Take Me Away (Michael Clifford/5sos)

Chapter 3

Yeah, this is the job that ate my brain
Go to work, it's such a drag
Face the boss, he's such a nag,
In a suit and in a tie
I look so late I wanna die. 
- Ramones

Chapter 3

I also thanked heaven for make-up, so I could cover up all the imperfections in my face. 
At seven, I left in my fucked-up car, starting the drive to L.A.
I plugged my phone into the AUX-player I got myself for the car and put on some music, while I got ready to have the interview that could change my entire life.

Once I found myself a parking lot and shut off the engine, I put my head on the steering wheel and breathed deeply in and out.
"You can do this, Sky. It's just a talk. Nothing more. Just a talk." I mumbled to myself and took a last glance at my phone before I turned it off and entered the building.
It was huge. A lot of other companies have their offices here. I walked through the lobby to a nice-looking woman behind a desk. "Hello, my name is Sky Maxwell and I'm here for a job interview." I said with a polite smile. My feet were already hurting because of the shoes.
"Hi Or Hey Records?" the woman asked. I nodded. She wanted an ID-card so I could prove I wasn't lying and then I had to sign into something in the way of a visitor-list. The woman led me to an elevator. "Tenth floor." she smiled. "Good luck."  
And with that, I was left in the elevator, slowly making my way up to the record label. Just a conversation, just a few questions. No big deal. I kept reminding myself, until a short sound announced I arrived at the tenth floor.
When I stepped out of the elevator, a lot of glass met me; panorama windows, glass doors and a glass wall.
"Hello, you must be Sky Maxwell, right? Mr. Hethaway is already awaiting you." I was greeted by another woman, who led me into a conference room. One guy, about fifty, I guess, was sitting in there. His face lit up when he saw me. The lady who led me inside left, closing the door behind her.
"Hello Ms. Maxwell, pleasure to meet you. Please take a seat." he pointed to a seat. We shook hands.
"The pleasure is mine." I put on a polite smile, sitting down at the spot he'd shown.
"Would you like something to drink? Water, coffee, tea, juice?" he asked. There was a tray on the table.
"Just some water, please." I replied, still smiling, even though my mouth was dry as hell. Mr. Hethaway poured us two glasses of water and leaned back, eyeing me from head to toe.
"Well then, tell me something about yourself, Miss." he gave me a smile. I knew he wanted to hear a bit of my lifestory.
"I moved to California at age fifteen, when I started highschool, due to some personal reasons. I graduated at the top of class and began studying jazz-piano and singing a year ago. Now I work as a manager some acts in a music bar, and at a local theater." I finished, taking a sip of the cold water. It made me relax a bit.
"Why did you stop your studies?" Mr. Hathaway looked up from his notes.
"Well, I was dealing with some very personal issues which made it impossible for me to continue."
He asked me a couple more questions, until he said;
"You know, Miss Maxwell, managing a band like 5 Seconds Of Summer is something different than managing a few unknown acts, or acts with just a local fanbase." he looked me straight in the eye. I did my best not to show that his look was a bit intimidating. "It's certainly harder. Do you think you would be ready for a big step like that?
"Definitely yes. I mean, I've been facing hard tasks all my life, or had to put up with tasks which seemed to be hard for me - and I'm not talking about a science assignment - so I feel like I'm definitely ready for another task in my life." I replied, resting my hands on the table.
"May I ask why you've been moving and changing places so often in your youth?" he gave me a smile. I froze for a second and took a breath;
"I've been raped by my father for years, then lived with my aunt for a few months after he'd been put in jail, but had to move to my mother in California after the last hearing at court." I picked my words carefully. Talking to a stranger about that certainly wasn't easy. Mr. Hathaway's smile faded. He nodded;
"I'm sorry - I shouldn't have asked. This was just a question out of curiosity."
"Oh no, it's fine." I put on a smile and made a fitting gesture with my hand.
Afterwards, we talked about how much I knew about managing bands, and what kind of tasks I'd have if I were 5 Seconds Of Summer's manager;
"You'd be part of a whole managing-team. But the differnce is that you'd be their on-tour manager, Ms. Maxwell. You'd accompany the band on their tour and TV-appearances, radio stations, whatever. Do I know what I mean?"
"Of course." I nodded. "I'd be sticking to them all the time." He told me a bit more about on-tour managing, until the interview was over.
"I'll give you a call by tomorrow. And the next time - if we see each other next time - there will be no such formal clothing required." Mr. Hathaway gave me another smile and we shook hands. Then I was free to go.

