Pizza, Anyone?

Prologue

“...And we’re back! We’ve got some special guests tonight –“

Marlowe Jenkinson, one of America's favourite talk-show hosts, paused midway, smiling as the audience cheered.

“I think y’all know who I’m talking about. They debuted at No.1 on the Billboard charts only a year ago with their globally popular single ‘Show Me How’, a first for independent music; and here they are, just two days away from releasing their first ever album. Please put your hands together for The Tyndall Effect!” 

The whoops of joy only grew louder, as did the applause, when five lanky boys shuffled on set, taking their places side by side on the sofa. 

As if by magic, the sound suddenly died down and the camera panned into their good-looking faces one by one. Lysander Talbott, Haefen Alexander, Noland Hendricks, Jairam Patel, and finally Landen Williams.

“So, boys, what’s it like knowing that in two days the whole world’s gonna hear what y’all have been working on for the past year?”

As usual, the second oldest member at 21, Lys - also the vocalist - spoke first, his sweet Welsh accent clashing rather hilariously with that of the host. 

“It’s rather nerve wracking, actually. We just hope it’ll be well-received; we don’t want to be one of those one-hit-wonders. It’s been good so far, but we’re hoping it’ll get better. Aren’t we, boys?” 

The other four nodded, and he smiled brightly, resting his arm behind Noland, the lead guitarist in the band and the next in age after Lys at 20.  

“Wonderful, that’s mighty wonderful. You’ll do great, I’m sure. Speakin’ of which, what can you say about the new album? Any teasers for all those Chemists out there?”

Landen, the other guitarist, looked surprised. He had a kind, mature face, and seemed far older than a mere 22. But then again, being the oldest, he was responsible not only for himself, but the other four too.

“Chemists?  Is that what our fans are called?”

Lys smacked his cousin’s arm in jovial annoyance, displacing Haefen, who blinked blankly. The only way you knew he’d noticed his band mate’s elbow almost squash his nose, is the way that he slowly inched away from Lys, squishing Jai against the armrest.  

“Happy Realization Day, cuz!” he laughed, the letters H, R and D seeming capitalized by the way he spoke. 

“I didn’t think we had that many fans...”

“Aw hush, now. You don’t hafta be so modest, Andy,” laughed the host, slapping his own knees in amusement. 

“I wasn’t! I was just –“

Noland cut him off, giving Landen a quick pat on the cheek.

“Now, now, Andy, let’s get back on topic. Teasers, you said, Marlowe?”

The host nodded, folding his hands onto the table.

It was Jairam’s turn to speak. He cleared his throat, running his hand through his raven-black hair. His mouth tilted up slightly to the left, like he was going to grin any second, but he spoke instead. Haefen was in fact the same age as Jai, only a few months younger, but 19 year old Jai was often mistaken to be the 'baby' of the band.

“Yeah - It’s going to blow your minds.”

Now he grinned, and a few whoops and yells of “Marry me Jai!” were heard, and then a hushed silence enveloped the set once again. 

They were definitely going to be the Next Big Thing.