2 Chapter 2: The Scandal

Nicolai is always ahead. It is one of her greatest aspects, everything that she predicted might happen, she has the possible solutions. In short, she's just really an overthinker.

This made issues from her past made it so easy to clear and counter.

But Nicolai is only human, even with this, some things never end well. She was only human, but even if she was way too ready and things still went downhill, she was sure something big will happen.

Nicolai sipped the last of her drink, the sweetness once again enveloped her mouth. Her music long stopped, now listening to the band's last song titled 'Just Once'. Listening and understanding what the song wants to say, was about a couple having mutual feelings but were too afraid to confess to each other, fearing that this may affect their friendship, ending in the two of them hurting each other unintentionally. And it was pop-punk, a bonus.

It has that angst vibe, making Nicolai curious who wrote that song. It feels so strong, the emotion, the way it was sung, it makes Nicolai think like she was there experiencing everything or was it because she was indeed have been in that position in the past?

Eating the last piece of cake, she frowned. The song was finished. Her head quickly turned to face the band only to stare at forest green eyes. Nicolai almost spits the cake in her mouth to her surprise. 'Please lady, don't look at me like that, or I'm going to run away.' Nicolai quickly looks away to compose herself. "How do I deal with socializing again?" she murmured and groaned.

The alt girl looks to all of her bandmates who are looking at Nicolai with anticipation and a look of pure excitement coming from their bass guitar player. The alt girl almost jumps back at their looks and turned her eyes to the redhead hoping to help but was crossing her arms at her with an eyebrow raised. Her mouth went agape.

"Come on Quill! You're the social butterfly, why not you go out there?" The alt girl said going all defensive in her tone. It was unknown to her why her bandmates want her to do all the talking. She can't even manage to make a conversation last without being awkward or offensive.

The redhead fake a gasp. "Why would I be, young lady? You're the leader, you should go. See it as training for you." The redhead said while smirking at the alt girl.

The Arkney city girl raised her hand to support the redhead's claim. "Don't you also remember last time? Ayesha ended up flirting with the hot manager that resulted in a very embarrassing experience that I don't ever want to have a redo. Like ever," she said and nodded with her eyes close, standing still to her words a finger pointing to the red-haired guitarist. Being thrown out from the competition live was not on her bucket list.

"No, Ayesha is right guys, it should be MISSING out there." The blondie rebutted earning a hey and glare from the Arkney city girl. "Our video of being kicked out from that competition is still hot on the news. The bright side was, we were all in makeup with half of our face covered, but our band name? Nope, bare and expose from that humiliating stuff." The drummer sigh, also feeling nervous approaching the manager, afraid to be rejected again. It was too early for rejection.

They have just been rejected yesterday and it was yet again heartbreaking. Quite painful than her boyfriend leaving her.

The alt girl, Misty, groaned in defeat and glare at all of them. "I hate you guys. Ayesha was the leader before! It's a girl. She won't flirt, and tone your voices down!"

The redhead, Ayesha Quill laughed at her best friend. She was happy to see her friend be this worked out. She just met the girl after accidentally listening to her sing in the washroom. Ayesha was even shocked that the alt girl was the transferred student who was good at making music with her laptop and some launched pad.

Unbeknownst to them, the little alt girl can make beats that will make you dancing forever.

"Come on Misty, it was Holtzman's idea. She said if the guy hit it off with me, negotiating will come easy." Ayesha grumbles while kicking her feet at imaginary stones on the tiled floor.

The alt girl gave her an incredulous look. The Arkney city girl gave her an a-you-kidding look which made the drummer, Holtzmann sweat bullets.

"Why did I suddenly forget that you're like a child most of the time." the bass guitarist, Clemens sighed at Ayesha's actions.

"I also forgot that she's gullible." Misty flatly said.

Ayesha's shoulders sagged at her bandmates' words. After all, she was, like them, tired of being rejected all the time. If they have a songwriter, things might be less hard and chances of getting out there might just come true.

"You, Holtzmann, you need to be less destructive," Misty said, lecturing the blondie who just huffed at her words. " while we"pointing to the others, "go and talk to that leggy dude."

"Why do you always say that word?" The blonde girl asked with the pure curiosity of a child as they made their way to Nicolai's table.

