Dissonance - Chapter 26

Wednesday, Sydney invited me to sit with them again. Her friends had started getting used to me, so the entire time wasn’t spent being grilled by them about my music and everything, which was a lot better. Mostly, I listened to them gossip about whatever was going on, who was wearing what, who was seen kissing who, and basically all of the things sophomore girls found interesting.

It actually wasn't that different from listening to Rhonda’s friends, except they’d been meaner about everything. Sydney’s friends were much more easygoing and didn’t seem to be so focused on using anything they could to get a step up on the rest. It made sense, considering who Rhonda and Sydney were, that their respective friend groups would be more or less the same.

Sydney, for her part, didn't participate that much. She was much too busy making it clear she was interested in me. While she sat there, seemingly listening to what her friends were saying, she was constantly bumping her foot or leg into mine, at first for a few seconds, and then just leaving it there for several minutes at a time. She must have been unsure as I was, because it wasn’t brazen, at least not at first. most of the contact could be written off to being an accident, just a side effect of her swinging her leg back and forth. When I started copying her movements, she seemed to get the message, because she made things explicit when she put her hand on my knee, and left it there.

Neither of us made eye contact, although I’m not sure how stealthy all of it was. I was about to reach down and take her hand in mine when the lunch bell rang and we all started gathering our stuff together. it was weird, really. I’d dated Rhonda, and even made it to second base, so this wasn’t new. And that didn’t even count Kat setting up a naked girl in a basement for me. Yet, I was nervous, all the same. I however wasn’t going to wait and let her make all of the moves. Hanna might mock me for not listening to my two female best friends, but she was wrong.

I had listened, and I had learned one critical piece of information when it came to girls. They liked confident men. It’s why they ended up with jerks so often, because it was easy to confuse arrogance and narcissism with confidence. What they really wanted was someone who wasn’t arrogant, narcissistic or mean, but was sure of themselves. While that was a pretty tall order for kids in high school, or at least for me, I could at least fake it.

“Hey,” I said, grabbing Sydney’s elbow lightly, indicating I wanted her to hang back from her friends.

“Yeah?” she asked, looking up slightly at me with her big brown eyes.

“What are you doing Saturday afternoon?”

“Uhh, nothing.”

“Do you want to go out?”

“Like, on a date?”

“Yes, on a date. I know the afternoon is weird, but I play Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and I know you have a curfew, so I didn’t think you could manage a date that started at eleven pm.”

“No, the afternoon is great,” she said, smiling.

“Awesome. Do you want me to pick you up at your house? I can drop you off before I have to go to the Blue Ridge for practice.”

“Could I go to practice with you, after our date? I really enjoyed listening to you guys play, and I could maybe catch a little bit of your show that night. I can get a ride home from there, so you don’t have to go out of your way.”

“It’d never be out of my way to take you home, but if you really want to come hear practice, sure, why not. I’ll pick you up at around eleven?”

“That early?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry, I’ll feed you lunch.”

“I wasn’t complaining, I just thought your practice wasn’t until like four.”

“It isn’t, but I’m selfish and wanted a lot of time to hang out, just the two of us.”

“Ohh,” she said, a small smile escaping. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

“Good. It won’t be super fancy, so dress comfortably.”

“So you have something in mind?”

“Yep.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“Nope.”

“I like a mystery man,” she said, hip-checking me before heading to class.

I had a stupid grin on my face, at least until I turned around, and saw Kat staring at me, a slight frown on her face. I frowned in return and started to head her way, hopefully to stop whatever foolishness she was thinking, but she turned and disappeared into the crowds before I could get to her. I could only shake my head. I’d have to deal with her eventually, but I wasn’t going to let whatever bug was up Kat’s butt ruin how I was feeling right now.

After last weekend, I really needed this!

Since our Wednesday practice had been canceled because some kind of water pipe had broken in the guys' rented house, I hadn’t been able to ask them about Cameron’s request to interview everyone yet. Because of practice with Chef I was, as usual, the last one to start helping set up for that night's show. We had to have everything in place before dinner started, so we weren’t a distraction, which meant we had to be completely done by four-thirty, so the window was usually pretty short.

“He guys, I have a favor to ask,” I said, hopping up on the stage to begin setting my guitar in its cradle and getting it plugged up.

“What, another newspaper planning on singing your praises,” Marco said snarkily.

Normally I would have ignored it, but it was weirdly on the nose enough that I couldn’t just pretend he didn’t say anything.

“They said good things about everyone. I didn’t think it was that one-sided.”

“Of course you didn’t,” he said.

“Marco, you need to let this drop. I’m not actively trying to exclude anyone. Anyway, yes, this is another newspaper thing, but it’s just for my high school newspaper. A friend of mine wants to do a profile of us, and has asked if he can sit in on some of our practices and interview everyone. That’s everyone, Marco, not just me.”

