I've been in the studio for 4 hours now and there's still no sign of Travis.
Tiago assures me he will be here, rock stars just don't usually get out of bed before 3pm and apparently Travis was the star of a pretty huge party last night so he'd need some 'recovery time'
It's not that I care where he is or what he got up to last night but saying you will do something then going back on it is inexcusable and so it being late.
I tug at my dress, it's grey and stretchy and feels too tight and way too warm
"This is turning into another wasted day" I huff slamming my pen down onto my notebook.
Another studio session and another brick wall
"What can I write about when I have no life?!"
Tiago laughs as though I'm joking but there's nothing funny about this. I look down at my phone and see 4 missed calls from my dad in the last half an hour.
He's a complete control freak and he's having a complete breakdown about what might happen when he's not here but he needn't have worried. Nothing is happening. Just like yesterday and the day before
"Why don't we work on Real Friends some more? I was really getting into the vibe of it" Says Renee excitedly as she reaches into her purse for her phone and notepad
"No we cant do that one"
"Why not?"
"My dad hated it, he said it made me sound pathetic and needy"
"What?! It's about moving to LA and being alone, there isn't a person alive that moved to this town and didn't feel that shit"
"He says no Renee"
"What the fuck's it got to do with him?"
My head snaps up so quickly I feel dizzy and I find Travis standing staring at me, his look unreadable due to the shades he has covering his eyes
"He's my father, my manager"
"I don't care if he is Jesus. It's your song, your career, your decision"
"A career I wouldn't have if it wasn't for him"
"Which you wouldn't have if it wasn't for your talent. That's what got you here, not some pushy old guy in a suit"
"Don't talk about him like that!"
"I speak as I find, I'm not gonna change just because you have 'daddy issues'"
"You don't know me!"
"Maybe this would be a good time for me to cut in" says Tiago, obviously pleased to be able to finally get a word in edgeways and stop this quickly escalating situation "Travis this is Taylor, Taylor this is Travis"
"We've met" he says unhappily as he sits on a seat next to Tiago
"Unfortunately" I pull at my dress and again I shuffle uncomfortably in my heels
"Are you here to create music or go to dinner with your bank manger?" he's obviously talking about my outfit but I pick up my phone and try to ignore him "don't you have a chill button or a chill look?"
"I have one look"
"I can see that"
"Well what's wrong with it then Mr. Fashion Guru?"
"It's uptight as hell"
"It's a dress"
"It's a uniform. Who are you Taylor? Because I get the feeling this" he waves a hand at me "Is not you"
That comment stings and I once again pull at my dress suddenly feeling very self conscious and very over dressed
"I don't want him here" I suddenly blurt out
"Tough. Now play the song your father hates"
"No. I'm not playing you anything, you have an opinion on everything and your opinions are always wrong"
"Maybe so but when it comes to music my opinion is always right. Tiago play the song will you"
I try to argue not to but Tiago has already found the rough copy we had been working on. Just my voice and Renee on piano"
"You sound fuckin amazing" Travis says, no embarrassment at being so honest with me "Your dad's soul is dead if he can't hear the potential in this"
I feel my cheeks burn at his words.
He likes it!
I don't know why that matters but for some reason it does. For some reason I kick off my heels and pull out my notebook
"Let's work on Real Friends then" I announce and I see Renee look up quickly and grin as a small smile spreads over Travis' face
"Let's do it" he says happily and for a second our eyes lock and something passes between us. I don't know what it is but it causes my skin to burn and then a shiver to run all the way down my spine.
**********************
"Taylor!"
I'm walking the short distance from the studio to where Nesto is waiting with my car when I hear Travis call after me. I turn and then wait
"That was amazing. You are really talented"
I dip my gaze to my feet surprised that he would rush out here just to say something nice to me and then thank him
"I'm going to be around with the band tomorrow, you know if there's a second when your dad doesn't have his eyes on you"
I pout at the comment about my dad and he smiles, his teeth are perfect... and so is his skin and his hair and his body...
"Just in case you want to run anything by me. T has my number, you should get it from him"
"Maybe I will"
"Yeah well maybe you should" he smiles again and this time it feels as though our gaze is locked together and I'm unable to turn away "Your dad's going to want you to drop the song, don't let him convince you it's not good enough. That feeling you had when you listened to it back, the way your eyes sparkled, other people are going to hear it and they're going to feel that"
I nod, unsure what to say to his kind words of encouragement and then turn to walk away
"Oh and Taylor, you don't need to dress up the whole time, you're beautiful with or without the uniform"
This time it's him that turns and walks away and I feel my face burn and then the flames spread lower and lower until I'm consumed by something I don't recognise, but something I know Travis has just lit inside of me
*please comment and vote x
