Dial Drunk - Post Malone

7

There is a crowd of people gathered around the studio gates when they pull up to the studio. They can't see Austin because the SUV he is in has dark-tinted windows. But, he does not think they are here for him. They are all dressed emo and have Sandy Valley merch on. Sandy Valley is a brilliant emo singer. He has heard some of her stuff and he has to admit it is pretty good even if it was not his style of music. The studio is big and well-known in LA, it's used by various artists - big or small. Sandy Valley must be recording music here today. He has started growing his own fan base, it's nowhere as big as Sandy Valleys but he can see a few die-hard fans of his mixed in the sea of emos. They all look like they are having a great time. His die-hards have been here every day since he started working with Levi on the new album. They are fucking dedicated, he stops to greet them most mornings but today there are just too many people and he feels like death warmed up so he will skip today and spend a little extra time saying hi tomorrow.

Once inside the gates and parked, he grabs his guitar and heads inside. For the first time since working with Levi, he is not looking forward to seeing her, not because anything inside him has changed. But, because they had not parted on good terms, he feels sick and awkward. Fuck, he hopes they don't act awkwardly towards each other or worse, she hands him her resignation and cuts ties with him. He takes a deep breath at the studio door and opens it. Levi is camped out on the couch, her head in a notebook as she scribbles almost franticly in it. If she is writing love songs about her and Logan he will burn that fucking book. He flicks the lights and her head shoots up. "Hi," he signs. "Hi," she signs back and then stares at him.

She does not look angry at him, nor does she look like a woman about to quit, but she does look a little worried. "Are you alright?" she signs. "I am fine," he signs back. "You sure? Because you look like shit," she signs. Austin wants to snap at her, roll his eyes and explain to her that not only does he look like shit, but he feels like shit too and it's all because of her. How fucking dare she? She may not know how he feels and she definitely does not know what he did this weekend. This is not her fault - but he fucking blames her. It's irrational and unfair so he clenches his jaw and puts his guitar down.

"Austin Post?" he hears a woman say from behind him so he turns around and comes face to face with Sandy Valley. She is more beautiful in person than all the pictures he has seen of her although she is a little intimidating with her spike choker and black lipstick. "I thought that was you walking past my studio. I am Sandy Valley," she says putting her hand out. "Hi. Nice to meet you," he says and signs, it's a habit now remember? Sandy frowns and Austin steps to the side so she can see Levi who is still sitting on the couch. "My songwriter is deaf. She can lip read but I am in the habit of signing when she is in the room," he says and signs. "Oh...well, they did say you were a nice guy. That's really sweet of you to include her like that," she says crossing her arms in front of her. Strange.

"Anyway, I have a tight schedule and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to meet you. Hope I am not being too forward but I have a thing for you. Could be this look," she says waiving her hand over Austin's body. Austin looks down at his clothes and then back at her. "Cowboys in trucker hats...mmm, yes, please. Would you like to have dinner with me?" she asks. Austin is a little taken aback by how forward she is and under normal circumstances he would decline. She is not his type, but his type is a taken woman and perhaps a change would do him good. He has nothing to lose. "Yes. That sounds great," he says, he doesn't sign that but knows Levi read his lips. She knows his answer.

"Fantastic! I will get my assistant to bring you my number and we will work out the details," she says then waves at him as she disappears. This is a good thing. Levi has Logan and hopefully, something good comes out of whatever is starting with Sandy. Grassy suddenly pops into the doorway, grabbing the door and shutting it quickly then leaning against it. "I saw a vampire. There are vampires in the studio," he says, he looks scared.