- Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody -

https://open.spotify.com/track/1AhDOtG9vPSOmsWgNW0BEY

- June 11th -

We were sat in plush chairs around a conference table in a very minimalist office. We all had a preliminary contract in our hands and had been given an hour to read through. I was sat with a pen marking things I was uncertain of, Oddball was sat with his legs up on the table humming our most recent tune while making little drumming flourishes in the air with a pencil.

I looked at the boys in the room with me.
This was it.
The contract in my hand could tie me to them for the next five years if everything went our way.
I thought about it.
Five years.
A possible three albums, or two depending on touring and other options. We'd be bound to single releases, TV appearances and full promotional package.
From what I could read in the contract, we were to be profiled as the next big thing.
There was some extreme amounts of money potentially being thrown our way.
There was even a mention of the possibility of using our music in an upcoming movie.
My eyes lingered on Ethan. He was sat there with his fingers deeply wound into his hair reading every paragraph with intense focus.
This was his goal.
To live in a world of music.
I wondered if I could be in that world without being in his world.
I shifted to look at Simon. He raised his eyes to mine with a big grin.

"We're doing it! This is really happening," he said.

The look on his face was pure joy. I was so happy for him, with him.

"It's what you've always wanted," I replied with a smile.

He looked at me a bit more seriously.

"Is it what you want, Izzy?" He asked, cautiously.

As if I had the power to burst everybody's dream.

Odd and Simon were looking straight at me. Ethan had stopped reading but was still facing the contract with a tense set to his shoulders.

"I'm not backing out, if that's what you're asking. This is a once in a lifetime oportunity and I'm not going to let that go!" I promised, looking directly at Simon.

He nodded with a careful smile and returned to the contract.
I continued reading mine and marking off stipulations and conditions.

Things between Simon and I had been really weird. We had hardly spoken and the few times we had I found myself searching his face for double meanings. There was a wounded look to him that he carefully hid behind a smile, but I couldn't make myself acknowledge that I could be the reason for it.
I wanted Simon to be okay. I wanted him to be happy.
The irony of me putting Simon in the same position as I was in with Ethan made me feel like such an evil bitch.
I hated doing that to him.
He was still my Simon. But the part of him that was mine was just larger than I wanted.

Ethan hadn't even looked at Simon or spoken directly to him unless he had to in about a month. The two of them were still locked in a war of wills.
Ellen had come to her senses as well and so effectively, Simon was on his own.

I wanted to give him a hug and tell him we'd be all right, but we weren't. Not yet.
I made a mental note to grow some guts and sit Simon down for a proper chat soon.
The mood between us, between the three of us, had to be lightened if we were to give this contract a go.
I had made a start by explaining myself to Ethan. And as Josh had predicted, it had made him less sulky.
He still didn't look directly at me, or start conversations, but at least he didn't look like I smelled bad anymore.

And we had been able to get through the gigs with our dignity intact. We had cancelled one gig the weekend after Elsie died. Thanks to the manager at Rock Central we had been able to send a replacement band. The gigs we had done ourselves, had been frought with tension. I found the best solution was to focus my stage flirting on the audience. Who knew ten year olds could flirt back?
But it worked somehow and the floor of Ethan's car was littered in bridesmaids and groomsmen's phone numbers that we'd never dial.

We had all driven to the record label office in Ethan's car, which Mio had thankfully converted back to stink free again.
Oddball had put on 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on the way and insisted that we all had to sing along, including the different voices. It was the most fun we'd had together for weeks, and gave me hope that we could get the good feeling back. We'd arrived with smiles after a weird little in-car, headbanging session.
Slowly, we were getting there.

We'd be given a couple of weeks to sign the contract once this negotiation was over. Simon's dad was a lawyer and would look through the fine print. This meeting we were at, was just a preliminary to agree with the label what we wanted and the contract we were given was a standard mock up that outlined what the label wanted. Mark would come to the next meeting to polish the deal for us.

