Spin

Five

[RORY]

I stared at the waves crashing against the shore, unable to control my smile. While the tangerine sunrise was one I'd remember for a long time, it wasn't the picturesque view that was engraining the peaceful morning in my brain - it was the soundtrack.

Sipping my lukewarm coffee, I shut my eyes and let a very familiar voice pull me into another world - one that was equally as loud as it was quiet, as dreamy as it was realistic, and as explicit as it was subtle. While the world knew them as White Noise, I knew them as Finn, Jack, Ace and Pete, and they had done it. They'd created a masterpiece and while I was admittedly a little bit biased, I also knew in my bones when an album was good.

The final chords of the final track drifted out, replaced with the natural sounds in front of me. I pulled my headphones off, letting them rest around my neck as I dug around for my phone. While chances were slim he'd answer, I needed to tell Finn how proud I was and a text didn't feel like enough. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, I wasn't given an option. I hung up hearing his voicemail, opening our text chain.

My smile grew as I re-read his last messages.

I'm not going to wake you but Rory we're number 1 in the states.

IN THE STATES!!!!

I'm shitting myself.

Can't be real.

Fuck. I'm so happy.

Baby we did it.

I knew nothing I would write would do how I felt justice so I tried not to overthink it, writing the first words that came to me.

I know you're busy. I just wanted to say I'm so insanely proud of you. It's good, Finn. It's really good. Tracks 3, 7 and 11 are insane. You deserve every number 1 and more. I love you so much. Call when you can.

I hit send, the reality of our situation hitting me for the second time that morning. While his week had been crazy busy and I knew release day was going to be like the previous six days on steroids, I couldn't help but ache not being there with him. The album had inconveniently dropped on the same day my dear flesh and blood was brought into the world and while Cal had assured me she wouldn't mind if I missed her party, we both knew that wasn't true.

I gathered my things and began the short trek back to the Jeep, hoping that Finn could feel my pride no matter how far away physically I was.

-

While there were a few other things ready to leave my lips, I swallowed them down and opted for the polite option.

"Hey, do you mind if I cut in here?"

"What?"

Jenna looked back at me, unimpressed. She stood next to the printer, holding the 52 warm pages that had just taken their sweet time sputtering out. My patience had already been wearing thin, and that was before I'd realized she was also making copies.

"I just have to print one page, it'll be super quick."

"I'm using it," she responded monotonously, staring at me as if I had two heads. "I need a few more minutes."

I heard someone walk up behind me, turning around to meet Jamie's blank stare. While we'd been cordial, any semblance of a friendship had dissipated. I faced Jenna again, forcing a smile.

"I get it, I just have a meeting soon and need this for it."

"You probably should have printed it earlier then."

"Are you serious right now?" I laughed.

She gave me a tightlipped smile, cocking her head to the side in a condescending way.