“Yeah, I …” he started to say, before stopping short when Lyla set her bass case down hard and started to move towards him. “Hey, I wasn’t going to complain. It’s fine. It’s fine.”

He was holding up his hands in surrender, and I think they may have even had words beyond what Lyla had said the last time, because he seemed genuinely worried. For her part, she just gave him a look and went back to setting her stuff up.

“You’ve actually met him. It’s my friend Cameron. he’s been to a few of our practices, back when you guys used to drive up for the from Asheville.”

“It’s fine with me,” Lyla said, giving Marco another look.

“Yeah. Fine,” he said, trying to play it off like he didn’t see her.

“Good. I know it’s a pain, but he promised he wouldn’t get in the way. He might be around for a week or so at practices and at some weekend shows, and he’ll interview us as a group, and that’ll be it. It’ll be fine. I promise.”

That being said, I made a mental note to talk to Cameron and make sure he featured the band and not just me. While I wouldn’t normally think it likely Marco, or any of the rest of my bandmates, would find a random high school newspaper, knowing they were in this one meant they’d probably ask for a copy.

***

When I got home from the Blue Ridge, Hanna’s car was in the driveway, as promised. I knew she had classes well into the afternoon, so she must have hustled it to get here tonight, and I hadn’t expected her until very late, or even Saturday morning.

Either way, I was excited to see her as I pulled up in front of the house and hustled inside. She was at the dining table, eating when I rushed in, and almost choked as I threw my arms around her and hugged her and the chair from behind.

“Gahh,” she said, setting the fork down and patting my hand. “You know killing me is a hell of a way to welcome me home.”

“Sorry. Sorry,” I said, letting go. “I’m just really happy to see you.”

“Yeah, me too,” She said, getting out of her chair and giving me a big hug. “Mom went to bed right after Kat got back from your show, since they have her meeting with the UNC coach tomorrow, which is something I think you and I also need to talk about at some point.”

Kat had been at practice and at my show, just as usual, but she wanted to get a good night’s sleep before her interview with the coaching staff. So, she’d left early to come back and get to bed.

“Your mother already raked me over the coals. I still think it was the right decision at the time, but I know it’s going to cause problems. I just thought this was too big of an opportunity to waste,” I said, going around the table and sitting across from her.

“I know,” she said, reaching over and patting my hands. “I wasn’t going to ‘rake you over the coals.’ I just wanted to make sure you’d thought through the repercussions.”

“At that moment; no, not really. I have since, and I still think I was right.”

“Okay. I’ll drop it then. Tell me what’s been happening, and not just the new manager stuff. I want to hear about everything that’s happened with your dad since we talked last weekend. We only got to talk a few minutes when you called to tell me I was being evicted.”

“I didn’t …” I started to say, before realizing she was messing with me.

“I’m just jerking your chain.”

“I know. Sorry, it was a knee-jerk reaction, ’cause I feel guilty about it, even though you gave me the okay. As for what’s been going on, there hasn’t been much change since we talked last. You know about the meeting with the new manager. I really wanted you there just to get your read on him. You gave me the warning about Brent first, so I want to see how you feel about this guy. I know you think Kent won’t make the same mistake twice, but since mistakes are things you do without meaning to, his intentions don’t really play into it.”

“Maybe, but he would have put more thought into it this time,” Hanna said. “Then, you were just a new kid being assigned a manager, and they pulled one that was available. Hell, as someone who had just been signed, they weren’t going to give you one of their best managers anyway, so it makes sense they would have assigned someone who was on shaky ground with the label. They weren’t going to take a chance hurting people they knew were making them money.”

“I’m not sure hearing I’m insignificant makes it any better.”

“You know that isn’t what I’m saying. The thing is, we can’t think of their assigning Brent to you as a mistake. it was a calculated risk. Right now, except for the little bit of money they’ve earned from your shows, you’re an expense to them, not a source of profits. Record labels aren’t about music. They’re about the bottom dollar, and every decision they make has to be viewed from that lens. That’s actually a good thing in this case, because they havespent money on you, and they don’t want to waste that investment until they see what kind of earning potential you have. Since you got hurt by their last assignment, they now have more incentive to give you someone halfway decent, at least until they see your sales numbers. From that perspective, you’re less likely to get a bad manager this time.”

“I guess, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be problems. If they have more reason to make sure we’re happy, then we have more power now than we did before, right? At least until they see how much money we can make for them. That makes sense. I still want you there, though.”

“Which is one of the reasons I’m back. I’ll go, don’t worry. What time is the meeting?”

“One. I know that means you’ll get back to Chapel Hill late.”

“It’s fine. I told you I wanted a shot at helping to manage your career, and I meant it. I’ll be there. Now, how are things with your parents? Are we going to run into your dad at the meeting?”

