The members of Elevation gathered in the room and faced their manager and Nong Mick. The cute freshman and Ohm's secret lover was their new temporary publicity manager. Mick was actually doing this for an interesting class. This one course depended on you choice. You could sign up with a band and run their publicity for a term, or you could do a regular semester and complete all the assignments plus the end of term. With this course, Nong Mick could get an automatic A in 5 specific courses and not do any assignments or end of terms this month if he successfully handled a band on his own. So far, this shy but cute Nong had used his unique charm to get Elevation just where he wanted them. It was hard to say no to that cute face and nervously sweet demeanor. Because this course required a lot of work and knowledge of useful contacts and behind the scenes information, very few people signed up to do it. Nong Mick had a secret weapon though. He had Ohm and his father secretly passing him much needed information. As a result, he was currently sitting very comfortably on a guaranteed A.
(N/A Please know that this course is purely fictional :)
"This is an update on promotion for this upcoming event in X City. We have gotten triple the feedback we expected for this time of year. In fact, most of your competition are only now beginning to promote for the competition but because of our interactive trend these past few months, fan site votes are already in the billions."
"Holy shit! If those counted, we would have won already!" P'Dye grinned like a loon, his long, lean frame twisting in excitement.
"That's because Nong Mick takes good care of us," P'Ex said proudly, his sharp left canine hooking onto his bottom lip causing it to turn even redder.
"There's something else I need you to know. X City also hosts a particular University. The Political Science department has contacted us to play at their special end of year party during that same week. I have made arrangements so that they will take care of all of our needs while we are there in return for our attendance. This is a special request from Coordinator Phun Phumipat. I felt it was safe to rely on him."
Mick glanced at Noh who gave nothing away with his relaxed face and pose. Ohm, on the other hand, had lazer eyes trained on Mick.
"Noh, I need to see your song lineup. If it's not ready, please narrow it down as soon as possible."
"I've got it. I need to talk to you too Mick. Lets go now," Ohm got up and walked out, giving Mick no choice but to follow.
Noh eased out of his chair and stared at the closed door.
"You think Mick will be ok?" Dye muttered sadly.
"That kid is safe. Ohm's the only person who ever yells at him but Mick's always been OK with it because at the end of the day he gets his way." Noh reassured with a smile.
P'Flex opened the door and they could faintly hear Ohm's raised voice then Mick's quiet mutterings. Ex and Dye sighed but Flex only laughed. He was the only person who never came under the perfectionist eye of Ohm. His drumming skills were just too good. The others though, especially Noh, were fair game.
Ohm suddenly slammed out of the room while Mick casually strolled out behind him. He even winked as they passed by the others.
The whole band was aware of Noh's "One True Love". It was actually a condition of joining the band. He had only been in love, truly in love, once. That person was a guy. He liked girls sure, but that guy was the only guy who had ever grabbed his attention sexually. He was the exception to the rule.
Ohm grabbed Noh as they walked by and hauled him into another room, shutting the door quickly.
"Are you sure about this? We could still cancel." Ohm didn't bother easing into the conversation.
"I'm fine." Noh answered calmly. Ohm looked at him oddly.
"What if Phun has moved on?"
"Then I wasn't enough and what I though we had wasn't real."
"That's it? Seriously? What if he's forced to leave you?"
"What? I spoke to Mom just yesterday. She sent me a care package this week. She dotes on me. No, if we're done, it's all on Phun."
"Ok. So I can kill him then?"
"No you idiot. Just stop. I'll deal with my own shit. Why don't you worry about Mick. Go make up with him already."
Ohm made a face and rolled his eyes. Noh smacked him just because.
"Whatever. It's not like we broke up. He can take a yell. You're the one we all worry about. You've been existing this whole time. i want to see you living again and not just for the music. I really hope Phun can restore that for you."
"What are you talking about? I've been living just fine." Noh was annoyed now. Ohm was always fussing. Shit.
"You don't get it but you'll see people around you acting differently. Just wait."
Noh dismissed Ohm immediately. The guy was talking out of his ass as usual. Noh walked out leaving a weirdly cool vibe behind him. It was this vibe Ohm especially wanted to get rid of. Noh wasn't cold but warm and sunny. An open and approachable guy. This was too hard for ohm to deal with. He wanted Noh back and he hoped like hell he didn't come back broken and depressed.
While Ohm cornered Noh in a room, Mick made a quick phone call to an old number he knew well.
"Hello, Phun speaking. Is that you Mick? How has your first semester gone?"
"It's been a blast P'. I have some good news for you."
"Thank you for considering our request. We'll be sure to give our own support during the Battle of the Bands. I've already got an apartment on hold for you. I'll pay for it and have a van and driver ready for you for the week. It will be big enough to hold all of you and the equipment. Did you need me to put some advertisement logo's on it?"
"Actually no. I want the band to have some peace and quiet when they get home."
"Got it. I'll see you soon Mick." He turn and looked at Fi who was also a member of his department and coordinating team.
"So we have Elevation?"
"Yes," Phun suddenly broke out in sweat. His stomach wobbled and he swallowed to ease the feeling.
"Are you ready?"
"I started this ball rolling didn't I? It's our last year. I need to know what to do from here. That was our agreement."
"What if he's moved on?" The ex SC President was good at asking the hard questions. His dark eyes assessed Phun calmly and knew he wasn't as steady as he seemed.
"Then I'm an effing dead man walking. that's all. what do you want from me?"
"It's your last year. Are you sure you want to find out now and not when shit's basically over?"
"It's got to be now. That's what we agreed on. Don't worry, my grades wouldn't suffer. I know how to shut it all down until I'm ready to deal."
"Don't I know it," Fi muttered darkly. "So are we announcing it now or closer to the time?"
"Let's do it now. Early promo."
"Er. I'll follow your lead." Wasn't it interesting how the tables had turned...