The Desired Effect

Out Here The Good Girls Die

Chris, Brandon and Poppy worked away tirelessly for three more hours straight until the bass was perfect. The trio released a simultaneous sigh of relief as they listened back to the track.
"Spot on that is!" Brandon nodded gratefully. Poppy tapped away before flashing a proud toothy smile at a rather disheveled looking Chris.
"Thank fuck!" Chris laughed, running a hand through his hair.
"Thanks for sticking at it tonight" Brandon smiled appreciatively at Chris. The dynamic duo thanked the bassist and sent him home, they walked him out of the studio, taking the opportunity for themselves to have a well-deserved break.
"Fancy ordering a pizza? I'm starving!" Brandon announced as they wandered back into the studio.
"Sure!" Poppy answered without thinking. She could always fancy pizza.
"Cool, pepperoni good?" He asked, pulling out his phone as they wandered into the office come break room. Poppy sunk herself down into the plush sofa and took the time to swipe through social media and converse a little with Jaz. Jaz was missing her little sister and Poppy was missing her big sister. The fact Christmas was around the corner filled Poppy with a strange feeling, a mix of sadness and jealousy. She was used to the feeling now though so she swallowed it down and did her best to ignore it.

Meanwhile, Brandon called up the usual pizza joint and requested a large pizza, a half pepperoni, half BBQ chicken and 2 cokes with ice. When the task was complete, he sunk down beside Poppy on the sofa.
"How you doing?" Brandon asked, staring straight ahead.
"Oh um, alright, I'd rather be doing this than anything else" Poppy shrugged.
"I mean like living over here and that, I forget that you're 19, when I was 19 I had no direction at all" he chuckled lightly at the memory of himself, cringing at the thought.
"What were you like as a kid?" Poppy asked, turning to take him in, never having the chance to examine his features so closely.
"Chubby, shy, misfit I dunno, I was just your average kid but with impeccable music taste" he rambled, a casual confidence radiating from him. "Being the youngest of 5 kids, who were all wayyy older than me meant I was kinda spoilt I guess, you know I was my moms last baby, she didn't wanna let go of me but I kinda resisted that as much as I could I think" Brandon's brain whirled, relaxing as he spilled his soul, like he was in a therapy session. "Sorry, you probably don't care"
"No, no, carry on, please. I do care" Poppy insisted, sorry that he felt guilty for talking.
"I was a walking contradiction" Brandon laughed, summing himself up in a brief comment, making himself chuckle. "what were you like as a kid?" He twisted the chat away from himself tactfully.
"Oh, I was kind of the same really. I was, well, still am, a massive tomboy. Always one of the lads" she admitted nervously, fiddling with the hem of her jeans. "To be honest...I have this fear, I always have...this fear that I'm not going to live to reach my 24th birthday" she swallowed, eyes flitting about nervously.
"Wait, what d'ya mean?" Brandon frowned and turned to face her, realizing the conversation was taking a more serious turn.
"I don't know really, I just don't think I will, in school when they'd ask us questions about what we want for the future I'd always say nothing coz I genuinely think something will happen to me" Poppy began unsure but her words picked up momentum as she spoke. Brandon stared at her as she spoke, not knowing whether it broke his heart to hear her utter such sad words from someone so young or impressed by her intelligence. He was stunned into silence, he couldn't find the words. They shifted slightly for a moment in the thick silence. " I think, it um, see, my sister had an accident when I was little" Poppy began, her awkward gaze fixed on her fingers as they fiddled with her shoelace. Brandon turned slightly to watch her, "she, um, she was at university and went out one night" she inhaled, preparing to share her deepest, most intimate secret, "some guy spiked her drink and she died in some sketchy night club toilet, she was 24" Poppy's sad eyes turned to connect with Brandon's innocent ones. "She was a good girl, y'know, she worked hard and hardly drank, so I guess I grew up with this notion that good girls die young" she shrugged and as soon as she finished her sentence, tears involuntarily escaped her eyes. She was too busy focusing on not mincing her words to realize the emotion that was building behind her eyes.
"That's shit Poppy!" Brandon sighed, identifying what he was feeling now was definitely heartbreak . "Here, come here" he demanded, pulling the tearful girl into his arms. For a moment time stood still. Poppy was a rigid wreck in his arms, overwhelmed and consumed by emotion. Brandon did his best to stay composed, the story fractured his heart. He squeezed her tight against him and he prayed for God to do something to ease her pain. "You've been through so much Poppy, you deserve the world!" He declared finally breaking the silence, his arms slackened to allow her the space now her tears had subsided. "I've never met someone like you Pops" he smiled sweetly. She returned the smile, her young innocence returning to her eyes.
"You're a gent Bran" she admitted, a glimmer of happiness returning to her voice. Just then, right on cue, Brandon's phone rang. Breaking the embrace, he picked it up. It was the pizza guy. He was at the studio door bearing just what was needed right then after a surprise emotional chat.

