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Lost inside this angel town
“Turn 5, hit 6, arm 7, down 8…That’s it!” Aliesa lifted her head up and eyed her choreographer. “Does that mean we’re done Joan?” “For today Montaine,” Joan answered as she clapped her hands together. “Same time, same place tomorrow guys.” A collected groan from the people in the room followed that announcement. “No complaining! We’re trying to get our act together. And BELIEVE me you all need practice. You INCLUDED Ms. Superstar,” she finished lifting her hand in Aliesa’s direction. “Don’t I know it!” Aliesa commented aloud grinning as she gathered her things and waved goodbye at the dancers heading out the door. Her body ached. Anxious to get back home and sleep, she headed to the showers, quickly washing up and changing before calling it a day. Humming the song she had been dancing to minutes before, she breezed through the doors, and stepped out into the Florida sunshine. The humidity hit her fast as she crossed the lot. And it wasn’t the only thing that she ran into. “Hey beautiful.” Aliesa grinned. What a sight for sore eyes! “Hey handsome,” she acknowledged, as she pressed a quick kiss on his cheek. “Fancy meeting you here.” “Can’t say that we’ve been doing much of that lately huh? Meeting?” Brian remarked plainly. “I haven’t seen you in a while Ali.” He tapped her nose playfully. “Don’t you love me anymore?” “Of course I miss you stud muffin,” she teased. “But tour rehearsals have got me so tired.” She fidgeted. She was lying. As usual it was just another small fib to add to the pile. Rehearsals were tiring, but not that tiring. Her absence was due to one factor and one factor only: If Nick didn’t have to bring her he wouldn’t. Her fatigue was the perfect excuse. The guys could understand it all to well. And without any suspicion about it, Nick and Aliesa didn’t have to spend any unnecessary time together. “You can’t practice all the time Al. You need to relax once in a while, go out with us at least for a night.” “Maybe.” Aliesa smiled thoughtfully. “But you know you are always welcome to come by the house anytime you want….” “Thought you were...” Brian said lifting his hands and forming quotation marks. “Too tired…” Aliesa gave him a playful swat on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t have to do anything but open the door.” She did miss hanging out. Existence in that big house was a lonely one. “Besides I’m never too tired for you babe. You’re my honey.” She batted her eyelashes. Brian made a face. They laughed. “So how are the rehearsals going?” He inquired. “You know how it is. Joan’s a maniac. She’s a slave driver that woman. I feel like my limbs are going to fall off sometimes. I’m ready to go home and just collapse on my bed.” Brian chuckled. “I know that feeling all to well.” Aliesa hitched her bag higher on her shoulder. “So what are you doing out here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be recording?” “I am. But I stepped out for some air. I was just on my way back when I ran into you.” “I didn’t even know you guys were going to be here. Nick didn’t say anything.” Then again when did she see Nick to even ask? They lived on opposite sides of the house. She barely saw him. “Well that’s because we weren’t supposed to be here.” Brian shrugged. “It was a last minute thing.” Her lips pursed inquisitively. “Was something wrong with the other studio?” “A few technical problems.” “But everything’s okay now?” Brian’s forehead wrinkled. “I wouldn’t say that.” “Why? What’s wrong?” She prodded for more information. “Well laying down the vocals today are taking longer than usual, much longer than usual,” he emphasized. “We’re all sort of edgy right now and Nick…” Brian’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Wait. You know. I have an idea.” He gestured at her excitedly. “Why didn’t I think of it before?” “Think of what?” Aliesa asked puzzled as she watched him tap himself on the head and bounce back and forth on his heels. “Why don’t you come with me?” “To the studio?” She questioned perplexed, still not understanding his intent. Brian nodded, affirming her suspicion elatedly. A sinking feeling took hold of Aliesa as he continued his corroboration. “You can surprise Nick! I think it would help a lot. He’s in a rut and I think with you there he’ll be a hundred times better. Maybe we can even go home some time this century.” “I don’t know Brian…” Aliesa shook her head knowing exactly what a bad idea that would be. “I’m the last person Nick would want to see in the studio,” she continued without giving a second thought to her choice in words. Brian’s face contracted questioningly. “Why? Is something going on between the two of you?” he cut in casually. Oops. Aliesa thought quickly. Let me rephrase that. “Nick has this thing with me being in the studio…” she blurted hastily. “Thing?” “Ummm…” Brian waited patiently for the explanation. It didn’t seem to be coming that fast. Aliesa’s brain went on overload. Something. Something. “I’m sort of a distraction Brian.” Quick save! His face relaxed. Aliesa let out a small breath of relief. Brian reached out and patted her arm, grinning lazily. And Aliesa’s sinking feeling returned. This was bad. “We need a distraction,” Brian said unrelenting on his quest to get her to join him. “Brian-No.” He didn’t acknowledge her protests. “You’re coming!” he announced forcefully, grabbing her hand and tugging her along. “Wait till you listen to the song! I think you’ll love it! And we can introduce you to the producers. Get your opinion…” “Brian I-” “OH NO!” Brian waved his free hand. “Won’t let you say no Al. This is a good thing! Not only will you uplift the spirits, you'll get a chance to say hello to the other guys. Nick can’t have you to himself all the time! He needs to learn to share,” he reasoned as he continued to drag her. “Besides you’re done for today right? I mean you just finished rehearsals…” She nodded weakly, unable to deny the statement. “Well then! No excuses,” he insisted prodding her. “But Brian…” “No buts! Think of it this way. The quicker we finish recording the quicker you and Nick can go off and spend some quality time together right?” Aliesa bit her lip unsure of where to go with this. How was she supposed to argue with that? She couldn’t. Damn it. She was stuck. