Miss Cleopatra: In Love I Fall

13

"How's the writing process going?" Wes was sitting on top of my kitchen island, eating a granny smith apple.

"It's so... awkward?" I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The two of us had been in three writing sessions now, but every time it got to making changes to the lyrics, both of us chickened out and didn't say anything.

"I hear you guys are getting along at least." Wes said, and  honestly that was an accomplishment in itself. I was about to agree with him, when I realized that he hadn't gotten that information from me.

"Wait, where'd you hear that? Did he say that?" I could tell Wesley immediately regretted mentioning it.

"Yeah. He said you guys get along fine." He gave me what sounded like a half-assed Sparknotes version of the conversation.

"Mhmm, is he talking about me?" I was a little more annoyed than I was curious. Wes was my friend, my step-brother for crying out loud. He was supposed to be my shoulder to lean on-- the guy I went to for advice. I couldn't have Wes being all buddy-buddy with the enemy! Or the almost enemy?

"I shouldn't have said anything." He winced, running a hand over his face. I knew Wes didn't want to rat on his boy, but then again his "boy" bailed on the band and then left us all for South America.

"Sisters before misters." Yeah, I'm playing the sister card.

"Ugh fine." He sighed. Smart boy. I could be pretty stubborn when I needed to be. And right now, I needed to be. "He hasn't said much, but from what he has said, working together is a little weird for him."

"Well no shit." It was awkward for me too. I just didn't know he felt the same way until now. "You can practically cut the tension with a knife in the studio."

"You guys seem to feel the same way." Wes said, as if reading my mind. "For some bizarre reason, you both decided to come to me for advice. I don't know why, because I suck at making good decisions, but you did. And from what I've been hearing on both sides, you two need to get over yourselves."

"Excuse me?" Wesley's forwardness caused me to laugh.

"You heard me: get over it!" He repeated. "You guys are going to be spending more time with each other over these next few months than you are with anyone else. And if it's awkward, the album's going to suffer. And I know you don't want that to happen." Wes pointed out, and I couldn't help but agree. I had a lot invested in this album because Flax had a lot invested in me: literally. I needed to turn out a good product in order to get paid.

"You're right." I sighed, finally facing the facts. I was going to have to set my pride aside and fully throw myself into this project. "I'm scared, though."

"About what?" Wesley looked at me as if I had said something completely ridiculous.

"It's the songwriting." I was finally going to get something off my chest that I had felt pressing down on me for days. "We have to write together. And I don't want to assume anything, but some of his songs have to be written about me, right?"

"Songwriters draw on their emotion. The things that make them happy, sad, what causes them pain- unfortunately you probably tie into all of those." I grimaced at his words. Wes was telling me all the things I already suspected, but didn't want to hear.

"I hate that you're right." I grumbled.

"Yeah, well you should get used to it. I'm right a lot."

* * * * *

I ran my hands across the rack of clothes in front of me, looking for something to jump out at me.

"Did you find anything yet?" Caroline asked, as I began to admire a lilac cocktail dress. I held the hanger up to my chest. "Ooh, cute."