When The Lights Go Down

Songbird

"I'm not fighting with you, I'm just saying I think you're over exaggerating."

"I'm your manager, it's my job to over exaggerate." Fred tells him simply. "I've got to watch your back otherwise Mary and I will have a big mess to clean up."

FP frowns, he knows the words weren't said but he can read between the lines enough to hear them. "And I've already made too many messes to count."

"I didn't say that." Fred interjects quickly, not wanting FP to feel guilty.

"It's true though, should've left me years ago, let me figure it out on my own and learn my lesson."

"I'm still here aren't I? I'm never giving up on you man, I promised you I wouldn't." Fred reminds him.

It had taken a lot of convincing and some back and forth, but FP finally convinced Fred to contact Alice for songwriting help. Of course, it wasn't without a catch, Fred demanded the session be at the studio where he could supervise. FP had agreed with a roll of his eyes, but if it was the only way, he wasn't going to fight it.

Perhaps it's a bit ridiculous to have such faith in someone he doesn't know, but there was something about the woman that he immediately connected with.

A knock to the studio door catches both men's attention and they look up to see a woman walk in. "Am I in the right place?" She wonders before she locks eyes on FP. "I guess I am."

"Alice, hi, welcome. This is my manager Fred," FP introduces the two.

"Ah yes, the one who tracked me down." She chuckles. "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Fred answers kindly. "FP says you write songs?"

"Yes. Not for a living or anything, just a passion."

"If you don't mind me asking, since you don't do this for a living, why did you offer up your help to FP?"

"Fred!" FP hisses.

"It's okay," Alice decides. "It's a fair question. I would love to do this professionally, I'd love to still sing professionally, but unfortunately that's no longer an option for me so I just do it on my own free time. If I can help someone else make something beautiful, than that's what I'm going to do."

Fred blushes. "Sorry, I just-"

"You have to ask, I understand." Alice smiles politely at him.

He nods. "I'll be in the next room if you guys need anything."

"Thanks Fred." FP calls as the man walks out, slightly embarrassed by how he had acted. "Sorry about him."

"I get it, he's gotta look out for you. Make sure I'm not just some crazy lady off the street." She sets her guitar case down on the floor and joins FP at the table.

"Apparently my word just wasn't good enough for him."

"Well to be fair, you don't know me, it's good he cares so much." Alice tells him sincerely. "I wish... there should be more people like him."

He masks his confusion at her words, at how she stopped herself from saying what she planned. "He's a good guy, stuck with me through a lot." FP agrees, smiling. "You ready to start?"

"Yeah, what do you have so far?"

He chuckles and hands her his notebook, filled with messy thoughts. "A mess, basically."

Alice reads it over, studying it intensely. "This is some deep stuff."

"Got a lot on my mind these days." He blushes, not used to sharing such vulnerable thoughts with someone. She doesn't seem to judge though, just looks at him with such sincerity.