“Not good.”
- Happy Quinn, Scorpion

♬Song♬
Look what you made me do by Taylor Swift

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Electra's POV

If I were the bowling pins and Matt’s brother the bowler, he would most certainly have obtained a strike. My little blonde-haired aeroplane buddy made his way across the timber floor with stretched out arms. Still trapped in my flabbergasted state, I managed to smile and return Matt’s running embrace. He seemed enthusiastic, “What a lovely surprise, hey Master Matt!” I greeted back with an equal amount of excitement.

Although, during our exchange of pleasantries, my staggered cerulean blues glanced directly into the oddly familiar dark blue ones of Matt’s older sibling. The person in question looked entirely different without his face concealed in an unrecognisable veneer. An absence of shadowy eye bags, acne and aged lines on his temple was ample evidence that this was the real him. To my dismay, he held my gaze, his eyes withheld a mixture of confusion and it seemed as if though he was having an internal battle with himself...

“Thanks that might just work,” the African-American guy stated as the attention veered itself onto Matt and his brother.

With an absent cognizant, I began speculating why he was here. Was it to seek revenge after accidentally falling into his lap? Did he come to DREAM to make my life miserable, until he feels I have apologized enough? On the sunlit side, he could be here to make a clean breast of things, but then it would make me feel bad for making assumptions in my head.

Followed by a lengthy inner sigh, Electra you are overthinking, my subconscious counselled.

“Could everyone please take a seat,” he instructed. According to my ears, his voice oozed of authority.

Even though I sought to ask Matt about their unforeseen arrival, I knew my queries would all be answered in due time. I occupied the nearest seat open and watched Matt acquire the adjacent one to mine. The nine-year-old flashed me a resplendent smile and looked ahead, awaiting his brother’s next words.

“For those who do not know me, I am Brayden Haynes-”

Brayden Haynes, I finally understood, he was a well-known singer, last month, his new single made the billboard top ten list at number three. I only know this because I tend to get new music from the billboard listings and on the contrary, his songs were not that bad. It does not make me a fan by far but the lyrics speak for themselves I suppose.

“Your Dream Master for music, this year,” was the announcement that in an instant raised the energy levels of the room. What if he had a hidden agenda that involved me and it proved my speculations correct?

“First things first, how about all of you introduce yourselves and ask a question that I’ll answer.”

The brown-haired girl raised her hand with eagerness, “I am Melisa Baker and I’d like to know if I can get your autograph?”

“Sure, if you pass your first semester, I’ll give you an autograph with a copy of my latest album. That goes to everyone, as an incentive,” Dream Master, nope, -I will call him Brayden- said with a gesture to everyone.

“What if we don’t like your music?” The question echoed from the back, I resisted the urge to turn around, as I knew there were three open desks and it would be weird to turn my head around with the result of looking right at that person.

Thus far, Matt had been listening quietly, he deserves an award as ten-year-old me would have been singing at the top of my lungs or started talking long ago, “Something can be arranged. So who’s next?”

“Me,” that came from Matt, while it would seem his brother gave him a cautionary stare; he blatantly ignored it. Brayden noticeably tensed up as he appeared restrained. “I am Matthew Haynes, the coolest Haynes brother. My question is, Bray when are you going to apologise to Ellie? Or do I need to tell her about how you we- ”

Our eyes locked, but the contact broke as a link severed due to the arrival of someone entering the class. I was definitely intrigued by what I was hearing but inopportunely, it was not my day. “Hi, sorry I’m late, it won’t happen again, I was at the wrong class.” The accent seemed familiar as my head turned in the direction of the latecomer; it was indeed, British Brute...

Matthew's POV

“Since it is the first day, that’s fine, take a seat,” my brother said with a gesture towards an open seat behind me. Once the guy took his seat, I immediately continued my pursuit.

“Bray you didn’t answer my question,” in the meantime, from the corner of my eye, I saw how the late guy started talking to Ellie, how does he know about Ellie? He had better not try to steal my best girlfriend.

