[Thiam] Let Me Be Your Front Line: The Album

April 16

Theo finally gets to write with the team Malia's father has put together five days later.

He walks into the studio with Liam trailing several steps behind him and his heart racing from nerves.

The studio itself isn't that impressive. It's more homey than luxurious. There's several couches around the wall, some pushed up against the wall and one just sitting right in the middle of the floor. There's various instruments around the room, a drum set in one corner, a piano against one wall, and several guitars hanging on the wall beside it. The walls are painted a light blue, with a glass window on the far wall leading to the actual recording studio. He can see another piano pushed against the wall in the recording room and a vocal mic hanging from the ceiling in the middle of it. There's two doors beside the window, presumably leading to the recording booth and the control room.

Theo stops just inside the door, a little overwhelmed by everything. Liam pushes past him with a quiet laugh.

When Theo can finally focus he notices that Lydia is sitting on one of the couches cradling a guitar and strumming softly.

"Hello Theo." She says when she notices him watching her, laughter under her voice.

"I didn't know you played."

She smiles at him, red lips twitching like she wants to laugh.

"You never asked."

Liam snorts from where he's settled into the couch in the corner behind the door.

"You didn't ask your friends in the music industry if they played an instrument?"

Theo glares at him.

"I thought she just played the piano." He sulks.

"It's okay." Lydia interrupts their staring match.

When Theo turns back to her she's looking between the two of them speculatively. He opens his mouth but Lydia narrows her eyes and she aggressively plucks at the strings. Theo shuts up and walks over to sit across from her. She begins to pick out a familiar melody. Theo starts to hum along.

This, at least, is familiar. They've had many video calls where it's just Lydia tinkling on the piano and him singing or humming along, an open notebook in front of him. This is one of the few songs he's finished and been happy with, although it sounds different on the guitar. He liked it more this way.

When he looks up Liam is still watching him.

"Is this one of yours?" He asks softly.

Theo nods and then starts to sing quietly.

This particular song Theo had written after his last partner had left him. He's starting on the second chorus, but it doesn't really matter.

"Step over torn up letters on my floor,

Confessions, obsessions, pent up aggressions."

Liam's eyes widen when he actually starts singing. Theo tilts his chin up and sings properly, a little annoyed and a lot disappointed that Liam didn't appear to believe in him.

"Is it a thing that was meant to be

Or was it just me,

Holding hope in my hands."

The door slams open and Theo shuts his mouth abruptly, the room suddenly seeming too small.

Malia tumbles through the doorway laughing. She's followed by two boys wearing flannels and ankle-high boots.

"Corey?!" Theo exclaims, shooting to his feet.

The boy who looks like a much older Corey jerks around to look at him with wide eyes.