//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: If you only get one chance... // Story: A one week stand // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// Vinyl took a slow, deep breath as she looked at her phone. She couldn't believe him! After the awesome two days they had, he hadn't even called her. She was sure he was busy, but that was no excuse. He could have taken just a few minutes to give her a call and let her know he was too busy today to see her. They only had a few days left to be together, and he wasted the whole day ignoring her. She wanted to break him like a twig. Crush him like a grape. Toss him out a window. How could he possibly have been such a jerk? As petty as it was, she'd spent the last few hours taking his songs and destroying them, adding all the little things she was sure he'd hate to make them the kind of thing that would play at a club. It was therapeutic, but useless she knew. Not like she'd do anything with them. She glanced back at the clock and sighed. It was only a few hours until midnight and he still hadn't even given her the time of day. She couldn't believe she'd misjudged him so. Well, fine. He was just a fling anyway and-- Her phone went off and she grabbed it instantly. She stopped before answering it, though. Would she sound desperate? Would she-- She rolled her eyes and clicked accept. Okay, annoyed or not she was not going to let herself be that kind of person. She was wayyyyy too cool for that. “Hello.” “I am so so so so so sorry!” Octavia said from the other line. “I have a good excuse, but I am really, really sorry.” “I'd sure hope so. It's almost ten, you know. Where have you been?” “That's just it. I've been talking with my manager. How would you feel about doing some mixes for a few of our other songs?” That made her head nearly explode and her hand tightened around the phone. “W-what?” “He said it was pretty good and he has just the right record company who'd love to see some of--” “When? Where? How?” she asked, a wide grin forming on her lips. She could kiss him! Well, kiss him again. And again and again and until his lips fell off. “Err, whenever you can. You have some of our other songs, right? Could you put some things together tonight?” She looked down at the sound system, cringing at the only thing she had saved was the remixes she was using to destroy his music. She quickly tapped a few times, deleting them. “I'll stay up all night if I have to.” “Okay. Put a cd together of a few more of them. Add some of your music, too. An official one. I can grab it tomorrow and we can go down there and show it, okay?” She nodded, then realized how foolish that was. “R-right! I will!” She paused and nervously gulped. “I uhhh... I'm just curious, why are you doing this?” “I liked the music we made together.” There was a bit of laughter in the background. “You know I didn't mean it like that! You heard her music!” he snapped at someone. She lightly snickered. “Who's with you?” “Beauty. He came with me when I talked to the manager. I uhh, I need to get some sleep though, tonight was really hectic. Tomorrow, see you then?” “Of course. I'll be all yours.” “Good. I uhhh, bye.” “Bye.” ------ Octavia took a deep breath as he stared at the phone. He couldn't believe he'd done that. Her music was good, but he was only going to know her for a short time. No matter how good they sounded together, it was a lot of extra energy that he should have been focusing on his own works. But she had talent and he couldn't deny it. And he definitely couldn't deny her. It just wouldn't be fair. “If you keep staring at your phone like that, it's going to burst into flame,” Beauty whispered, making him jump. “W-what? No, I wasn't, I was just... thinking.” “Hoping if she gets picked up she can join us on our tours?” he asked with a mischievous smile as he leaned back in the lounge chair. “Come on, we should head back to the hotel. You want to get some sleep tonight, don't you?” “O-of course,” he muttered, before glancing back to the phone. “You heard her music. It was good, right?” “I think it mixed well with your playing. But I don't think it would go well with the quartet. It mixed really well with your cello, but all of our music playing together...” He shook his head. “We've been playing together for years. Adding on something like that just wouldn't work well.” Octavia sighed and gave a nod. “Right. Come on, let's get a taxi.” He started walking towards the door, but stopped when his hand was grabbed. “What?” “Just because it won't work with with all of us, doesn't mean it won't work well with you,” Beauty said with a little smile. “Come on, smile. If you want to do a little solo work, no one is going to blame you. You'd hardly be the first. Besides, it's not like it would be the first time you'd done something like that.” He chuckled and gave a nod. “I guess. I'd just like it a bit more if... well...” “If we all did things together? You just met her, I wouldn't try planning your life together quite yet. At least date her for a few months first.” His cheeks burned red. “I-it's not like that! I love her music, it's quite--” “Quite good, I've heard,” Beauty said with a smirk before letting go and walking towards the door. “Come on, let's get some sleep. Frederick and