Songwriter

Chapter Two

Destiny's POV

I take a deep breath, trying to keep from freaking out. "Get your things, let's go." He demanded, and I nervously complied. "There's been a change in plans. You're leaving today, and your mom has already started packing your room. She's called the school and authorized your being checked out. We have enough time for you to say goodbye to your friends. Where do we need to go?" He asked, and I bit my tongue. "I-I don't h-have any f-friends." I stuttered, moving my hair to cover my hearing aides. I heard a few whispers around me, and that made me even more nervous as I followed the man out the door. "Is that Andrew Gertler?" was the main whisper behind me, following it was always, "No, it can't be, he's talking to P-P-Porky Pig" in some variation.  I keep messing with my long red hair, trying to cover what obviously made me different. "M-Mr. Gertler-" I start, but he stops and turns around, "Please, just call me Andrew." He insisted, and I chewed my lip. "A-Andrew, I th-thought we would be w-writing h-here in L.A." I stuttered, and he sighed. "That's where the plans have changed. I'll explain in the car, now let's go." He demands, and we head outside. Out front was a shiny black Mercedes. Andrew walks around to the driver's side and tells me that Ian is in the front seat. I climb in the back, books strapped to my chest by my arms. I look around, taking in everything. The seat beside me was empty, and the two men upfront were both quietly discussing. I stayed silent. "Destiny." Andrew called, and I looked at him. "Shawn has recently gotten into some trouble. There's a fan who claims that Shawn got her pregnant. The time frame fits, but until we get a DNA sample back we have to stay in Pickering. Your mom has already approved, seeing as your seventeen she feels you can make that decision. I hope you're still okay with this because we've already bought the ticket and sent some of your things to the airport." Andrew explains, and I nod. "Yes." Is all I say. "Also," Ian starts, "Shawn doesn't know about the contest. So, just a heads up." Ian explains, and my face goes pale. It was silent the rest of the car ride. I wasn't sure where we were going, I had never been on the backroads of Los Angeles, but I guess Ian and Andrew had seeing as they seemed to know where they were going. When the car finally came to a stop we were at the airport. Ian and Andrew exited the car, and I nervously followed. I stare at the large building, nervous. I had never been on a plane before, and I had never left the country either. I'd never left the state. Actually, I'd never left L.A. "Destiny?" Andrew asked, and I blinked. He was holding my backpack. I blushed, taking it from him. I placed my things inside, slipping it on my back as Andrew handed me the handle to a suitcase. I knew it was mine. I had used it when I moved in with my mom after my parents divorced. Andrew then handed me my birth certificate, social security card, and told me to get out my driver's license. "We'll get you a passport when we get back." Andrew explains, and I nod. "You don't talk much, do you?" Ian asks, and I gulp. "I-I t-try n-not to." I stutter, looking down at my feet. "You don't have to be nervous around-" Ian starts, but Andrew cuts him off. "She's in speech therapy." Andrew tells him, and Ian stops. "Sorry." He says, and I nod.

~Two Days Later~

I take a deep breath. I've spent the last two days preparing myself for this moment. I was walking through the halls of the record studio that Shawn would use whilst here in Pickering. I was approaching my final turn before coming to the door that I needed to enter. I could already hear Shawn yelling, and I wondered who I'd been watching in the spotlight. Is Shawn really a jerk? I don't really know him yet, everything I thought I knew could be wrong. I mean, he wants to star in movies too. I take one more deep breath, slowly opening the door. I jump back as a vase shatters on the wall beside my head. My clothes become damp from the water that was inside the vase and the flowers fell to the floor. I squeak, snatching one of my hearing aids off to make sure it was dry. It was a little damp, so I shoved it in my pocket until I could get home to dry it and pray it still worked. When I looked up, everyone was starring at me. "Why are you here?" Shawn demanded, red with anger in the face and huffing. I began to stammer, unsure of what to say. "The court said for you to stay away from me until the test results came back!" He shouts, and I stumble backwards. "Shawn!" Andrew shouts, and Shawn whirls around to look at Andrew. "That's not Sydney." He says, and Shawn's shoulders sag. "I-I c-can c-come b-ba-back l-later..." I offer, feeling my chest tighten. "No, come in." Andrew instructs, and I reluctantly obey. I shut the door quietly behind me, standing in front of it as I do. I wasn't sure where I was supposed to sit or stand or what I was supposed to do. I hadn't thought this far ahead. "Who are you?" Shawn asks, and his tone was conflicting. I couldn't tell if he was being angry and demanding or genuinely curious. "D-Destiny... I-I won the contest..." I tell Shawn, and then he snaps again. "There was no contest, what are-" He starts, but Ian cuts him off. "Shawn, you're stuck, so we created a contest. Who ever won would help you write your album." I press myself against the door, and right as Shawn begins to yell I rip off my hearing aide. He wasn't looking at me so I wasn't sure what he was saying. All I knew was he looked scary, and I was terrified. I jumped as I felt someone touch my shoulder. I looked away from Shawn, and I saw Ian. He was speaking, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. I was out of practice. I shakily place my hearing aide back on, embarrassed to even be wearing it. "Are you okay?" Ian asks, and I nod, still slightly shaking. The yelling had stopped, and I risked a look at the room in front of us. "We won't be writing today. We're all going to get to know Destiny at least a little bit." Andrew explained, eyeballing Shawn. Ian carefully guided me to the piano in the middle of the room, motioning for me to sit down on the bench. I did so anxiously, seeing as Shawn was on the other side of the bench. Ian hands me a napkin, and I take my hearing aid out of my pocket. I dry it, then put it back on. I listened closely, thankful that it still works. "Are you- Are you deaf?" Shawn asks me, appalled. I hesitantly nod, waiting for the backlash. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" He asks, and I stare at the piano. "She definitely knows what she's doing, Shawn. Destiny, play us one of your songs." Andrew insists, and I pause to think of one to play. I let my fingers find the keys, and begin to play. A soft and smooth melody emits itself from the piano, and I let the lyrics flow freely from my mouth.
"I see you...
And I know I
Should do
Something right,
But all I,
Know is,
To ask you...

Where are you now?
Can I take back the days?
If I knew they destroyed you,
Would let me take that away?
Where are you now?

I ask only
Before it's too late,
What kind of pain
Have you seen?
Where are you now?

I see the cuts on your skin,
I see the lights fading,
I see the pain of where you've been,
But where are you now?

Can I take back the days?
Bring back the light fading?
Heal the slit skin?
Where are you now?
Could I stop where it started?
Before it's too late?
I ask of you now,
Don't let me be late,
Where are you now?

With the cuts on your skin,
Where are you now?
The pain of your sins,
Could I take back the days?
Stop where it begins,
Where are you now?

I can see the lights fading,
But where are you now?
Could I
Take back the days?
Where are you now?
Where are you now?

I see the cuts on your skin,
I see the lights fading,
I see the pain of where you've been,
But where are you now?

Can I take back the days?
Bring back the light fading?
Heal the slit skin?
Where are you now?
Could I stop where it started?
Before it's too late?
I ask of you now,
Don't let me be late,
Where are you now?

Where are you now?
Can I take back the days?
If I knew they destroyed you,
Would let me take that away?
Where are you now?

I ask only
Before it's too late,
What kind of pain
Have you seen?
Where are you now?

I see the lights fading,
But I have you now"

The soft melody fades out, and I pull my hands away from the keys. The room is silent, and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. Then Shawn speaks, "That was..." he starts, and then pauses.