Can't Sleep... Love? (Mavi)

Morning Thirty-Three

"Do we have enough time for Starbucks, Slimeball" I yell through the house.

"If you hurry your sorry ass up we do, Mudblood" Scott returns, his voice comind from downstairs which means a that he's ready to go.

I grin to myself as I look at myself in the mirror one last time.

"Wow, mornings with you and Scott are definitely something else" Avi says while fixing his hair in a loose man bun.

"Believe me, that is normality" I return as I get out of the bathroom, fresh and ready for rehearsal.

"Now I understand why you always had problems with your neighbours back when you were living at your apartment" he jokes.

"That and us singing, dancing and just partying around the apartment almost every night" I return. "Therefore we wanted to have a detached house, just to be sure."

"If we don't leave right now we won't make it to Starbucks, Lovebirds" Scott yells up to us.

I roll my eyes theatrically. "Sorry, but I need caffeine to make it through the day."

"Your not the only one" Avi answers and pecks my cheek swiftly. "Come on, let's go."

I take his outstretched hand and together we go down the stairs where Scott is already waiting.

~

When we arrive at the studio, Kevin and Kirstie are already waiting for us outside.

"Esther is already inside, she needs to make some calls. Are you going to tell her before or after practice?" Kirstie wants to know after our usual round of hugs.

"Before?" I look at Avi questioning.

He nods. "I want to get it over with. You'll stay with us the whole time, right?"

Kevin puts an arm on his shoulder in a comforting manner. "Of course, Man! That's what friends are for."

"Yeah and stop looking like you are going to your own execution. Everything will be just fine" Kirstie adds. "Esther is not an emotionless monster. She's your sister, she loves you more than anything!"

"I know, I know... it's just..." Avi tries arguing again.

"Come on, Big Daddy, we're going in right now" I interrupt his train of thought and take his hand, leading him into the building. Yes. I'm nervous, too, but for the sake of Avi I try to surpress this feeling as good as humanly possible.

"Good morning, guys" Esther greets us as we enter our rehearsal room. We do our usual hugs and sit down around the conference table.

"So... shall we talk about some organisational stuff first, before I let you practice" she proposes.

"Actually, Esther, we want to talk to you about something, first" Avi says quickly. "If it's okay for you?"

"Not at all. You know we can talk about everything, if it's important" she returns kindly. "Is it about the band?"

"Yes" Kevin says. "Or well more or less."

"Shoot, won't you" Esther prompts.

"Where to start... I just, well we just..." Avi begins, searching for words.

I look at him first and then at Esther. She's raising an eyebrow and is slowly becoming impatient.

"What Avi wants to tell you is that he and I are dating"

"You're kidding me, right?"

I turn around to see both Jonathan and Sebastian, our managers standing inside of the room. While Jonathan is still searching for words, Sebastian was faster to react.

"You can't! That's a catastrophe" he says curtly. "Why didn't you intervene, Esther? We're talking about your brother here"

"I only learned it right now, I'm sorry, but I didn't have any clue" she answers defensively.

"Theres no need to be sorry. But we have to see what to do about it" Jonathan says, much calmer, yet I don't like the way he speaks about us as if we aren't there.

"What is there to do anyway" Scott speaks up. "They're dating and happy with it. After all Kirstie, Kevin and I have partners as well. It's love!"

"No, you don't get it. Do you know how many aspiring artists I have lost because of love?" Sebastian practically spats the last word. "A relationship within a group is toxic! You won't work out in the end and then Pentatonix will be history. Boom. Out. Five carreers... gone! Is that what you want?"

The situation reminds me of London. At it's not only because of the sharp words from our manager but also because Avi stands up and leaves the room without saying a word. "Avi..." I say, not able to do something, I feel paralysed.

It's Kevin who stands up, mumbles an excuse and runs after Avi.

"Well..." Jonathan was uncomfortable, at least he sounded as if. "Why don't you come by later and we talk things through, Esther? Just a few promotion gigs in October."

"I will" Esther replies with a forced smile.

"Sebastian, let's go" Jonathan urges the other man on and together they leave the room.

Kirstie breathes out audibly. "That was not how we planned it go."

"Wait, you all knew?" Esther chimed in.

"Well it doesn't matter now, does it? He ran away, again" I say, surprised at the bitterness in my own voice.

"Again?" Esther was surprised.

I nod. "Remember the situation in London? When you said exactly what Sebastian just mentioned? About a couple in PTX?"

"You were already dating back then?" Esther jumps up and comes over to me. She gets down on the chair next to me and takes my hand. "Tell me, please, Mitchie."

I refuse to look at her. "Why should I? You're against it, against us!"

"No!" Her voice is firm. "I'm not against it. I was just overwhelmed and then Sebastian happened. Look, I'm sorry about this situation. But as your boyfriend's sister and one of your best friends: I support you. 100%. If you're happy, be happy!"

When I hear these words I look up at her. "And as our tour manager?"

She shrugs. "It's not always going to be easy and maybe Sebastian is partly right. But there's so much more that could happen to you as a band. What if you and Scott have a terrible fight. Or Kevin and Kirstie. There's so much more that could bring us down, yet it doesn't. And I'm convinced that you're professional enough to still give everything for the band no matter what."

Her talk makes me smile. She's always so passionate about things and I love this about her. "Thank you, Esther. Now let me go, I need to get my man."

"About that, Mitchie..." Scott chimes in. "Kevin just texted. Rehearsal is cancelled, he's bringing Avi home. He wants to be alone."

"I... but..." I stutter, looking at Esther because after all she knows him best.

"Give him time, Mitchie. He needs to think things over" she advises.

I nod. "Thank you, Esther. For everything."

"You're welcome." She puts her hand on mine and squeezes softly. "I should go and see Jonathan, now, after all there's no need to discuss things when half of you is missing." She gets up and grabs her stuff. I get up as well and let her hug me tight. "Everything will work out, Mitchie" she says softly.

I nod and smile lightly, believing her, although I still have that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.

~~~~~~~

A/N: HAPPY GRAMMY DAY, Y'ALL!!!
I'm sorry this isn't too happy but who knows, maybe I'll be back with one more later on. Hopefully in celebration of GRAMMY no. 2! They really deserve it!