Just What I Needed (39)

READ THIS! There are a few references to characters in jules130's story Rock Prodigy, and the first song mentioned is in the external link!




A loud yelp broke through Keely's lips before her mind could even fully capture the predicament, and she flung herself around recklessly only causing her to land in a heap on the cool concrete floor.


“I really wish I had video taped that.”


Her brain not functioning, Keely just gaped up at Susan Webster who looked neat in her slacks and blazer. Bewildered, she shoved herself up, balancing on the palms of her hands holding her steady on the concrete. “Susan-I... what?”


“I'm beginning to film for the video now,” she proclaimed, “I assumed you'd want to change, but if you'd rather-”


Instantly she shoved herself up from the ground, brushing off her ass instinctively. “I'd rather go home and take a shower,” Keely interrupted hastily.


Sighing she turned back to the couch where she'd fallen asleep, feeling suddenly chilly, she snatched up her leather jacket and swung it around her, having used it as a blanket during the night. Yawning, she glanced at her watch, proving she'd had just four hours of sleep. That was far from enough, she found herself making a face at the opposing wall, thinking of how burnt out she'd be after the day long session in the studio.


Maybe a party hadn't exactly been a good idea, but Keely was already grateful she hadn't drank much, having a hangover would simply not be a good thing. Smoothing down her hair the best she could without a mirror and her hands. Swinging around, she blinked at the camera already pointed at her face.


Not knowing what to do, Keely just frowned slightly, turning away. But she couldn't help but steal a glance back to the camera.


Shouldn't she be doing something funny or reckless or at least cool? Not just act like her.


Deciding it was still too early to be thinking about that, she just walked away. Very nearly tripping over Seth where he was sleeping on the floor, on top of a rug.


Resisting the strong urge to wake him up in revenge for all the times he'd shocked her out of a peaceful slumber, she simply stepped over him carefully. But he better hope that he was awake and at the studio, or else she wouldn't be so kind.


“Um... I need to catch a cab back to my hotel-” she began awkwardly.


Susan nodded enthusiastically from behind the camera, and answered a question that hadn't been asked, “Yeah, I'll come with you. Just act like the camera's not here.”


Nodding, Keely opened the door quietly, hoping not to wake up anyone that was still passed out across the warehouse. She had a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn't be that easy to just pretend someone wasn't following her around with a camera focused upon her. To be truthful, the whole idea of it was kind of awkward.


But she was proved wrong. On the cab ride, despite the odd looks from the cab driver, she found it quite easy to ignore the camera zoomed in on her. As long as she didn't stare straight at the piece of equipment, she could pretend that she was just talking to Susan Webster – although that was a bit odd in itself. She could even get away with from side long glances towards the camera, just no staring allowed.


Getting to her hotel room, Susan followed her inside without so much as an invite, but having gotten quite used to that by this time, Keely just shrugged and closed the door behind her.


“I'm going to go have a shower,” she announced, looking slightly warily at the woman with the video camera. “And I really think I want to do that by myself with no cameras...”


“Just hurry up,” said Susan.


Following the advice, Keely dropped her bag and keys on the side table before racing up the stares, not able to shake the feeling that the camera's eye was tracing her actions.


Twenty minutes later, Keely was feeling fresh and clean, but very much confused as she stood in her closet. She couldn't help but think she was hopeless when it came to choosing her own clothes. Back in Bellingham Haley had practically laid out her clothes for her to where, and now in New York Andy told her what to where on important occasions.


Yes, she could handle going to the studio and hanging out with friends. But she wasn't Rachael Gosling, she had no idea what was the perfect outfit for any occasion. Because while Keely was pretty damn set in her opinion that Rachael was a bitch – in every sense that she could think of – the girl did manage to look classy and pretty at every moment. Well, maybe classy was pushing it, but no one could deny that Rachael was beautiful.


Sighing, she simply grabbed comfortable clothes, why would she want to be uncomfortable in the studio?


She pulled on a pair of torn jeans, a loose grey tank top and a black bomber jacket – not the one from the night before, because she found that smelt suspiciously of alcohol – before grabbing her mother's necklace and heading quickly down the stairs.


