Chapter 49
FORTY-NINE
The next day, Paul calls us for a band meeting. I’m thankful, yet again, that Louis is gone because Paul always asks how we are first before he dives into business. He’s doing a really good job, especially since we just threw him into this position.
Nothing quite like on-the-job training.
“How are you all doing? How’s Melody?” he asks as soon as FaceTime connects and we can see and hear each other.
“She, uh…” I say softly, eyeing the bedroom door where she’s locked herself in for the second time today. “She’s having a rough go of it. It’s been hard. But we’re not giving up.”
“Good. Don’t. That girl loves you guys and all this, it’s just bullshit.
Talk through it, stay through it, and love her through it.
She’ll come around.” Paul nods in the picture and then clears his throat.
“Okay, on to the business. There are a few different news outlets that want to do an interview with you guys. I know you’ve put ‘Out of Office’ on everything, but this was approved by the big bosses.
Bryn said he discussed it with you already, Reis. ”
I nod. “He did. Back when I was trying to get time off to come get Melody.” I run my hand through my hair. I need a haircut, it’s too long.
“There’s no getting out of this, guys. When can you come to New York?” Paul asks understandingly, nodding his head.
“That won’t be happening,” Kai says quickly and the confusion on Paul’s face is almost enough to make me laugh.
“But—” Paul starts and Markus jumps in.
“No, Paul. We’ll do the interview, but we’ve already discussed we aren’t physically leaving her. So figure it out.”
“XYZ News is stationed in NYC, guys. That’s the one that Boss Man wants.”
“Tell them,” I say quickly, a plan forming in my head and I look at the guys. “Tell them we’ll pay for their reporter and cameraman to be flown, their hotel and we’ll give them an exclusive.”
Paul sits back in the camera, a look of worry and intrigue passing on his face.
Adam smacks my leg out of frame and when I look at him, he’s got a ‘what the fuck are you offering’ look on his face and his hands open in question.
“What are you going to give them?” Paul asks.
My eyes drift to the door blocking us from our beating heart.
“Answers. Truth. And while we’re at it, we’ll explain to Melody how she’s the most important thing to us. More than fame, more than money, more than the people trying to keep us apart.”
Adam’s eyes widen and a small grin grows on his face as he nods at me with respect.
“Hell yes.” Kai sits forward, smacking me on the shoulder.
“Okay,” Paul says, catching on to what we’re planning. “I’ll handle Bryn and management, then I’ll coordinate it with XYZ News to get a reporter out there. You have a space to hold it?”
“We’ll find one.” Markus nods, looking around at the unpacked apartment. “I don’t want anyone figuring out where she is.”
“She won’t be here for long,” I say absolutely because I know, I know , Melody will be coming home with us. But this time, I want it to be completely on her terms. I want her to choose it. Choose us.
“Alright, I’ll call you this afternoon with details. Please send me all the contact information for the place of the interview, I’ll pass it along.”
“Got it,” Adam says quickly, pulling out his phone to get started.
“Okay, guys, I’ll talk to you later. Tell Melody I’m thinking of her,” Paul says kindly but the sudden chill must be palpable because we all glare at the screen.
“I won’t be doing that, but I’ll tell her you said hi,” I half-growl as Paul swallows uncomfortably. “And Paul?”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure it’s a male reporter.”
“Got it,” he agrees quickly and I nod before hanging up the call. The guys look at me with the question behind their eyes and I shrug.
“Not taking any chances. We have to earn her trust back, and I’m not going to let some handsy reporter jeopardize that. Not again. Not now.”
Melody’s staying in her room more. She comes out when Adam or Markus go in there to sweet talk her into coming out to eat with us. Kai’s gone in a few times to pull her out when our words don’t work. Mostly I sit beside her, letting the silence stretch between us. I just want her to know I’m there.
I’m sitting at the small makeshift table made of unopened boxes and staring at the closed door of her bedroom, my song notebook open as I stare. How do I show her how deep my feelings for her go?