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go...for a little while…” she relented tentatively. “That’s what I’ve been saying,” Brian agreed, squeezing her hand enthusiastically. “This is going to be great.” Aliesa managed a half-hearted smile. Nick was going to kill her. ******************* He was brooding. She always knew when he would reach the point where enough was enough. He’d get testy and then he’d get quiet. He let it all collect and then he wouldn’t be able to contain it any longer. And she knew he wanted to say something real bad. Real bad. Aliesa peered over at Nick as he drove. He was concentrating on driving way too hard. She sat back preparing to try to explain again her presence at the studio. It seems once was not going to be enough. “I couldn’t say no to him. I didn’t have a good enough excuse,” she justified for what felt like the hundredth time. Nick remained quiet. “I tried to say no,” she defended trying to get a response, anything but this horrible silence. Nick stayed silent. “Are you really that upset?” she said offhand, knowing the answer already. “I wish you’d say something. I thought we weren’t going to do this silent thing anymore,” she reminded him. “I’m just trying to think of something to say,” he finally responded, his tone most supercilious. “Something that wouldn’t begin with me yelling.” Her brown eyes focused on his. “That bad?” she said hollowly. His silence was answer for her enough. “You know you’re acting like a child.” She huffed at his indignation. “You would know,” he snapped as he pulled into their driveway. Aliesa pretended she didn’t hear it. She didn’t have time to play his games. There were no need for apologies on her part. “Do you really think I would have gone if I had a choice? I mean honestly Nick! Sorry to burst the egotistical bubble that you’ve been living in but I have better things to do with my time and with my life. Personally I wanted to go home and pass out. And I was well on my way there when I ran into YOUR bandmate outside. Tell me what I was supposed to do? I mean OBVIOUSLY you’re just so much better at this lying thing than I am. I’m SURE you would have weaseled your way out of the whole thing! Excuse me for trying to cooperate. I mean I’m sure it would have been better to just tell Brian that I’d rather avoid you at all costs. THAT would have been the BEST thing to do. I mean WHY didn’t I just do that. I mean that would have solved everything right?” she said sharply, unbuckling her seatbelt. “When do you breathe?” She whipped her head around and glared at him like he had grown a third head. “How is it possible to say all of that without breathing in between?” Did he think he was amusing? “Do you ever listen to yourself?” she asked testily. “I can’t believe you drove my car.” Her eyes bugged out. “Is THAT why you’re mad? Is this what its about? The car?” “Isn’t it enough?” he answered mildly. He was enjoying this. “Brian took you to the studio this morning. You weren’t using it.” “And I said you could?” “Oh for crying out loud! We are not arguing about this,” she cried out leaping from the car. He got out and followed her. “You could have used the other car.” “Nick. A car is a car,” she said stepping into their home or their “shared space” as she liked to call it. They were nothing but roommates after all. “You could have asked.” “Nothing happened to it.” “You moved my mirrors.” “You really aren’t going to let this go are you?” He cocked his head to the side, a vague mocking expression in his eyes. “Nope. Besides I’m still mad about the studio.” She threw her hands in the air. “I thought you weren’t mad about the studio.” He leaned against the wall, his posture deceptively lazy. “Now I didn’t say that.” She crossed her arms across her chest. “You finished the song didn’t you?” she contested defiantly. “No help from you.” “If I recall my presence got your ass in gear. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone record their vocals that fast especially since you’d been struggling all day long.” He ran his fingers through his hair, before sliding his hands down his face. He gave her a curt nod. “You’re not going to say anything?” she said disbelievingly. He blinked. “It’s been a hellish day.” “You’re not going to argue with me?” He licked his lips and stared at her blankly, and then headed into the kitchen. She was right behind him. “Did you pick up more juice?” he asked as he opened the fridge. Aliesa was unsure of what to say. This was totally new and out of the ordinary. “I didn’t have time,” she murmured as he stuck his head out and lifted up the milk carton. “Want some?” he said as he walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a glass. “No…Are you okay?” Aliesa wondered aloud. He took a swig of the milk. “Tired.” “I don’t buy it,” she remarked suspiciously as he returned the milk back into its place. “I don’t feel like arguing.” “YOU don’t feel like arguing. Are you sure you're okay?” she said shocked. “Perfectly.” He nodded as he picked up his keys from the counter. “I’m going to go out.” “You do that…” she quipped as he walked out the door. Unbelievable. Chapter
16
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