“You ready?” asked Susan, instantly snatching up her camera from the counter as she slipped off a bar stool.


Grinning Keely snatched up her bag, saying, “Yup, to UAE we go.”


This time they walked, Keely with her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket, wishing that they'd either taken a cab or she'd thought to where more layers of at least put on a toque. But all that was made better when they stopped for coffee and Keely could wrap her fingers around the two disposable mugs she was carrying, all the while chatting with Susan about obscure subjects.


“Welcome to UAE Recording Studios,” Keely proclaimed, nudging he door open with her hip seeing as her hands were full and holding it open so Susan could walk in. “Oh, hey Brett, I didn't think you'd be among the living today,” she grinned, seeing the producer walk past them.


“Not so loud Keely,” he groaned, rubbing his head.


Chuckling, she just nodded her head to the back hallway to show Susan where they were going before turning around and heading straight down said hall. Since the woman behind her didn't make any move to talk to her, Keely just kept walking, hoping that Seth had managed to drag his ass off the floor of the warehouse by then, or else not only would she be kicking him this time, but the coffee would go to waste.


“So this is our studio,” Keely explained as they stopped at the door with the large C painted across it. Juggling the coffee mugs between her hands, she turned the knob, shoving the door open with her shoulder.


As she stepped inside the control room, she found that Seth had managed to get the studio.


But that didn't mean he was awake.


His feet were crossed and propped up on the edge of the soundboard, managing not to touch anything with his shoes, he was leaning back into the chair, causing it to be at a precarious angle as he leaned back with his hands tucked comfortably behind his head.


It was almost odd seeing his face when he wasn't awake, the only time Keely had seen him sleeping before his head had been buried in the mattress, hiding any view of his face. But now she got the full effect. He wasn't scowling or frowning, his face was relaxed into an almost peaceful expression with his hair rumpled messily. When he was like that, it was hard to imagine that sadness she saw every day in his face.


Because, even when she saw him smile or laugh at something his best friends did – because they seemed to be the only ones that could make him smile – that dark look in his eyes didn't leave, it was always there. Just hanging back at the edges of her attention, threatening to break through into his face at any moment.


Setting the cups down on the table, Keely pondered her options for a moment. Well, she couldn't exactly let him sleep, he was her producer and he needed to be awake for this.


Without pausing, she stepped forward and gave his feet a hard shove.


The results were immediate. Seth let out a loud yelp that sounded odd coming from the dark haired boy as his legs swung him and the chair about in a circle. Throwing himself forward, he gripped the arm rests and anchored his feet to stop the spinning, looking up at her with a scowl on his face, not quite so peaceful anymore.


“Good morning,” Keely said, sending him the sweetest smile she possessed when she was fighting back laughter.


“Yeah, good bloody morning,” he answered grumpily. But the scowl didn't remain on his face for long, he just ended up shaking his head and turning away from her. “Do you know if Marco and Colton are here yet?” he asked, standing up and turning to the soundboard.


Keely snorted, picking up the coffees and handing him one as she took a sip of her own. “Do you really think that they would have let you sleep if they were?”


“It's doubtful,” he agreed, “I've got to go talk to Brett, warm up, okay, rebel? I'll be back in a minute, and if Marco and Colton don't show up on time, we'll just have to the vocals for Don't Let It Show instead.”


Rolling her eyes, Keely regretfully put her mug down while Seth exited the room.


Focusing on Susan who had stayed quiet for the whole exchange, Keely pointed towards the booth. “I'm just going to go in there to warm up, that okay?”


“Yeah, it's perfect. Do you think you'll be able to do a take of For You later on? I'd like to get some different shots of you singing that song.”


“Ask Seth,” said Keely, frowning, “I apparently have no say in the studio.”


Susan was chuckling while she stalked into the studio, leaving the door open behind her.


It really was true, she barely got any say in what they did while in the studio, and that was annoying in itself. It was her album after all. But still Keely could only think the problem was everything they did seemed to be a good idea, even the standing on her head experiment though she had almost fallen a few times, and she had no part of it.


