Heartbeat

Chapter One

"Can you make it sound better?"

I held back a sigh as I thought of a way to explain to this guy that the only way to make this song sound better would be for him and his friends to take 5 years of music lessons and come back. Even then it probably wouldn't sound good.

I plastered on a fake smile.

"Maybe we can add some harmonies?" I suggested.

I was basically a producer/arranger/audio engineer, or at least I was trying to be. I filled in musical gaps for people recording records. However, I was just starting out and often got stuck with bands like this one.

"We're a rock band, not a choir." The snotty lead singer retorted.

They weren't good. I was hoping harmonies could cover up the terrible vocals, but if they didn't want to take my advice I'd just let the record sound terrible.

They were just a mediocre, yet arrogant band that you could find playing in any pub. You could tell they were in it for fame and girls. They didn't actually have a passion for music.

"She's a girl. What's she supposed to know about rock music?" I heard the guitar player mumble.

I wanted to explain to him that I knew more about music then all of them and owned countless rock records and he was one to talk because he could barely play his own instrument, but I kept my mouth shut.

"Okay, fine." I said, resisting the urge to walk into the recording booth and smack him across the head with his microphone. "Let's take a break from this song and work on another one then."

The band didn't seem satisfied with my answer, but they agreed and set down the instruments so they could get set up for the next song. The singer walked out to grab some papers with lyrics for me to look at.

Half the words were spelled wrong so it took me a while to read it, but I offered some suggestions. It was a really bad love song. He actually cooperated a little.

"Can you get me a coffee, gorgeous?" He asked me as he scribbled something down on his paper.

"I'm a producer. Not a secretary." I replied.

Since I didn't get much work, I was forced to bite my tongue no matter how demeaning it was to work with certain people. However, when I was asked to do things that weren't even in my job description, I drew the line.

"Oooo someone's moody." The guitar player spoke up.

"Must be that time of the month." The drummer chimed in with a smirk.

I could feel my blood boiling, but even if I did snap at them it wouldn't help since they were accusing me of being on my period. For the record, I wasn't.

I ignored their comments as the lead singer finished up his work on the lyrics.

"Okay, I'm ready." He said as he stood up. As he did so he dropped some of his papers which fell on the floor behind me. It didn't seem like an accident. "Oops. Can you get that, sweetheart?"

I took a deep breath before turning around and bending over to pick them up. As I heard their immature giggles, I regretted wearing a skirt that day. My face burned with anger and embarrassment as they went back in the recording studio.

"You're hot." The lead singer said. "It's a shame you're so bitchy."

If I didn't need the money, I would tell him it's a shame he can't sing.

We were finishing up that song when we ran out of time and the next band to use the recording studio came in. I was proud of what I had done so far considering what I had to work with.

As the other band set up, I talked to this group about meeting again. While I was talking I couldn't help but look up as this band started playing. They were actually good. Really good.

I was automatically enchanted by their lead singers unique voice. He caught me looking and gave me a little wink.

"Helloo." My client said, snapping me out of my haze with annoyance clear in his voice.

"..uh yeah," I continued. "We could meet next week or.."

I was distracted once again when I heard the other band's curly haired guitarist say they needed to get experimental and they started to mess with their audio. That was my turning point.

"You know what?" I said, turning back to my actual clients. "Screw you guys."

"Excuse me?" The lead singer said, as if he had never been said no to before.

"Screw you. I'm not working with you anymore." I repeated. "You're talentless, arrogant, and won't take any of my advice."

"I told you she's bleeding." The guitarist whispered to the bassist.

Within a second I was in his face.

"If you had to work with little pricks like yourself all day, you'd be bitchy too." I told him with a passive aggressive smile. "Learn to respect women. It'll get you farther in life." I said as I practically shoved them out of the building.

It'd be cool if I told you  they went on to be a band we all know and love, but their name was The Heart Breakers and they all went on to be losers.

I walked back to the recording booth and smiled when I saw the guys in there swinging a microphone back and forth from the ceiling to get a cool effect. They were exactly the band I had always wanted to work with.

I approached their lead singer as they were all gathered around the sound board.

"Hi, my name is Mercedes Lance." I introduced myself.

"Ooo an American girl." He commented. I just chuckled. "I'm Freddie." He replied, shaking my hand. It was the most respect I had been showed all day.

I was from America but I came to England because of the British Invasion. I thought there'd be more work there.

"I work with bands to help produce music and I heard you guys wanted to try an experimental sound." I explained. "I can help with that."

"I'm listening." Freddie replied.

My lips curved into a smile. Those words were music to my ears.