Chapter 13 Austin - Unexpected Opportunity
Chapter 13
Austin - Unexpected Opportunity
T he diner was the perfect way to celebrate. I didn’t get back to the Kappa Sig house until two in the morning. Since it was Saturday night, groups of people were still partying, not that my adrenaline would’ve let me sleep. It probably would’ve been smarter to go to the farm, but I didn’t want to accidentally wake my mom and scare her.
I planned to sleep as late as I could today because I didn’t have to work until 2:00 p.m. It didn’t end up working out that way, though. I heard my phone buzzing with text notifications around 10:00 a.m., but I rolled over and ignored it. It buzzed a few minutes later. I covered my head with my blanket in protest. Then the phone started ringing. I let it go to voicemail. It started ringing again immediately.
Someone better be on fire. I reached out from under the covers and grabbed it off the charger. Sydney.
“Hello?” I grumbled.
“Hey, Austin! It’s Sydney.”
She sounded chipper. I am not a morning person. “Yes, I know. What are you doing up this early? ”
“Can you come over to my house around noon? It’s important.” She sounded anxious.
I pulled the comforter back over my head to deflect the sunlight sneaking through the side of the blinds. “Why don’t you call Danny?” I wanted to stay in bed.
“This isn’t about him. Brooke’s friend is insistent about talking to us about our song.”
I checked the time: 10:15. “I guess. See you then.”
“Thanks. I’ll text you my address. See you soon.”
Great, now my mind swirled with curiosity. How was I supposed to go back to sleep? What required my immediate attention and presence? I contemplated that thought as I got up and made my way to the shower.
It was an hour later when I tossed my uniform in the back seat of my mom’s car. AAA had towed the Pinto Bean home this morning. Danny and I would take care of that problem tomorrow on our day off.
Sydney’s text led me to a subdivision in a nice part of town. I pulled up in front of a split-level brick house with a two-car garage. There were five cars in the driveway when I arrived. A little earlier than noon, but fine. I walked up the sidewalk and rang the doorbell. The door swung in, and Sydney appeared. Her chestnut curls stuck out around her face. She wore a plain teal V-neck tank top that gave me a glimpse of her ample cleavage.
“I’m here. You want to tell me something?”
“Yes, come in. We’re meeting in the living room.” I followed her up the stairs while I attempted not to notice her juicy behind, wrapped in tight white cut off shorts. Her mom and dad, her older sisters, Brooke and Abby, and a thin, blonde woman congregated around the room. The love seat sat empty, and Sydney directed me to sit there with her. I perched on the front edge of the cushion with my hands on my knees, waiting for someone to speak.
Brooke broke the silence. “Austin, thanks for coming. We wanted to talk to you and Sydney about your song. Let me introduce you to my friend, Venus Anderson. We went to college together. She’s a talent executive with a multimedia company out in L.A., and she’s interested in your song.”
“Thanks, Brooke,” Venus’s voice was like silk. Was she a talent agent or a voice actor? I’d never met a Hollywood type. She was polished-looking. Short, shiny blond hair, awesome eye makeup and glossy lips, a skirt and blouse combo that screamed money to me. Her shoes were the kind with the red soles that all the girls loved. “I heard your song last night,” she said, “and I think it would be perfect for an upcoming movie.”
Sydney and I whipped our heads towards each other in shock as she let that sink in. “We need to move fast if we want a chance to get it added to the soundtrack. That’s why I’m here today.”
I sat there with my mouth hanging open. Sydney did, too. She had rendered us speechless.
Brooke jumped in. “I realize this is a lot to digest, but it’s totally legit. Venus wants to get a demo tape recorded by the end of the week.”
“That means flying you out to L.A. to record the demo,” Venus explained. “I need a live track to pitch to the studio. You will be back in time for your commencement on Saturday.”
Sydney addressed her parents. “What do you think I should do?”
What? Seriously? I couldn’t wait to jump on that plane. Who would be crazy enough to let this moment pass them by? I was sold. Where did I sign?
“It’s not our decision to make,” Sydney’s dad replied. “You’re an adult. Your mom and I have tried to give you the tools to be independent. It’s up to you to decide what to do with this opportunity.”
The opportunity to have our song featured in a movie ! How many people our age could say that? Exactly. I opened my mouth to say something, but Abby interrupted.
“Sissy, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Go to L.A. Make the demo. If you don’t take this chance, you might regret it later.”
I took Sydney’s hand, and she faced me. “Let’s go for it. Abby’s right. What have we got to lose?” Nothing. But we have everything to gain.
She searched my eyes. “Sing for the world?”
“Exactly that,” I said. She spoke with fear, I spoke with assurance.
“I never intended my poem to be seen by anyone. Showcase is one thing but putting it on a soundtrack never crossed my mind. Plus,” she said. “we’re graduating on Saturday. I worked too hard for this to miss it.” She trailed off as she watched my face fall. “I need time to think about this. It’s a big decision. You can do it, though. You don’t need me.”
