Monstercat University I

Chapter 014

[Dilumi's POV]

I wake up to the sound of the fan running in the bathroom. Veela is still sound asleep, so Anna must be taking a shower. Let's see, it's Tuesday. What's happening today? Right, the podcast. Yay! Oh, wait...I'm supposed to meet with Tristam. Our encounter the night before runs through my mind, and I can feel my heart sinking again. Wow, I overreacted way too much. I'm brought back to the question of how I'm supposed to face him now. It's going to be so awkward...maybe I'll just try to act completely normal, like none of this ever happened. I guess that's the only way.

[Danyka's POV]

"Hey Veela!" Laura and I run to meet up with her. We're on our way to the podcast. Podcast 033. Turbo Penguin is going to be spotlighted and I can't wait. "Where are Anna and Dilumi?" I ask, immediately noticing their absence.
"Dilumi said she's skipping the podcast to work on her set," Veela responds. "Anna should be here in a second." As if in response, Anna rushes up behind us.
"Aero Chord is so mean!!" she whines, her shoulders slumping down. "He won't let me hear our song!"
"Oh..."
"I even said please! He won't stop teasing me!!!" Anna pouts.
"You know you like it," I say, smirking. Anna growls in return.
"Unicorns don't growl," I tease. Laura and Veela burst into laughter while Anna crosses her arms and sulks. We enter the balcony of the auditorium, where everyone is finding a seat and chatting in anticipation of the podcast. We girls usually like to sit in the balcony. It's an amazing view from here, and I love looking down and watching everyone come in. We find empty seats close to the front and fill them. I smile as I sit down. Podcasts are so fun. We wait for a few minutes before the lights go down and everybody cheers as the intro of the podcast comes on. I always love that part. So much hype. Cold chills run through my arms when the Hellberg and Soulero collab Because We Are comes on, and the voice says "Welcome to the Monstercat Podcast". It makes me so proud to be with Monstercat. After the intro ends there is always a split half-second of wild anticipation before the first song starts, and I always feel like I'm hanging off the edge of my seat wanting to know what it will be. A crazy feeling of joy runs through me when Turbo Penguin is the song that comes in. Then Sound Remedy's and Nitro Fun's voices give us a special intro. For some reason it makes my eyes water because I love it so much. Why does Nitro's voice do this to me? What is it that makes his accent so irresistible? I swear I'm going to listen to this part over and over once it goes up on iTunes. When the beat drops out and the voice says "Thanks for joining us on the Monstercat Podcast", I can feel the excitement shoot through me, and I find myself smiling and nodding my head to the song. I already have a feeling that this is going to be the best podcast ever.

[Tristam's POV]

When I walk into the music room, Dilumi is already here, playing a waltz-like tune on the piano and swaying back and forth in time with it. I stand behind her, admiring her skills, and when she finishes, I walk up beside her. "That's pretty," I compliment. Startled, she jumps and whirls around on the bench, traces of fear in her eyes that quickly dissipate when she sees it's only me. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I apologize.
"It's okay," she says quietly, turning back around.
"You're not mad at me, are you?" I ask, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. She shakes her head and slides over on the long bench, and I sit down next to her. I realize she's almost hanging off the other end. "You can get closer to me. I'm not going to bite," I say. She gives me a small smile and moves a few inches closer. "Now," I say, laying my hands on the piano keys, "you ready?"