READ THIS! There are a few references to characters in jules130's story Rock Prodigy, and the first song mentioned is in the external link!

A loud yelp broke through Keely's lips before her mind could even fully capture the predicament, and she flung herself around recklessly only causing her to land in a heap on the cool concrete floor.

“I really wish I had video taped that.”

Her brain not functioning, Keely just gaped up at Susan Webster who looked neat in her slacks and blazer. Bewildered, she shoved herself up, balancing on the palms of her hands holding her steady on the concrete. “Susan-I... what?”

“I'm beginning to film for the video now,” she proclaimed, “I assumed you'd want to change, but if you'd rather-”

Instantly she shoved herself up from the ground, brushing off her ass instinctively. “I'd rather go home and take a shower,” Keely interrupted hastily.

Sighing she turned back to the couch where she'd fallen asleep, feeling suddenly chilly, she snatched up her leather jacket and swung it around her, having used it as a blanket during the night. Yawning, she glanced at her watch, proving she'd had just four hours of sleep. That was far from enough, she found herself making a face at the opposing wall, thinking of how burnt out she'd be after the day long session in the studio.

Maybe a party hadn't exactly been a good idea, but Keely was already grateful she hadn't drank much, having a hangover would simply not be a good thing. Smoothing down her hair the best she could without a mirror and her hands. Swinging around, she blinked at the camera already pointed at her face.

Not knowing what to do, Keely just frowned slightly, turning away. But she couldn't help but steal a glance back to the camera.

Shouldn't she be doing something funny or reckless or at least cool? Not just act like her.

Deciding it was still too early to be thinking about that, she just walked away. Very nearly tripping over Seth where he was sleeping on the floor, on top of a rug.

Resisting the strong urge to wake him up in revenge for all the times he'd shocked her out of a peaceful slumber, she simply stepped over him carefully. But he better hope that he was awake and at the studio, or else she wouldn't be so kind.

“Um... I need to catch a cab back to my hotel-” she began awkwardly.

Susan nodded enthusiastically from behind the camera, and answered a question that hadn't been asked, “Yeah, I'll come with you. Just act like the camera's not here.”

Nodding, Keely opened the door quietly, hoping not to wake up anyone that was still passed out across the warehouse. She had a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn't be that easy to just pretend someone wasn't following her around with a camera focused upon her. To be truthful, the whole idea of it was kind of awkward.

But she was proved wrong. On the cab ride, despite the odd looks from the cab driver, she found it quite easy to ignore the camera zoomed in on her. As long as she didn't stare straight at the piece of equipment, she could pretend that she was just talking to Susan Webster – although that was a bit odd in itself. She could even get away with from side long glances towards the camera, just no staring allowed.

Getting to her hotel room, Susan followed her inside without so much as an invite, but having gotten quite used to that by this time, Keely just shrugged and closed the door behind her.

“I'm going to go have a shower,” she announced, looking slightly warily at the woman with the video camera. “And I really think I want to do that by myself with no cameras...”

“Just hurry up,” said Susan.

Following the advice, Keely dropped her bag and keys on the side table before racing up the stares, not able to shake the feeling that the camera's eye was tracing her actions.

Twenty minutes later, Keely was feeling fresh and clean, but very much confused as she stood in her closet. She couldn't help but think she was hopeless when it came to choosing her own clothes. Back in Bellingham Haley had practically laid out her clothes for her to where, and now in New York Andy told her what to where on important occasions.

Yes, she could handle going to the studio and hanging out with friends. But she wasn't Rachael Gosling, she had no idea what was the perfect outfit for any occasion. Because while Keely was pretty damn set in her opinion that Rachael was a bitch – in every sense that she could think of – the girl did manage to look classy and pretty at every moment. Well, maybe classy was pushing it, but no one could deny that Rachael was beautiful.

Sighing, she simply grabbed comfortable clothes, why would she want to be uncomfortable in the studio?

