This part is dedicated to Starry_Serenade. Her story 'Superior' is amazing. Go check it out :)
"You know, you should probably tell Mum about this band thing."
I smile at the fact that Tabs has only advised me to tell Mum. In truth it's actually pointless telling Dad anything; What Mum says goes, even if I have Dad's support. Which is why I still have blonde hair, rather than the blue that I'd wanted a couple of months back. I'd only suggested highlights but Mum had gone mad, telling me that she'd kick me out the minute I dye my hair. Dad says she's proud I'm a natural blonde like her. Tabs inherited Dad's dark locks. If Tabs wanted blue hair, I reckon she'd get it.
"I'm going to," I reply, swivelling on my chair so I can see her. She's lying on my bed, playing with the tie on her blouse. It's only been twenty minutes since she fell in love with Vince, but she's back already. Probably to tell me that this is a bad idea and I should just forget about it. She gets her cynicism from Mum.
She sits up. "When?"
"After tea."
Tabs raises her eyebrows. "Really? That's not that best idea you've had."
I frown with feigned hurt. "My ideas are great."
Her eyebrows disappear further beneath her fringe.
"Name one bad idea I've had."
Her eyes light up as she holds up a hand, fingers splayed like she's ready to count off of them. "What about the time you tried to pet next door's dog, even though he told you you'd get bitten."
I look down at the two teeth mark like scars on my left palm. "Point taken," I admit. "But I was seven."
She tucks another finger to her palm. "Then what about the choice to sing that song on Saturday?"
I laugh. "What's that supposed to mean? I happen to have a superior taste in music."
"Right," she replies, replicating Mum's tone perfectly. She's even got the one eyebrow quirk, nailed.
I roll my eyes dramatically. "You, Tabs, need to broaden your musical horizons. Besides, if I hadn't sung that song, I probably wouldn't have gotten Tanya's attention."
"Unless it's a scam," she replies pointedly, flicking through the magazine on my bed. She screws her nose up at something.
"Yes, there is that." Tanya probably took one look at me and thought 'easy target'. Maybe I should have dyed my hair blue anyway.
Mum calls for tea just as Tabs opens her mouth to speak but she chooses not to elaborate as I follow her downstairs to the dining room. The smell of roast chicken makes my stomach rumble and I sit down opposite Dad with my eyes on my plate.
"Productive day?"
I peel my eyes away from the roast potatoes to look up at Dad. His eyes are alight with his teasing and I smile.
"Totally. I don't think I've ever watched so much TV in my life."
The unceremonious thud of Mum setting her plate on the table is enough to make my smile falter.
"She still hasn't filled out those applications, Phil," Mum says, directing a wide eyed look at Dad.
I can see the realisation dawning on his face. Mum's expecting him to back her up, which is the standard scenario in this house. Mum definitely wears the trousers in their relationship.
He puts down his fork and chews on his mouthful, before touching his moustache nervously. "Is that right, Emmy?
I roll my eyes before I can stop myself. "What if I don't want to work at the local supermarket?"
I hear Mum make a strangled noise and I look to her just in case it's due to her choking on a carrot or something. It isn't. Her short blonde hair is tucked behind her ears, a sign that she's either stressed or angry, and her lips are pursed.
"Really, Emmy. It's not like you'd have to work there forever."
I stuff my mouth full of chicken and make a point of taking ages to swallow it. "Are we really going into this now?" I ask, gesturing to everyone's dinner plates with my fork.
Tabs is eating quietly next to me, obviously not wanting to get involved in this debate.
"It's the only time I can pin you down," Mum answers shortly.
I shake my head. "I've been in all day. It's not like I go anywhere." It's true. Saturday was the first time I'd been out of the house in a week. I go through stages. Last week was a stay in and do nothing stage.
"That's the problem," Mum says, her expression turning huffy. "You finished college over three months ago now. You had the whole summer to do nothing."
There's a silence , while Mum gives Dad another pointed look. I hear him sigh. He'd rather eat in peace like Tabatha.