“I have no idea, but I hope not. I made it clear to Mom that I didn’t want Dad anywhere near my career, but he doesn’t listen to anyone. I can’t figure out if he’s trying to relive his glory days or if he just sees me as a potential meal ticket, but either way, he’s really intent on being involved with my career. Mostly, he thinks I’m an idiot for splitting my royalties equally with the rest of the band, and he thinks I should ditch them and hire studio and gig musicians as needed.”

“He understands that’s the deal you made with them when they joined up, right?”

“He understands. He just doesn’t care. He says no one else in the industry would do something like this, I’m just being soft, and it’ll hold me back from really making it.”

“It’s unusual, sure, but I don’t see any reason it will hold you back. Besides actual bands are making it big all the time. You aren’t even the first musician signed up as a solo artist but paying for a regular band to play with them on everything. I spent some time looking, and couldn’t find anyone who has quite as fair of a deal as you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it.”

“Even if I was the only one doing it, I’d still do it this way,” I said, defensively. “When they signed on, I was just Willie’s backup. I’ve gotten as much out of them as they have out of me. Without them, I wouldn’t have a record contract in the first place.”

“Hey, I’m not arguing with you. I was just trying to give you the lay of the land.”

“Sorry. This is where things went south with Dad, so I’m a little sensitive about it.”

“It’s okay. So what are we going to do if he shows up?”

“Tell him to get the hell out.”

“Okay, but you need to take him away from Kent to do it. They’ve invested money in you, but if they start smelling a lot of drama, they might decide you’re more work than it costs just to cut ties. Like I said, for them, it’s all dollars and cents.”

“I glad they haven’t after the whole ‘Brent thing.’”

“That was different. That was their problem, and unless they decide you just can’t get along with any managers, they have to assume it was a one-time thing.”

“Okay, so any advice on how to handle this meeting?”

“Just be professional. Ask questions specific to his expectations and what he can offer you. Don’t be too candid and don’t treat it like you would talking to your friends. I know you like treating everyone like people and being friends with everyone, well, most everyone, but you need to be careful not to see Kent, or even this new manager, as your friend. They aren’t. They’re business associates. You need to be careful what you share with them. Tell them only what applies to them, and nothing else. You’re selling yourself to them, just as much as you’re selling yourself to your audience. As with all business relationships, it’s as much image management as it is the actual work of the business.”

“Listen to you. A few weeks in and here you are sounding like a professional. Those must be some good classes.”

“They are, but I’m far from a professional. I have had a lot of good talks with Professor Cross though, and he gave me a lecture on the pitfalls of business. One of the big ones is people forgetting they’re in business, and making it personal.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Now, what’s the deal with this Sydney girl. Kat and mom haven’t been big on details, but my other spies tell me you’ve had lunch with her several times.”

“Yeah, a couple of times. We hung out after one of their swimming practices when Kat had to go to her doctor’s appointment, and I guess she had a really good time, because she asked me to eat with her friends a couple of times.”

“‘A good time?’ I hear she makes big moon eyes at you whenever you’re in her line of sight.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Sooo, is it just eating lunch together,” she said, giving me a look.

“No. I asked her out. We’re going out tomorrow afternoon and then she’s coming to practice with me. She’s going to have to go after the first part of our set, because she has a pretty strict curfew and has to be home by eleven on weekends.”

“She’s spending the whole day with you, including an official date? Not bad. You know, if you’re introducing her to the band, I want to meet her, too … as your best friend and the band's unofficial manager.”

“She’s actually been to a practice already, and met everyone.”

“Ohh really? I guess I should have held back my doubts, ’cause you seem to be moving pretty fast on your own.”

“It just worked out that way,” I said, looking down at my hands.

“So you really like her, huh?”

“I do. She’s pretty great.”

“Good. I wasn’t joking about coming by practice tomorrow though. I still want to put my stamp of approval on it.”

“Okay, just … be nice.”

“When am I not?”

She laughed at the look I gave her and said, “Fair. How is Kat dealing with it.”

“Dealing with what?”

“Now who’s playing dumb. You and I both know Kat’s still obsessed with you, and juicing her disorder to get her to go to the meeting with the UNC coaches is just going to make it worse. I know she was throwing women at you on the road, but this is different. Those girls she could live vicariously through without being threatened because you’d probably never see them again. This girl is on the swim team with her. From everything I’m hearing, you’re kind of smitten with her too, which means it's serious. She’s changed the subject every time I’ve brought it up, but I’m betting she’s not taking it well.”

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know. I mean, I do, I guess, but I don’t know what to do about it. She hasn’t done anything overt yet, but I’ve caught her throwing death glares at Sydney, so yeah, she isn’t taking it well.”

“Maybe you should send a note to her therapist? I know you’re trying to take a hands-off approach; but if she hasn’t mentioned it, her doctor should know about this. I’m not saying she’s going to do anything, but … it’s probably best.”

“You’re probably right. I’ll send her an email.”

“Good. See! You really do need me around here.”

“Yeah, yeah. Now it’s your turn. Tell me about college life.”