She pulled on a pair of torn jeans, a loose grey tank top and a black bomber jacket – not the one from the night before, because she found that smelt suspiciously of alcohol – before grabbing her mother's necklace and heading quickly down the stairs.

“You ready?” asked Susan, instantly snatching up her camera from the counter as she slipped off a bar stool.

Grinning Keely snatched up her bag, saying, “Yup, to UAE we go.”

This time they walked, Keely with her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket, wishing that they'd either taken a cab or she'd thought to where more layers of at least put on a toque. But all that was made better when they stopped for coffee and Keely could wrap her fingers around the two disposable mugs she was carrying, all the while chatting with Susan about obscure subjects.

“Welcome to UAE Recording Studios,” Keely proclaimed, nudging he door open with her hip seeing as her hands were full and holding it open so Susan could walk in. “Oh, hey Brett, I didn't think you'd be among the living today,” she grinned, seeing the producer walk past them.

“Not so loud Keely,” he groaned, rubbing his head.

Chuckling, she just nodded her head to the back hallway to show Susan where they were going before turning around and heading straight down said hall. Since the woman behind her didn't make any move to talk to her, Keely just kept walking, hoping that Seth had managed to drag his ass off the floor of the warehouse by then, or else not only would she be kicking him this time, but the coffee would go to waste.

“So this is our studio,” Keely explained as they stopped at the door with the large C painted across it. Juggling the coffee mugs between her hands, she turned the knob, shoving the door open with her shoulder.

As she stepped inside the control room, she found that Seth had managed to get the studio.

But that didn't mean he was awake.

His feet were crossed and propped up on the edge of the soundboard, managing not to touch anything with his shoes, he was leaning back into the chair, causing it to be at a precarious angle as he leaned back with his hands tucked comfortably behind his head.

It was almost odd seeing his face when he wasn't awake, the only time Keely had seen him sleeping before his head had been buried in the mattress, hiding any view of his face. But now she got the full effect. He wasn't scowling or frowning, his face was relaxed into an almost peaceful expression with his hair rumpled messily. When he was like that, it was hard to imagine that sadness she saw every day in his face.

Because, even when she saw him smile or laugh at something his best friends did – because they seemed to be the only ones that could make him smile – that dark look in his eyes didn't leave, it was always there. Just hanging back at the edges of her attention, threatening to break through into his face at any moment.

Setting the cups down on the table, Keely pondered her options for a moment. Well, she couldn't exactly let him sleep, he was her producer and he needed to be awake for this.

Without pausing, she stepped forward and gave his feet a hard shove.

The results were immediate. Seth let out a loud yelp that sounded odd coming from the dark haired boy as his legs swung him and the chair about in a circle. Throwing himself forward, he gripped the arm rests and anchored his feet to stop the spinning, looking up at her with a scowl on his face, not quite so peaceful anymore.

“Good morning,” Keely said, sending him the sweetest smile she possessed when she was fighting back laughter.

“Yeah, good bloody morning,” he answered grumpily. But the scowl didn't remain on his face for long, he just ended up shaking his head and turning away from her. “Do you know if Marco and Colton are here yet?” he asked, standing up and turning to the soundboard.

Keely snorted, picking up the coffees and handing him one as she took a sip of her own. “Do you really think that they would have let you sleep if they were?”

“It's doubtful,” he agreed, “I've got to go talk to Brett, warm up, okay, rebel? I'll be back in a minute, and if Marco and Colton don't show up on time, we'll just have to the vocals for Don't Let It Show instead.”

Rolling her eyes, Keely regretfully put her mug down while Seth exited the room.

Focusing on Susan who had stayed quiet for the whole exchange, Keely pointed towards the booth. “I'm just going to go in there to warm up, that okay?”

“Yeah, it's perfect. Do you think you'll be able to do a take of For You later on? I'd like to get some different shots of you singing that song.”

“Ask Seth,” said Keely, frowning, “I apparently have no say in the studio.”

Susan was chuckling while she stalked into the studio, leaving the door open behind her.