"What your mum's trying to say, Emmy, is that you're eighteen now. You need to get a job so you can start learning how to be responsible for yourself."
I cock an eyebrow. "And a job is a job, right? No matter what it is?"
Mum pauses mid-chew before nodding slowly, like she's trying to work out the catch to my words. Tabatha's one step ahead and I can feel her eyes on me.
"So, say, being in a band. Would that be a job?"
Dad's forehead creases with a light frown as he thinks. "I suppose."
"Where's this leading?" Mum interrupts. "A job is only a job if you get paid."
I smile smugly, satisfied that I'm one step ahead. "Tanya said I would get paid."
Mum sets her cutlery down on her plate slowly, a concentrated look on her face. "Who's Tanya?"
I hear Tabs' sharp intake of breath and I know she's willing me to be tactful about this. Only thing is, I don't have any tact. At all. It was missing at birth along with the mouth/brain filter.
"She's the woman who reckons I could be in this band she manages."
Mum's tut is so quick I almost miss it.
"Hang on," I say. "Aren't you going to let me explain?"
"Certainly not." Mum's tone is final but I look to Dad anyway.
He shrugs. "You heard your mother."
I pout. "Don't you even want to know how I met her?"
Mum's eyebrows shoot upwards, her tone incredulous. "You've met her?"
I nod. "At the audition I took Tabs to on Saturday."
Tabs glares at me, annoyed I've dragged her into this.
"Tabatha?"
Tabs shrugs. "It's nothing to do with me. This Tanya woman got Emmy's number from the guy in charge. We had to leave contact details, in case we got a call back," she explains further, at the sight of Mum giving her the look.
Mum turns back to me. "So you just met up with her without consulting me?"
I want to bite back, something about being old enough to be responsible for myself, but I know better than to go there with Mum. Especially seeing as she's acting like I've just announced my plans to be a stripper.
"No," I reply. "I haven't properly met her but she was there at the auditions. She must be one of the business people."
Mum stares at Dad, like she wants him to shout 'surprise', and announce that this is all one big wind up.
"I've spoken to her twice on the phone. She seems really nice."
"Murderers can seem nice on the phone!" Mum says, her voice becoming shrill. "I don't want you speaking to her again." She picks her fork back up, signalling that the conversation's over.
I carry on eating my meal but every now and again I shoot Tabs a 'thanks for sticking up for me' look. She just nibbles on some broccoli. I swear she loves being the good child.
It's not until I'm helping Dad wash up after we've eaten that I broach the subject again. Dad's by no means a pushover, but he's at least open to listening.
"You believe in fate, don't you?"
Dad stops scrubbing a saucepan and turns to me, contemplating my question. After a short while he nods. "Yes."
I smile. "Me too. That's why I reckon this band thing is fate. I mean, if I hadn't gone with Tabs to the audition, and if she hadn't made me audition too, then this woman wouldn't have seen me sing. She wouldn't even know I exist," I add. "That's got to mean something, right?"
Dad sighs hard. "Right. But that doesn't necessarily mean you being in a band is a good thing."
"It's fate."
"You've never expressed any interest in being in a band before."
I shrug. "I've never been asked to be in one before. But you can't say I don't love music."
Dad smiles. He'd been the one to take me to my first gig, way back when I was ten. Memories flood my head and my smile brightens. The thought of being up on stage, giving the crowd the same sort of memories for life. That sounds like a way to earn a living.
"Besides," I say. "It's not like I've been offered any other jobs."
I can see Dad's resolve fading and my heart jumps.
"Please, Dad. Just give it a chance. If it doesn't work out. If it turns out to be a scam. Then you can force me to apply to the local supermarket."
I give him my best puppy dog eyes and he chuckles. "Emmy Porter. Good luck to the guy who can't resist your charm."
I grin. "So is that a yes?"
He regards me with a blank expression for a moment before he nods. "Just let me talk to your mother. You'll only mess things up."
I squeal in delight and hug him, feeling the wool of his jumper scratch my cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I practically skip up the stairs, but my brain reminds me this is only a small victory.
Better hope this isn't a scam.