*gasp* How is it chapter 40
already?!?!?! I only have 55!!! I better get writing sharpish!! Well I
loooooove this chapter, absolutely love it *ego* lol, and argh Kate’s not here
to share my 40th chapter triumph!! *celebrates by self* Enjoy this
chapter – is a fun one!! xxx
“Owwww…”
Ben
opened his eyes and looked blearily round the room. Why was he in the studio?
Why was he fully clothed? Why was Paul asleep on his shoulder?!
“Paul.”
Ben said, shoving him in the side.
“Uhhhhh…”
Paul muttered semi-consciously as he slumped to the floor.
Ben
rubbed his head.
“Owww.”
He said again.
That
really was quite a lot of pain.
“Paul.”
Ben said again, a little louder.
Paul
frowned and slowly opened his eyes.
“Ow.”
He said, taking in his surroundings. “Am I standing up?” he asked.
Ben
looked down to where Paul was in a heap by his feet
“No.”
“Oh
good. Just so I know.”
“Did
we drink a lot last night?” Ben asked, already knowing the answer.
“It’s
possible.”
“Hmm
thought so.”
“So
um, what day is it?” Paul asked, attempting to sit up and failing.
“Uhhhhh…
Friday? Or Wednesday. Have we had Saturday yet?”
“Are
we in your studio?”
“Yes.”
“Did
we write songs?”
Ben
rubbed his head again in an attempt to make the searing pain go away.
“I
think we were meant to.”
“Did
we go out?”
Ben
stood up and immediately sat down again.
“Don’t
know. I think there was curry…”
Paul
grimaced. “Urgh… don’t mention food. Especially not curry.”
Ben’s
mobile started to ring.
“Phone.”
Paul said from his position on the floor.
“It’s
not mine.” Ben said, looking around to see if he could see a phone.
“It
is yours.”
“It’s
not. Mine’s not that annoying.”
“Mine
just rings.”
“So
does mine.”
“No
it doesn’t. It plays that stupid tune. It’s yours.”
“Is
it?”
“Yes.”
“That
really is very annoying.”
“Answer
it, it’s making my head hurt. More.”
Paul
closed his eyes in defeat.
“I
don’t know where it is.”
“Under
the chair.” Paul said, opening his eyes again and looking to the side of him.
“Right by my head.”
“You
answer it then. I can’t reach it.”
“It’s
under your chair.”
“So
are you!”
Paul
sighed and picked up Ben’s phone.
“Which
button is it?”
Ben
shrugged.
Paul
started to press random buttons until the phone eventually stopped ringing.
“Thank
the lord.”
He
held the phone to his ear.
“Hello?”
he said groggily.
“Paul?”
“Quite
possibly.”
“Why
have you got Ben’s phone?” Mark asked.
“It
was under the chair.”
There
was a confused silence on Mark’s end.
“Okay,
good. Did you two get drunk last night?”
“Uuuuuum…”
“Who
is it?” Ben asked half-heartedly.
Paul
made a face. “I don’t know.” He whispered loudly.
“Paul,
it’s Mark.” Mark informed him, having heard what Paul just said.
“Ohhhhhhhhh!!!
It’s Mark.” Paul whispered to Ben again. “Mark?”
“Yes
Paul.”
“No,
Mark.”
Mark
sighed. “Where are you Paul?”
“On
the floor.” Paul said.
“On
the floor where?”
“Ben’s
flat.”
“Oh
good. You can let me in then.”
Now
it was Paul’s turn to be confused.
“Paul,
do you remember what we’re meant to be doing this morning?” Mark asked slowly,
like he was talking to a small child.
“Ummm…
what day is it?”
“Tuesday.”
“Oh!”
Paul exclaimed loudly, instantly regretting it. “Ow.” He said, holding his
head. “We have a meeting.”
“Yes.
But that’s this afternoon. Do you remember what we’re doing this morning?”
“What
time is it?”
“11
o’ clock.”
“Right,
um… what are we meant to be doing this morning?” Paul asked Ben.
“Meeting.”
Ben said, looking pleased with himself.
