“Yeah, same as always. Track 4 doesn’t work right and Meri’s vocals are on it,” Lance picked at the mixer with his screwdriver, unscrewing the top and adjusting the wires.

“Meri,” Carmen repeated, a sickenly sweet and fake smile on her face. Carmen couldn’t stand Meredith Edwards, Lance’s artist. She was 17, young, vibrant, and pretty- and out for Lance.

“Ahh, there we go,” Lance grinned as he tightened the cover back on. With the press of a button Meredith’s vocals came through the large speakers, and Carmen inwardly winced.

“Baby, why don’t you give it a break for the night. All work and no play makes Lance a,” Carmen dipped her head to his ear and whisper, “horny boy,” seductivly.

“Please Carm, not now. I have to get this done. Later ok?,” Lance brushed her cheek with his lips then returned to his equipment. Carmen sulked silently out of the room and plopped herself on the couch in the living room. Slowly she drifted of to sleep and was awakened when the door swung open to the house and Meredith popped in.

“Hey Carmen,” Meredith smiled in a perky tone, and Carmen covered her head with a pillow.

“No talent slut,” she mumbled, just loud enough for Meredith to hear.

“Well, if that’s your opinion, it’s a good thing that booth is soundproof,” Meredith continued through the living room unphased by the remark.

‘Soundproof, huh?’ Carmen waited until she heard the door to the studio shut, then opened it silently and watched unnoticed at the top of the stairs. Meredith bounced over to Lance and put her hands over his eyes.

“Guess who, Lancey Poo?,” she chirped. Lance grinned.

“Probably the only person who would call me Lancey Poo, and the only one who would come down here at,” Lance glanced at a clock on the wall near Carmen as she ducked out of view, “1 in the morning.”

“Yeah well. Guess you win,” Meredith let Lance pull her into his lap, and kiss her. Carmen was shocked, but remained quiet in the shadows.

“You as well as I do you can’t do vocals at this time of night. So we’ll have to find something, else to do,” Meredith ran her hands down Lance’s chest. Lance’s eyes dropped to half open and he smiled.

“Come on, we better get in there before someone hears us,” Lance pulled Meredith towards the booth.

“Who? You mean Carmen? She was passed out on the couch,” Meredith frowned, “and besides, she hasn’t caught us yet. And it’s been, what, 4 months?”

Carmen’s jaw dropped. ‘He’s been fooling around with Meredith for four months? That little’ her thoughts were broken by Lance’s deep chuckle. “Yeah, but, baby, I’m just so good, you scream loud. I do have neighbors you know,” Lance’s chest puffed up with pride.

“This is true. Get in that booth. So no one can hear me scream,” Meredith pushed him in and locked the door. Carmen watched in shock and disbelief as Lance and Meredith undressed and had sex against the wall of the recording booth. From the looks on both their faces, there was some loud noise going on in there. But sure enough, Carmen didn’t hear anything but silence. Having had enough, Carmen went upstairs to think.

The next day, Carmen followed Lance into the studio early in the morning, and though she was extremly bored, stayed with him the entire day. The doorbell rang around 9 that night, and Carmen was greeted by Meredith once again.

“Hey Carm. How ya doing?,” Meredith brushed past her and hurried to the studio. Carmen followed her and smiled at her cleverness. She sat for a while as Lance and Meredith worked on Meredith’s album.

“No, Meri, like this,” Lance sang a bit of the harmony to her through the PA in the studio.

“Lance, why don’t you just go in there and help her. Sing it with her. I’m going to bed,” Carmen yawned fakely, and acted sleepy.

She watched as Lance pulled on a pair of headphones and entered the booth. Carmen discreetly pushed the record button on the mixer, then left the room. She had the microphone in the room run through the speakers in the intercom to the house, wiring Lance had done so she could hear him when he did a song. Carmen went quietly to her room and pulled on a t shirt and a pair of Lance’s boxers, then sat down on the bed to listen. Lance and Meredith worked on the song for about twenty minutes when Lance broke the work session.

“I think she’s upstairs now,” he stated. Carmen listened interested as their fling was broadcast into her and Lance’s bedroom. After they had finished, Carmen heard the unmistakable click of the microphone being turned off. Meredith’s shoes clicked on the hardwood floor as she exited the door. Carmen ventured back downstair, and saw Lance sitting at the mixer playing with some effects.

“Hey,” Carmen said softly, putting a hint of sleep into her voice. Lance whirled around quickly in his chair.

“I thought you went to bed,” Lance smiled fakely.

“Couldn’t sleep. I left something unfinished. Can I play with that a minute?,” Carmen reached over Lance and hit the play button on the track she had taped. Lance listened in horror as his and Meredith’s moans, cries, and words of passion were projected throught the speakers. He looked innocently at Carmen.

“Carms, I can explain,” he started to walk towards her but stopped suddenly when she drew a revolver from the waist band of his shorts.

“You can explain huh? Explain sleeping with your not even legal artist right under my nose. Explain that Lance. I’m my own house,” Carmen advanced to him as he retreated back.

“Carmy, it’s nothing. She doesn’t mean anything to me,” Lance pleaded as she forced him into the recording booth.

“Don’t you dare Carmy me, James Lance Bass! You’ve been sleeping with that slut for four months Lance. What, did you think I was that stupid? You don’t record an album at one in the morning,” Carmen said in fury as she closed the door of the booth.

“But I don’t love her Carmen, I love you,” Lance begged.

Carmen let her guard drop for a second. She looked at the man she had been with for the past 3 years, the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. His green eyes clouded in fear, and his chest was heaving for air. She no longer saw the same Lance who had captured her heart, but now the Lance who cheated on her. Instead of love, trust and kindness she saw lies, hatred and deception.

“You might love me Lance, but you can have both,” Carmen’s chocolate eyes narrowed tords him as he cowered in the corner. “I guess it’s just too bad for you Lance. They say sins kill. I guess yours have caught up with you now. It’s a shame though, you were so cute. But too late now baby. There’s no escaping. No one can hear you scream,” Carmen hissed.

Lance’s eyes grew wide and he pressed flatly against the wall. Carmen smiled at him.

“Bye bye bye, baby,” she sang, then pulled the trigger.