It really was true, she barely got any say in what they did while in the studio, and that was annoying in itself. It was her album after all. But still Keely could only think the problem was everything they did seemed to be a good idea, even the standing on her head experiment though she had almost fallen a few times, and she had no part of it.

That was supremely frustrating for her, but at the same time she couldn't exactly regret it, she was learning more and more about producing and recording every day than she would have thought possible.

Letting out a deep breath, Keely sat down on piano bench. It was a good thing their studio was large and open, or else having the black grand piano would make it more than a little cramped while they were recording. Sighing she ran her fingers over smooth keys. To be honest, she liked the older piano at the warehouse much better, with its slightly worn keys but perfect tune. This piano was gorgeous with its shiny black paint and almost untouched body, but she liked the history that the other one had.

Even though she knew Seth meant for her to do vocal exercises, she couldn't bring herself to do them while sitting in front a piano.

Chewing on her lip, she slid into the middle of the bench, letting her fingers hover above the keys as she took another deep breath, readying herself to play.

She didn't even which song she'd chosen to play until her fingers began to move across the piano, her hands and fingers might not have been as deft as Seth's as she played – on either the piano or the guitar – but that didn't mean she couldn't play. It wasn't until she'd played a few bars did she realise she was playing Ella Fitzgerald's medley of This Girl's In Love With You and I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write.

It was so easy to get lost in the song, and just play, her eyes getting unfocused. Just playing music, really, what else could keep a person sane? She wasn't focusing on the words, just letting them come smoothly from her mouth, letting everything happen naturally as her fingers glided across the smooth chilly keys.

Her heart beat felt as if it had changed to the rhythm of the music, her very blood pulsing at the same rate. The hypnotic smooth jazz sound dragging herself one hundred percent inside herself.

She didn't pull herself from the state until after the last verse.

“'Cause I need your love, I want your love

Say you're in love and you'll be my guy

If not I'll just die.”

As her voice faded from the note, which she knew she hit perfectly, Keely felt the security slipping away. Music was her security and protection, it was that simple, nothing could touch her when she had it, except her own emotions flowing through her mind.

Blinking away the odd thoughts, Keely finally focused through the glass to the control room.

And found one camera and three identical expressions looking back at her.

It was disconcerting to be honest, to have three boys staring at her with the exact same expression when they weren't even brothers or look anything alike.

There was Marco with his windswept blonde hair, his bright hazel eyes peeking out from beneath the fringe. Colton with his messy bronze curls scattered, framing his angular face and showing his incredibly blue eyes. And, finally, Seth, his dark hair rumpled and messily sticking up in the front from running his hands through it, giving a clear view to his almost gold eyes.

All three of them were staring at her, their mouths closed, eyes trained upon her face and their expressions unreadable with their arms crossed in front of their chests.

Yeah, definitely disconcerting.

Confused and a little shocked, Keely could feel her brows furrowing just slightly as her nose crinkled. “Was I flat?”

Her words seemed to bring them out of their reverie, and all three shook their heads ever so slightly, looking eerily similar despite their differences in clothes and body.

Colton was the first one to speak, Seth now staring at her with an ever so slight frown while Marco turned around to the table. Grinning, Colton reached forward, pressing the intercom button. “No, you were perfect, not even off key once. And you said you were okay at piano? You're better than okay.”

Laughing, Keely taped the piano in front of her, “I'm a quarter of an inch better than okay.”

Scowling Seth smacked Colton in the back of the head, and she caught the words, “Man, don't touch the board!” through the door she'd left open.

As the scolded one held up his hands in defeat and retreated back a step, this time it was Seth who pressed on the intercom button. “You're far from being Daniel Barenboim or Rosemary Keen, rebel, but you're not bad.”

Sarcastically she pressed her hands to her heart, and exclaimed in a high breathless voice, “Oh! That was almost a compliment, I might die of happiness!”