“Meeting.”
Paul said into Ben’s phone.
“Paul,
just let me in.”
“Where
are you?”
“Outside
the front door.”
“Why?”
“I’m
delivering pizza.” Mark said.
Paul
looked at Ben confused.
“Mark’s
delivering pizza.”
“Can
I talk to Mark?” Ben asked Paul.
Paul
handed him the phone.
“Hello?”
“Ben?”
“Yes.”
“Are
you sober?” Mark asked.
“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.”
Ben said.
“That’ll
be no then. Ben, can you let me in?”
“In
where?”
“Into
your flat!”
“Oh,
okay.”
Ben
put the phone down on the table without hanging up and hauled himself out of
the swivelly chair he was sitting in.
“Ow!”
Paul protested.
“What?”
“You
stepped on me.”
“Mark
wants to come in.”
“I
know.” Paul said. “He told me.”
Ben
stepped carefully over Paul and stumbled over to the other side of the studio
to the door. After several attempts to open it the wrong way, he made it out into
the hall. Sun was streaming in through all the windows and Ben had to shield
his delicate eyes. He laughed to himself as he walked down the hall.
“Like
a vampire.” He said.
He
spent several minutes fumbling with the lock before he flung the door open to
reveal Mark standing on the doorstep.
“Mark!”
Ben exclaimed, as if he was surprised to see him.
Mark
smiled and walked into the flat.
“Morning
Ben.” He said. “Ready for seven hours of non-stop gruelling rehearsals?”
Ben
looked confused. “Where’s the pizza?”
“Do
you want pizza?”
“Urgh,
no.” Ben said, holding his stomach.
Mark
looked into the front room.
“Good
night?” he asked.
Ben
stood next to him and looked at the mountains of empty beer bottles and several
empty takeaway containers.
“I
need coffee.” Ben mumbled, going into the kitchen and flicking the kettle on.
“Where’s
Paul?” Mark asked, surveying the state of Ben with amusement.
Ben
just gestured in the vague direction of the studio and concentrated on trying
not to throw up.
Mark
made his way to the studio and opened the door. He almost laughed at his
unsurprise at seeing Paul on the floor.
“Good
morning.” He said cheerily.
“I’m
fine.” Paul said automatically, attempting once more to get up.
“Of
course you are Paul. And in a fit state for working in the studio with me and
Chris this morning I’m sure.”
“What?”
“You’re
a pop star, remember? You’re in a1. Ring a bell?”
“Oh
ha ha, very funny. Where’s Ben?”
“Making
coffee.” Mark said.
“This,”
Paul gestured randomly around him. “is all his fault.”
“Is
it really?”
“Yes.
It is. He made me drink alcohol. I suspect there was a lot of alcohol.”
Mark
walked over to Paul and pulled him to his feet.
“Owwwwww,
careful!!”
“Should
learn to handle your drink better Paul.”
“Shut
up.” Paul muttered grumpily, walking with Mark back to the kitchen.
“Get
much done last night then?” Mark asked.
Paul
and Ben exchanged glances.
“Oh
I can’t remember!” Ben admitted, taking several hundred painkillers with a mug
of coffee. “Why are you here anyway?”
Mark
sighed. “Did both of you completely forget?”
“Uh…
yes.”
“We’re
meant to be working on the new album this morning before the meeting with Tim
and Vicky.”
“We
are?” Ben asked.
“Yes.”
Mark said.
There
was a silence while Ben and Paul wracked their brains trying to remember.
“Oh
you two are useless! Well that was the plan… I guess that’s not happening now…”
Mark said, laying on the guilt.
He
was pleased to see that Ben and Paul did look suitably guilty.
“Sorry.”
Ben said.
“Never
mind. Make it up tomorrow yeah? Me and Chris had a good run in the studio on
Sunday. Got a couple of pretty good tracks down.”
“Did
we…” Paul stopped mid sentence.
“What?”
“Nah,
I just got a weird déjà vu thing. Did we get any songs done last night?”
“I
don’t know…” Ben said. “Maybe. I can’t really remember very much of what we
did.”
