Scene One (5SOS & R5)

Chapter Four - Tati

Tatianna's POV

"Aw man," I say aloud.

"What's wron-" responds an excited bandana boy.

"Like it?" I ask, and motion to the very elaborate fort behind me. It wasn't just an average fort, no way. This fort consists of beautiful, hanging, icicle lights that I brought from home and some snacks. It also has three bedrooms, with doors and is high enough that even Luke could stand in it and not hit the ceiling. I was studying architecture back home so this little task was nothing. "Want to see the inside?"

"Hell yeah!" responds the boy and follows me inside. "Where did you learn to build something like this?"

"Can you keep a secret?" He nods.

"I'm actually not stupid; I graduated a year early and was studying architecture before I came here."

"Then why act stupid?"

"My cousin said I was the queen of preps, so might as well act like the stereotypical prep."

"Oh. Liv!" he yells.

"What?" says the maroon haired girl as she turns the hall and takes in the sight of the fort, Ross following her. Both of their mouths gape open.

"You like it?" I ask as I emerge from 'Tati's vestibulum amet castellum,' I know Latin too.

"It's amazing," Ross says and runs into the fort.

"It's okay," says Liv, but I can tell she is impressed. "Hey, I have a proposal for you."

"Oh, I'm not looking to get married right now, but thanks anyway."

"No, that's not what I meant by proposal. I'll just say this so that you can understand, me want you to pick song-song, okay?" I nod in agreement. Just as I nod, I see a green flash and next thing I know, a cold electronic device has slapped me in the face. It's an iPod.

"What's this?" I ask in my preppy tone and pick up the iPod that has fallen to the floor.

"It's an iPod. It has song-songs on it. I want you to pick one."

"Why?"

"No reason."

"Okay," I say and put the iPod into my backpack. "Is there anywhere to go around here? I'm bored."

"Tati, you just got here, let's wait until the rest of my family gets back and then we can go over to my house," Ross says just as the front door creaks open. It's Rydel.

"Delly!" I yelp as I run to her with open arms.

"Tati!" She screams and returns the favor. "You should have seen the boys at yoga, it was hilarious."

"I bet it was. Maybe we all could go next time," I suggest.

"Tatianna Mariam Ratliff!" It's Ellington.

"Ellington Lee Ratliff!"

"We should go now, so this time, you're putting your bags in the trunk."

"Ugh, fine," I say and playfully groan. I pack my suitcases back into Ratliff's trunk and hop into his car. "Why did I take my stuff out of the trunk if I was just going to have to pack it up again?" I question him.

"My yoga mat was in the way back of my trunk so we had to take you all your stuff."

"Oh. Wow, great reason," I respond sarcastically. "So, why did you want me to come out here, to L.A., I mean."

"I thought maybe we could talk more, but, Tati, I'm sorry but I didn't realize that we have another tour coming up in three days."

"Why are you sorry?"

"Because I know you're in town for two more weeks and I'll be gone for half of that."

"It's fine, Ell, maybe I could try to make friends with those other people."

"Aw, you're the best T," he says as he reaches over and gives me a knuckle sandwich.

"Hey!" I yell, "Touch my hair again, and you won't be going on that tour," I playfully threaten. A few minutes later, we pull into the Lynch's driveway and get out. I grab my bag and walk straight up to the room I'll be sharing with Rydel. I sit down on my blown up mattress and remember the iPod in my backpack. I turn it on and scroll through the songs. There is nothing I like, so I decide to just pick my favorite song at the moment. It doesn't match Liv's taste, but she asked me to pick a song, so Lucy Spraggan's Paper Cuts is what she's getting. I suddenly remember Rydel's practice keyboard in the basement and rush downstairs. I practice the song on the keyboard and wait for the performance of a lifetime that I'll give tomorrow.

"Why are you playing like that?" I didn't notice Ross on the couch.

"You'll see," I say and give him a mischievous smile.