Parish are probably already asleep by now.” Octavia sighed and followed after him. He then lowered his gaze. “I'm not... wrong, am I? The music was good, wasn't it?” “Of course it was. Uncle Belle wouldn't have been made the offer after he heard it if it wasn't.” Octavia nodded again. At least he could be sure his sense of music was still working, even if the rest of his senses had abandoned him. ------ Vinyl took a slow, deep breath and held a hand over her chest to try and keep her heart under control. She held three cds in her other hand and her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. She couldn't believe it, this could be her big chance. Well, maybe not her big chance but a chance. Their quartet was popular and she knew she could do all kinds of mixes with it to help bring it alive. She'd spent all night working on it, in fact she hadn't gotten any sleep at all. It was, unfortunately, making it a bit hard to focus and she kept drifting off, but she was sure it would be fine. She'd poured her heart into these cds and they were going to be amazing. They'd beg her to do all their music, or at the very least start selling some of hers. She had the talent, the skill, the dedication. All she needed was the opportunity. Now she knew someone. And as she had learned long ago, it was more who you knew than how good you were. Usually. It was all she could do to avoid squealing like a child with excitement. She glanced to the door and let out a nervous gulp. He'd be here any minute and then they'd be off. She'd be off. Their agent would love her work and she'd get a few good sales. With those, maybe she could negotiate the rights to use her songs at the club. If they were popular already, the boss would be giving up money saying no. Even if she still said no, Vinyl could always try to get a new position where her music would be better appreciated. She took a deep breath and shook her head. First step first. She had to meet the agent and for that, she needed Octavia. A sudden knock on the door made her suppress a squeal and she tore it open before he had a chance to finish. “Oh, you're ready already? I thought... err, are you okay? Did you sleep okay?” “Didn't sleep, too excited,” Vinyl said with a wide grin. He chuckled. “You should have at least tried, you...” He sighed and shook his head. “I'm not really one to talk, I guess. I've never really been one to sleep when I'm excited either. To be honest, I didn't sleep very well last night either. Come on, the cab is downstairs waiting.” She nodded and quickly followed after him, only stopping to close and lock the door. “So, your agent really liked them?” “Yes. He's a pretty good guy, too. You'll like him.” “How did you meet him?” “He's Beauty's uncle.” That made her pause for a moment and nearly miss a step as her groggy mind tried to process that. “Wait, really?” was all her tired mind could come up with. “Yes. He knows quite a few people in the industry and has really helped our careers take off. We probably wouldn't be nearly as successful without his know how. Parish is pretty good maneuvering the hurdles we have to face sometimes, but he's nowhere near as good.” Vinyl nodded. “I see. That makes sense. It can be... err...” “Difficult without knowing the right people? Quite so,” he said as they stepped outside. “I've known a few who managed to do it alone with their talent and skill, but very few. Here.” He pulled open the door and motioned inside. She slid in and moved up against the side door, her exhausted mind racing back and forth as she tried to process everything. This wasn't just some agent she was meeting, this was an actual family member of the ensemble. What if her stuff really wasn't good and he was just flattering her because she was dating Octavia temporarily? What if this was all his doing to try and take advantage of her, to put her in his debt? Why were these seats so incredibly comfortable? ------ Octavia smiled as he watched the sleeping woman, her head lolled to one side as a little drool went down the seat. It brought back so many memories of the sleepless nights he'd spend in preparation for their first few concerts. Not to mention the number of times they'd had to go on stage with only two or three hours of sleep between them. The travel, the hard work. The times they'd spent an entire road trip just sleeping. It was one of the reasons none of them wanted to learn to drive, because they all knew they'd end up being the one without sleep when those times came around. They still did more often than he cared to admit. He glanced to the cds clasped tightly in her hands, the fingers holding them in a death grip. He could barely believe she'd actually made three in one night. But she did have the talent. He just hoped she'd be okay doing most of her work solo or just with him. The more he thought about it, the more he was certain that Beauty was right. It wouldn't be fair to expect the others to work with her if they didn't like the music. They had enough on their minds without worrying about adding their music to hers. Of the four, he was the only one who tended to enjoy doing his solos. Developing his own music and exploring different options. And this was an option he'd never imagined possible. In many ways it took his breath