Finding My Muse - Nicholas Galitzine

Chapter Ten: Interview

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--Esmerelda's POV--

I tap the button to the elevator and wait for it to come down when Nick walks over, "Hey," he says as I give him a small smile, "You ready for the interview?" he asks making me widen my eyes in panic.

"That's tonight. I totally forgot," I freak out as we step into the elevator.

"You'll be fine. It's just a bunch of questions and make sure to bring a piece you're working on right now," He tells me, "Are you alright?" he asks looking at me weirdly. I adjust my bag and tell him it's fine as the elevator opens on my floor. He says he will come down before we leave and I thank him as I hurry down the hall.

I set my songbook down on my desk and try to pick something that shows my talents. None of them are good enough. I groan before looking in the mirror realizing how much I need a shower. I grab my towel off the hook and go into the bathroom. Then in the shower, I realized I should shave. By the time I find the perfect outfit and look presentable, Nick is knocking on the front door. I stare at the clock and realize it's already been two hours. I rush over and let him in as he stands with his leather jacket and dark-washed jeans.

"Ready?" he asks as I run back to my room. He waits for me in the main room for nearly five minutes before knocking on the bedroom door, "What are you doing?" He asks as I slip my shoes on.

"All of my songs suck. Why would they pick me when all of my songs are shit?" I ask frantically running a hand through my hair. He goes to grab my song book but I stand up and tell him I'll just pick one when we get there.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asks as I give him a thumbs up. I yell that we are leaving to Kylie and she shouts back "Good luck". I realize I left my jacket inside when we start walking but it's too late to grab it. We are already running late, I'm surprised he waited this long for me. He pulls on my arm so I don't hit a pole, my head is buried in my songbook. He snags the book from my hands much to my disdain and keeps me at arm's length.

"I'll pick a song if you focus on the road," he says as I glare up at him. As he reads through the pages of my messy handwriting I can't help but glance over to see his expressions. Every time he turns a page I start panicking that he won't find a song that's good enough. When we arrive at the radio station there are only a handful of kids left in the interview process. We check in with a lady at the front before sitting down in a hallway outside of an office.

"This one," is all he says as he passes back the book. The page is open to a song I wrote almost three months ago. This was during the era of my life when Kylie dragged me out every night. The only time I had to write was in between classes for a couple minutes or late at night.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Why do you doubt yourself so much?" he asks when another kid's name is called, "I'm not trying to get all psychological but it's kind of annoying," he says making me laugh in disbelief.

"I'm sorry?" I say sarcastically.

"Music reps are like sharks they can smell fear," he says raising his eyebrows as his name is called, "Wish me luck," He whispers as he stands up. I laugh to myself as the door shuts behind him.

"You guys are cute together," A girl next to me on my left says. I look at her and try not to bust out laughing.

"We aren't together. He's my best friend's boyfriend's best friend," I tell her as she nods her head with a smile. We make small talk for a little while before my name is called. Nick walks out and brushes against my side.

"Show them the song Thrown Away," he whispers as I look up at him, "Do it," he says again as I tell him I will. I take a deep breath and walk into the room with a bright smile. The entire thing goes by in a blur and I'm walking out before I know it. Nick isn't in the chair he was in before so I walk outside seeing him on the phone.

"I can't believe you landed a girlfriend. She's way out of your league," he says. When he paces back toward the door of the building he tells who I assume to be Harry he will be back soon, "How did it go rockstar?" he asks as I tilt my head at the nickname.

"Really well...I think. Why didn't you have me do the other song?" I ask.

"Cause when I was walking out I heard the guy on the left say and I quote, 'If I hear one more song about teenage angst I'm going to kill myself," he says.

"Does that mean you showed a song about being an edgy teen?" I ask.

"No. I actually used the song you helped me with. It's the only thing I've written recently that hasn't made me want to throw my guitar through the window," he says shocking me.

"So that means you're definitely getting the internship," I tell him as he nods his head with his lips pursed.

"When I said not to doubt yourself...I take it back. I don't think I can deal with your ego being any bigger," he says as I look at him.

"Says the man with an ego as big as the Empire State Building," I tell him. Our laughter dies down when we get closer to the apartment. It's weird whenever we get back near Kylie and Harry it's like a flip switch and we go back to endless banter. I kind of like it. There's no pressure and he's annoyingly easy to talk to...even if all we have really talked about is music.

"Was Harry at our place?" I ask as we step inside, "There's probably leftover takeout if you want to eat," I tell him as I get off on my floor. He looks like he's contemplating it for a second before accepting my offer. I pull my key out and open the front door. I start walking in before backing up and slamming the door, putting my back against the wood.

"What are you doing?" he asks as I look at him with wide eyes and a growing smirk.

"I loved that couch. That was one of my favorite spots in the apartment," I tell him as he finally clocks why I slammed the door, "How hard is it to text or put a sock on the door?" I ask putting my head in my hands.

"I have some ramen in my cabinet," He offers as I immediately take him up on his offer.