That was supremely frustrating for her, but at the same time she couldn't exactly regret it, she was learning more and more about producing and recording every day than she would have thought possible.


Letting out a deep breath, Keely sat down on piano bench. It was a good thing their studio was large and open, or else having the black grand piano would make it more than a little cramped while they were recording. Sighing she ran her fingers over smooth keys. To be honest, she liked the older piano at the warehouse much better, with its slightly worn keys but perfect tune. This piano was gorgeous with its shiny black paint and almost untouched body, but she liked the history that the other one had.


Even though she knew Seth meant for her to do vocal exercises, she couldn't bring herself to do them while sitting in front a piano.


Chewing on her lip, she slid into the middle of the bench, letting her fingers hover above the keys as she took another deep breath, readying herself to play.


She didn't even which song she'd chosen to play until her fingers began to move across the piano, her hands and fingers might not have been as deft as Seth's as she played – on either the piano or the guitar – but that didn't mean she couldn't play. It wasn't until she'd played a few bars did she realise she was playing Ella Fitzgerald's medley of This Girl's In Love With You and I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write.


It was so easy to get lost in the song, and just play, her eyes getting unfocused. Just playing music, really, what else could keep a person sane? She wasn't focusing on the words, just letting them come smoothly from her mouth, letting everything happen naturally as her fingers glided across the smooth chilly keys.


Her heart beat felt as if it had changed to the rhythm of the music, her very blood pulsing at the same rate. The hypnotic smooth jazz sound dragging herself one hundred percent inside herself.


She didn't pull herself from the state until after the last verse.



'Cause I need your love, I want your love


Say you're in love and you'll be my guy


If not I'll just die.”



As her voice faded from the note, which she knew she hit perfectly, Keely felt the security slipping away. Music was her security and protection, it was that simple, nothing could touch her when she had it, except her own emotions flowing through her mind.


Blinking away the odd thoughts, Keely finally focused through the glass to the control room.


And found one camera and three identical expressions looking back at her.


It was disconcerting to be honest, to have three boys staring at her with the exact same expression when they weren't even brothers or look anything alike.


There was Marco with his windswept blonde hair, his bright hazel eyes peeking out from beneath the fringe. Colton with his messy bronze curls scattered, framing his angular face and showing his incredibly blue eyes. And, finally, Seth, his dark hair rumpled and messily sticking up in the front from running his hands through it, giving a clear view to his almost gold eyes.


All three of them were staring at her, their mouths closed, eyes trained upon her face and their expressions unreadable with their arms crossed in front of their chests.


Yeah, definitely disconcerting.


Confused and a little shocked, Keely could feel her brows furrowing just slightly as her nose crinkled. “Was I flat?”


Her words seemed to bring them out of their reverie, and all three shook their heads ever so slightly, looking eerily similar despite their differences in clothes and body.


Colton was the first one to speak, Seth now staring at her with an ever so slight frown while Marco turned around to the table. Grinning, Colton reached forward, pressing the intercom button. “No, you were perfect, not even off key once. And you said you were okay at piano? You're better than okay.”


Laughing, Keely taped the piano in front of her, “I'm a quarter of an inch better than okay.”


Scowling Seth smacked Colton in the back of the head, and she caught the words, “Man, don't touch the board!” through the door she'd left open.


As the scolded one held up his hands in defeat and retreated back a step, this time it was Seth who pressed on the intercom button. “You're far from being Daniel Barenboim or Rosemary Keen, rebel, but you're not bad.”


Sarcastically she pressed her hands to her heart, and exclaimed in a high breathless voice, “Oh! That was almost a compliment, I might die of happiness!”


Rolling his eyes, he just answered, “Get out of there. The boys are here to record their pieces, then if we have enough time we can get started on the vocals.”


Smirking she stood up, walking back to the control room.




Frowning slightly, Keely snuck behind Seth, putting a hand on the back of his chair, the other on the arm and looked over his shoulder. So focused upon Colton and his playing, she didn't even think about her actions or so much as look at Seth.


“Do you want something?”


Blinking at the sound of Seth's voice, Keely turned her head to find hers closer than to his than expected, their noses almost brushing. His hazel eyes were focused on hers, the gold shining a bit more clearly than usual, one dark brow arched at her questioningly.