The alt girl raised her eyebrow, "What word? Do you mean dude? One reason. Cuz I'm a badass." She answered with a smirk on her lips. Clemens let out an 'oh' as she was enlightened with this habit of their leader, but quickly her brows furrowed. "Is that why you have that thick black eyeliner on your eyes always?"

"Remind me again why you, Clemens are one of the children here." Wade deadpanned as they stopped at the platinum blondie silently gazing at the window.

With a shared looked around the bandmates' Misty let out a fake cough to get Nicolai's attention.

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Forgetting what's on her mind for a little while, Nicolai turned her attention to where the cough came from only to see that she was surrounded by four beautiful girls which made her flinched. 'Are all girls from this world this beautiful? Mmm, I never saw some average-looking guys or girls on the way here either. All of the people here looked like people from model magazines. And these four girls look like they came out from one of those pretty celebrities from my world. So does that means, average beauty here is equal to that of a model?' Nicolai can't help but give an imaginary breakdown.

She wishes this is like her world back then. She is indeed lucky.

"What can I help you with lovely ladies? But first, please take a sit. I feel like I'm gonna be dragged or beat up any minute if you surround me like that." Nicolai gives them a smirky smile, it looks like that her smile is still that of a smirky one. Her dimples quickly showing, she heard a small gasp from one of the girls.

Nicolai tilted her head at them.

Misty turned her head at their friend as her eyes widen to give the warning to be polite, her eyes widening to point this out. Clemens could only smile as an apology. "Sorry about that, this is a scary move for us." The alt girl said while looking at Nicolai, who she found familiar now that they are only feet away.

Misty nudges the redhead beside her to take a seat which ended up like a wave of nudges from her to Ayesha to Clemens to Holtzmann. This made the manager in front of them let out a giggle, which Misty could only give an apologetic smile while giving a glare at her bandmates as they took a seat in front of the teenage-looking professional.

As they sat down Misty whisper to them, "This is so scary! You should behave dude."

This earned a snarky remark from the blonde drummer, "Then stopped being so mean and spit it out." Holtzmann whispered trying to get the alt girl to blow up.

Ayesha being the oldest among them silenced the two by stretching her arms towards their face. "Shh, we're here for the deal guys. If there will be one."

Clemens, amidst the three, has been staring at the beauty in front of her. She can't pinpoint it but she has seen the teenage manager in front of her. That platinum blonde hair that seems to flow as if being caressed by the air itself, that smirky smile that Clemens found quite hot from the older girl in front of them especially when her fangs show, those dimples that make a contrast from her hot smile adding to her cuteness and the music notes on the backside of her ear to her left side of the neck which was noticeable when they were standing looking at her side profile.

Clemens added them all together, the news of platinum-haired kissing the rising singer, the issue of the rising star having a third party, and it's the girl in front of her.

Freya Clemen's eye widens when she finally realized who's in front of them.

While Nicolai has been staring innocently at the banter of the three band members, she felt like someone was starring daggers on her that made her shiver. She turned her head to see that the Arkney City girl based on her narrow eyes, which seems way narrow with the glare, was staring at her and she gave her a genuinely friendly smile and a friendly wave of her hand.

Nicolai felt like she needs to reassure the girl that she won't jump at her and point a gun, or at this point running away.

She could only mentally smile wryly, if this girl in front of her have trust issues about her, the sole reason is that she knows her or the issue of the previous owner. Which is probably more on the latter. She had done her research, of course, she's in a strange world after all, plus in a stranger's body!

Clemens was caught off guard by the smile nonetheless, it didn't change the fact that this woman in front of them is trouble.

Looking at the glare being sent towards Nicolai, she could only hope that she'll get them. They have talent and character just by seeing the closeness of the three across the table.

Composing themselves, the three sat up straight and looked ahead, making Nicolai avert her ocean blue eyes towards the whole team.

"So, you guys are now ready? Care to tell me why you approach me?" Nicolai started, folding her hands above the table.

Ayesha put her hands on the table, being all formal, and started, "We, meaning, all of us, know that you're a manager but not what studio your at but that doesn't matter to us." The redhead glance at the alt and with a nod continued, "We are Holler if you could give us your time and honest words, we want to get signed."

Butting in Misty supported her friend, "Well, it's okay if we don't get signed right away and test us and stuff or whatever, we'll do it as long as you promise that we will get signed. And we are being forward, it's obvious but this is our dream."

