ADD IT UP ✰ RODRICK HEFFLEY x MALE! OC

CHAPTER 16

Six p.m. came before we knew it, and we departed the store, our arms full of Boston merchandise that we knew for a fact that we would never touch again. When we arrived back at the recording studio, Ben, Chris, and I slowly lugged our instruments into the check-in room. Rodrick smirked; he only had to carry his drumsticks inside.

"You're the Diaper Boys, right?" the secretary inquired, looking at us with an artificial smile on her face.

"We're Loded Diper, ma'am," I almost giggled, attempting to keep my composure.

"Oh, right!" she exclaimed. "The director will be ready for you soon! We're fifteen minutes ahead of schedule! You can go tune your instruments in the waiting area right over there." She pointed at a pair of sliding glass doors.

"Thank you!" We all chorused, heading towards the room she had indicated for us.

The waiting area was a much cozier space than the rest of the building. Instead of being lit by artificial white light, it was illuminated by a large window view of downtown Boston. Already getting set up was an all-girls band, donning matching, red plaid skirts, eyeliner, and distressed, black t-shirts. Ben and Rodrick stood behind me, applying each other's eyeliner, while Chris opted to remain without it, despite Ben and Rodrick's pleas.

"Miles, close your eyes," Rodrick laughed, applying eyeliner onto my own lids and smudging it with a tissue. He told me to open them again, and I obliged, giving me an eyeliner job that looked just as bad as his own.

But I didn't wanna hurt his feelings, so I just stayed quiet.

One of the girls in the other band sat next to Ben, who was tuning his guitar. "Where'd you guys fly in from?" she asked, staring at him with conviction.

"Oh, we didn't fly in, we drove here from Plainview. It's 'bout a two hour drive from where we are." The girl looked at him, confused. "Plainview's pretty small. There's not much opportunity for a small band to get very far there."

"We're here from Texas. If you think there's no opportunity for a band in suburbia, try dropping a riot grrrl band in The Middle of Fucking Nowhere!" She laughed. "But you guys look really familiar. Are you by any chance the band from the Dancing Mom video from a couple years back?"

I broke out into a hysterical fit of laughter, while Rodrick, Ben, and Chris's faces flushed bright pink. "Yeah, that was us," Ben said coolly, "Why?"

To our surprise, the girl's face lit up, excitement filling her eyes as she responded to Ben. "Are you kidding?! I found you through the video and I've been following your work for so long! Holy shit! I'm so excited for the new album to come out! Is that still a work in progress? You're the singer, right?!"

One of the other girls in the band turned to her friend, and the two giggled to themselves, looking at the mysterious girl and Ben sitting together. Chris nudged Rodrick as the girl bombarded Ben with questions, and we laughed among each other, staring at Ben's lovestruck expression, passionately answering her inquiries.

"It's Eden, by the way!" she exclaimed. "Eden Dalton!"

"Oh, well, I'm Ben. But you knew that already. What song are you all doing?"

Eden paused for a moment, then sighed. "We're doing Rebel Girl, by Bikini Kill. It's my best friend's favorite." She indicated the bassist of her band, who fell asleep on the drummer's shoulder. "That's Dani, and our drummer's name is Athena. Our lead guitarist, Zara, is inside, getting set up."

As she pointed out the members of the band, an older woman followed by a coily-haired girl in the same, plaid outfit peaked her head out the door of the studio. "Wednesday's Child?" she questioned. "We're ready for you." A middle-aged trio carrying guitars exited the room, looking rather dejected.

"That's us!" Eden exclaimed, carrying her guitar case into the room.