Her slight frown became more pronounced as her stomach clenched, and she hastily looked to the board, not liking the feeling, but not moving away because she didn't want to seem strange for retreating for no real reason. “There's something off, I don't know what it is, but it just doesn't sound right.”


“Can you let me do anything without complaining about it?”


Throwing him a dirty look, Keely snapped, “Are you unable to take anyone else's opinion into consideration?”


“How about letting me actually working through this before you jump down my throat?”


Even though they'd been bickering, she let out a sigh of relief, “So you hear it?”


“Yeah, the drums are too soft,” he answered, losing the venom from his voice too.


“That's it!” she exclaimed triumphantly, snapping her fingers together.


That was when she heard the whispering voices behind her, causing a frown to form on her face as she heard Susan murmur. “Are they always like this?”


The frown only deepened when she heard Marco's simple response of, “Always.”


“Like what?!” she burst out, letting go of Seth's chair and swinging around to the two who were sitting behind them.


In unison they sent her brightly sweet – and incredibly false – smiles, and Marco answered innocently, “Nothing, are you hearing things now, Keel?”


Rolling her eyes, she turned resolutely away from them, pulling her chair up beside Seth. She didn't know what those two were talking about back there, nor did she think she wanted to. Keely had no idea what she and Seth were always like, they were just... them. It didn't make sense that they could be like anything else.


For some reason Seth was smirking broadly, but he had his eyes trained through the glass though the look in them was far away. Keely found herself scowling at him, not knowing exactly why. But he ignored her, pressing on the intercom and saying just two words, “More passion.”


Giving a huge sigh, Colton stopped playing. Holding them until they stilled completely and then starting over again.


They were halfway through a take, two takes later – Seth had to change something on the board and he wanted Colton to repeat the drum line – when the door behind them swung open. Surprised, Keely spun around, only to find Marissa framed in the doorway. Her blonde hair curling prettily over her shoulders, wearing a grey cardigan and jeans.


“Why are you here?” Keely blurted.


Rolling her eyes good naturedly, Marissa stepped in, closing the door behind her. “Lovely greeting, hello to you too,” she said, sweeping down to kiss Keely on the cheek easily. She waved at Colton through the mirror before boosting herself back on the table, finding no chairs left.


When Marissa waved at him, Colton paused, losing the whole take – which had been a good one – and making Seth groan loudly. “Again,” he ordered simply.


“We're more proficient without the distractions, aren't we?” Keely observed, glancing over at Seth.


He smirked, but Marissa stole any words that he might have said from him as she exclaimed indignantly, “So I'm a distraction now?!”


“That's not what I meant-” Keely began.


“It's what I meant,” muttered Seth, interrupting her.


Instantly she snorted loudly, making Marissa send them a glare.


“That's not what I meant,” she repeated, biting her lip in attempt to keep the smile from her face, but she was losing. “What are you doing here, though? I hope you're not here to kidnap me again, because, honestly, that's not happening tonight.”


The blonde girl just shook her head, looking back through the window. “No, I just came over since I was told everyone was here, but if it's all the sudden a private studio, I can go.”


Please,” muttered Seth lowly, only loud enough for her to hear.


Instantly she just slapped his arm, making Seth smirk at her and Keely just rolled her eyes at him before turning her attention back to Marissa. “It's fine, just don't distract your boy so much because I don't think I'll be able to hold Seth back from killing you.”


Twenty minutes later, Seth let out a sigh of relief, pressing down on the intercom and announcing, “You're done, that was the one.”


Grinning, Keely started a round of applause for him.


“Start warming up,” Seth told her, causing her clapping to cease.


“Huh?” she asked blankly. “Warm up? We still haven't done the guitar or keyboard for the track, plus we need to do the whole group playing?”


Not so much as looking at her, he leaned over the board, moving one of the switches upwards, she still didn't know what it did. “Actually I put down the guitar and keyboard the day before the Chrome Palace, rebel. Do you need to hear it in case it doesn't pass your standards?” he asked, sending her a flat look.


