Her Biggest Fan (Book 3 of JAF series)

Chapter 5 The Ropes

She made it. I got a memo today, I need to be in Mrs. Faire's office at 8. Limping into her office right away in the morning isn't my way to start a week but what choice do I have? I knock lightly and wait for her to tell me to come in.

"Good morning April how are you doing today?"

"Fine, please sit down."

I smile as I take a seat and tap the chair arms while she finishes sorting some papers. "A miss Andi Kent is coming in today. From what I've heard you've been quite involved in her progress at Atlantic records."

I think about correcting her but for a few reasons I stay quiet. First off, I don't need to get chewed out this early, and secondly, this might take some heat off of Andi when she comes in later.

"I hope you plan to continue to be involved in miss Kent's career, because management has decided to assign her to you as her mentor."

"Alright then."

"Good. I expect to see you at 11, she should be ready for you then."

I jump up and smile, which she doesn't see as she moves to a stack of papers on her desk, she's done with me. With 3ish hours to kill and not a single studio open I retreat to the small back room I like to camp out in. I can spend hours writing or playing and no one bothers me, it's the perfect escape. Before I know it, 11 has come and gone. I rush back to April's office. She's going to kill me! Before I knock I listen at the door, it's not closed tightly.

"... impossible for me to describe myself like that." Andi, her voice sounds tired and on edge.

"We could start with stubborn." There's an awkward silence, I can feel the tension through the door. "Fine, describe Toby Keith."

"All-American, drinking, funny, opinionated." She sounds mad now.

I get what they are doing, April won't work with an artist who doesn't know who they are.

"Hunter Hayes."

I listen intently for the answer.

"Honest, cute, energetic."

That's my cue, let's see how she reacts. "You forgot talented and funny." I push the door open.

She jumps and does a double take and I smile at her, causing her to look straight ahead.

"Oh Hunter, glad you could join us."

I grin at the tone of her voice. She can't do anything to me and we both know it. "Always a pleasure April." Andi won't look at me, she sits still as a statue. "What can I help you with?" I take the other available seat.

"Well, since you have taken such a 'keen interest' in Ms. Kent's career, your manager and I thought it would be appropriate for you to show her the ropes around here. Also, we've got some spots to fill for her album, I was hoping we could count on you to help her write one of the songs. If that's not too much trouble." This was more than I was expecting but I'm up for the challenge.

"Hey if my manager okayed it than I'm completely on board."

She dismisses us and I leap up, ready to go. Andi makes no move to follow me and I feel a touch of sympathy for her, she looks so lost. And her eyes are an intense shade of green, I think she's mad.

"So what would you like to see first?"

"What'd she mean you took a 'keen interest' in my career?"

I am caught off guard by the question but I pretend it doesn't even cause a pause. She walks beside me, not missing a step. "Well... I just might have talked you up around here after I saw you perform... and your demo might have traveled around a bit."

Out of the corner of my eye I see her stop. Her loose brown curls seem to bounce as she screeches to a halt. "You didn't." She sounds disbelieving.

"Yep." I look at her, our eyes meet. She doesn't look away.

"Thank you." I wait, she licks her lips. I think she has more to say. "Now I feel even guiltier about not being nicer to you that night."

I pick up the opportunity. ""I thought you were nice, a little distant maybe. I did get the feeling when we first met, though, that you didn't like me, was I right or was that all in my head?"

She lets out a small laugh and her face lights up. It makes her look stunning. "Truthfully, I didn't want to meet you. I was there for my sister. But you know what? You're much cooler than I first thought."

This makes me want to smile but I don't what to scare her. "Gee thanks."

Her eyes widen and she stammers. "No, I mean it, you don't annoy me nearly as much anymore."

"That's funny, because you are getting more and more annoying each time I talk to you." I can't hold back the smile. She's so putting her foot in her mouth right now and she knows it. My comment makes her eyes flash with anger then she seems to let it go.

"You're a twerp."

"And you're a bit of a hot head from what I hear, so I guess we're even." I can't help the laugh that escapes from my mouth, no one's called me 'twerp' since the 5th grade. And she looks mad again.

"I'd like to see the recording studios now."

"Right this way." Still laughing I take off down the hall, full out sprinting. After a second of worry, I hear her feet padding hard on the floor as she follows me. Her laughter rings in my ears and I grin. This is going to be fun.

.....

After we do a crash course of the booth and I am shocked to see her looking right at home as she fiddles with the dials and buttons.

"I was a radio DJ back home... Well a switch board girl." She explains, looking down as she brushes her hand over the counter.

"That's cool." I study her as she glances over at the recording side of the studio. She'll get there soon enough. "Hey, wanna see something?"

She nods I lead her out of the studio, noting how her eyes can't stop resting on the baby grand. We walk past the cafeteria and I duck my head around to the left and the right as we near the end of the hallway. "Now what I'm about to show you is a secret, do not tell anyone or show anyone. Understand."

I receive the smallest of nods. I grab the knob on the door to my right and thrust it open, gesturing for her to enter. She peers into the dark room before stepping in.

"If you ever need to calm down, this place is perfect, normally no one thinks to look in here for you." I flip on the light and watch her take in the small room with her eyes.

"Why are you showing me this?" She looks at me and I see the question in her eyes. If this place is special why show her?

"Because everyone needs to get away sometimes." I shrug.

"That's the truth." She mumbles under her breath.

From her tone I sense something deeper but I don't ask. If she wants to, she'll tell me. "Where do you want to go next?" I change subjects and we walk out of the room. Closing the door firmly behind me.