Читать книгу Circle - Elina Wainwright - Страница 7

December
You were still smart then

The days went by one by one. Everything was quiet and peaceful. No adventures. I was trying to write songs to please Armie and his pompous face, Lizzie was actively going to shoots and castings. Things were pretty stable with the guys, too. What pleased me was that Lizzie had forgotten about Richard. At least I didn’t have to listen to her heartache about the guy.

I didn’t go to the studio much, in fact, I’d only been there a couple of times after my conversation with Armie. To be honest, I had a notice on my calendar for the end of this internship: May 31st, and goodbye, everyone! I’ve already decided that I’m not going to stay at the label after the internship ends, but I’m going to pursue my solo career. Hopefully, during my internship I will gain some useful contacts here for a successful start.

I was lying on the couch with my music notebook, humming my song to myself. I had a verse ready, but the chorus was still stuck in my head. God, am I mediocre?

I got a message on my phone. Once again, the guys.

«Hey. It’s my birthday tomorrow! You’re all invited!» – it was Daniel.

Hmmm…

«Cool! Diana and I are coming!» – Chris wrote.

«We will be there too!» – Richard wrote.

We? Is he going to take someone else with him?

Well, while we’re at it…

«And I will», – I wrote.

«Great. Tomorrow at seven o’clock at my place».

«Don’t forget to cook something vegan», – I reminded him of my taste preferences.

«Agreed».

***

The next night I was ready for the party. The girls and I had agreed that we would give money, since Dan had said he was a little strapped for cash right now. After putting on the finishing touches, I walked out and headed toward Dan and Andrew’s house. In those almost two months, I learned that the guys were from Washington. Both had gone to the same university for several years, passed the auditions together, and were very good buddies. Both had girlfriends with whom they were in a long-term relationship. Well, be yours a happy marriage, as they say.

Ten minutes later, I was at the guys’ house. Dan opened the door for me.

«Happy birthday, boy!» I cheerfully exclaimed.

«Hi! Thank you!» He smiled.

«Is everyone here?» I took off my jacket.

«Yes, just waiting for you,» he took my jacket in his hands and hung it on the coat rack. «Come into the living room.»

I rubbed my arms after the cold evening wind and went inside. Andrew, Richard, Chris, Diana, and, from the looks of it, Henry, were already waiting for me in the living room.

«Hello, everyone!» I nodded.

The girls came up to me for a hug (it took some getting used to), and the guys nodded back at me.

«You look great!» Chris started.

«Thanks, you look nice, too,» I encouraged her.

«Lindsay, this is Henry. You don’t seem to know each other,» Chris continued.

«We know each other in absentia,» I answered.

«Yeah?» The girl was surprised.

«I once confused him with Richard in front of the studio,» I explained.

«It happens to everybody,» Richard joked.

«Unfortunately,» Henry added.

I ignored his words and sat down at the table.

The evening went pretty easily: we played mafia, ate, had fun, and Richard and Henry got drunk. But their drinking didn’t bother anyone, the guys just joked and laughed at everything that breathed. About two o’clock in the morning we all went home.