Venus interjected, “We need you. We need both of you to make this happen. You wrote this together. You both need to sign off on this. The lyrics are the most important part, but the score is what gives it the gut-wrenching emotion. I had goosebumps when you performed last night. When can you two tell me your decision?”
“I can tell you on Monday. I need to get my head around this.” Sydney looked to me for validation, and I nodded my agreement. I needed her to say yes. I could hear the song “Big Star 3 ” playing in my head.
“That’s fair.” Venus stood and held out her card to Sydney and me. “I don’t bet on something unless I’m certain. I’m glad I got to meet both of you.” Brooke walked her to the door and went outside with her.
Abby spoke up. “Hey, Mom. Dad. Let’s give these two privacy.”
They left Sydney and me in the living room. I leaned back into the cushions and waited. We both needed to agree for this to work. Personally, nothing stood in my way. I had counted on going to Nashville and paying my dues after graduation. But now—oh my god, recording a song for a soundtrack? It felt like a golden ticket to me! But without Sydney, this wouldn’t happen at all.
Finally, she spoke. “Austin, I know you want this, but I don’t know if I do. I know most people would jump at this opportunity. But I want to be a music teacher. I’ve wanted this since I was in elementary school. Let’s talk to Professor Nelson and hear his thoughts.”
I nodded. I more than wanted this. I wanted it bad. But I couldn’t push her. I’d learned that about Sydney. “That sounds like a great idea. We can talk to him during his office hours tomorrow morning. Does that work for you?” I stood. “I have to get to work. Text me if you have any other thoughts.”
I drove to work in a daze. I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t seem real. I put Bluetooth on my phone and called Mom. Her car was a lot newer, and fancier than mine. Too bad the Pinto Bean didn’t have this cool technology.
“Hey, sweetie! What’s up?”
“Did you know about the ambush at Sydney’s house?”
“What ambush? No. Are you okay? You sound a little on edge.”
I gave her the condensed version. “It seems like an excellent opportunity. If it was just me, I’d already be on a plane to L.A. But they need Sydney, too, since it’s a duet. Venus said she had goosebumps when she heard us sing it last night.”
“They want you to fly out to L.A. this week? That’s fast.”
“Sydney wants us to talk to Professor Nelson and get him to weigh in.”
“Austin, I’m going to support you regardless. You can always come home if it doesn’t work out the way you hoped. I’m always going to be your biggest fan, no matter what.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I pulled into the parking lot. “I work until eight. Danny and I will drop off your car after that.”
I debriefed Danny during our shift together. Today I wielded the ketchup squirters and he handled the grill.
“If you aren’t the luckiest son of a biscuit! I still can’t believe what Sydney told me when she called me earlier. I am jealous! You’re going to forget all about me when you’re rich and famous. Driving around in your red Lamborghini with a hot babe in the passenger seat, partying with celebrities, living the life. I could fantasize about this for days.”
“Relax, Shorty. Nothing has happened yet.”
“Did you tell Renee?”
“I’m going to call her after work.”
“All I can say is that you better not try and move in on my girl. I think she’s pretty special.”
“I figured that out when you punched me, jerk face.”
Danny chuckled. “You do have a thick neanderthal skull. I’m rooting for you both. You know that, right?”
“I’ll let you know when to break out the pom poms, sweetheart. You know I’ve been in love with country music since my grandpa gave me a guitar for my seventh birthday. It’s why I sing at the opry, the state fair, and anywhere else I can find an audience. I would have gone to Nashville right after high school if I’d had my way. I want this. I can taste it.”
“I know you’ll be a big star, buddy.”
“Not if your girlfriend says no. I’m going to be pissed if some chick gets in the way of my dream. ”
“Hold on a minute, buster. That’s my girl you’re talking about. Sydney is factoring in your feelings about this. Maybe more than she should. Give her a minute to process this.”
“I hate waiting.” I simmered.
“All you can do is wait. I remember one Christmas I woke up early. It was still dark, but I snuck downstairs to see if Santa had come. There were tons of presents under the tree, and I went back upstairs to wake my parents. My dad muttered ‘Go back to bed until it’s daylight.’ That’s hard to do when you’re excited with anticipation.”
Danny hit the bullseye—waiting sucks. I felt sweaty and greasy from slinging burgers all evening. I needed a shower, but I had to take my mom’s car back first. Wendy needed to get to work in the morning, and I needed to revive the Pinto Bean. I hoped Sydney would come around with a little push from Professor Nelson. I could take the waiting if I didn’t end up with coal in my stocking.
3 Chesney, Kenny. “Big Star.” No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems , written by Stephony Smith. EMO Blackwood Music Inc., 2003, track 5.