Sighing, she just answered, “No it's fine, but what about the group playing together? And aren't we supposed to be in there together while doing a duet?”


“Aw, you're doing a duet?” said Marissa from behind, but no one paid her any heed.


“I just what to get your vocals down tonight, we'll do the group tomorrow and same with singing together and my part. Just warm up, would you rebel?”


For a moment she just looked at him, then asking, “Can I warm up with a song?”


“Whatever you want,” he grinned, shoving his laptop towards her, “Just warm up.”


Grinning happily, Keely brought up the music, knowing that his laptop was attached to the speakers in the room at the moment, and began to consider her option. With the whole wide world of music at her fingertips, what should she choose?


The smile broadened on her face when the answer came to her.


Pressing on the button, music swelled through the room.


“What is it, standards day?” asked Marco from behind grinning.


But Keely just ignored him, Frank Sinatra's version of I Won't Dance had always been her favourite and it never ceased to put a smile on her face, or make her smile bigger. The song just had that effect on her.


Snapping her fingers along with the music, she tapped her foot as well while moving her shoulders easily.


And when it came time for the lyrics, Keely made sure her voice was simply smooth as velvet, losing any sense of the raspiness she used when singing rock music. It just felt right to be smooth as she sang, not straying away from Sinatra's version in the slightest while Seth laughed beside her. She couldn't help the little cheeky smile that came to her lips, it just felt natural while she sang this standard.



I won't dance, don't ask me


I won't dance, don't ask me


I won't dance, Madame, with you


My heart won't let my feet do things that they should do.



As she finished the first verse, Marco took her hand and pulled her into the little empty space left in the control room. Laughing loudly, she let him pull her into an easy dance, moving with the sound of the music despite the words she was singing.


She couldn't help the huge smile on her face now, and why would she want to? She was with friends who understood her and were making her laugh, nothing could be better. With one hand on his shoulder and one clasped in his while his free hand rested in the middle of the back, she let him twirl her around, forgetting about the camera that had to be focused on them as she sang to the next verse.



You know what? You're lovely


You know what? You're so lovely


And, oh, what you do to me


I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore


I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor.”



The moment the second verse was done, Marco gave her a spin around and Keely found herself against Colton, and moved her hand onto his shoulder as he took over the dance.


He wasn't a very good dancer, to be honest he stepped on her feet a lot, but she didn't mind since she doubted she was much better. Anyways, it was just a friendly thing, they had never claimed to be great dancers. And even though the smile was on her face, she didn't miss the next words of the song, hitting the timing perfectly.



When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle


'specially when you do the Continental


But this feeling isn't purely mental


For, heaven rest us, I am not asbestos.



And that's why


I won't dance, why should I?


I won't dance, how could I?


I won't dance, merci beaucoup


I know that music leads the way to romance,


So if I hold you in arms I won't dance.”



As if her friends were timing it perfectly between verses, a new person slipped in, this time Marissa simply shoved herself between Colton and Keely.


Letting out a loud laugh, Keely let her head tip backwards with the sound, her fiery hair falling away from her face. Since Marissa was just a hair taller, she took over the male role with her hand on Keely's back as the did the simple steps of the dance together, smiling broadly.



I won't dance, don't ask me,


I won't dance, don't ask me


I won't dance, Madame, with you


My heart won't let me feet do things that they want to do.”



Even though there was only a short pause in the song, Keely found a hand slipping between hers and Marissa's as she began to sang the next words.


She didn't even need to look at the person to know who it was, there were the familiar guitar callouses on his large hand that covered her dainty pale one easily. Feeling the tug, Keely allowed herself to be pulled away from Marissa and spun around until she hit Seth's hard chest.


Singing the words with the smile on her face, she raised her hand to his shoulder, keeping their fingers twined together on the other hand as he placed his hand on her lower back. He was a much better dancer than Colton, probably about paired with Marco in that department. And she couldn't help but laugh as he spun her around in time with the music, pulling her back to him in perfect rhythm as well, keeping her eyes trained on his.



You know what?, you're lovely,


Ring-a-ding-ding, you're lovely


And, oh, what you do to me


I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore


I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor.