Rolling his eyes, he just answered, “Get out of there. The boys are here to record their pieces, then if we have enough time we can get started on the vocals.”

Smirking she stood up, walking back to the control room.

Frowning slightly, Keely snuck behind Seth, putting a hand on the back of his chair, the other on the arm and looked over his shoulder. So focused upon Colton and his playing, she didn't even think about her actions or so much as look at Seth.

“Do you want something?”

Blinking at the sound of Seth's voice, Keely turned her head to find hers closer than to his than expected, their noses almost brushing. His hazel eyes were focused on hers, the gold shining a bit more clearly than usual, one dark brow arched at her questioningly.

Her slight frown became more pronounced as her stomach clenched, and she hastily looked to the board, not liking the feeling, but not moving away because she didn't want to seem strange for retreating for no real reason. “There's something off, I don't know what it is, but it just doesn't sound right.”

“Can you let me do anything without complaining about it?”

Throwing him a dirty look, Keely snapped, “Are you unable to take anyone else's opinion into consideration?”

“How about letting me actually working through this before you jump down my throat?”

Even though they'd been bickering, she let out a sigh of relief, “So you hear it?”

“Yeah, the drums are too soft,” he answered, losing the venom from his voice too.

“That's it!” she exclaimed triumphantly, snapping her fingers together.

That was when she heard the whispering voices behind her, causing a frown to form on her face as she heard Susan murmur. “Are they always like this?”

The frown only deepened when she heard Marco's simple response of, “Always.”

“Like what?!” she burst out, letting go of Seth's chair and swinging around to the two who were sitting behind them.

In unison they sent her brightly sweet – and incredibly false – smiles, and Marco answered innocently, “Nothing, are you hearing things now, Keel?”

Rolling her eyes, she turned resolutely away from them, pulling her chair up beside Seth. She didn't know what those two were talking about back there, nor did she think she wanted to. Keely had no idea what she and Seth were always like, they were just... them. It didn't make sense that they could be like anything else.

For some reason Seth was smirking broadly, but he had his eyes trained through the glass though the look in them was far away. Keely found herself scowling at him, not knowing exactly why. But he ignored her, pressing on the intercom and saying just two words, “More passion.”

Giving a huge sigh, Colton stopped playing. Holding them until they stilled completely and then starting over again.

They were halfway through a take, two takes later – Seth had to change something on the board and he wanted Colton to repeat the drum line – when the door behind them swung open. Surprised, Keely spun around, only to find Marissa framed in the doorway. Her blonde hair curling prettily over her shoulders, wearing a grey cardigan and jeans.

“Why are you here?” Keely blurted.

Rolling her eyes good naturedly, Marissa stepped in, closing the door behind her. “Lovely greeting, hello to you too,” she said, sweeping down to kiss Keely on the cheek easily. She waved at Colton through the mirror before boosting herself back on the table, finding no chairs left.

When Marissa waved at him, Colton paused, losing the whole take – which had been a good one – and making Seth groan loudly. “Again,” he ordered simply.

“We're more proficient without the distractions, aren't we?” Keely observed, glancing over at Seth.

He smirked, but Marissa stole any words that he might have said from him as she exclaimed indignantly, “So I'm a distraction now?!”

“That's not what I meant-” Keely began.

“It's what I meant,” muttered Seth, interrupting her.

Instantly she snorted loudly, making Marissa send them a glare.

“That's not what I meant,” she repeated, biting her lip in attempt to keep the smile from her face, but she was losing. “What are you doing here, though? I hope you're not here to kidnap me again, because, honestly, that's not happening tonight.”

The blonde girl just shook her head, looking back through the window. “No, I just came over since I was told everyone was here, but if it's all the sudden a private studio, I can go.”

“Please,” muttered Seth lowly, only loud enough for her to hear.

Instantly she just slapped his arm, making Seth smirk at her and Keely just rolled her eyes at him before turning her attention back to Marissa. “It's fine, just don't distract your boy so much because I don't think I'll be able to hold Seth back from killing you.”