Not kids anymore?

Alex stopped her bike next to a large, rectangular building. – a disco logo in the entrance indicated that was the right place. She walked through the black doors to enter inside a well-lit and spacious lounge. The light caused her eyes to close, before adjusting to the clarity; she hated the annoying white lights on her face.

After a few seconds, Alex finally noticed an empty red couch and a few hanging bands portraits on the wall. To her side, a balcony with only one attendant, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt underneath a grey vest, was looking at a monitor.

Alex cleared her throat. – Uh, where is Studio 2?

The attendant raised his head to her. – Sorry ma’am. Studio 2 is already reserved. We have others if you want to check.

– No, my friend reserved the Studio 2. – she said. – I’m meeting them.

The man quickly looked at the monitor. – Are you Alex Moore?

– Yes. – Alex showed him her ID card.

The attendant nodded, typing something on the computer before giving back her ID. – Thank you ma’am. Ms. Heartstring is waiting for you at the left corner in the end of the hall.

She passed through the long corridor with rooms from each side. She could hear her own footsteps on the flat surface, reflecting the lights on the ceiling. It was quiet, but Alex knew inside some of the rooms, there were people practicing with instruments or singing, but the sound proof walls did a good job in muffling the sound.

On the end of the hall, there was only one room that clearly seemed bigger than the others. Alex knocked once, worried about disturbing her friend. The door opened and Megan greeted her with a big smile:

– ‘Sup, bro. C’mon in.

They entered the room. It had a better lighting than the lounge, a bit dark, but her eyes easily adapted to it. The place was also more comfortable than the previous rooms; it had a polished black wood floor covered with fluffy carpets, beanbags and armchairs to accommodate at least fifteen people without being crowded. The other part of the room was divided by a glass panel and high-tech sound equipment.

– Nice improvement, huh? – commented Megan.

Alex nodded. – yeah.

She knew how hard it had been for her friend to achieve that and she was proud of Megan for it, although her friend probably didn’t credit herself enough. It was the first time Alex realized how big Megan had become. She’s a rockstar now. Right…

– Do you remember the warehouse we’d rent to record my audios?! – Megan laughed to herself. – Now look at this! It seems like I’m pro.

– You are a pro. – corrected Alex.

– Yeah, yeah – Megan shoved it off, crossing the room and pointed to a mini-fridge. – Bro, we even have a fridge! That’s dope. By the way, do you want a refreshment?

Alex raised her brow. – refreshment?

On one of the armchairs, she heard a long sigh.

– She seems to be reading recently and, like a kid that learned a new word, she goes around spouting these nonsenses now and then – said Morgan, crossing the room and grabbing a bottled water for himself. – You know, it’s disgraceful if you use dope and refreshment in the same sentence.

Megan showed her tongue to him. – Sorry, professor. I beg thou forgiveth.

– I beg thou’st forgiveness. – they corrected her.

Megan raised her middle finger. – Piss off you both!

– Both of you – they corrected again.

– Now you just being mean. – she complained.

Alex and Morgan shared a half-contained laugh. They’ve met a few years ago, when he found Megan after a gig she was doing in a pub in London, at that time no one knew her yet, Morgan saw the talent on the girl and made her debut into fame, though Alex couldn’t see someone like him being an artist’s manager. Morgan was the opposite of what would you expect of someone who works in an entertainment business: quiet, clever and not at all extroverted. He wore full-suit, his hair was jet-black and was always neat and well-taken care of; he seemed someone that would be more inclined to taste a refined wine on a famous restaurant or building an empire than in a room filled with teenagers cracking down in a rock concert.

It was precisely because of these characteristics that he managed to not just rise Megan to the top, but maintain her there. He wasn’t just good; he was a professional and that made Alex be more relaxed to think that one more person would be watching out for her friend when she couldn’t. Though the center of their relationship resided on Megan, if she wasn’t there, they wouldn’t have what to talk about.

– It’s good to see you Alex – said Morgan, calmly; then turned to Megan. – Now could you put some sense into this creature and convince her to present the Rookie’s Festival of this year?

Alex raised her brows at the mention of the event. The Rookie’s Festival was an event that happened once a year, where amateur musicians would perform and compete for the first place. Alex was already acquainted to the festival since she had accompanied Megan a few times before her debut.

– You’re presenting the festival this year? – Alex asked.

– Eh, it’s nothing much. – replied Megan. Her expression betraying her relaxed posture.

– Seems pretty important – she pointed.

– It is. – intervened Morgan, stopping Megan before she could protest. – It’s a great honor to present the event. Besides that, it’s important to you. You’re a symbol out there, Megan, don’t forget that. Not showing to the festival is the same as saying you don’t support the new musician generation, and believe me, this would blow up on the tabloids.

After a few seconds of silence, Morgan emphasized: – Do you understand?

Megan nodded.

– Good. – he patted her shoulders.

A cellphone ringtone echoed throughout the closed room. – I need to take this call. – said Morgan. – Keep practicing the new song. I’ll be back soon.

After Morgan left, Alex sat on one of the bean bags, facing her friend that just fell back tired on the couch, her left arm crossing her face.

– Why don’t you want to go? – she asked bluntly.

Megan was quiet, raising one hand and staring at the tattoos covering it. The silence had prolonged and was now palpable. But Alex patiently waited.

Megan finally answered: – It’s not that I don’t want to. – she sighed. – Look, I’m from the gutters, ok? I’m not smart like the rest of you. Even my family knew that.

– Your family sucked – interrupted Alex.

Megan closed her face. – I’m not that far from them… – her eyes wandered through the room. – The festival has a bunch of kids who know their shit, better than I did when I started. So, what type of crap I’m supposed to tell them? Sure, I became famous and all, but half of the time I didn’t even know what I doing, I was just lucky you and Morgan were there.

– That’s not true. – refuted Alex. – You were pretty good on your own already. We just gave you a little push, but you knew how to play most of the instruments and sing before that.

– Just knowing how to play isn’t enough. – Megan replied, bitterly. – Besides, I didn’t have any technique, it was just a bunch of crap that I saw and put together. Anyone could do it.

– Bro, if you think it’s that easy, it just means you’re better than you give yourself credit for.

Megan still seemed uncertain. – Still…

But Alex knew how to convince her friend. She could be manipulative when she wanted to, a trace from being born on a family of attorneys. Even though her charisma wasn’t as good as theirs.

– Who asked you to show up there? – Alex asked.

– Some high-ups that are organizing the festival – answered Megan, unaware of Alex’s intention.

– Exactly, they already recognize you’re good. So, stop… how you call it again? – Alex pretended to try to remember. – Right. Stop being a cocksucker and go.

Her friend faked a protest. – But you know I’m into girls!

– Then stop sucking cocks!

– That’s not how the expression works.

Alex raised her brow. – How do you know how it works? You dirty cocksucker.

Megan gave a long sigh. – Fine! I’ll go! Stop calling me that already.

Alex smiled content with herself. From the entrance, they heard a slow clap. Morgan was observing the two of them with an amused expression. He must’ve returned before they noticed and listened to their idiotic conversation. Alex felt a spur of shame on her face.

– Good job, Alex – said Morgan. – I never thought of using that strategy to convince her before. I’ll be sure to use it in the future.

Megan grimaced. – Please, no.

***

Author's note: I made this draw of Alex myself Σd(˘◡˘๑)