“No
surprise there then.” Mark said.
“Hang
on.” Paul said, disappearing from the kitchen in the direction of the studio.
“I
better ring Chris, tell him it’s off.” Mark said.
“Yeah.
I am really sorry Mark. We sho…”
“Ta-da!!”
Paul said, coming back into the kitchen holding Ben’s lyrics book. “You said
that love was just a state of mind. A puzzle made of pieces you can’t find. But
for me you never really had the time. I was blind.” Paul read triumphantly.
“Let
me see that.” Ben said, snatching the book off Paul. A smile spread across his
face. “We have a song!” he said, scanning the page. “And it’s actually quite
good!”
“Drunken
Paul and Ben quite good, or really quite good?” Mark asked.
Ben
threw the book at him. “Oh alright Mr. I’m-so-damn-talented-I-can-write-songs
in-my-sleep. We’re very sorry about this morning, and feel very guilty, and
ill, but you can stop with the sarcasm now.”
Mark
smiled. “Okay, let’s see this song.” He said, picking the book off the floor
where it had landed.
Just
as he’d started reading, there was a knock on the door.
“That’ll
probably be Chris. I keep forgetting he’s always early.” Mark said, still
reading.
“I’ll
go.” Ben said, walking down the hall to open the door. “Alright Chris.”
“Hi.”
“There’s
been kind of a change of plan.” Ben said, leading Chris to the kitchen where
the rest of the band were.
“Oh
yeah? Hi guys.” Chris said to Paul and Mark.
“Yeah,
um, me and Paul…”
“Are
in no fit state to write songs this morning after drinking a vast amount of
alcohol last night.” Mark finished for him.
“Thanks
Mark.” Ben said.
“Why
am I not surprised by that?” Chris said with a smile. “What are we doing
then?”
Mark
shrugged. “Me and you in the studio until this afternoon?”
“Yeah,
if you want.”
“Think
it’d be a good idea. I have a feeling we’re gonna be asked about our progress
at the meeting this afternoon.”
“What
is that about? Does anyone know?” Chris asked.
“Don’t
ask us, we never know anything.” Paul said, pouring himself another mug of
coffee.
“No,
I don’t know.” Mark said. “Could be about the Asia tour though. It’s being
cancelled apparently.”
“Really?”
Chris asked,
“That’s
what I heard.”
“Ow,
I was looking forward to that.”
“I’m
glad we’re not doing it anymore. I didn’t want to go in the first place. It’s
for too long.” Ben said.
“It’s
only a couple of weeks.”
“Exactly,
it’s too long. I don’t like being away from home for ages. Freaks me out.”
“Why’s
it being cancelled?”
“Dunno.
Guess we’ll find out later.”
“Do
you reckon that’s all the meeting’s about then?” Paul asked.
“Yeah
I should think so. I can’t think of anything else they’d want to discuss with
us.”
“No…”
“What
do you think of the song then?” Ben asked eagerly.
“It’s
good. I’m surprised.” Mark said.
“See,
have faith in us.”
“Very
sorry. Has it got music?”
“Good
question.” Ben said.
“It
might have. We’ll have to go and see if we recorded anything last night.” Paul
said.
“Well
me and Chris’ll leave you to do that. I’ll give Del a ring, see if he can get
us a slot at the studios.”
“We
could go round to mine if you want.” Chris offered. “What have we got to work
on?”
“Uhhh,
did we finish the intro chords?”
“Too
technical, I’m going to the loo.” Ben said, leaving the room.
Chris
smiled. “I think we were working on the out rather than the intro.”
“We
can do that at your house, can’t we?”
“Yeah
definitely. Fully equipped with instruments and recording equipment.”
“Cool.
We’ll be off then.” Mark said to Paul. “See if we can knock together at least
one song to show Tim if he asks for one.”
“Is
Vicky going to be there?” Paul asked.
“Dunno.
Del said Tim and Vicky, but he always says that. If she is there though we can
safely assume it’s something big they want to talk to us about.”
“I
hope she’s not there.” Paul said. “Don’t think I can cope with big at the
moment.”