In the car, the first thing I did was take off my shoes. A quick glance told me, that I was making good time - I left Berkeley at seven, arrived at noon, was there for the interview on time, and now, one and a half hours later the clock reads one thirty p.m. I'm done for today. But instead of driving back home, I drove to a rather cheap motel I booked a room at. 
When I turned on my phone, I realized I had a lot of messages and missed calls. First of all I decided to call Tosh; 
"Hey Sky!" she picked up immediately. "Job interview?" she asked. 
"Yup." I popped the 'p'. "It went pretty well - but I've got no idea whether I got the job or not. That man is impossible to read." I let myself fall sighing onto the bed. 
"Give me a call as soon as you know it, alright? We're all dying to know!" she said and after two or three sentences, we hung up. I can't believe I am actually going through with this. 
There's a 50 percent chance I will become a mamber of the 5SOS' management. 

5SOS! 

When I regain my breath and quit fangirling, I call Elenaor. 
"And, how did it go?" she says as soon as she picked up. I laughed. 
"Good, I guess. But I can't say whether or not I got the job. I'll get a call by tomorrow. " I sighed. "Anything new about him?" 
"Well, yes. He was released due to good conduct. But people told me that he's already been asking around for you. Look, I'll be back in Cali in four days. I'm telling you; better stay either in L.A. or at mine place. But don't go back to your mum's." she warned me. 
"I won't, no need to worry. Let's see how things evaluate here in L.A. Who knows; maybe I'll have to get myself an apartment over here." I said and end the call. I realized how hungry I am hungry.  

I changed into something more casual (well, my way of casual is defined by band shirts and skinnies), grabbed my stuff and went out to look for a nice place to grab some food. I was wondering what was going on now in that conference room I sat in. 

*yet-to-be-known's POV* 

"Hey Michael, c'mon." my friend and bandmate Ashton said to me. I looked up from my phone. We were there. 
We had to come to L.A., because shortly before our very own tour, our manager chose to retire. Whatever. I didn't really feel like having to choose a new one - I liked that old guy. 
"I don't really wanna be in here." I mumbled, but Luke shoved his elboy into my ribcage; 
"I heard they found some very cool people. And that girl who tweeted us." he blinked. I had to grin. That was somehow cute of her. "Just take a look at the applications, listen to the old guy and choose one." Luke made it sound easier than it was. Calum and I exchanged looks and the four of us entered the building. 
We were sent off to the tenth floor immediately, and didn't even get to say hello; straight into the conference room. 
Each of us sat down on a chair near Mr. Hethaway. I realized I sat down on something; a wristband. It was a simple leather wristband with some letters on it; Sky M. I put it into my pocket and focused on what Hethaway was saying. But something about that name seemed to be familiar. 
"Here are the CVs of five people we found. But I'm telling you; four of them are terrible." he rolled his eyes. I held back the urge to do the same towards him. 
"And which one is perfect?" Calum asked. 
"The last one." he replied. I took a look at her CV. She had black hair and a bright smile. Sky Maxwell. So you lost the wristband... I thought to myself. I tried to remember her number as good as possible - if the guys won't like her, at least I could give her the bracelet back. 
"What do you think?" Hethaway asked after a few seconds of silence. I looked at her applications; 5 languages, magages a few local acts, former jazz-piano student, knows how to sing - that was already enough for me. 
"Why not." I shrugged. The guys gave me surprised looks. After all, I am the one who couldn't care less. After they recovered from their little shock, they agreed. Hethaway told us about her studies and her current job and then we were free to go. Nothing we couldn't have gotten done via email. Whatever. 

"Anyone else hungry?" I asked my friends as soon as we stepped outside. They nodded. 
"There's a McDonald's down the road." Calum pointed towards it. We all nodded to that. 
"Guys, that Sky Maxwell...isn't she the chick who tweeted us?" Ashton suddenly asked on the way. I nodded; 
"She lost a wristband in the conference room." I said, fishing it out of my pocket. 
"And?"
"Me being a nice guy, I'm gonna give it back to her as soon as we meet her." I said. The others began laughing. I gave them the finger as we stepped into the restaurant.