away. There were so many different things he could do with such devices, different songs. Vinyl obviously knew what she was doing, knew how to add and support his music. He felt a thrill go through him at the thought of discovering what other music they could make together. His cheeks went a little red as he realized how those words sounded, even in his head. He looked to her and took a deep breath before shaking his head. It was just a passing fling, after all. They both knew that. Even if he got her career going, their professional and personal lives weren't connected and they would both know better than to try to mix them. But as he watched her, another dark thought entered his mind. What if she was using him and this was all just a plan to help get her career in the air? He'd met more than a few people who'd resorted to such tactics. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not. She was wild, powerful. Very forward. Most women he'd met didn't tend to be so forward, at least not towards him. Sometimes with Parish, even Beauty, but never him. He'd never really been good with women and now this one was pushing her way into his life like a train ramming through a barricade. Even worse, it had been her idea to go to her place, to show him her sound system. She worked at that club and she wanted him to see her. What if the entire time he was being played? He shook his head and turned back towards the window. It made far, far too much sense that that would be the case. But it didn't matter. His personal life and business life would remain separate. Even if she wasn't interested in him romantically, she could help him create the kinds of sounds he'd never truly envisioned. He'd only known her for a week, as well. It's not like his feelings could possibly be any more than infatuation. If she was just using him, he'd push through it and be over it in a week or two, he was sure of it. It would hardly be the first time he'd had to. But when he looked at her, sleeping in the taxi, so unaware of the outside world, he just couldn't believe it. She seemed too... innocent of such thoughts. He couldn't imagine her being the sort to use someone for her own gain. At least, not intentionally. The taxi drew to a stop and he glanced up, before reaching up to shake her arm. “We're here.” “W-wah? Silver? Turn off the... huh?” she grumbled and looked around blearily. “Where are we?” “Come on. We're here to meet my agent, remember?” He opened the door and stepped out, holding his hand out to her. She took it and was slowly drawn out, looking around and blinking blearily. Then her eyes went up and she blinked a few more times. A sky scraper stood ahead of them, the tip piercing the heavens. The sunlight glittered across the many windows, making it appear as if it was made of jewels. “We're... meeting him here? But this is so... so...” “Grandoise?” “Fancy,” she grumbled before looking down at herself. “Should I have worn something more serious?” He looked at her and then at himself. She was wearing some long shorts and a blouse while he was wearing a pair of pants and a simple t-shirt. “I think it's fine. We aren't interviewing for a job and he doesn't care how you look. Don't be so nervous, it's fine.” He took her hand and gently started leading her towards the building. She smiled and followed behind him, before stopping. “Octavia?” “Yeah?” She took a deep breath and squeezed his hand. “How much time do we have?” “About twenty minutes. I wanted us to get early. Why?” “Good.” She dragged him forward, besides the building. She then looked up at him. “Okay, listen. I'd rather not have to say this, but I don't want to spend the entire meeting panicking about it and frankly I've always faced these things head on. Now is not the time for me to stop.” She glared up at him defiantly. “You aren't just helping me because you think I'm hot and we made out, are you?” “W-what?” “Listen, you're cute. I'd have made out with you regardless. I don't mind a little help, but I want my music to be noticed because it's good. Not because I happen to be making out with a cellist. If he's only listening to my stuff because--” “He's not, I swear,” Octavia said before reaching out to grip her shoulders. “I love the sound you made. The things you did and added to my music was beautiful. I am helping you with this, I won't deny. But I'm doing it because I think you're very talented. He wouldn't be willing to see you if he didn't think so too.” He then looked to the side. “I want to see what else you can do for my music.” She nodded and took a deep breath. Then she smiled and gave a cocky grin. “Good, one last thing. Do you think I should lose the glasses? They aren't too much, are they?” Octavia stared for a moment, looking into the red lens. Then, he was unable to stop himself, he burst into laughter. “Hey!” “I-I'm sorry, that was just... Oh heavens, yes they are. But you should keep them. I think being too much is your talent,” he said with a chuckle, moving a hand to cover his mouth. She chuckled and gave a nod. “Well, as long as you're sure. Come on, let's go.” He nodded and reached down to grab her hand. “I uhh... you aren't just dating me because I--” “Please, if I was going to do something like that I'd have dated an agent. You just have a