54 Goddess Next Door (1)

Mark

We agreed to meet up at Steve's, which we were really gonna do anyway, our schedule for today was to listen to the mastered tracks and approve them before Steve sends them to Ned and Mr. Barnes for final checks before pressing. But I doubt any of us wanted to listen to the new album right now.

Well, maybe except for Jamie. "You sequenced the tracks already, right?" he asked Steve while we were all in the elevator. "The sequence we agreed on?"

"You're seriously concerned about this right now?" Steve frowned at him.

"What if Barnes fires us?" LJ asked us, suddenly.

"Better to be concerned about the track list sequence than shitting myself in the pants like LJ," Jamie deadpanned. I flicked the back of his head. "Ow!" He yelled and kicked me in the shins.

"Ow!" That fucking hurts.

"Stop it," Burt growled at us. He patted LJ's head. "He can't fire us, LJ. He doesn't fire anyone."

That was true, actually. Even when Allen left Code Red, it was his own decision, and Mr Barnes even told him he was welcome back whenever he wanted. Everyone who left so far had left because they wanted to.

"Worst case scenario would probably be this is our last album," I said, without really thinking. Jamie kicked me harder in the shins, sending a sharp pain up my leg. "Crap, Jame!" I screamed.

"We start shopping for a new record deal, then," Steve said to shush us.

"I thought you said if they say no, then that's it for us," Burt said.

"You really said that?" the rest of us stared at Steve. He stared at us back.

"When did you say that?" LJ asked. He sounded like he was 13 again.

"Yeah, but I didn't mean it like that and them saying no wasn't an option, yet," Steve said, his words trampling on top of each other in his haste to say them.

The elevator suddenly stopped and opened. Goddess Athena stood in front of us. Vivi yelled to the side, "MISSY! BOY NEXT DOOR HAVE ARRIVED!"

I zoomed in on Tiffany's face, she was standing behind Princess and Jenny. She beamed at me and I couldn't help but smile back. I swear, that smile is contagious.

Some of the girls started moving into the elevator with us, though some, including Tiffany, stayed back and didn't even bother trying to get on, aware that not all of them can squeeze in. Vivi and Princess left an empty spot and I thought to yell, hey Tiff, there's space for you!, when suddenly Missy rushed in and pressed the Close button. I watched the elevator doors close on Tiffany's still smiling face.

"Why didn't you tell us of the emergency Goddess Next Door rehearsal this morning?" Vivi complained to us. As the other boys responded to her and the other girls boo-ed them for their lame excuses, I felt a pinch on my thigh. Beside me, Kate looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

I blinked at her. "Check your phone," she barely whispered, without moving her lips. I nodded, and she joined in the banter with the rest.

"Friendship over if you forget us again next time," Princess declared as the elevator doors opened and they spilled out into the parking lot landing. Look at this girl, she used to be very quiet and shy, and now, she's sticking her tongue out at Burt and snapping her fingers. Though, I realize, I haven't really paid attention to how much they've all grown and changed over the years. I was only looking at Kate.

"Goodbye, boys!" They waved at us, heading for their van. None of them rode around in separate cars; their managers, Agnes and Darlene, freaked out when they weren't within a 100-meter radius of each other. But I guess it's because there's 9 of them. 5 is a more manageable number. And also, Ned couldn't be bothered.

"See you guys in a bit," Steve said as he walked Missy to their van, with Burt tailing behind them. Burt had been dropped off by Michelle this morning, and he already arranged to ride with Steve. I didn't bring a car, so I was riding with Jamie. LJ will drive on his own. We walked our separate paths to our cars.

Soon as we were out of earshot, I said to Jamie, "Hey, do you know if Tiffany and Micky are still together?"