When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle


'specially when you do the Continental


But this feeling isn't purely mental


For, heaven rest us, I am not asbestos.



And that's why


I won't dance, I won't dance


I won't dance, merci beaucoup


I know that music leads the way to romance


So if I hold you in arms I won't dance!”



Holding the long note on the word 'arms' Keely leaned her upper body slightly away from him, emptying her lungs as she hit the note perfectly. On the last word of the song, he tugged her back before dropping her into a dip on the last note, making Keely laugh loudly as her heart beat strangely faster than the rhythm of the music.


As he dragged her up easily into a standing position again with the one hand on her back, Keely laughed, “I think it's time to change to Queen and Bowie now.”


When Seth didn't let her go immediately, she dropped the hand from his shoulder and pressed it into the middle of his solid chest, pushing space between their bodies until his hands dropped away from her.




Music was playing on the edge of Keely's consciousness. She was adrift in the strange state between sleeping and awake with her cheek pressed on something warm, the only way she could describe it was limbo. Clearly in her mind could she see the events of the day, all from waking to dancing, then beyond. At little smile warmed her mouth unconsciously as she thought about it.


They'd begun with her vocals for Under Pressure, but she had quickly convinced Seth that they should do the group session first, and then they could work on their vocals at the same time.


And it was at that moment when the instrumental version of For You flooded through her headphones and she was ordered to sing. It was fun to sing with no pressure, after all the version was for the video, they weren't using any sound, just the images. So she jumped around the studio carelessly as the music became louder and more passionate, it was as simple as doing whatever came natural when the music took over. The boys made her laugh from the other side of the mirror, and she'd hold the headphones on her ears tightly as she hit a particularly hard note bending her knees as she did so, and even at one point moved her hands as if she had a guitar in her hand instead of air, she was just so used to doing the song with a guitar in hand.


After three takes of that, they'd moved on to doing the group jam of Under Pressure. That was just as much fun for her, she was coming to realise she loved playing music with the boys; their love, passion and energy was just intoxicating. Although as they were doing the instrumental version, she had to focus more as she was on the keyboard, the boys on their regular instruments. Singing came as easily as breathing, guitar had taken a lot of work but it had been natural for her since the beginning, and the keyboard wasn't difficult, it just took focus.


A voice interrupted the music that was still playing on the edge of her thoughts. “Keely?”


“What?” she blurted, dragging herself from her personal limbo as she jolted upwards from the warm yet hard rest where she'd had her head leaning on, and proclaimed, “I'm up!”


Susan laughed, “Well, that's great. I've got everything I need, I'll see you guys later.”


Not bothering to look around for the rest of the people since Marco, Marissa and Colton had laughed when they started mixing the track, Keely turned her head to Seth, and instantly a blush worked its way onto her cheeks. She remembered what had been the warm yet hard rest that she'd leaned her head on so she could sleep, it was Seth's shoulder.


Even though Keely knew blushing was incredibly rare for her, she couldn't help the heat rushing to her cheeks. Hurriedly she wiped her sleeve across her mouth roughly, it would be mortifying if she'd drooled on him.


“You know,” he said conversationally, “It really should be me who needs sleep.”


Yawning, she leaned back in the chair, trying to display carelessness instead of embarrassment. “Oh, stop complaining, Ryan.”


“You didn't drool if you'd like to know,” he announced, sending her a wicked grin. “But you do talk in your sleep.”


That had Keely bolting up in her seat again. What could she have said? In reality she was sure he knew every little detail about her emotions because they wrote songs together and there was no purer display of emotion for her, but he didn't know why she felt those things. Could she have spoken about her father and him still refusing to answer her calls? That was a thought on the forefront of her mind whenever she had time to think. And though the issues seemed far away, could she have talked about Joe, maybe Tony or even Joe and Haley?


Oh, she sincerely hoped she didn't talk about Seth, because whatever problems that caused the sad eyes had been on her mind lately.


“What did I say?” she asked, hoping her voice didn't sound as choked to him as it did to her.


“Oh, nothing much, just ranted about how hot you think I am,” Seth smirked.


