Bass

Chapter 14

The studio was situated on the top floor of the Syco building in the middle of London. It was modern and large, with tall ceilings and many rushing people. Although there was many people working, it was strangely quiet. The foyer was disturbed as we walked in with Paul, the boys chatting and making a lot of noise.  

Paul had to stay down stairs and keep the fans outside away from building. We had to squish through them to even get to the front door of Syco. 

All the boys were dressed in casual baggy clothing. Liam and Zayn told me it was for comfort. They didn't really make an effort for recording. That I had deducted from the scruffiness of Zayn's face. 

We rode the elevator to the top floor and went along a corridor that looked out over the huge wide open space that was the foyer. The first level looked to be offices, the second was a food court and dining area, the third floor were again offices, and the top floor was studios and lounges. This was the floor we were on. We entered a recording room called 'The Blue Room', and I knew why they called it that as soon as I entered. 

Everything was blue. From the pillows to the light shades. Everything. The studio was a lounge area with a big editing desk with loads of knobs and levers over on the left wall. A long couch went along the right wall and the far wall had a big glass screen that looked into a smaller room with recording equipment, just like the one in the mansion.  

The editing desk reminded me of a cockpit of a plane. It had so many buttons and knobs. There were these knobs that slid up and down a shaft; they were all one next to the other. Each shaft had a name under it: Harry, Zayn, Liam, Louis and Niall. A woman came up to me and patted me on the back. 

"Those are the volume knobs. It's good to use when we have a solo but back up singing in the background. If it was all the one level then it wouldn't sound very nice." She explained to me. 

"Oh." I said, taking in the information. 

"I'm Sonny, by the way. I help the boys edit the music so it sounds perfect." Sonny was bubbly and bright. She had light blonde hair and red cheeks, like she was smiling all the time. But she looked to have a serious side as well, and came across as someone who knew what she was doing and could be very controlling. 

Sonny clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. By the time I was done staring at the editing desk, the boys had taken off their jumpers and relaxed into the couch and chairs.  

"Ok, boys! It's a new album, and that means new songs. So get your writing heads into gear. Savan won't be here today but he'll be with you in Sweden next week in the Stockholm studio. For now, you need to think of stuff yourself. So get the gears turning. Niall, I see you've brought your guitar; good job. Harry, Liam, Zayn, start warming up. You too Louis." she turned to me and the boys got down to work. "I heard your name is Charlie. I saw that you brought your own drum sticks, and that's fine. Whatever your comfortable with. You will be playing the backing drums for all 80 songs that we've written, by the way. Here is the music." She handed me huge stack of papers the size of two dictionaries and then turned around the grab more. "Try not to stuff up, we only get one chance to do the instrumentals and they've got to be good since we have to get them done for the boys to sing over..." 

Sonny's words became a blur as I started to panic inside. This was too much pressure! I dropped the stack of papers on a near-by table and quickly excused myself. I ran to the bathroom in a flurry, closing the door behind me. It bathroom was black and modern with red tints. The darkness seemed to envelope me, closing in, making me sick. 

I started breathing heavily, questioning whether to back and face the music, or stay and waste every ones time. I just kept working myself up, getting more worried by the second. I had to sit down, thinking about the stress and what would happen if I let Niall or the others down. I wasn't prepared for this!

But I sttood up, despite myself. I wasn't a girly pris anymore. I was Charlie Golden, the drummer.

It only took 2 minutes to snap myself back together and burst into the studio again. I had a new confidence in me. I could do this! I just had to focus.

The whole day went by, drumming and drumming, until my hands were sore and swollen. The boys kept adjusting lyrics and beats so I couldn't even get one song done. Niall payed almost no attention to me. He was busy talking with the boys and Sonny around the table and lounge area. 

Sonny whispered in a patronising tone that I was done for the day and I could leave. I said it was fine. But she insisted that the boys have privacy to brainstorm some more ideas. 

To be honest, I was glad to be going back to the mansion, even if I felt a little left out. I was exhausted. She patted me on the back and I drooped down the elevator and into the bus that was to come back for the boys after it had dropped me off. 

I got to the house and stepped slowly inside. I looked up to find Eleanor looking straight at me from  across the foyer. He expression was funny, like she was confused about something.

"Eleanor. Louis isn't with m-"

In a short moment she rushed up to me and grabbed me by my limp hands at my sides which suddenly went stiff as she came close to my face.

My eyes opened in absolute shock as she put her soft lips against mine! Eleanor was kissing me!