21 years old
“Holy shit! I finally got it!” I jump up from the floor and tap on the glass of the recording studio. After months of saving and playing at venues, Becks and Spyder were finally able to cut a record deal. Ten songs and a cover. They’ve been working their ass off, hustling, and making a name for themselves. I haven’t missed an event yet. Every time they get on the stage, it’s a new experience for me. Their songs and their energy changes and grows each time. The crowds are loving them, and if they keep this energy up, I know they are destined for more.
One thing is for sure, no matter how popular they’re getting, they never forget about me. We’ve only grown closer, to the point where I now consider them family. And sometimes with Becks…things are a little more. Sometimes we date. Sometimes I date other people or he does. Sometimes we just have sex. It sounds messy and complicated, but it works. More importantly, it keeps our friendship intact, which is what I really want the most. Becks understands me on a different level from Spyder. I think he knows, deep inside, there will always be a part of me that is unreachable. A part forever altered, scarred, flawed from loving Zander.
It doesn’t stop Becks and Spyder though, from continuing to break past my barriers and show me what real family is. So interrupting their recording session with the best news I’ve had in the past three years, doesn’t faze them. Spyder’s blond head lifts up from his guitar, his look of concern morphs into a smile when he sees the excitement on my face. The other guys in the band put down their instruments, as Becks makes his way to the door.
“Guys, we only have three takes left for today.” The recording manager starts to complain, but immediately stops when Becks glares at him.
“Family emergency,” Spyder responds sarcastically, as he passes Becks and is the first to reach me.
“Can we go somewhere, real quick?” I ask, glancing at both of them. I’m practically bouncing on my toes from the excitement. My brain is already ten steps ahead, analyzing everything I need to do, but the most important part is that I finally got it.
“Sure, babe.” Spyder grabs my hand and leads me out of the studio and up the stairs to the roof. Becks follows behind us, silently.
Once we reach the roof, I close the door and look around quickly, before screaming and jumping up and down. Spyder’s eyes get huge, and there’s a smile playing on Becks’s lips.
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!” I stop jumping, running my hands through my hair. My head falls back, and I take in a few deep breaths.
Spyder laughs. “What is going on? I feel like I just missed out on the best orgasm of your life or something.”
Becks hits him lightly in the stomach, which only makes Spyder laugh more. I glance at both of them and hold out the page that is going to save my life and hopefully brighten their futures as well. If they go for it.
“That damn contract?” Spyder huffs. Becks takes the paper, his brow rising. “Did you find a way to break it?”
“Nope, but, I found a loophole,” I point at the wording, “see, right here. Read it.”
They both take a minute, their eyes scanning over all the legal jargon. There is so much legalese that I’ve had to break down the contract line by line, just to understand. I don’t want to miss even the tiniest detail. It absolutely amazes me that no other lawyers have seen this, but that’s probably what Mr. Knight intended. He didn’t want the contract broken or a way out of it.
“I still don’t get it.” Spyder glances up at me.
“All I’m getting is that you have to make up the amount of shares or find a way to transfer them.” Becks looks between us.
I nod excitedly. “Yes! But not that way. Look, it’s basically saying that for me to get out of the contract, I have to forfeit my percentage of Allister holdings. But…what if I don’t have any shares of Allister holdings?”
“I’m confused.” Spyder takes the document into his hands, almost glaring at the paper.
“Look, this has to happen when I’m twenty-three, right? But what if in that time, I no longer have the shares in my name. Then that doesn’t allow me to have a way to end the contract, making it a form of imprisonment and an infringement on my rights, thereby making it void,” I explain my thought process.
“But how are you going to get your grandfather on board with that?” Becks asks, his eyes questioning.
“I have a plan. My grandfather speaks business terms. He’s a businessman, first and foremost, but he’s also a family man. He won’t want me to give up my shares because he’ll think I’m turning away from the family. So I’ll offer him a piece of my new company as compensation, so he still feels like we’re bonded,” I explain, trying to keep my smile locked down.
Of course, Becks doesn’t miss anything. “What company?”
“Since when did you own a company?” Spyder asks, a hint of betrayal in his voice.
“I don’t yet,” I tell them, my eyes sliding from him to Becks. “But I’m going too. I’m majoring in business and music, so it only makes sense, right? I’m thinking of creating my own record label. I’ll start small with only two clients, so I’ll also be their agent.”
I clap my hands together before pointing at them both.
“We’re your clients?” A look of surprise flashes on Spyder’s face.
“I’m hoping you will be. Let me get things started first, so I can see what I can pay you. But I do have some connections here, after attending your shows, and I know I can find some in the states. Once I show you, and if you trust me…I think we can take on the music world.”
They both haven’t taken their eyes off me, and I can read all the expressions running over their faces. Surprise. Hesitancy. Excitement. Disbelief. What I’m asking is a huge risk, but if I can make this happen, it could open many doors to them in the music industry. Something that they deserve. My friends have been my rocks the past few years. Without Tabbi, I wouldn’t have made the decision to study here and never would have found my true dream. If it weren’t for Monica and Sylvia, I never would have had a social life that brought me into contact with Becks and Spyder. And without them, I never would have realized what being loved back feels like.
Finally, Becks nods. “I’m in.”
“No one I would rather be in business with.” Spyder comes at me for a hug, his long arms wrapping around my body and pulling me in tight. Tears spring to my eyes. Grief and an overwhelming sense of relief flood my chest. I finally did it. I found a way to end the contract and walk away. After years of searching on my own and carrying all the responsibility to end the contract, it’s over. I’m almost-free.
I step out of Spyder’s arms and wipe my eyes. “You guys better get back then. You need to get as much practice under your belts as you can.”
They laugh, and after hugging me one more time, I watch as my future walks back inside the studio to finish cutting a demo record. Grabbing my phone, my finger hovers lightly over the button, before finally hitting call.
“Grandpa…”
