Growing Pains

Chapter Fifteen

Trent

"I've got big news, boys," Justin said as he walked in through the garage door. The winter sunset cast a beautiful orange glow that brightened the dusty garage. I noticed the yellows and oranges of the clouds and took a picture; Gwen would probably want to paint it.

Cody perked up from his spot of the beat-up couch, "What's up?"

Justin smiled at us, "My manager knows a music producer in Miami, and she's interested in us. Big time."

Harold, ever the skeptic, raised a brow, "What does this mean?"

Justin's smile widened, "It means we're gonna produce an album."

I popped off from the stool I was currently sitting on and walked over to him, "Are you serious?"

"Yep. Her name is Blaineley, and she's been looking for a new sound for a while now. And, it turns out, we're it."

"Awesome," Harold exclaimed.

Cody walked over with a big grin on his face, "So, what does this mean?"

"For right now, we work on creating some songs to produce an album. She likes our current sound and wants us to keep writing songs like our current ones," Justin answered.

"And what about when we finish them?" I asked.

"Well then, we send them over to her and she picks her favorites. We have to write at least twenty and she's gonna narrow it down to thirteen. And then, we fly down to Miami to record them." Justin said as he walked over to the open pizza box and grabbed a slice.

I could hardly contain my excitement, "Justin, this is amazing."

He smirked, "I know, no need to thank me."

I turned to Cody, "Go order another box of pizza. We're celebrating."

"Sir, yes, sir," He said with a big grin and a mock salute. I laughed as he ran inside to order some food.

I turned to Harold, "Do you have your notebook? We need to start writing some songs."

He nodded, "It's in the car, I'll go get it." He ran off, noticeably excited.

I turned to Justin who was lounging on one of the suede chairs, looking as if this wasn't the most exciting thing, he's heard all day, and eating a piece of pizza. "Do we have a deadline?"

He looked up from his phone, "Hm? Oh, yeah. We need to write them by the end of February."

I nodded, processing the information, "Okay, so we have almost three months to write twenty songs." I felt almost dizzy. That was nowhere near enough time, but the industry didn't wait for you. "Okay, okay. We can do it." I started to pace around the room, working out my frantic nerves.

He looked at me with an amused look, "Breathe, man. It's gonna be fine."

"Yes, it's gonna be perfect," I said with absolute clarity. A smile broke out across my face. This was it. I couldn't wait to tell Gwen.

He leaned forward suddenly serious, "We can't tell anyone until it's final."

I stopped in my tracks, "What, why?"

He vaguely gestured with his hand, "Confidentiality and all that. It's a thing. Basically, we can't tell a soul until we're recording in the studio and the album is released. Well, except for like your parents, but that's it. I brought our confidentiality contracts with us." He patted his jacket at that last bit, referencing the contracts that were packed away in some inside pocket.

I frowned, "Not even Gwen?"

He shook his head, "Not even her. I'm sure as hell not gonna tell Courtney."

I ignored the small jab at my friend and said, "But I don't keep secrets from her."

He cocked his head at me, "It's your career, my friend. I'm sure she'll understand, and if she doesn't, ditch her. You don't need that extra baggage."

I was about to fire back at him, when Cody came back into the garage with the thud of the door closing. He glanced between us, seeing the tension in our gazes, and said, "What did I miss?"

I rolled my shoulders, "Nothing, absolutely nothing." I looked at Justin, "I'll be right back, can you tell him about the confidentiality thing?"

He smirked at me, "Sure."

I walked inside, welcoming the hot sting of the heated air. I didn't even realize how cold it was outside. I was just too distracted with all of the new developments. I realized how much my world just changed, well was about to. This was what I always wanted, but it felt tarnished. I couldn't tell one of the people I loved the most. Fate was cruel.

I walked into the living room, "Hey, mom." At least I could tell someone I loved.