Not So Innocent (EGASS sequel)

Chapter 3 - Gabby

As soon as I'm dismissed by Richard, who nods in my direction after I announce that I have to go, I totally ignore Logan's whine and Lili's slightly suspicious glares. She's been giving them to me for quite a while lately, and I don't really know why. I mean, she's been exchanging looks with the others too, when they all think I'm not looking. It actually gets just a little bit on my nerves; after all, what have I actually done? I've been an angel!

I jog back downstairs, not taking the elevator because, as dumb as it sounds, I'm scared of going on one, so instead I run as if my life depends on it. I stop at the entrance to the studio, seeing my brother trying to chat up Screamers, even though he's already got a girlfriend back home. Typical. Dad's looking around for me, smiling and waving me over when he notices me. But he still seems a little bit away with the fairies. Huh; I wonder why.

"Gabby," He greets me as I approach curiously, my arms lifting slightly and crossing tightly against my chest. I haven't seen dad in a week. "I'm here to speak to Daz."

"Excuse me?" I squeak, my arms dropping by my sides. "Dad, you can't speak to Daz! You need to make an appointment first, remember? He's gonna have my head if you turn up in his office without an appointment! And drag Chris back in here, will you? Or his girlfriend's most certainly going to dump him soon, for flirting with our fans! Seriously, Dad, can't you come back later? The meeting is going to go on for another hour." I frown, looking up when I hear whistling, but dad's already replying with 'I already made an appointment last week'.

Not the wolf-whistle kind of, but more of the trying-to-get-your-attention whistle. Richard is standing there in his six pack glory, and his eyes flicker to me.

"Rich, can you like take dad and Chris for a coffee or something in your office to speak about...well about a whole lot of random stuff? I kinda need to get back to the meeting." I hiss to him, not able to believe that my own father dragged me out of a meeting with the Screaming Innocence manager just so that he could tell me that he would be speaking to him afterwards.

About the tour, no doubt.

Richard gets my drift because he walks outside, basically drags my brother inside the studio and leads him and my father away into his office, and I'm guessing they'll be speaking about the success of the band so far. Outside, I see a few more bodyguards holding both boys and girls behind, and I assume Rich has left his mate Nate to guard Daz's office door.

Deciding that I really need a drink, I skip towards one of the vending machines in a corner, but just as I'm about to rush to it, in desperate need for a coke, I see a boy step forwards and shove some coins inside, before he analyses the goods carefully. I stop behind him, checking my imaginary watch every few seconds.

"Would you hurry up already!" I find myself blurting out, glaring holes into the back of his head.

He turns around, a smirk on his lips, but then it drops and he grins as if I'm his most favourite person in the world. I eye him a little, and we just stand staring at each other for a brief five minutes, before my mind decides to speak for me.

"Man, you're hot." I blurt out, watching him give me a rather uncomfortable look. Eh...they're all like that at first. But he really is hot...of course I wouldn't think of him as anything more than a friend even with his looks, because I'm fully committed to Logan; it's gonna stay that way for as long as I can make it stay that way

"Gabriela, right?"

"Gabby, yeah. You are...?" I should be surprised he knows my name...but after a few weeks you get used to it, really.

"Brett. Brett Wyndom. I'm the new band member! Didn't Daz let you know? It's nice to finally meet you! Daz has told me so much about you and your bandmates; he's been promising me that I'll get to meet you guys for months." Before I knew it, he's got me locked in a breathtaking hug.