Snorting Keely hit him in the shoulder, she could be sure that she didn't talk about that. “Yes,” she said dramatically sardonic, “You caught me.”


Sending a grin her way, Seth closed her laptop and handed it to her, pushing up from his chair and stretching his arms out, his t-shirt showing the flexing muscles in his arms.


Keely looked away, tapping her fingers on the laptop and asking, “So we're done mixing for the night?”


“You mean am I done mixing for the night while you sleep on my shoulder?” asked Seth, arching an eyebrow at her. At her flat stare sent in his direction, Seth grinned, running his hands through his hair, making it stand up on end. “Yeah, we're done, rebel. Do you want a ride home?”


“God yes,” she muttered, stuffing her laptop in her bag before hurrying after him through the doors.


They said a short goodbye to the one remaining person left in UAE while Seth shrugged on his jacket, Keely having to trot after him to keep up with his long strides that ate up the ground so quickly. She slipped through the heavy door into the alley after him, finding his car parked there alone as it always was.


Shivering against the chilly air, she hastily flung herself in the passenger's seat, leaning back between the front seats so she could gently place her bag on the back bench seat. When she climbed fully back into her habitual seat, Seth was gunning the engine beside her.


Not bothering to talk, the silence was comfortable enough, Keely leaned her head back against the head rest. For a moment she looked at him, one hand holding loosely onto the wheel and the other on the gear shift as he moved through traffic faster than would be allowed for normal people, but she couldn't find it in herself to be scared. Sighing, she looked up at the roof, huddling back deeper into the seat.


It was so easy to zone out of everything out, simply looking at the roof or the lights flashing by the speedily moving car. It was a sure sign she was getting tired, her sleeping pattern was officially screwed up.


“Isn't that the band you showed me once?”


“Hm?” asked Keely, distracted and blinking. Angling her head to him, she saw the little crease between his brows as he looked down at the radio. “What are you talking about?”


“Burn To Shine,” he explained, taking his hand from the shift in order to turn up the radio. “You showed me their cover of Doesn't Remind Me a while ago, the DJ just said they have a new single out. Shh, it's going to play.”


Rolling her eyes, Keely leaned back, telling her 'shh' was odd since she hadn't even been speaking. But she just closed her eyes and listened.



Lock your lips


Speak to me.


Give me your words


Without a sound


And speak to me



The tilt of your head


Speaks to me


Raptly, I listen to you


Just


Speak to me


Use your hands


And your body


To speak to me



I don't want to hear your words


No excuses, no lies


I don't want hear your dreams


I just want to know what's inside


Speak to me



You stand so tall


The way a good girl should


Speak to me


With the tone


With the smooth, smooth tone


Of your voice



I don't want to hear your words


No excuses, no lies


I don't want hear your dreams


I just want to know what's inside


Speak to me



Keep your secrets


Tell your lies


Just speak to me


Bare your soul


If it makes you feel.”



Pulling in a shaky breath, Keely let it out slowly, letting the slow, smooth guitar that ended the song thud through her blood. The song had the same effect that singing Ella Fitzgerald had had on her, taking complete control of her heart, mechanically and spiritually, and refusing to loosen the hold into the song ended.


Keely had always thought the best part about music was the ability for the listener to connect to music, and the song was no exception for her.


Opening her eyes, she looked back to Seth to find his eyes on her.


Without thinking about it, she grinned at him, saying, “It's a really good song.”


His mouth turned into that crooked grin, “Yeah, yeah, it was.”


Turning her head away, she looked back to the window, watching those lights from the buildings speed past hypnotically.


When Seth pulled to a stop in front of her hotel, Keely couldn't help it, the blurting tendency with him had apparently not left yet. “I'm worried about the video,” she blabbed thoughtlessly, looking back towards him. “I mean, I'm not going to do anything special in it, I'm just... me. What's going to be so special about that video to make people care to watch it?”


With a sigh, he took the keys from the ignition, turning his attention to her. “The best thing about this video is that you're just going to be you, Keely. You're not one of those people that changes because there's a camera around, you're not going to be fake in the video. You're not going to be like Rachael when she thinks there might be paparazzi around, no fake laughs, nothing fake at all. That's enough to make people care to watch it.”