As Brandon returned to the office, pizza and sodas in hand, he noticed the air in the studio had switched. It felt as if they had formed a sort of bond that will stand the pressures of time. Poppy stood up to meet Brandon at the desk where he laid out the delicious smelling pizzas.

Once the pizzas were devoured, and the sodas were drunk, the pair headed back into the studio.
"Why don't you do a set of vocals?" Brandon suggested lightly as they returned to the mixing desk. At first Poppy dismissed the idea but then realized he was waiting for a response.
"Nah, I don't sing" she replied, shaking her head.
"Of course you can, it's nothing complicated just some humming and that" Brandon encouraged, perching on the edge of the desk.
"Hmm, I don't know" Poppy rubbed her hands together nervously.
"I can do the desk stuff, come on, I'd love to have you on the track" Brandon insisted, placing a firm hand on her shoulder, "please?" his pleading eyes connected with hers.
"Fine!" Poppy finally relented earning a little sigh of relief from Brandon, "but you need to help me" she pushed back from the desk to get a better view of Brandon.
"Of course, I didn't expect you to just step in there without a clue and just do it" Brandon shrugged, standing himself up straight. "Come" he quipped, reaching for her hand then pulling her into the live room.

"Just like this," he announced before riffing off a sweet melody. "Just control your breath, keep your breaths nice and deep, let the air out slowly and go for it" he coached, a hopeful smirk on his lips. Poppy did as he said and within 10 minutes she was laying down ghostly backing vocals with Brandon taking on the role of producer for a moment. Poppy stood anxiously in the live room waiting for Brandon to return. She felt a sudden swirl of emotion from deep in her stomach. She had never properly sung before never mind sung something that would go on record. Brandon burst through the door.

"Jesus Pops!" He announced, a look of astonishment in his eyes. "You can fucking sing girl!" He held his arms open, displaying his disbelief. For reasons unknown to Poppy that was the trigger. The tears she didn't realise were building, suddenly escaped from her eyes. "No, no, I mean, it's a good thing" Brandon spluttered, his hopeful expression turning worried and guilty.
"No, its," Poppy began but couldn't quite compose herself. Brandon closed the gap between them, keeping his arms outstretched to hold her forearms.
"What's wrong?" He questioned, his eyes burning into hers as she gazed at the ground. "Is it what I said? I'm sorry" his voice grew soft and calm. Poppy shook her head and timidly looked up, her eyes meeting his chestnut ones.
"No" she answered simply, slowly regaining composure. Brandon waited patiently for an answer. "I'm gonna sound stupid" she sighed, taking a deep breath.
"Don't be silly" he encouraged, "you could never sound stupid."
"It's just, no ones ever been so kind and encouraging like that before" she found comfort in his eyes. She swallowed hard, the truth was out.
"Oh Poppy that doesn't make you sound stupid at all," Brandon announced, pulling her into his chest. He held her tightly against him. Her small frame moulding against his. "You sing so well Poppy, I'm surprised you haven't been put on record already" Brandon admitted, rubbing reassuring circles on her back. Poppy savoured the embrace, enjoying breathing in his musky scent. She felt the energy escape her and went limp against his body. "Let's get the track saved and get some sleep" Brandon insisted, turning to pull Poppy back towards the mixing desk. Her dainty hand sandwiched in his bigger, leaner one.

Poppy was now too exhausted and so allowed Brandon to take the lead. He tapped away at the desktop whilst a weary Poppy sat beside him. Her eyes grey and red rimmed, her cheeks tear stained and drained of colour. "Now you look exhausted Pops" Brandon admitted, finally turning to her before they set off for the office come bedroom.
"I guess I am" she agreed, wandering behind him towards the office. Then, in a comfortable silence the pair of them pottered about and got themselves ready to sleep. When Poppy laid herself down on her front, Brandon was already set up, propping his head up on an elbow. Poppy glanced awkwardly at the short distance between their bodies. Brandon slowly reached out his hand, gently letting it run through Poppy's short hair. Time stood still for Poppy, never had she felt such a tender touch. Instinctively, Poppy leant towards him.

"Come here, let me hold you" Brandon demanded, feeling Poppy's soft hair thread through his nimble fingers. Without a word, Poppy obliged. The gap between them closed, she could smell his aftershave once again. Poppy's right-side now ran flush against Brandon's chest, his fingers remaining in her hair. Their bodies instantly relaxing against one another, savoring the closeness.