Listening to her captain and co-captain, the blonde drummer keeps nodding her head. Holtzmann feels like if she opens her mouth a punch or kick will be on the way. They look so serious except for Misty, who can't even make eye contact much. She's asking herself, why did these girls make her agree to be in this band again?

Nicolai, twirling some wavy curls of her new short hair, hummed in response. She will need a lot of work after an incident happened to them not so long ago, and making up the mind to sign them, she needs to find a way to get them out there without so much hate and with a bang. She had done her research after getting their band name from the nerdy boy serving her sweets. One needs to know much as he can about something he's dealing with. You don't go to war with only the gun but not bringing the bullets after all. And if you forgot them, improvise. Steal some from the enemy, or steal their weapon. Might work, you're gonna die anyway because of your dumbness, might as well try.

Thinking, Nicolai only nods at them.

This didn't go unnoticed by the bass guitarist.

Ayesha was about to speak again when Freya slams her hand on the rectangular table, not so hard but enough to get the nerdy boy at the cashier to look at them.

Nicolai stopped whatever she was doing but still didn't faced the girl. 'You Arkney girl will get me mad. Does this girl don't know how to be friendly? I'm thinking about their soon on the rising popularity and here she is ready to dump another issue. But reasonable with my issues, the body's previous owner's issues.' A sigh escaped Nicolai's lips at her thoughts.

Nicolai almost sulks, an idea entered her mind that maybe, she still gives off that stay-away vibe when she doesn't smile. She can't help it! It's how this body looks.

Freya Clemens, not liking one bit of the platinum blonde hair's attitude towards them huffed.

Ayesha was shocked and confused at the bass player. It was quite rare for the brown-haired Arkney girl to act like this especially with the intent to intimidate. Ayesha doesn't want to be at the receiving end of Freya's wrath, didn't utter a word that instead of looking scary, she ended up looking like a kitten trying to scare its other little kittens.

And that kitten would be the teenage manager looking at her innocently that unbeknownst to Ayesha has a not so innocent thought yet rude stuff in her head in the time being. For example, stuffing her mouth with her handkerchief just to shut up the bass guitarist for a second.

Now imagine that in their chibi forms, Ayesha could only cheer in her mind.

"I know who you are. You're Nicolai Sinclair. The manager from DreamHigh Studious. You're quite a prodigy they said, but currently famous for a scandal. Kissing Kyline Gonzales, the on the rising singer-songwriter. Your client." Freya said, emphasizing her last words. Clemens eyed Nicolai carefully, staring right through her eyes the whole time. Holtzmann's head snapped towards Nicolai who still is looking at them innocently. Ayesha and Misty could only furrow their eyebrows, more so to the confused alt girl.

"Wait a minute." All heads turn to the brunette. "You mean to tell us is that this childlike woman, is that dude from the picture?" From that, Holtzmann stared intently at the silent company in front of them. "Oh, she's indeed cute though. Get why that singer kissed her too." Holtzmann nod in realization as if what she said make sense.

"Then if that's the case, we should be going guys. We're not that desperate. Her dirt plus our embarrassment is not a good recipe and will not end well." Clemens declares after a minute of silence as she went back to sit down.

Not once did she take away her eyes from Nicolai, who was deep in thought. Even after hearing the news and from the side of Kayline Gonzales, not to mention her idol, the one she looked up to, she can't doubt that she feels a little suspicious now that she's in front of the said woman who almost ruins her career and love life.

Misty being the leader, a bit reluctant, spoke up, "Well... This was nice meeting you, Nicolai Sinclair but I think we should get going." Nodding to her bandmates, they all agreed to let this opportunity slip.

But as they were about to stand up, Nicolai who just sat silent after their so-called enlightenment about her 'issue' held her head up with a melancholy smile towards the group of girls.

"You young misses, are still naive it seems. Don't you know that there will be always another side of a story? Heads or tails?" Nicolai's mysterious words made the girls look at each other and slowly and reluctant to sit back down. "Plus the media can be a very dark and twisted place after all."

"What do you mean another side? Are you hinting that 'The Kayline Gonzales' let us say hypothetically, lying?' ", the redhead started. This earned a look from Clemens beside the blonde.

She quickly defended her idol, "That's not possible. Every word of her from interviews is full proof. No loopholes."