Frowning slightly, Keely searched his face, but there was nothing there except the sadness that was bridging into his eyes. “So why are you going out with her then? I mean, you're far from stupid enough to believe she's just going out with you because she wants to.”


He gave a humourless chuckle, looking forward. “Yeah, it's all publicity with her. The same reason why she has to dress up like she's going to a movie premiere every day.”


“Then why are you going out with her?” Keely pressed.


“I haven't known why I've done a single thing since I was seventeen years old.”


Confused, she opened her mouth to question him, but Seth turned the keys in the ignition, cutting her off. “I'll see you tomorrow,” he said, barely glancing at her.


“Yeah, see you tomorrow,” she replied, grabbing her bag and pushing out of the car.


When she got to the front doors, Keely couldn't resist the urge to look behind her shoulder. His car was still there, and she could just make out him running a hand through his hair through the windshield.


Turning back, she pushed through the doors, moving towards the elevator. Mr Englis was half asleep at his post, his eyes far away as he tapped a pen on the table, he didn't even notice her, and she was able to get to the elevator without speaking. It was probably a good thing, she wasn't quite in the mood to share pleasantries with someone at that moment.


The more Seth let on and then closed off, the more questions she was getting.


And the more she was thinking she'd never get a straight answer about any of them.


Sighing, she pushed from her leaning position against the wall of the elevator when the doors opened and made her way towards her room. It was time for her call to her father, which she knew he wouldn't answer, but she was going to try anyways.




- There I uploaded! Ha, sorry it took longer than usual, I feel a bit guilty about that since SOMEONE has been calling me a slacker about this every moment, and yes, I am talking to you Julia!


There are some really important things in here that you might not understand, which really will not be completely explained until Seth's book - I'm sure I mentioned I was going to write it from his point of view after this, but if I didn't, well there you go! - and only one person will be able to ask me what they are and get a clear answer about them, only because she knows exactly how this book is going to go.


And all the way to the very end of everything! MOHAHAHA! Okay, sorry, think of bickering, Sinatra, records and children! No, don't cry, I'm sorry of reminding you.


Lol, okay, I'm back to things people might understand now. Ella Fitzgerald is in the external link, Frank Sinatra in the normal video, and yes, I know I was in a classics mood. The first song is really important by the way, listen to it! The picture on the side just reminds me of NSR plus Marissa and Keely, so, yeah. The lyrics at the end belong to jules130, as do any mention of her characters, story and blah blah blah...


Once again, I'm sorry I didn't upload as fast as normal. I finally got the stitches out of my mouth and it no longer hurts to use my mouth, and I'm not swollen or bruised anymore, so I've been spending a lot of time with my sexy neighbor/boyfriend, we were watching the new Star Trek movie last night, I mean, c'mon, Chris Pine is HOT! You've got to admit that, the blue eyes *sigh* though I didn't reveal that to the sexy neighbor, but I think he suspected XD 


Advice... Do not walk around corners.


I know, that's pretty hard advice to follow, eh? Oh, man, I sounded so Canadian there, whatever I am Canadian, and apparently people that live on the west coast of Canada are weird and so are people that live in California, since when? My sister told me that, and I got really confused. I didn't know we were supposed to be weird! I mean, I love being strange, it's my most charming quality if I say so myself.


Okay, I'm getting back to the corner thing. Because when you walk around a corner in your hallway, your mom might be walking around the same corner. And she starts screaming and waving her arms around, which in turn freaks you out and makes you think there's a mad ask man wearing a Jason mask behind you. And then your mom will start laughing so hard that she has to lean her head on your shoulder and laugh for about ten minutes.


My family, that likes to argue about the spoon on the counter top, has been laughing a lot lately, it's actually pretty weird. I need to get out, my family is going to take my sanity! I'm 18 in six days, I shall move out then! Ah, no I won't, because then sexy neighbor won't be in such easy access.


Okay, I'm going to go ride six horses now, and after that I'm going to go drool over sexy neighbor as he works on his motorcycle. I think I shall reveal his name to you at the end of the book.


That was a rant to beat all rants. I rock.

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