A few minutes later, a suited man in his late forties was sat at the table with us. We had met him earlier when he handed us the copies of the contract.
His name was Mr. Summers and he was not just a clever record executive, but also the drummer of a formerly sucessful band called Glory. They had a string of hits and sucessful tours before calling quits five years earlier. He knew what the business entailed and he knew what being in a band meant. He was a weird mix of rock star and business minded.
Mr. Summers was our appointed manager.

"So you sound like a solid gang," he said after asking questions about Obstruction's musical direction and who we were as a group.
We had told him the basics, leaving out the recent trouble.

"I need to know if there are any ghosts that may pop up. I'm not talking ex lovers and that kind of shit. We can deal with that. But if you have a criminal past or a secret child, it may influence how we promote you," he said.

"Nothing I can think of," Oddball said thoughtfully.

"Unless Izzy's dad..." Simon started hesitantly.

"Your father?" Mr. Summers asked.

"I grew up with just my mum. I don't even know him. But yeah... I'm basically the result of an adulterous affair," I said with an ironic shrug.

"Not a great problem. We can use it to appeal to single mums and children of broken families," Mr. Summers nodded.

We all looked at each other trying to think of potential threats.

"We know about Mr. Ryder's participation in the scolarship contest, which is probably your best selling point, musically. You already look like rock stars and your songs are good. We just need to know if there are issues that may affect your commercial value," Mr. Summers explained.

We all nodded self conciously.

"Okay. You've been given an hour to read through. Any thoughts?" He asked.

"About the contract?" Oddball asked.

Mr. Summers nodded.

Oddball drew a deep breath.

"You have a few stipulations about our private lives. I want those out," Odd said firmly.

"Which clauses are those?" Mr. Summers asked.

"Well... It says here we're all to stay single for the duration of the contract which I personally find offensive," Oddball explained.

"Oh.. That's all to do with marketing. We are targeting the late teen and young adult-market and if you are in relationships it would compromise the appeal to potential fans," Mr. Summers grinned.

"Well... That clause needs to go," Odd said.

I was looking at the contract, wishing I had Odd's guts to speak up.
Mr. Summers tapped his chin with his pen while studying Oddball.

"Mr. Harris, am I to interpret this as you already being in a relationship?" Mr. Summers asked.

Oddball grinned. There was that happy twinkle in his eyes I had noticed a few days before.

"Not yet," Oddball stated with a grin that told us all that there would be a real need to change that contract in the very near future.

Mr. Summers nodded.

"Fine. We'll amend that clause. Would you be willing to appear single? Could your relationship status be unofficial?" He asked.

I didn't miss Oddball's quick glance between Ethan and myself before he nodded.

"We can try," he said with a nod.

"That would partially protect your girlfriend..." Mr. Summers started.

"Boyfriend!" Odd specified.

Mr. Summers studied him carefully.

"Okay... it would protect your... potential romantic interest... from public scrutiny," Mr. Summers said with a smirk and a nod.

Oddball was grinning.

"Anything else?" Mr. Summers asked leafing through the contract.

I looked between the boys before landing on Mr. Summers.

"Erm...It says you will be in charge of our visual profile. What does that entail?" I asked.

"Oh.. Not much. Clothes, hairstyling, promotional material," he replied.

"How much are you planning to change?" I asked.

"That will be up to our market team. But I assure you it will be done in your best interest," he smiled.

There was a patronising tone in his voice that I didn't like.
I reached into my bag and dug out the posters I had designed. It also included the sketches for Oddball's tattoo and a few ideas I had for a logo.

"This is our visual profile. This is us. If we are to have a team of designers, I will be on that team. We, as a group will have final say in our look and image," I specified firmly.

Mr. Summers frowned.

"I assure you miss. Taylor. Our image teams are professional and will act in your best interest," he said leaning forward with a challenging look in his eyes.

