*hello I am aware that the lyrics to Fixed are wrong, but this was their first draft of the song in this chapter, so you will see if change in different chapters if that makes sense :)
Smoke billowed from behind the skyscrapers, and the city held the aroma of petrol mixed with fried food. I couldn't forget the feeling of London; a maze of a city and an even more perplexing underground system, but it was lucky I had River to get lost with.
His headphones were plugged in and shades were on, so there was no disturbing him.
I don't know how serious Reece thought I was being last night when I asked for the address and a hotel nearby, in fact I was starting to wonder whether he was actually inviting me or just saying that as we actually hadn't spoken properly for a few days. Nonetheless, I was here, bubbling with excitement, but still completely infected with nerves.
Getting lost on the underground was inevitable as we had both been to London only a handful of times, one of those was on a school trip too, where we we escorted around on a coach.
I would've asked Reece for directions but that would ruin the surprise, River and I relied on the kindness of strangers, and thankfully they led us to Maida Vale, where Reece lurked.
This was a completely different side of London. It wasn't filled with tourists, people weren't swarming the streets like flies to honey, it was quiet.
I was use to the more bustling areas, hence why I was apprehensive about coming, but this was okay.
It still didn't stop me from wondering what Reece would think, how he would react, or how the pair of us would enter the studio.
We sat on the beige steps outside the studio, I held my phone up to my ear as I dialled Reeces number. I impatiently kicked my black converse against the curb, and watched as River awkwardly paced from side to side, looking as if he was working out another way to get it.
"Hello?" Reece answered on the other line, the sound of an acoustic guitar being strummed in the background.
"so I'm actually outside," I laughed, not believing that I was really saying that.
"wh-holy crap, you're joking?" he choked, he then tried to cover the speaker but I could vaguely make out the sound of another couple of boys. "I'll be out in a sec," he spoke and then hung up immediately.
Two large hands were placed sternly on my shoulders, before his arms snaked around from behind me and pulled me into a warm embrace, his head resting on my shoulder.
"I'm so happy you came," he spoke, before his eyes settled on my elder brother. "I didn't realise we had company?" he whispered in my ear, I furrowed my eyebrows, turning round to face him.
"What do you mean?" I asked, I thought it'd be pretty obvious that I'd have come along with River.
"I just thought we'd have some time alone," he swallowed.
"but you're here with your band mates, what's one extra person? I wasn't coming up here alone," I started.
"It's fine, sorry. Come on in," he sighed as he pushed open the door to the studio, River tagging along behind us like a lost puppy.
We walked down three sets of darkened staircases, only illuminated with a red LED light. Once we reached the basement, there were glass doors that exposed all the equipment, the musical instruments but more importantly the new band members. They were engulfed in their guitars, fruitfully creating new riffs and chord sequences.
"Here we are, my humble abode," he teased, ushering us into this tiny room with his hand gestures. I timidly stepped in, the other band members eyes landed on me, I could feel their eyes trace across my sweater dress, then straight to my face.
"Guys, this is Shiloh, and her brother," Reece showed me off, his hand draped across my shoulders.
"Hi," they both said in unison, raising their hands up but not letting go of the guitars.
"Yeah, so this is George and Blake," he pointed to them in turn, one was blonde and also wearing a striped shirt like me, the other was dark and wore a shirt with open mouths on it. "It's been fun actually, it's made me think about whether or not I want to be a solo singer. Having these two has really helped to expand my imagination and write some pretty decent songs. Better than anything else I've written." He spoke to me, as he landed himself in a leather armchair.
"So this is your last day here?" I asked and they all nodded, looking pretty disappointed.
"Yeah, it's mega expensive to hire out for another day, we've been really lucky to have this opportunity," George spoke. I vaguely remembered his performance, his voice was delicate and soothing.
"How many songs have you written?" I asked to George in particular, but couldn't help in notice Reece smirking in my direction, knowing that I wanted to hear this song he wrote for me.
"Nothing is really finalised, but we've got a couple of verses for a few songs. I take it you're the girl that Reece wrote a song for?" He laughed, and my head fell to the floor, my cheeks scarlet red and my brother behind me let out a small chuckle too.
Reece stayed mute, but his mouth was trying to hold back a smile.
"Yeah, this is her," he mumbled. "I take it you want to hear it?" He asked, but I had no idea what to say or how to act, I just flailed my arms around, looking confused.
Reece grabbed a red guitar from the stand beside him, and the others began counting down and playing this song.
"every time you go I come a little undone, even when it hurts I'm holding onto you love,
Oh now I'm fixed, fixed, fixed, oh now I'm fixed on you,
You can walk away, but I can't let go,
I don't know how you do it but now I'm set in stone,
Cos I'm fixed, fixed, fixed, I'm just fixed on you,"
they all sang together, harmonising perfecting and their voices all mellowing into one and flowing perfectly.
I started clapping, Reece walking right up to me.
"Do you like it?" he asked, his eyes hovering over my lips,
"How can I not?" I whispered back.
"There's more lyrics, but lll save them for later,"
YOU ARE READING
beach//reece bibby
Romance"You're like a daisy; you've been trod on and become so closed up with every gloomy day that passes, you need to focus on the brighter ones so you can bloom," he spoke as he twiddled a daisy between his fingers. "A daisy?" I questioned, my voice hoa...
