Are we friends or are we more?

Chapter 30

Joe and I have been going out for 4 months now. We both decided it was best if we take things slow and to be honest, it's working out really well for both of us. Most of our friends and family know about us. My mum was really happy when she found out, she kept saying, "Our little Autumn and Joe. You finally got together." It's so nice when your family approve of the person your dating. Everyone seems to be really happy that we are together and it's the best feeling in the world. The only people we haven't told are Joe's subscribers. I have never been in any of Joe's videos not even his vlogs. The idea of making a video with Joe kind of scares me. Though the internet is an amazing place and Joe's subscribers are all really nice you can't help but be scared to what their reaction will be. I mean what if they hate me? At the minute Joe and I have both got too much going on to even think about making that video. I know it will come someday, I just don't think now is the right time. 

College is getting pretty stressful at the minute as it's coming up to exam time and everyone is going a bit crazy. I've also recently sent off a CD of my voice to a couple of record labels. One of them e-mailed me back and said that they are interested in signing me. They said that they would call at 3 o'clock this Sunday, which is today in exactly half an hour. I'm sat on the windowsill looking out into the street, no one very interesting has walked by, just a couple of families, dog walkers and people jogging. I think I might of checked my phone about 3 times in the past 4 minutes. Joe is sat on the couch behind me editing his new video that's supposed to go up later. 

"Don't worry about it." Joe says gently. I turn around to see him sat looking at me from over the laptop with his feet up on the coffee table. 

"I'm not." I say, "I think I'm more excited than nervous." I say even though my stomach is churning and I feel a bit sick.

"Why be nervous? You already know they want you." Joe says his eyes still kept on me, I can tell he is concerned. 

I shrug, "Knowing me I will probably say something and fuck it all up." 

"You won't, don't be stupid. Plus if you do it doesn't even matter that much. There are plenty more record labels out there." Joe says.

I smile slightly, I guess he's right. Joe always knows the right thing to say. I jump slightly when my phone buzzes to life on my lap. The song 'call me maybe' blares out of the speakers. I look at the caller ID and the words 'Atlantic Records' come upon the screen. I freeze, they called early! 

"Go on then." Joe whispers shouts at me from the couch. 

I quickly grab the phone off my lap and slide across the green button, "Hello?" I say politely.

"Hey, this is Atlantic Records. I'm looking for an Autumn Rouge, is she available right now." A American lady replies, she sounds kind enough.

"Yeah, that's me"

"Great!" I can almost hear her smile through the phone. "Listen Autumn, we absolutely loved your recording. You have some amazing talent. I'm surprised no one has spotted you already. We would just love to have you on board." 

I smile, "Thanks, it means a lot." I look away from Joe and back to outside, mainly to stop him from making me laugh.

"Of course it does. Now listen I assume you read through all the extra files we gave you about contract prices, terms and conditions and of course the tips." 

"Yes, I did." I think back to last night where I sat in my room reading through the lists over and over again, "It was very useful thank you." 

"That's alright." The women says, I hear her shuffling some papers. "Now listen Autumn, as always with these things there is a catch." I frown slightly, I hope I don't have to pay any extra money or something. I don't think I can afford that. "Your talent is just so great that we are not sure if we want you to be a part of our English branch. Though our English branch is good you get much better opportunities out here at our American branch in LA. We would like you to move over here if that would suit you. We have an apartment that we are willing to pay for you for the first 6 months then if you're not successful out here we would send you back home. Obviously we don't expect you to make the decision straight away, it is life changing after all but we would like you to get back to us within 5 days."

"Okay." I say quietly, my mouth feels dry. Move to LA? Away from London, away from all my friends, my family. Away from Joe. 

"That's all we have to talk to you about unless you have any questions?" The lady carries on as if what she said was no big deal.

"No" I say shaking my head and looking down and the silver leaf bracelet  on my wrist. "I can't think of any right now."

"Okay great. Well if you need me be sure to e-mail you. I will be e-mailing you information about LA and the apartment anyway."

"Alright." I say though I'm not really sure if I heard her because all I can think about is leaving behind everyone I know. "Thank you." 

"Thank you." The women says, "Bye!" With that she hangs up as quickly as she got here. 

I take the phone away from my ear slowly before hanging up. I can't quite believe what happened. To follow my dream I have to move to a completely new country. That idea makes me feel nervous. I don't know if I could do it, I defiantly don't think I could leave Joe. But then ever since I was a kid I've dreamed of having an opportunity like this, it's all I think about. 

"So?" Joe asks me from the couch. I turn to face him, he looks a little concerned, he can defiantly tell something is up.

"They offered me a contract." I shrug.

A grin breaks across Joe's face. "But that's amazing right!? It's been your life dream Autumn. I can't believe it, you're going to be a singer someday. I always knew you would be. Why aren't you happy? This is the best opportunity in the world. It's once in a life time thing!" 

"If I move to LA." I say finishing off my sentence from before.