“Matt we’ll discuss that later, right now I have a music class to teach,” he responded with a voice devoid of emotion, which he quickly covered up with his signature smile, “Let’s wrap up the introductions, no questions just your name and surname.”

Why did the universe decide that someone needed to come late, such an interruption! I was about to have Bray confess, without using Ellie’s number and pretending to be a mystery guy. No doubt, my brother will not apologize now; he has already gone into broody mode.

My brother began talking about vocal ranges and asked everyone to write down his or her lowest and highest note. To say my efforts failed would be an understatement; I felt like a sullen prairie sky therefore, low-spirited, I took out my phone and checked the word of the day.

It turned out to be ‘exultant’ so if someone were to ask me how I was, I certainly know the opposite of my reply now.

Within a few more minutes, people started doing vocal exercises to warm up their vocal cords. I loved music but this was so tedious, my eyes attentively watched Bray and as soon as I saw him explaining something to a girl with curly black hair and purple highlights, I knew it was time.

I sneakily threw a quick glance at Ellie, but she too was listening to my brother’s explanation. Only a few other eyes were on me, but that did not matter, as long as neither Bray nor Ellie saw, I was good.

Once the coast was clear, I confidently strutted out of the room. Just as I was about to release a sigh of alleviation, “Where do you think you’re going?”

My eyes moved in slow motion, only to encounter an arm-crossed Darren, “Bray said it was fine if I went to Jordan,” I lied smoothly and added an innocent smile to make it more plausible.

“Wait here,” instructed the bulky bodyguard and went inside to Bray, probably for confirmation. 

‘You should wait Matt,’ my obedient inner voice said.

‘Nah, you are Master Matt you do not have to wait buddy,’ I shook my head at those thoughts and without further pondering, ran down the hallway and waited for the elevator to open.

I heard Darren’s voice calling after me and obviously I paid no heed to it and as the elevator closed, I waved to him with a toothy grin. The expression on his face was, without a doubt, frustration at its best.

Frightened when I heard Bray’s voice in the elevator, I spun around to check that if I was alone and... I was. Was he in my head?

A tune of melody pervaded through the elevator accompanied by my brother’s singing voice, almost as reassurance that I was not going crazy. I jammed to it, singing the chorus loudly, now this was fun.

The doors dinged open as I reached the second floor. I egressed from the elevator and ambled leisurely through the hallway, in search of D2. Jordan mentioned that he was free during the first session. I immediately knew I found it, when I saw Jordan performing a solo to an empty room, I slipped in unnoticed and waited until his dance concluded.

When he finally noticed me, I gave him a round of applause, the guy was talented. “Hey Matt, aren’t you supposed to be with Brayden?” He asked as he used a fluffy green towel to wipe his face.

“I am, but I wanted to see what you were doing,” I said and threw myself onto his spinning chair.

Jordan gave me a pointed look that said he did not buy my story one bit, “Of course.”

The sound of someone breathing heavily originated from the door, which revealed a very tired-looking Darren, followed by my broody brother of course.

“Darren, are you okay?” I asked not even bothering to control my laughter whilst Jordan cleared his throat at my reaction.

“He had to take the stairs because of you. Matthew Haynes, apologize to Darren right now,” Bray commanded as his darkened blue eyes stared into my soul.

I directed my eyes to Darren, “I’m sorry Darren, though I can’t promise that it won’t happen again,” I said sincerely with a smile.

“It’s alright little man, gave me some good exercise for today,” a laughing Darren replied, “Just don’t lie next time.”

“Yes sir,” I nodded swiftly as my brother opened his mouth to begin speaking.

“I still have an apple to peel with you, Matt why did you sneak out, without telling me?” Bray queried in a serious tone.

“It’s not my fault I almost fell asleep during your lesson and my snoring wouldn’t qualify as singing right?” I justified my actions and continued by saying, “Your lesson was boring, you need to spice things up!”

Dedicated to: Alianarock_2

DISCUSSION TIME:

∞ Surprised to see British Brute again? Why do you think he was late?

∞ If you were a fan of Brayden’s music what would you call yourself? #Brayner?

∞ What do you think they will do, to ‘spice things up’?

*****

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