cute butt.” “Oh, okay then.” He paused for a moment and looked down. “Wait, really? It's--” “It's a bit bony, but it's pretty good. You have really good hips. Child bearing hips, even.” “Oh, that's-- HEY!” She grinned. “Come on, you asked. I couldn't not say it.” He rolled his eyes. “You're quite insulting sometimes, you do realize this?” “Of course. But you know you love it.” She gripped his hands and pulled him in, giving him a kiss on the lips. “Come on, let's go talk to your agent. Before I decide to take another nap.” He smiled and gave a nod. “Of course.” He turned back around and started leading her into the building. ------ “Wake up.” Vinyl heard the voice but didn't want to do it. The couch they'd sat in was just so comfortable. Octavia's shoulder was just so soft for her head to lay on, too. Not to mention all the circulated air was keeping the place nice and toasty. It took her a few more seconds to remember where she was and she quickly sat up. “Ahhh!” “I'm happy you decided to join us, miss Scratch,” a man said from across the room behind a desk. He was wearing a black suit and had short, graying hair. “I'm happy you find the chairs so comfortable.” She smiled sheepishly. “S-sorry, I didn't sleep very well last night.” “Of course,” he said with a nod. “You'd be amazed how many hopefuls I've had sleeping on that couch while waiting for their meetings with me. Sorry I was out of the office, justa minor thing I had to take care of,” he said with a shrug. “Now, I assume Octavia has told you about me, but allow me to introduce myself. I am Belle Brass. Beauty's uncle. A pleasure to meet you.” “Vinyl Scratch. Ummmm... DJ,” she said with a nervous smile. “I made a few cds if you want to hear them?” She held them out and the man took them. “Interesting. You made these all last night?” “Two of them. One is actually my demo. The other two are some remixes I did of Octavia's and his quartet's music. They--” “Let me stop you right there,” he said firmly. “We've already had a few discussions about it. You won't be working with the quartet. You'll be working with Octavia alone.” Vinyl nodded and gulped a little. Maybe her initial worries were correct, he was just trying to use her. “May, err, I ask why?” “He's the one looking to add new music. The others aren't so keen on the idea. Perhaps in the future there may be a change, but for now it would just be him. Which one is of your music?” She gulped and pointed towards the one on the bottom. “It's the one with the blue and white label.” She glanced towards Octavia, he looked as nervous as she felt. “Octavia's songs are mostly on the second cd. I also added the one I'd already done.” He nodded and then stood up, walking to the stereo he had on the nearby shelf. “Now then, how about we give it a listen?” He inserted the three cds. What happened next was the worst hour of her life. He went through the songs, one by one. He'd fast forward through most of them, only getting little hints and samples of the flow. He completely skipped over the quartet's songs which, unfortunately, were most of them. He didn't say anything and she had too many butterflies in her stomach to say anything. She could only helplessly listen as her music played. Every single mistake and error she made now so clearly cast in front of her. Places where she should have adjusted them. One of the songs made her want to slam her head into the ground. How could she have gotten the timing so bad? If she hadn't rushed so much she would have been fine. Instead she now had her possible future hanging in the balance and she hadn't even had time to properly prepare. It didn't help that the man didn't seem to have any emotion on his face as he listened. Then, finally, it was over. He paused the cd. “Was that the last of Octavia's melodies?” She nodded nervously, too tense to say a word. “Okay then.” He ejected the cds and took a seat across from her again. He looked her over and took a deep breath. “Well, Vinyl, I have some bad news.” She felt like the floor had fallen out from under her. “Y-yes?” “Your stuff is good. Pretty good. The songs you did with Octavia were quite exquisite. Your demo was one of the better ones I'd heard. I think you have a bright future ahead of yourself, given time. But...” She took a deep breath and waited for the hammer to fall. “I can't recommend you to my higher ups. We sign only a few people a year and I see plenty of musicians with your level of talent. We're looking for something truly unique and spectacular. Maybe if you'd already had an established fan base, we could use that as a starting point. But as a relative unknown, you're not worth the risk.” Vinyl cringed and gave a nod. It hadn't been the first time she'd been told that. It was one of the reasons she'd wanted to play her own music at the club. But she had a sneaking suspicion that her boss knew that and wasn't going to risk letting one of her best DJs get big so she could quit. “I understand. It's cool though, really,” she said with a smile before looking up, waving it off. “I'll just keep getting better and one day I'll make it.” He took another deep breath before looking to Octavia. Then he turned back to her. “However, I can advise you here. There is still an opportunity, though I imagine it is nowhere near