The Kings: A Band's Tale

In The Studio [4]

The walls of the studio's living quarters were a soft cream color, with simple furnishings-a wooden desk, a pair of twin beds, and a large window overlooking Swindon's city lights. Uno sat on the right bed, his long sleeves rolled up to his elbows, vest neatly buttoned, and his favorite necktie draped loosely around his collar. His coat hung on a nearby hanger, carefully placed, as if it were waiting for the next show. He was quietly scribbling in his notebook, eyes darting back and forth between his lyrics and the guitar resting against the wall.

On the left bed, Denise was sitting cross-legged, sorting through some sheet music they had worked on earlier. She glanced over at Uno occasionally, her heart doing little flips every time she saw the concentrated look on his face.

"I can't believe we're actually here," Denise said, breaking the silence, her voice a soft murmur in the cozy room. "It feels surreal."

Uno looked up from his notebook, offering a small smile. "Yeah, who would've thought we'd be recording an album with Parlophone? All that time we spent messing around in Swindon... and now look at us."

Denise chuckled, leaning back against the headboard. "And Lance dating Olivia this whole time? Angelo with Jada? Matt and Avva? That came out of nowhere."

Uno grinned. "Yeah, that was a surprise. But then again, they've always been close."

Denise nodded, still trying to wrap her head around how their group dynamics had shifted. Lance and Olivia, Angelo and Jada, Matt and Avva-they were all sharing rooms, too, leaving her and Uno as roommates by default.

"Guess it's just you and me in here, huh?" Denise said, trying to sound casual, though her heart raced at the thought. She wasn't used to being alone with Uno for long periods like this, especially in a room where they'd both be sleeping.

Uno glanced over at her, giving her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, just like old times."

She smiled back, relaxing a little. It wasn't like they hadn't been close for years; after all, they were childhood best friends. But something about this felt... different. Maybe it was the way his sleeves were rolled up, or how he kept adjusting his tie absentmindedly, or the fact that they were now successful musicians on the brink of recording their first album.

Uno leaned forward, focusing again on his notebook, scribbling a few more lines. Denise, curious, tilted her head to get a peek.

"Whatcha working on?" she asked, scooting a little closer.

Uno quickly covered the page with his hand, his cheeks tinged slightly pink. "Uh, just a song. Something I've been thinking about for a while."

Denise raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A new song? Why didn't you tell me? Let me see."

He shook his head, laughing nervously. "It's not ready yet. Just... a work in progress."

Denise playfully pouted. "Oh, come on! We've been writing together for years. What's the big secret?"

Uno smiled softly, looking down at his notes. He couldn't tell her-at least, not yet. The song was too personal. It wasn't just any song; it was about her. Every line he wrote, every word, was a reflection of how he saw her-how her yellow eyes lit up whenever she smiled, how her brown hair cascaded over her shoulders in a way that mesmerized him.

He glanced at the working title he had scribbled at the top of the page: In A Suit Like Mine. The lyrics were vague enough not to give too much away, but the meaning behind them was crystal clear to him. It was all about Denise.

"Alright, fine. I won't push," Denise said, leaning back on her bed again. "But you better show me when it's done."

Uno smirked. "Maybe. If you're lucky."