Scratched

Twelve

TWELVE

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The days seemed to blur together.

It was a frenzy of recording sessions and yet more recording sessions. My days consisted of little else. And before long I had finished one song and was nearly done with the other. I was impressed to see we were getting so much done. We still had a lot to do, but as far as the songs I had finished writing we were almost done with them. Between the recording sessions I had been writing and was making good progress with that as well. Thinking this, I pulled out my songbook again preparing to work on it while I waited. I adjusted my position on the couch in the recording room when Cassidy burst through the door. I jumped, startled.

“Piper!” she exclaimed, seeing me.

“Yes?” I asked, arching my brow.

She didn’t say anything she just rushed across the room, snatching my hand. Before I could react she was pulling me up onto my feet causing me to drop my songbook. I opened my mouth to say something but she was already interrupting me. “I got to show you something,” she said as she dropped my hand. I nodded, kneeling by the couch. I quickly gathered up my songbook and threw it into my bag. I slipped it onto my shoulder, turning to face her. “Hurry up; I wanted to show you before—”

The door shot open again, slamming against the wall. I jumped, feeling my heart nearly leap out of my chest. My hand flew to my heart, trying to calm myself. Reed walked in looking even more frantic than Cassidy did earlier. What was going on? “Piper, I got to—Cassidy? What are you doing here? I wanted to show her!” he blurted sounding distraught. Okay, this was just getting way too ridiculous. I looked between them, staying silent. His eyes latched to mine. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Piper, come on there’s something I got to show you.”

“What is going on?” I asked, more confused.

“It doesn’t matter,” they both said in unison.

I shot them both looks, shifting from foot to foot. “Actually, it is kind of important. I mean you both bust in here, scaring the hell out of me and then want me to rush off somewhere,” I said as took a step away from Cassidy, heading towards the door. “So it’s been interesting. I guess I’ll see you both later.” I started to move past Reed to slip out the door but his hand suddenly snaked out, grabbing my wrist. I whipped my head around, glaring at him.

I tried to jerk my wrist out of his hand, but he only tightened his grip. “Come on, Piper! Cassidy and I really want you to see this. You’ll love it,” he said with a smile turning up the corners of his mouth. I sighed, nodding at him to show me. I might as well just give in. If I didn’t both him and Cassidy wouldn’t stop hounding me. He broke into a full blown smile now, dragging me out of the room. I stumbled after him as we all piled into the elevator. As the door closed he finally released my hand, knowing I couldn’t make a run for it. I released a breath I had been holding, stepping back. I leaned against the wall, glancing at them both.

"Did you see Eric Clapton?" I asked.

“I wish, but no,” he said with a laugh.

The doors slid open as we hit the bottom. Before I could even blink Reed had grabbed my hand again and was dragging me out of the elevator with Cassidy trailing behind us. We were across the lobby and out the door in a matter of seconds. Where could they possibly be taking me? We rounded a corner, turning down an alley. My eyes were instantly drawn to a little red car. My eyes flicked to Reed who was pulling me toward it. “What the hell is that?”

His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. I don’t even think he was pretending to be offended this time around. “That is a 1968 Rambler—show some respect! This is my baby,” he informed me as he slipped into the driver’s side. I slipped into the passenger side and Cassidy opted for just leaning against the outside. Beside me Reed was fiddling with the radio. I expected one of the knobs to fall off at any time. This car was a piece. “Ah ha! Listen.” I did as he instructed, falling back against the seat. The man was talking on the radio about nothing impressive and then he was playing a song. At first I didn’t think much of it and then I felt my eyes widening as I recognized the song. I sat up in the seat, looking at him. I could hardly believe it.