"And I'm telling you that you will not add a single highlight or dress any of these guys in designer jeans unless we agree!" I said with my best shrewd smile.

Mr. Summers frowned.

"Also. I see the aesthetic in nude photography, but there is no way I will undress! That goes for all of us" I said pointing to a paragraph where artistic licence of the visual team was mentioned. Hinting at what they could ask us to do.

"Ok. We will change the promotional package to specify your involvement and autonomy," Mr. Summers said reluctantly.

I nodded.

"And there is the bit about the choice of music," Simon said and pointed to the contract.

"What about it, Mr. Frye?" Mr. Summers asked.

"Are you planning on having us do songs other people have written? We'd obviously prefer doing our own stuff," Simon asked.

"We will listen to your material, but if it's not marketable, we will suggest other composers," Mr. Summers said.

"As long as we don't have to do pop-stuff. We are a rock band so whatever we play will have to be within our comfort zone," Simon explained.

"I promise. You will have final say in what songs you record, but with Miss Taylor's voice, we may encourage you to cross over into other genres. We could of course offer Miss. Taylor a separate contract allowing her to branch out if we find your prefered genre is detrimental to her career. You also have Mr. Ryder's talent to consider," Mr. Summers said with his hands in a steeple and a calculated look at Simon.

I fixed my eyes on the business man in front of me. Two seats down, Ethan looked conflicted.

"I'm sorry. But there is no way I'm doing anything without these three," I said trying to keep my calm.

Mr. Summers frowned slightly but looked at me in what I felt was a calculated way. Whatever I said next would seal Obstruction's contract offer.

"Mr. Summers. Sir. We are a team. These guys are my best friends. If you want Obstruction, you get four dedicated people who also care about each other. The part of my life connected to music is interwoven with them. They make me better. They make me want to go out on that stage. I don't sing for the audience. I sing for the three men in this room. So. I'm not signing anything without them," I declared before looking at the guys.

Oddball was smiling happily. Simon looked thoughtful and Ethan was wearing one of his tiny little smiles that you had to know him to understand. He was nodding as if I had spoken for him too.

"You do realise you could go far on your own?" Mr. Summers asked me.

I shook my head.

"I don't think so. Without them I will go back to my design degree and singing in the shower," I smiled.

Mr. Summers frowned again before nodding.

"Fine. A new contract will be sent to you by tomorrow. There will be changes to the section on artistic integrity, your personal lives and specify your autonomy in regard to the visual profile. In return, I expect a minimum of five original songs to be recorded by the end of August, a year of commitment to a high quality product and another four years if you turn out to be commercially viable. There will be a music video and I expect you to comply with what the director evisions. You will be booked for interviews and interact with press and audience according to what we advice," he said.

We all nodded.

"There will be a tour starting in the winter. We are currently negotiating the possibilities of hooking you up with a more experienced band as their support act," Mr. Summers said, relaxing a bit.

"Can we ask which band?" Simon asked.

"Well.. don't hold me to it, but both Foo Fighters and Bruce Springsteen are touring next year," Mr. Summers grinned.

"That's huge!" I muttered.

"As I said... Only possibilities at the moment. We might end up sending you out on the club and festival circuit," he said with a smile.

Ten minutes later we were stood in the lobby, jumping up and down at the idea of supporting Foo Fighters, even tho we knew it was all a big, fat maybe. Oddball had gathered us all in a hug and I was squished between Oddball and Ethan.

"Did you mean that?" Simon asked when we had landed.

"What?" I asked.

"That you'd not sing without us?" He asked.

"Yeah. I meant every word. I love you guys too much to even get my head around it. My life would suck without you!" I said with a wide grin.
I aimed my last statement directly at Simon and I saw him swallow hard.

"Thank you," he said in a very small voice.

"Aww... our first groupie," Oddball laughed and kissed my cheek.

