Time; Don't Let It Slip Away

The Chain

"But, Mia.." Ryan began to say, looking down at the blank paper before him. "You're better at writing songs than I am.. and anyway, we've got until tomorrow to come up with a half way decent song, or we're finished." 

The band and I were sitting in a little cafe, eating lunch while we were trying to figure out what to do about getting our last song, with time slowly running out. 

"But Ryan, please just try..." I sighed "You know... All of you should try. Ry, Jordan, RJ, you guys should just write anything. It doesn't have to make sense, just sound good! We really just need something... anything." I pleaded.

We all looked down at the blank sheets of paper infront of us, while sipping our drinks, and munching on our snacks, when a familiar voice spoke up.

"H-" I t paused, and took a breath. "Hi Ryan." 

We looked up and saw Erika, Ryan's ex girlfriend, that cheated on him while we were on stage, performing.

Ryan looked at her, and then back down at his paper. "Hi." He muttered.

"Listen... Can we talk?" She sighed, and sat down in the empty chair next to him.

"I guess I have no choice.." He grumbled and took a sip of his coffee. 

"Look... What I did was stupid.. So, so stupid." She sighed, and looked down at her hands. "I still love you... with all my heart... but... but I think that I just need a break to re-evaluate things. I need to look at everything in my life, and just..."

"I get it." He sighed. 

She took a final look at Ryan, and then got up and walked away. 

He continued to stare down at his paper, clearly concentrating on the words she left him with. 

"Hey, Ry...." I sighed, and put my hand on his shoulder. "I'm really sorry." 

"Yeah... No. It's fine. Don't worry about me." He muttered and finished his coffee. 

We sat in that little cafe for a few more hours, coming up empty handed. Ryan didn't speak much. He just sat and stared at his paper. We decided we would figure something out when we meet up with Phil, and the producers when we meet them the next day. 

I got into my Audi r8, Gunner, and drove home, blasting Crazy.

When I got home, I instantly went up the stairs, and fell onto my bed, burrying my face in a pillow, and letting out a long exasperated groan.

"What's wrong, love?" Steven came and sat next to me on the bed, rubbing my back. 

"My career is over." I muttered into the pillow.

"Don't say that, this is just mild writer's block is all." He soothed me.

"No," I rolled over. "I mean... I'm supposed to have a song by tomorrow, and I've got absolutely no inspiration, other than the fact that my feet and back hurt to no end, and I feel like I have a fucking alien inside of my stomach, sucking the life right out of me." I groaned, and rubbed my big belly. 

Steven placed a hand on my stomach, to feel the baby. 

"Mia, I understand you're stressed about this deal, and about the baby, but it will be okay. I promise." He leaned down and kissed me. 

"I hope so." I sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I parked my car, and slid out of it. Walking wasn't really a thing for me anymore... It was more of a waddle, as I tried to make my way to the door, carrying my Lucille case. 

I made my way into the studio I was scheduled to meet the band in, and saw RJ, and Jordan in the sound room, with Phil, and our producer Derrick, in the control room. They nodded to me, as I opened the door, and walked into the sound room, closing it behind me. 

"Hey, sorry I'm late guys." I muttered, setting my case down. "Where's Ryan?" 

They looked at me quizzically and just shrugged.

"He said he'd be here, an hour ago." RJ sighed, drumming a beat on his thighs.

Phil came over the loud speaker, from the control room. 

"So.. Please tell me you guys  have this last song.. or else, we're going to have to pull the plug on this." He warned. 

We looked around, and tears filled my eyes. My career was over as quickly as it began. 

"Phil... Look..." I started. "Do you think we can just make it one song short? I mean, It's already got 9 great tracks on it!" I tried to keep myself from crying. 

"No, Mia." He said, very bluntly. "We need that 10th track. I'm sorry but you-"

"It's here!" Ryan busted through the door, carrying a guitar case in one hand, and a bunch of papers in the other. "It's right here! I've got the last song!"

"Oh thank god." RJ and Jordan sighed of relief. 

"Ryan, You're amazing. Thank you so much!" I grinned and hugged him "You just saved the band." I gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then took the papers from him reading over the lyrics. 

"Shit... These are beautiful, Ry." I gasped.

"Go on, sing em!" He smiled and picked up his guitar. "I'll be right next to you, playing the rythm. I think, it would sound nice with a little piano thrown into it, so maybe we can work on something, while we're here. If not, It'll stay acoustic." 

I grinned, and pulled the microphone stand close to me, and sat down on the stool behind me, considering it hurt to stand for too long. I took a deep breath, and began to sing. 

"The sky looks pissed

The wind talks back

My bones are shifting in my skin

And you my love, are gone.

My room feels wrong

My bed won't fit

I cannot seem to operate

And you my love are gone."

I teared up, as I sang these lyrics. I could feel Ryans emotion through them, and it broke my heart. 

The melody was soft, and sweet, and I perfectly matched the silky rasp in my voice to the chorus, as the tones picked up.

"So glide away on soapy heels

And promise not to promise, anymore.

And if you come around again,

Then I will take, then I will take

The chain from off the door.

I'll never say, that I'll never love, 

But I don't say alot of things

And you my love are gone. 

So glide away on soapy heels

And promise not to promise, anymore.

And if you come around again,

Then I will take, then I will take

The chain from off the door."

I could hear the hum of the recording equipment die down, as Derrick finished recording the song. 

"That was perfect, guys." He smiled. I looked over at Phil, who had this smug grin on his face. 

I rolled my eyes, and then smiled at Ryan. I got up, walked over to and sat down at the piano that was in the corner of the room. 

For the next few hours, we worked on, and perfected the song, and finished our entire album.