what you were hoping for.” “What?” Vinyl asked, feeling just a little bit of the ground coming up under her. Maybe there was something to stand on. “I am Octavia's agent and he's asked to... he wants you to work with him regardless. We could offer you a short term contract. Six months. But you'd be traveling with the quartet. It wouldn't be easy work and your name wouldn't be the lead on most of what you're looking for. But it could be a way to get your name out there. In six months... who knows?” Vinyl's eye twitched. “You... don't say.” She squeezed her legs so hard she thought she might break them. “It will be short notice, as well. You'd have to leave with the rest of the quartet this weekend.” He paused and pulled out a small envelope, before holding it out to her. “These hold the terms. Take as much time as you need, just make sure to let us know by Saturday afternoon.” She took it, having to resist the urge to tear it up. “I'll let you know.” He nodded. “Very well. Please, have a wonderful evening you two.” Octavia got to his feet and held out his hand, but she ignored it. She headed out the door and squeezed the envelope once she was out of sight. As furious as she was, she wasn't going to cause a scene inside the building. She could do it when she was in the cab. He followed after her a moment later. “I'm sorry. Do you want me to take you home? I--” “I'm not going to sleep with you, you know,” she said angrily, trying to suppress the anger but it felt like it would boil over at any second. “I... I'm sorry?” She took a deep breath and then pushed the button for the elevator. She didn't say anything until it opened and she dragged him inside, pushing the lobby button. “I'm not going to sleep with you. Do you think I don't know what this means?” She held up the envelope. “Was he not interested in my music at all? Was this all just some trick to try to get your jollies off?” “W-what? No, I wasn't--” “I'm not an idiot,” she snapped and glowered at him. “'Your music isn't good enough. But please, follow my client around like a puppy for six months, then we can ditch you at any time'. It's obvious what--” To her surprise, all of a sudden he had her by the shoulders and pulled her close, staring into her eyes. “I swear, with every fiber of my being, that's not what this is,” he said firmly. “If you want to break up right now, the offer still stands. No matter what. The music we made that night, please don't snicker, was marvelous. I want to see what else you can do. What we can do.” He let her go and crossed his arms. “I am a member of the quartet, but that's not all I want to be. I want to see the outer edges of where my music can take me. I want to mix and mold different sounds together. The music you showed me that day was beautiful and I want to see what else you can do with it. What we can do. That's why I insisted that he make that offer.” He pulled back. “Please. All I ask is that you look at that contract and think about it. I know it's a big risk, but I think we could do big things together.” He looked away then. “But... if you decline, I understand. But please, do it for the right reasons. Not because you think I'm trying to... with you. I swear that's not the case.” His cheeks were light pink as he stared away. Vinyl sighed before giving a nod. “Fine. I'll... get some sleep, then take a look at it. I'll let you know what I think then.” Maybe it was the fact she was so sleep deprived, but she couldn't help but trust him. He really didn't seem the sort to just use her like that. Besides, certainly if he was that hard up there were easier ways to find someone. Ways that didn't involve contracts. Before she decided anything she needed to get home and get some sleep. She felt like she'd drop off at any point. ------ Vinyl groaned as she sat up, looking around her room drearily. She couldn't remember getting to bed, but sure enough she was in it now. Her glasses and a little envelope were on the table besides her bed, waiting for her. It took her a few moments to remember everything that happened. When she did, she practically jumped from the mattress and tore the envelope open before she landed on the floor. Her eyes scanned over it quickly. She had to stop and rub her eyes, the words swimming before her. “Calm down, deeeeep breaths,” she said before looking at it again. There was a lot of legal things she didn't understand, but she kept reading through it as she tried to decipher what it meant. When it finally clicked she froze in place. They weren't kidding, accepting this would be a huge risk. She'd have to quit her job and leave town. She wouldn't even have time to pack, she'd just have to grab a few things and go. But there was pay. Good pay. She'd be staying in the same places as the ensemble(in her own room) and traveling with them. Same accommodations. They couldn't just dump her off at a cheap hotel and leave her behind. Meals would be spent with them. The pay was actually decent, too. Not a lot, but considering her required expenses would be minimal, she'd be making a pretty penny. She could save some of the money, use a bit for storage and then when the six months were over, she'd just have to find a new job. She'd also get royalties on all songs she worked on Octavia with. As far as she