Force of Habit

Chapter 20

"So how's California?" Sawyer asks me through my laptop screen. 

I smile, just happy that I can see his handsome face, "It's pretty good. The food is all healthy though. I really need my junk food. There's this pizza place that only sells 'healthy pizza'. They don't even seem to comprehend the deliciousness that is pepperoni." 

"Well I'm glad you like it. Apart from all of the healthy food and all... How's the recording going?" 

It's been about a month since I've moved across the country to my new job in Los Angeles and this new album has kept me pretty busy to say the least, "Pretty great. We already started writing some new songs and by next week we'll start recording."

"That's great," the curly haired boy replies.

"So how are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm alright. Missing you obviously... And I have end of the year projects to finish up, so that's keeping me pretty occupied. And then there's graduation. So that'll be interesting. I wish you could be there, Olivia James..."

I smile, trying to mask it as much as possible, but nothing gets past Sawyer.

"What are you hiding from me?" he coaxes. 

"Nothing! I think I might have an idea for a new song though," I justify as my excuse. 

"Oh, okay. Well, Olivia Francis, I would love to chat longer but I need to get to bed. I have an exam tomorrow and it's getting kind of late."

I had totally forgotten about the time difference until he mentioned it. 

"Oh! Right sorry about that. I'll talk to you later then. Bye!" I say, giving Sawyer a small wave and a large smile. 

"Goodbye, Olivia Matthew." 

"Bye Sawyer Alicia."

And that's the end of the call. 

I sigh and lay back onto my bed, which I was sitting on during the video call. Sawyer's graduation is in one week and I have three days off from the record company, so I'm spending the free time in New York with my boyfriend. I'm planning on surprising him at his graduation ceremony. 

The rest of the week consists of the same routine of, waking up late and barely making it on time to the recording studio, recording and re-recording songs, a short lunch, writing or recording some more, going home, eating dinner and talking briefly to my roommates, who I've gotten to know quite well, falling asleep, and doing the same exact thing the next day. By the time Friday rolls around, I am exhausted and wanting more to just sleep on my three day break than travelling across the country. But I force myself to stop being so selfish and manage to get packed without falling asleep. 

I call a cab to come pick me up when the day of my flight arrives and say goodbye to my roommates. They know where I'm going, it's the only thing I've talked about since I've booked the plane ticket. 

Once I'm safely boarded onto the plane, I allow my tired self to finally fall asleep and I don't wake up until a flight attendant is quite literally shaking me awake and telling me that I need to exit the plane because we've landed in New York and they need to get to their next destination. Yawning I exit the plane, collect my bags from baggage claim, and get into another cab, which takes me to the hotel that I'm staying at. I'm not sure why I'm so exhausted but I am, so I climb onto the bed and immediately fall asleep. 

I don't wake up until the sun begins to set. I'm just going to blame the time change for it being why it is so late, not because I'm completely drained. I breathe in a deep breath and decide to go for a walk and revisit old memories from my days here. Pulling on my shoes, I head out of the hotel and begin my walk.