Nicolai could only smile sadly at them and look down.

This made the caring redhead worried. Even though Nicolai was still on the other side and may seem the enemy right now, she's still human. Well, not enemy, but suspicious with her actions and motives towards them.

"It is to hear both sides of the story before one should make a decision where to side. Remember we all tell the version of the story that makes us look good. Or you know, just in our own perspective." Nicolai remarks as she can't blame the bass player to be mad and wary, because of her adoration from her ex-client nor she can blame the actions of the previous Nicolai. Nicolai quickly composed herself not allowing herself to stay too long from the previous owner's memories.

"Well, the media made you look like a third party and career ruined instead of a manager nurturing the talent for her client. And still what you did was wrong," Clemens fired back. She won't know what made her all mad at the platinum blonde woman in front of her. Was it because she's offending her idol, or was it because she reminds her of someone.

A manipulative and evil person is not what they're looking for.

Misty could only furrow her eyebrows as her breath was taken away.

Ayesha's reaction was the best. She looks like someone gave her a birthday present right at the moment. Now that she remembers it, Freya or Clemens as their friend like to be called by her last name, ranted and vented the issue to them and a thousand times sharing the picture of the scandal. "I TOLD YOU SOMETHING WAS AMISS WITH THE PHOTO! Her relationship with her manager had been great as she always said in her interviews and videos like her manager is a gift from God itself!"

This earned a hot-looking smirk from Nicolai and Freya's breath was caught. "Don't worry, I'm the bad guy now and you guys got my attention. I only want to help you with the best I can. Also, to help my reputation by doing so. Isn't it a win-win situation?"

All colors left Clemens as it all made sense to her now. Piecing every irrelevant information she had about her idol that every fan knows.

How Kayline would gush about her manager, which was a mystery as DreamHigh Studio was a mysterious studio for their managers often doesn't come into the light often unlike Nicolai. But was known for their music notes tattoo. Many might notice the symbol but yet have no idea who is the artist they handle. Until now. Many tried to have the same to scam people but tattoo artists are banned to do so, as well as other music studious. Whoever is caught having an illegal trademark from these music studious is sent straight to jail, no buts.

How the rising idol could be mostly be seen with a hoodie stranger at most times, people guessing that was her boyfriend. How the idol could be seen sometimes with surprise gifts. And how she would go talk about that in the interview and how she would always leave her so-called 'boyfriend' which was known as Jayhee Lee, singer and music producer, unknown. So some people guessed it was a girl and started shipping Kayline's close celebrity girlfriends.

When all in all, the mystery lover was so near.

It all made sense to them, especially Clemens. Creating an alter ego was a sly move and she couldn't help but praise the platinum blonde in front of them.

She looked at Nicolai's whole figure and could tell that her wavy above-the-shoulder hair is as smooth as silk, having pining cheeks, and damn thank cheekbones and chin. The woman in front of her has an oval-shaped face and a tall nose. What attracted Clemens was Nicolai's piercing sharp serious-looking ocean blue eyes that can make one cower but like earlier, when she smiled at them, all Clemens could see was a friendly person all gone that intimidating Nicolai.

"But I believe we have been talking without introducing ourselves properly right? Here's my number, call me when you all have made up your mind. Don't worry, even if you don't accept, just hit me up whenever you might need help." Nicolai smiled at them and handed a small card to the table. Without further ado, she stands up and left the cafe.

At that, Clemens was broken from her daze and a hue of red made its way to color her cheeks.

The alt girl earned glares from the others after that, but not Clemens. "What the? I'm not at fault this time you know!"

Holtzmann noticing the reaction from Clemens smirked at her friend beside her. She so gonna get an answer from her friend. "Someone has an idol crush. " Holtzmann patted Clemen's shoulder teasingly. "You just met your celebrity crush's lover, did you get excited?"

Clemens, feeling embarrassed at the same time still skeptical at Nicolai's words. She punched Holtzmann in the shoulder and huffed. She can't believe that there's a possibility of what the platinum blonde's words are implying. Clemens sighed.

Ayesha looks at the band and raised an eyebrow. "We need a background check and stuff to research."

Misty sighed but agreed. "Yeah, we bloody hell do. Go grab the business card Clemens and we should head over to the apartment already." She stands up from her seat and urges the others to hurry up. "We still have a gig later tonight so get your asses moving!