Three

Maud

For OlympeRivera and willowmoonblood who inspire me to keep on trying.

I was nervous as hell about coming here tonight, my first gathering at Interscope record since signing with them a little over six weeks ago.

I'm Maud Johnson and trust me my name is as boring as I am in real life, the most exciting thing I've ever done is sign to Interscope records, that's it. Period!

I'm not only an amazing song writer but I can sing the birds from the trees and I know that sounds egocentric but it's actually fact or I wouldn't be here in this room full of incredible artists and industry types is the kind of thing my manager would encourage me to say to anyone who cared.

When in reality I was an ok singer who could write a good love song, my self confidence never quite measuring up to my management's lofty and over inflated opinion of me.

I recognise a few of the faces in the room as I glance around, smiling at people, Jeremy my manager introduces me to the people he says will be helpful to me in my career but he's stupid if he doesn't think I know they'll be just as helpful for him. I feel awkward not used to mixing in these circles part of me wishes I could go back six weeks and not sign that over inflated contract, I was more comfortable at home writing and singing for myself, I had yet to sing in front of an audience of any magnitude and the thought made me want to pass out with nervousness, it was a pure quirk of fate to be discovered by Jeremy whilst singing in a local open Mic night.

While he's talking to someone high up at Interscope I make my excuses and take off clutching my glass of wine for a wander around the room and try to speak to people I actually want to speak to but for a socially awkward girl it's hard work.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot a man trying and failing to blend into a wall, he's over in the far corner of the grand room and he's gripping his bottle of water as tight as I'm clutching my wine.
He's wearing a hoodie, a white one with the hood up and it covers most of his face, I stare at him, silently wondering if he's handsome under there and wishing I was as brave him and had the balls to turn up here in comfortable clothing rather than a dress which might look beautiful but was actually skin tight, the material was rough as hell and way too short for me and not to mention the heels of Satan that I wore on my feet, I glanced down his body and ended up sighing enviously at his sneaker clad feet. I'm the most uncomfortable I've ever been.

He looks up the same time as me and we make eye contact I recognise him immediately and my eyes widen in fear, I must look like a deer caught in the headlights because he caught me staring but I can't tear my eyes away from his face, he smirks at me and his eyes break contact with mine as they travel down the entire length of my body and back up again to my eyes, he turns his head to his friend beside him, still watching me and whispers something in his ear, his friends head jerks round as he regards me with surprise and something else flashing through his eyes.
I can't stop staring from the relative safety of the opposite side of this huge room as they put their heads together and whisper again.