feel like sinning. I mean cussing." He made and overly shocked face. "Ok, done." He returned to the control room and smiled. "You were ready for a sex story, huh?" "Who knows when you have a male on your hands." Her shoulders shrugged. "A male? Is that all I am to you?" He playfully held back tears in an over exaggerated manner. "No you are my tourist." There was a knock at the door. "Come in guys." Four men with random instruments made thier way into the room then to Michelle for hugs. "Go ahead and set up." They walked into the sound room and began setting up thier instruments. "Boyfriend?" The drummer said into the microphone pointing at Justin. "No, tourist." The men looked at each other then the singer spoke up. "So you are still single?" He said playfully, then continued when she nodded. "So how about that date?" "No thanks, I am busy then." "But I didn't say a date." "I know, but I know I am busy whatever day you aren't." "No fair." His tongue stuck out of his mouth. "As becoming as that is it doesn't change my answer. No dating customers." "We know." They said in unison while shaking thier heads, the guitarist continued. "If this wasn't the nicest, most affordable studio in town we'd find a new one. Just to quit his whining." They couldn't hear her giggle but they knew what it sounded like, they had heard it a million times. "You can sit here." Her fingers pointed to the chair next to her for Jusitn. He took the chair and watched her pull her curly hair into a high pony tail. "Ok, guys, you ready?" "Yeah." They all replied in unison. "Good, we are all on the same page today. I think this may be a first." She set the controls and nodded for them to begin as she hit the record switch. Seconds into the song she stopped them. "Mike if you don't sing louder you will have to record seperately. Now play The Days and try again." She comanded. "You produce?" He whispered when he felt it was safe. "Yeah, that's one reason I didn't recognize you. Angie mainly runs the shop and I run the studio." "One reason? What's another?" "You don't want to know." "I can take it." "You look cuter in person." Nonchalantly rolled off her tongue, as she eyed the men in the booth. "And I wouldn't want to know that?" "No, you wouldn't want to know that I am not a big fan. Don't get me wrong I love ya'll's music, but I don't own any CDs or posters." "So what CDs do you own?" "You saw my CD case." "But I wasn't paying attention, now I am intriqued." "Limp Bizkit, Sublime, Staind, Nelly, Linkin Park, Vertical Herizon, Ja Rule, a little bit of everything." She signaled for the band to continue with the next song. "Any Backstreet Boys?" "No, I pass on all that POP stuff." She giggled. "So you have heard our stuff?" "Yeah and I like a lot of it." Her teeth pulled her botton lip in between them to quiet herself. "And?" He urged her to continue, eyeing the men in the booth out of the corner of his eye. "I loved This I Promise You." Her head turned away from him as she spoke. He was hitting a sore spot and he knew it. Good Ridance, This I Promise You, and March, did they all connect or was he just good at digging up bad memories? Or maybe present situations? He wisely decided to let it rest as she began to direct the band once more. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ok, see you tomorrow." The cheerful blonde called from the register. "Bye Angie, I'll be in in the morning to finish Haunted's CD." With that the door closed and she disappeared into the parking lot. "Hungry?" He offered as they walked toward thier cars. "A little." "Just a little? Recording always makes me hungry." "Maybe because when you're in the booth you are actually doing work. I just sit around and push buttons." "Come on, dinner my treat." "I shouldn't. You should be with Britney not me. Now go call your girl. I have stuff to do anyways." She hopped into her car, hoping he would leave well enough alone. |
| Chapter Three |