Every song I’ve ever written is about her; how I’m angry with her, how I want her, how I long for her, how I missed her, how I wonder what would’ve happened between us. But I never wrote one about accepting us. All of us.
It took me a while to come around, but I honestly can’t imagine it any other way. The five of us together, for her, is the closest I have come to true peace in a long time. Maybe ever.
I flip to a blank page, inspiration having struck, and start writing. Soon, the words fly out of me—raw, unedited and jumbled, but fuck, I feel amazing.
“Paul did it,” Kai announces from where he’s lying on his air mattress, messing around on his phone.
He sits up quickly. “They’ve secured the conference center downtown and the interview is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
We’re expected to arrive at the interview, completely ready, at the center at six in the morning.
It’s shooting live so, and these are Paul’s words, not mine, “Make sure you know what you’re going to say and don’t fuck it up again. ””
“He knows he works for us, right?” Markus snarks from the kitchen, cooking something easy for dinner. We’ve all been taking turns cooking and it’s his turn tonight. He’s only complained half the time.
“I like it,” Adam shrugs from the couch where he’s watching some drum interview on YouTube. “It almost feels like we’re friends, not just his clients.”
“He’s a good guy. A little too into my girl, but as long as he knows the line, I’ll live,” I grumble under my breath, rereading the song I just wrote.
“Our girl, Reis. Ours,” Kai snaps.
“Right.” I close the book and stand up to go check on her. “Ours.”
Five in the morning comes way too soon.
I’m not ready for it, and when Adam’s alarm goes off, we all groan. I fall off the fucking air mattress like I’ve done for the last three days and groan again when I hit the floor while Adam hisses for me to shut up.
We told Melody last night at dinner about the interview, about how it was going to be live. I tried to make it a point to tell her how much I’d love it if she could watch it, but she just nodded blankly. She’s shutting down and I don’t know how to stop it.
I feel desperate. I need her to understand, to believe us, to come back to us. For that sparkle in her eyes to come back. For that bratty little smirk to come back. For her to sass me back and then wink at me.
I need her.
The guys and I putter around getting ready, making sure we’re presentable rockstars.
Markus is spending an obscenely long time on his hair – as usual, while Adam is doing push-ups in his cutoff shirt and his bandana on his forehead.
Kai’s slipping on his leather jacket and I run the last little bit of gel through my hair.
“Not bad for us on our own, huh?” I smirk in the mirror and turn off the bathroom light.
“Let’s go, we’re going to be late.” Adam checks his watch. “Should we wake her up?”
“I’m at least going to knock on the door and tell her we’re leaving. I don’t want her to wake up and think we’ve left.” Kai steps forward, and we all follow.
“Sync?” Kai calls softly, knocking on the door. “Melody, it’s us, baby. We’re heading downtown for that interview we were talking about last night. We’d love it if you could watch it, XYZ News. Okay?”
We all stay silent, waiting for her to say anything. Do anything.
But she doesn’t. And I try not to let my head drop a little as my heart drops into my stomach.
Kai knocks one more time, and she grumbles something inaudibly. But at least we know she’s alive.
“We hope you can watch it, love,” Adam speaks loudly through the door.
Silence.
“Come on guys,” I say softly. “I love you, Mel.”
“I love you, Sync,” Kai tells her just as gently.
“Love you, baby,” Adam says quietly.
“I love you, Songbird,” Markus repeats.
We all stay still for a moment, but then when we get no reply, I sigh heavily and gesture with my head to the door.
Kai nods and his eyes darken sadly, turning towards the door quickly.
Markus follows him, his boots sounding heavily along the wood floors.
Adam sighs as loud as I had, and shakes his head before walking out.
I stay there at her door, and press my hand against the wood that separates us.
I know I have to leave.
I just really don’t want to.
Come on, Mathers. She’ll be okay for a few hours. I try to talk myself into it. I grit my teeth and then pull my hand back.
I take a few slow steps and just as my hand touches the door knob to shut the front door, I swear I hear a soft sob coming from her door.