I looked up to see tears in his eyes so I broke the group hug to just hug him.
Once we broke apart, we both had to wipe happy tears. Ethan and Simon had started walking towards the exit.

"So. What's the 'not yet' in a relationship all about? You and Evan getting serious?" I asked with my arm around Oddball's middle as we started walking.

Oddball cracked into a happy little secret smile before stopping to give me another hug.

"I don't know where it's going yet... but I didn't get that changed just for me," Odd said quietly.

I looked at him questioningly.

"Well... you see... There is this girl and this boy... and they kinda like each other. No strike that. They are absolutely, insanely, foolishly in love with each other. But some glitch in communication and a few errors of judgement pulled them apart. And all I want is for them to just be happy. Together. That contract would have legally held them apart. I can't deal with five years of moping," Oddball said with a mischievous smile.

"You are delusional!" I muttered.

"Why?" Odd asked.

"Because he doesn't want me," I replied.

"Nah... he just needs his head and his heart to pull in the same direction," Oddball smiled.

I hugged him again, grateful for his faith but feeling the desperate hollow in me that told me he was wrong.

"He's looking at you right now, wishing it was him hugging you," Oddball whispered into the hug.

I gave Odd an extra squeeze before letting go and turning to the other two.
Ethan had his hands buried in his pockets and his face downturned in a frown.
Surely evidence that Oddball was hallucinating.

"So? What now?" Simon asked as we drove away from the record company office.

"Erm... I kinda promised Evan to let him know once we were done," Odd grinned.

"Oh yeah. Cos now you have it all secured in the contract you can figure out who's top and who's bottom!" Simon chuckled.

I whipped around from my position in the front passenger seat.

"Simon!" I screamed.

"What? It's a legit thing," He said with a confused smile.

"I swear, Simon! You are the fucking anti king Midas!" I muttered.

"How is that?" He asked.

"You make everything turn into shit!" I said with a frown.

Simon's eyes flickered to Ethan who was holding the steering wheel in a deathgrip.

"I don't!" He said.

"Just... You've fucked up enough. Just let Oddball and Evan figure this out without your help. Okay?" I admonished.

Simon nodded shamefully before he looked at me with a careful little smile.

"Sorry, Izzy," he mumbled.

My heart warmed at the look of him. He looked exactly like he had when he broke my favourite snowglobe when he was six.
I couldn't stop the smile on my face.

"You are a fucking idiot, Simon," I said softly.

"I know," he sighed with a heartmelting smile back at me.

Oddball was laughing next to Simon.

"I swear, Izzy... if you become more protective, we'll need a photo of you in an Athena helmet and sword for the cover of our album," he laughed.

I shook my head and turned back around the right way before I had a chance to start crying.
As Simon released a small chuckle in the back, I found myself blinking repeatedly while swallowing the hard lump that had mysteriously formed at the back of my throat.

Next to me, Ethan was driving the car with his mouth firmly buttoned and a hard, controlled look in his eyes.
I felt my heart shatter again as he glanced at me sideways, without a trace of emotion.

I drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to hold on to the good feeling of having negotiated a great deal.

I looked at him again and remembered all the times I had told myself that the friendship was more important than my heart.
Somehow, it made that hollow in my chest feel less empty.

"So... We should get on with writing songs, huh?" I asked.

"Yeah. If they want five we probably need fifteen to choose from," Ethan replied with a faint quiver to his voice.

"We have a few. We just need lyrics," I shrugged.

"Yeah," he mumbled.

And there it was.
Peaceful.
Friendly.
Professional.

Cold as Hoth in mid winter.
And not a Taun-Taun in sight.

(A/N.
I have zero knowledge of legal stuff and recording contracts.
Any blunders are therefore 100% mine.
I know a record company couldn't care less about their artists relationship status, but I had to put it in there for plot purposes...
Just go with it.
If you've stuck with the story so far you probably understand why.

Thank you for reading.
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