It Started With Hello

Chapter 2- Midnight Mix-up

Zander Coulter, Lincoln Grantham, Luke Britt, Nolan Patterson, and Henrick Briggs

Henrick cook. Lincoln writer. Nolan guitarist. Luke debate. Zander athlete. What they all have in common: their music contract and their music passion.

Lincoln-
"You know boys; you really can't afford to get any more press." Simon Caswell says. He signed us just last week. We didn't realize our little garage band was going to get the biggest label in London to sign us. He's become this fatherly authority figure. Ironic right? So we're here listening to Caswell who goes on and on and on about... Publicity.

"Lincoln," Caswell says, "Focus." He tells me. Nolan shoots me a concerned look. I shrug it off pulling out my phone. I compose a message to Nolan

Me: It so boring! And it's getting L8!

Nolan: IKR. We heard it all B4. Nothing new

Me: If we're not out in 5 I am.

Nolan: Cant. Staying at Caswell's.

Me: Y?

Nolan: IDK

"So no social media." Caswell says, "And try to stay on your best behavior."

"Mr. Caswell." Luke says, "We didn't do anything the first time."

"You're dismissed. Brad will take you back to my estate and Caleb will collect your things from your flats." He says completely ignoring the question. Or statement.

"So is this going to be a permanent thing or a just for now thing?" Henrick asks.

"We'll see." Caswell says going back to his paper work. Well that's the end of that. "Your rooms have your names taped on the doors. I'll see you boys at breakfast."

I walk out immediately and Nolan follows shortly with Zander. Henrick and Luke not far behind them. Zander is tossing a fedora between his hands, not sure where he got it. He doesn't wear hats, none of us do. We all hop into the back of the black van that sits right outside of the building covered in a fine layer of snow. Great. Zander and Nolan in the very back Henrick and Luke in the first open row, ignoring the driver and shotgun. Leaving me to the middle. I climb in and sit in the seat legs propped up and my back resting against the wall of the van. They begin quietly talking and I pull out my phone again pulling up our band's web page as well as WeSpeak. I log into WeSpeak and scroll through the band's webpage. It's only missing the most crucial part. The band name. I close out of the band page and go back to WeSpeak and begin to compose a message to my followers who at the moment happen to be a whopping 50 four being my best friends who are currently in the van that had fallen silent.

@ALinkNTime: Stop looking backwards, you can't go forward if you're always looking back.

@Lukeatme: Awesome. Ur so deep Link.

@ALinkNTime: Thanks Luke.

@HeBakeBriggs: Yeah, brilliant Link.

@Coultercouture: You've always got some deep thought to write here don't you Link?

@PattnotPeterson: Don't worry about going forward you've got all of us with you.

@ALinkNTime: Thanks guys, I'll keep it in mind.

We all simultaneously look up from our phones, and because it happens a lot we don't really think anything of it.

The ride is silent as we all click away on our phones. Arriving at a huge gated community the driver, Brad, shows his identification and received directions to the Caswell Estate. After driving in more snow we finally pull up to a gated estate. Why so many gates? Only we couldn't get in this gate. A boy in a thick wool black winter coat. Jumps out of a sleek black Mercedes and pulls closed the garage door. He spots the van and Brad rolls down the window of course it's as soon as a huge gust of icy wind blows through. The boy races to talk to Brad.

"Hello, can I help you?" The boy yells over the wind and snow. From his own side of the gate. His sandy blond hair windblown and laden with snow.

"Is this the Caswell residence?" Brad calls back.

"Are you Bradley Rogers?" The boy calls back. Brad shows his identification and the boy quickly opens the gate. "Follow me." He says he runs ahead to the garage and pulls open one of the doors. Brad pulls in and the five of us pile out. "You must all be the boys my father spoke of, do you have any luggage?" He asks us heading back into the snowy weather "anything warm to wear it's a bit of a walk to the house." He pauses for an answer. "You're not a very talkative bunch are you?" He asks.

"We'd just like to get some sleep. We're all sorta tired. Long day." Henrick says. The boy nods pulling his collar up and his jacket tighter. Brad pulls back out into the snow.

"Is their luggage arriving before midnight?" The boy asks Brad.

"It should. How should we get it to them?"

"Give the woman at the gate this," The boy answers handing Brad a sheet of paper. "It's a one entry code. It'll get you a onetime code to get into this estate grounds the butlers entry is around back there's a portico and I'll leave the door open. The light switch is to the left. Have a safe trip." Brad nods and drives off. The gate automatically opens and the van in which we had arrived is gone.

"Come on!" The boy says the frigid wind muffling his voice. He quickly turns and heads somewhere. After a few minutes we find ourselves inside another over the top fancy building. This one, like the other, decked head to foot in Christmas decor.

"Bedrooms are the second, third, and fourth floor. Dining room is down this hall to the left. Parlor is here." He explains pointing to a door. "The living room is in the back there's a 10 ft. tree there you can't miss it. The kitchen is right next to it. Breakfast and lunch are served in the informal dining room off the kitchen." He continues. I notice Nolan and Henrick still hanging on to every word, they would it's about food. "There's a gym downstairs in the basement. A half court and the loft has a weight room work out equipment. The attic has studios. Music and arts. Downstairs there's also a pool. Not that it gets used much." He continues. Who is he?

"Where are our rooms?" Zander asks

"Right up those stairs you'll all be sharing but Lincoln." He explains a dawn of realization crosses his face. "I'm Noah Caswell by the way. Sorry." He shoots us an apologetic grin. "Zander and Nolan are in the red room. Henrick and Luke are in the grey room." He begins again. "Red is the second door from the end on the right of the hall second floor. Grey is the same but on the left. Lincoln, you're in the blue room." he pauses and rereads his phone a look of confusion flickers across his face. "Directly at the end of the hall. Same floor. It's the only room with one bed so it works out." He continues, "If you have any questions my room is the first on the right of the third floor." He pauses I guess he's hoping we'll say so something. "Are any of you allergic to dogs?" He asks "No?" He asks when none of us say anything, "OK, well, take these stairs up and I guess I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast." Noah nods before heading deeper into the house before the sound of cabinets opening and closing is audible from the back of the house.

"Bed, all of you." I tell the other boys ushering them upstairs. "I'll see you all in the morning." As promised, our rooms have our names on the doors. Henrick and Luke find their room first. Then Zander and Nolan. Lastly, as promised, my room is at the end of the hall. I feel around the wall for a light switch. Nothing happens. I flip it again, nothing happens. A quiet knock at the door alerts me and I quickly open it to see a duffle bag full of my things. I quickly change plaid pajama pants and my t-shirt. I stumble around the dark practically empty room. Oddly enough. I had my phone, but the light wasn't that good, it was almost dead. I did trip over a dog bed, with a big dog in it, luckily it didn't wake. I check the time on the clock reading midnight. I climb into bed and just think about nothing until I drift into sleep.