Scratched

Ten

TEN

_______________________________

"No way!" Tiana squealed through the phone.

I winced, holding the phone away from my ear. When I felt like the danger had passed I slowly brought it back, feeling a smile spread across my face. I moved away from the window I had been staring out, making my way across the room to the couch. I threw myself down on it, stretching out across it. "I don't believe it myself," I told her now. It was the truth. I kept expecting to just wake up and it all had been a dream. Stupid, but that's what I thought.

"Did you sign yet? Tell me you did!"

I laughed. "Not yet. I'm meeting up with him later."

"This is unreal, Piper," she told me.

Its funny thinking about it. I went from small little known Riverview to the big city of Lechston, and soon I'd be traveling the world. I'd be able to do all that stuff I had only ever dreamed about before. That was if everything went well. I could die out or end as soon as I began. It was hard to say. The music industry could drop you just as easily as they'd taken you. Maybe my music wouldn't be what everyone wanted to hear. After all we lived in a world where a catchy beat sold platinum's. I wanted substance, but would I be able to have that and be in the industry.

I flipped over onto my side, staring out across the messy coffee table. It was covered with coffee cups and magazines. Maybe even a coating of Kaia's addiction. "Hard thinking only a month ago I was sitting in Riverview, right?" I asked her. I wanted to tell her about my fears, get her opinion on it. I was never a person who leaned on other people for help or had an astounding lack of confidence. Maybe I even had too much confidence. Whatever the case I needed to hear her deny it. I could tell myself a million times I'd be different, but how is that any different than denial.

Just as I opened my mouth to ask her my phone buzzed, startling me. I pulled my phone away, squinting at it. It flashed, alerting me that I had a call waiting. Damn it. I sighed, bringing the phone back to my ear. "Ti, I got to go," I told her. "My brother's calling me. I got to take it or he'll start blowing up my phone." Rhett was notorious for this. He took a missed call like an insult. He'd call and call, leaving a million voice mails until you either finally gave up and answered or you inbox filled.

"Urgh. Fine, I'll talk to you later!"

"Later, Ti," I said, ending the call.

I answered the new call, bringing the phone back to my ear again. What did he even want? I'd just talked to him the other day. It was probably something stupid. It always was. No sooner than I had it to my ear was he talking. "Hey, Piper!" he exclaimed. I winced at the tone of his voice. Between him and Tiana I wasn't sure what to do. "What's going on? I haven't talked to you in a while. It's been a drag here, even worse now that you aren't around."

I smiled. Of course it was. I was about to make his day so much more interesting. "Isn't it always?" I said with a laugh. He snorted in agreement. "I was actually meaning to call you. Something came up, and you'll never believe what. I was in that record store, the one I told you about, and a man came in. He liked my playing, Rhett. He asked to sign me!" My words all came out in a rush, slurring together.

"You're kidding, right?" he asked.

I scoffed. "Why the hell would I kid about this?"

"That doesn't just happen, Piper."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I'm serious, Rhett!" I was getting a little pissed at his insistent on this. "He works with Savage Records. I'm leaving to sign right now, whether you believe it or not. Lechston the city of dreams, right?" I stood up, sliping on my shoes. I needed to track down a cab if I wanted to be there on time. This city was a mess to get around in. On the other end there was a pause, like he was thinking. And then there was a long intake of breath.