Misprinted Lies (Alice in Chains/Bruno Mars)

The Fighter

Phil and Ari were working on a song. I was working on another track, checking in with them every once in a while. Bruno stepped into the room for a second.

"Hey Lily?" Bruno asked.

"Yeah?"

"You have visitors," he said. His tone of voice was hard to decipher.

The only people I ever talked to were all with me. Ryan was busy doing other things in New York. Bruno brought Mike and Sean into the studio. My look of concern must've been too obvious.

"Good to see ya, kiddo," Sean said. I hadn't seen Sean in a long time.

I introduced them to Phil, Ari, and finally Bruno, who eventually left to give us privacy.

"I'm not talking to Jerry," I said, crossing my arms.

"You don't have to see Jerry, Lil," Mike said. "That's not why we're here. We got worried. We went to go visit your house but you weren't there."

"Yeah, uh...I moved a couple of months ago."

They both looked at each other, still looking worried.

"Is everything okay? We can give you some money," Sean said. "You don't even have to pay us back. Whatever you need...seriously..."

I laughed a little and Sean laughed a little back nervously. "I don't need money."

"Really?" Mike asked. "Where are you living then?"

"When I'm not here, I live in the mountains. Haven't you ever heard of a place called Malibu?" I asked sarcastically. I showed them pictures on my phone from when I was deciding on a new house.

"Woah," Sean asked. "Big spender."

"Yeah I own Patriot Records. I work with Ryan Tedder still. Not bad for a 19 year old, huh? I own this studio," I said, stretching my arms out and spinning in the chair.

I showed them a bunch of songs I was working on for Bruno. Even though I knew they didn't necessarily love the music I was doing, they still smiled and at least pretended to like it. I was fine with that.

Phil, Ari, and Bruno came back in and we hung out a little bit. It was a bit weird and surreal. Everyone got to know each other and it got way more comfortable, which was relieving.

When Mike and Sean were leaving, I stopped them. "Maybe I'll invite you guys over to my house one of these days."

They both smiled.

_________________________________________

Lily hung out with us in our studio until we had tracks for her to put together. It was so much fun. As stressful as it was, I love being in the studio. Lily hadn't been in the studio in a couple of days. I got a call from Ryan. As her only emergency contact, he got a call from the hospital. I knew it. I knew there was something wrong. I was speeding but I didn't care. When I opened the door to her room, she had company.

"See Lily," the nurse said. "I told you that you'd have visitors."

The nurse left us alone and Lily gave me a fake smile. I handed her a bouquet of flowers.

"Aw," she said. "Lilies?"

I grinned. "Yeah."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," I said with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

What was I doing there?

"How long have you been here?" I asked her.

"Since last night," she said quietly.

I checked my watch and it was already nine at night. She had been there for 24 hours and I was her first visitor. It absolutely broke my heart.