The Prospect

THE PROSPECT: CHAPTER SIX

Chapter Six

Tricia

I stared, blinking at the six page document resting on the table in front of me.

"Is this real?" I asked, my throat dry and cracking with the words. I shook my head. I sounded so stupid. "I mean... is... um, is this..."

Brian's smile lifted and his teeth were pearly and white and straight and he looked like a damn orthodontist billboard. "...real?" He finished for me.

Brie, the partner he brought to hear us, put a hand on his arm and smiled as well. "It's very real. When Brian came into my office and told me I had to come hear you guys, I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much. We hear a ton of bands and mostly they sound like bands that already exist."

She slid a side glance at Brian as he interjected, "I told you they were different."

She rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. And he was right. You're experimental but your sound is commercial enough that it'll still sell."

Beneath the table, Jamie gripped my one hand and Jenna latched onto the other. We squeezed each other hard. Holy shit. This was really happening. "

So this is..." Don't say real, don't say real, don't say real... "...real?" Goddammit.

Brie's smile widened like she was trying not to laugh at us. "That's a real contract. To sign with us. We'll get you in the recording studio and put together an album to sell. And we're going to get you on tour immediately as the opening band for someone incredible."

"You're all okay with travel, right?" Brian asked.

Kurt, who had been uncharacteristically quiet all through the meeting let loose with a jagged breath. "I've never even been outside of Boston." He laughed humorlessly and dropped his face to his palms.

"Well, you're about to see the world, my friend." Brian said.

"Holy shit," Jenna exhaled breathily. She released my hand and launched herself toward the pen.

"Whoa," Brian said, darting his hand out too. "There's no rush here. Have a lawyer look this over. You have 48 hours to get back to us with your signature or any changes or adjustments you may have."

Brie handed us each a folder. "The only non-negotiable is our conduct code agreement. In each of your contracts, you must abide by a strict ethics code. No arrests. No bad public images." She smirked and shrugged. "At least, not until you're more famous and it matters less."

I flipped the contract until I saw Section VI: Conduct Code. Our musicians and public figures are held to a higher standard and required to avoid conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence at Lowery Associates Label.

"Just don't get arrested or do anything too stupid and you'll be fine," Brian clarified. Kurt swallowed, his face turning a sallow, yellow color. As the one band member who had a juvie record, he was clearly nervous. Granted, he'd just been caught tagging some buildings with spray paint, but still. "And what if we screw up? Get arrested?"

Brie drummed her nails against the pint glass. "The ethics board has a meeting and determines a course of action. Worst case scenario is you are in breach of contract and it gets terminated."

I could practically hear Kurt's gulp.

"Look," Brian interrupted, "Try not to worry much about that. It's just a protection in place for the record label. You seem like good kids. You'll be fine." I reached around Jenna's back and gave Kurt's shoulder a squeeze.