could tell, it was a pretty fair deal. More than fair. When she first started out she'd have jumped at a deal like this. But now she had a job and a room mate. She could help pay rent for a little bit until Silver found a new one, but if she lost this job, there was no telling how long it would take to get a new one. It had taken her months just to get that one. She didn't think she could handle going back to working fast food or stocking aisles at a super market. Music was her passion, her love. She stared at it for a few more moments before calling out. “Hey, Silver?” “What?” the woman called from the other room. Well, at least she was home. “Can we talk for a moment?” “Sure, I'm just taking apart this waffle maker. Come on down.” Vinyl nodded and got up, sliding her glasses on and stepping into the hall. She glanced down at the contract again before walking to the front room. ------ “I think you should do it,” Silver said after a moment. “How often does a chance like this fall into your lap? Well, or try to break your nose, I guess.” “But what if it doesn't work out?” “You marry Octavia after six months and make him pay to have your musical career take off. I mean, DJ marries fancy cellist has got to be worth some sort of publicity. That'll sell some music for sure.” Vinyl snickered and gave a nod. “So... uhhhh, about me leaving... I, errr... I know--” “Just pay rent for two months and I'll figure it out,” Silver said with a shrug. “I have a few logs in the fire. Besides, you make it big and I'll have people paying big money to rent the room that Vinyl used to sleep naked in.” The DJ face palmed. “I didn't sleep naked in it.” “That's not what the ad space will say.” Vinyl rolled her eyes, before leaning forward to give her a hug. “Thanks. I uhhh... I don't know what I'd do without you.” “Probably live on the street. Come on, relax! Once you make it big you know I'm going to make you buy me a house,” Silver said with a chuckle. “That or I'll make you pay for a mixer the size of a house.” Vinyl's eyes lit up. “Do you think you could make something like that?” “Oh, sure, it'd be easy. Plumbing would be hard, but all you'd have to do is knock out a few walls. Well, all the walls. And the roof. Easy.” “Well, at least now we know what I'm buying with my first million,” Vinyl said before pulling away. “Thanks. I uhh, I better call the boss. She's not going to be happy.” “Want me to tell her?” “No, no, I'll do it,” Vinyl muttered before pulling out her phone. She took a deep breath before walking back towards her room and dialing the number. Someone answered after a few seconds, but she couldn't hear what they said. “Hey! It's Vinyl, is Strobe there?” There was a few more moments of heavy music and yelling. “Get away from the speakers! How did you even hear the phone ring?” “It flashes green,” a voice said. “Who is this?” “It's Vinyl. Is Strobe there?” “Oh! Yeah, she's in her office. Want me to send the call back?” “Please.” Vinyl rolled her eyes. What else could she possibly want. There was a few moments of ringing before a click. “Hello, Strobe speaking,” “Heyyyyy. Strobe, it's Vinyl.” “Hmm? What's up? You're not trying to call in sick, are you? You're not on until tomorrow.” “Errr... yeah, about that.” She took a deep breath, she could do this. She was Vinyl. Besides, it wasn't like she wanted to spend the rest of her life in a dead end job like that. Even if she was doing mostly what she loved. “A great opportunity has come up and I kind of... I'm calling to quit.” There were a few moments of silence. If not for the constant thump in the background, she probably could have heard a pin drop. “You're... quitting?” “Yeah. Errr... Actually, I'll be leaving on Sunday.” “WHAT? You expect me to cover you in just two days? After everything I've done for you?” She could hear her boss take a deep breath. “This is because you can't play your music here, isn't it?” “No,” Vinyl lied. It was part of the reason, at least. “Listen, I tried. Really. But you know the rules. If I don't own the music, it doesn't sound good to have it come from my club.” “You don't own any of the music coming from your club,” Vinyl muttered darkly. “You just own a license to play it. I offered free rental and you shot me down.” “That's because you're a nobody, I can't just play music like that. Listen, Vinyl, we can work this out. How about... one night a month you can—” “No,” Vinyl said firmly. “I'm sorry Strobe, but my mind is made up. I'll leave my mixes.” Not that it made much difference. She knew Strobe played most of them on nights she wasn't there anyway. “But I won't be there. I'm leaving Sunday.” “FINE!” Strobe yelled. “Don't bother showing up tomorrow, either! I can't believe you're so selfish, Vinyl. After I--” The DJ clicked the phone shut and glared at it. She couldn't believe it, she'd actually done it. She'd quit her job. There was no going back now. She then pulled out the contract and took one last deep breath. Now that she thought about it, she probably should have quit AFTER signing the contract. But it was too late now. Besides, she had momentum now. If she spent too much time thinking about it, she might chicken out. She grabbed a pen and quickly signed on the bottom. She swore she heard lightning crash in the background.