Charlie.- Completed

nineteen

"Okay I think we're nearly there." I looked up at Ryan who smiled. She'd approached me the same day I came back to uni 4 weeks ago after the conversation with the boys. We'd been in the same class the whole 3 years here and she needed my help.  She could put things together but singing was not her forte and she needed someone's vocals for her work this semester. 

We'd been working together daily since then and had gotten pretty close. She was the first girl who had ever spoken to me about anything other than the guys. We were getting on well and I was starting to consider her a friend which the guys were loving for me. 

"Oh. My friends said they wanted to come down. They're heading back home for the week and want to see me before they go. Hope that's okay?" 

"Course it is." She nodded and walked behind me to the other side. 

"They're all guys." 

"I know." She turned and faced me. "I've seen you guys together constantly." I nodded. "How long have you known them?" 

"Since we were kids. I was friends with Fin when we were like I don't know 7. There's Fin, George, Oscar, Alfie, Harrison. And then Noah. But I don't know if he'll come." 

"Which is the summer romance guy?" 

"Noah." She nodded. "I was friends with him before anyone else. I think we were like 4 or 5. But he moved away when we were about to start high school." 

"Oh that makes sense about the whole, new friendship thing then." I nodded and she tilted her head. "They're cute though aren't they?" I laughed slightly. 

"Yes and as far as I'm aware, they're all single so have at it." I turned to face her. "We are super close though. All of us. They're all super goofy and we still do a lot of play fighting. Girls and guys alike tend to get creeped out by us. Just as a warning." 

"Well I know you're obsessed with Noah so I don't think you're going to steal a guy from under me." 

"I can not think of anything worse. I love them, with all my heart. But dating them sounds disgusting. No offence." She threw her head back laughing and I stood up. "What are you doing over half term?" 

"Studying." 

"Same." 

"You're not going home?" 

"To parents who think I'm a prostitute. No thanks." I chuckled and walked into the booth as she sat in my seat. "We should hang out." 

"Sounds fun." She nodded and I sat down on the stool. 

"Should I dye my hair brown?" I turned and faced her and she smiled. 

"You'd look good brunette." Ryan tilted her head "You have the right skin tone for it. Not too light that it's wash you out but not too tanned. Sorry. My mum's a hairdresser." She chuckled and looked down at the board in front of her. 

I pulled my earphones on and gave her a thumbs up when I could hear the base beat coming through them. 

"I love this song." Her voice played through the earphones and I smiled. 

"Me too. It's such a bop." The music adjusted and she gave me a thumbs up to say she was starting the recording. 

"Used to like the taste of sour candy
Now it just makes me sick
Used to be obsessed with scary movies
Now I think they're all shit."

I turned to face her and she was vibing with her head set on, singing along with me which was making me smile bigger as I continued on. I watched as she stopped and turned to the door, pulling her headset off and opening it. The boys walked in and stood watching me. I had to turn away and look at the lyric sheet to keep me focused. 

I saw from the corner of my eyes that Ryan still didn't have her headset on but she was vibing so I knew I was playing over the speakers which I was kind of glad for. At least they could hear the music and backing tracks we'd been creating. 

I lifted my head up again when the door opened for a second time and stared as Noah walked in. I hadn't even seen in him in 4 weeks. A month. A whole month and he just shows up in the studio. Our eyes locked as I continued singing and I had to pull myself from him. I felt sick.

"Used to love watching the sunset
Now I pray for rain
All the things I used to love just leave a bitter taste" Of course that's the line he walks in and hears first.  

There was a solid chunk of just music now but I carried on staring at the paper blankly in front of me, putting them all to the back of my head. I was going to be sick. This is so embarrassing. 

"I hate my favorite band
All because of you
I get pissed off can't stand
Songs we listened to
That make me think of us just lying naked in your room
I hate my favorite band
All because of you
I hate my favorite band
All because of you." 

The music stopped and I opened my eyes, looking back at the glass to Ryan. 

"Good take. I think we got it." I smiled and pulled my headphones off, putting them over the mic. We still had loads to do in here today but I needed a break and to make the guys leave. The next songs we had to do weren't so boppy and I really wasn't in the place to tell them they were mine.  I pushed the door open and they all clapped, masking the fact that Noah slipped out the door as I came back into the room.  I slapped a fake smile on and took a bow. 

"Ryan, this is the guys. Fin, Fred, Georgie, Oz and Harry." I pointed them all out and they waved at her. 

"Nice to meet you all." She looked at them all and then turned her back to them, facing me and gave me a look that told me she couldn't pick one to talk to. I threw my head back and laughed at her. She cracked me up. 

"So you guys are off then?" 

"Yes. We'll be back for Halloween." I nodded at Fin who walked over and gave me a hug. "Are you sure you don't want to come with one of us?" 

"100%. I think the time alone will be good for me. Plus I'm going to hang out with Ryan so I'm not alone." He let go and looked at her before quickly turning to me. 

"Have you got some paper?" 

"Um sure why?" I leaned over and grabbed him my note book and pen. He scribbled in it and handed the ripped out piece of paper to her. 

"If you need me should she go off the walls just let me know." Smooth Fin. I rolled my eyes and snatched the notebook from his hands. 

"You won't need that Ryan don't worry." He looked at me and narrowed his eyes. "He's trying to hit on you." I walked past them and laughed as I pushed the book back into my bag.