Chapter 12

       Getting home from LA, I expected to be ignored like I had been for the past couple days. Shockingly, I actually wasn't ignored.

       Instead, I was almost yelled at. I thought it was going to be because I missed the meeting with the record label, but it wasn't.

       "Why didn't you tell us you have a girlfriend?" Otis asked. "I thought we were done keeping secrets from each other!"

       "Yeah, we were," I said. "And I honestly was going to tell you and Ricky, right before Agatha showed up out of the blue to be our manager again."

       "Me and Ricky?" Otis asked. "So..." He looked over at Junior. "You know?"

       Junior sighed. "Yeah. I found out, and I had to keep it a secret since they were keeping my relationship a secret."

       "Wait," Ricky said. "They as in...? Does... does that mean... Oh, wow. All this time, you and Aviva were dating. It was right under our noses and we didn't notice. I'm officially stupid."

       "Officially?" I asked. "I thought you always were."

       "Hey, now isn't the time to be rude to me," Ricky said. "Otis, Junior, and I are still very much mad at you very always baling on us."

       "Actually, I'm not," Junior said, which made Ricky glare at him. "Oh, come on. We all know it's Agatha's fault Malachi has been so MIA with band business. She's the one that pressured Malachi to be in that stupid publicity stunt, which he would be in if I didn't call Chelsea to see if she made any sort of agreement with her manager about it. She didn't, so she didn't do anything wrong by calling it off. Besides, we all knew Malachi and Aviva were going to start dating eventually."

       "Speaking of Aviva, where is she?" I asked.

       "With her family," Otis said. "Her grandmother is doing a lot better, by the way, and she was released from the hospital. Not that you would know since you're always off doing other things."

       "Am I the only one thinking logically?" Junior asked. "Seriously, I'm the youngest one here but it seems like I'm the smartest one here. Agatha is the one causing all of this. Malachi has tried so many times to stop letting Agatha control him, but she's going crazy. She's the one who keeps setting things up for Malachi when she knows the band has a meeting or something else planned."

       "Thank you, Junior," I said. "Did... Did Aviva say anything to you about the... the song I sang?"

       "She did," Junior said.

       "So... What did she say?" I asked.

       "I'd rather not repeat those words," Junior said. 

       I sighed. Part of me didn't expect the song to work, but... the other part of me hoped it did. I didn't even know what else I could do.

       "I do think she did like the song though," Junior said. "She did have some tears in her eyes when we were watching it together. Singing another song for her might work, but in front of even a larger audience. Like at our next concert."

       "The one next week?" I asked. "I don't have another song I could sing for her. I don't even think I could write another song by myself."

       "I'll help," Ricky said. "Aviva's like my little sister and now that I know the reason she has been upset, I want to help out."

       "What's the catch?" I asked, which caused Ricky to raise his eyebrow. "Yes, Ricky, I know you're going to ask for something in return. You never do any favours for me out of the goodness of your heart because I'm not sure you even have a heart."

       "Very funny," Ricky asked. "I do have a heart, thank you very much. There's just not much room in it for you. Most of it is taken up by Chelsea, which brings me to the catch. I would like her number."

       "Well, you're in luck, because her favour for calling off the publicity stunt was for me to give her your number," I said. "She should text or call you sometime soon."

       "Then I will help you write a song for my honorary baby sister," Ricky said before looking over at Otis. "Otis? Will you like to help too? I know Junior will, so it's all up to you?"

       Otis sighed. "Fine, I'll help too. The faster Aviva and Malachi make up, the faster we can stop all this awkwardness between the band."

       "Thank you, really," I said. "I know I haven't been the most reliable, but..."

       "No buts," Otis said. "Ricky and I overreacted, as usual. Junior's right. This is all on Agatha and we're going to do something to get back at her."

       "Like what?" I asked. "Because we can't fire her and if I do anything to defy her, she's going to do everything she can to make things a living hell for me. My hands are tied."

       "Who says you're going to be the only one defying her?" Otis asked.

       I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

       "Well, the lawyer still hasn't figured out a way for us to get out of the contract," Otis said. "Well, not a way that includes us firing her, unless we quit the band and come back together under a new name, but that will only complicate things for, well, everything, and our names are literally Major Vocal. The only way the lawyer could think of, so far, is to getting her to quit."

       "And how do we do that?" Junior asked.

       "By making her life a living hell," Otis said. "We'll do everything we can. Annoy her, defy her, mess with her mind by rescheduling meetings without her knowing. Anything we can think of."

       "I am in," Ricky said. "I am so in. I am a master at annoying people, so it should be easy for me."

       "As a regular victim, I agree," I said. "And I'm a master at defying her, so it should be a breeze."

       "And I know the perfect way to set things off," Otis said.

       "How?" I asked.

       "I'm pretty sure nothing will infuriate her more by Major Vocal telling the world Avivachi has officially sailed."

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Otis yes my good sir. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )

I've had the next chapter planned for almost a year now. It's the real reason why I wanted to get to the second book. And I would have worked on it right after this is posted, even though it's past midnight, but I have to wake up early so I've got to get to bed. (and by that i mean lay in bed and watch cake moments on youtube because i need help)