Tired and a bit irritable, the C.E.O. of Brownstone Records returned from a late business lunch. Under the guise of signing a new band to the Brownstone label, she had just spent the better part of two hours hashing out details with the band’s manager. He and the band both were from New Jersey and already the accent was beginning to drive her crazy. I hope they don’t end up after the recording session sounding as bad as that state smells.I’m glad that I kept it to a two recording deal.
Walking into her office, she turned the air conditioning up and sat down to check the messages left on her voicemail during her absence. There were numerous hang-ups, a couple of recording studios confirming studio times for later in the week, and a message from C.C. asking her sister to give her a call back. A quick glance at the clock showed it to be ten minutes to five, just enough time to return a call before she ended her workday.
Brooke dialed C.C.’s cell number and waited for her to pick up. After two rings, she heard her sister’s annoying greeting. “Talk to me.”
“What’s up, brat?” Brooke asked as she sat back in her chair, propping her feet up on the desk. She was enjoying the feel of the cool air coming out of the vent just over her head.
“Hey, Sis, I was just wondering…would you want to see a movie with me later this week? I found one of your all-time favorites.”
Brooke shrugged her shoulders, momentarily forgetting that the woman on the other end could not see her.
“So what’s it going to be?”
“Sure, I guess so. When?”
“Well, how about Friday night.”
Brooke removed her feet from her desk. Flipping through the pages of her calendar, she made sure any studio time booked that night did not require her presence. “Yeah, Friday looks okay. What’s showing?” she asked as she turned her chair around to look out at the ocean. Tourist season was not over yet and she watched as the multi-layered, tan-skinned visitors walked along the boardwalk and played in the water.
“Clueless,” C.C. answered her sister. “It’s showing at the Campus Quad.”
“No way. Cool.” Brooke’s voice was tinged with excitement, then she remembered something. “But, wait a minute…you hate that movie. Why would you want to see it with me?” Brooke asked, curious to hear the answer.
“Well, I figured I’ve got to grow up sometime. I might as well try by watching that horrid movie. You know, just because I was born the baby doesn’t mean I have to stay that way.”
Brooke let out a throaty laugh as she answered, “What does growing up have to do with anything?”
“Hey, can’t I spend some time with my most favorite sister of all time without a reason?” C.C. asked.
“Favorite sister? Ooh, you must want something,” Brooke replied with an arch of her eyebrow.
“Honestly, Brooke, I don’t want anything but your happiness.”
“You are too much.” Brooke chuckled at her sister and spit out her old stand-by phrase that she used with all of her sisters. “C.C., you’re so full of shit, your eyes are brown.”
“Yeah, and your head’s so full of air, your eyes are sky blue. Come on, Brooke,” C.C. whined. “You know how much you love that movie.”
Brooke sighed and gave in without much of a fight. “Okay, what time?”
Thinking for only a moment, C.C. was quick to answer. “How about seven? That way we have time to get the munchies before the movie starts.”
Brooke looked at her computer for the time and noticed the ‘New Mail’ icon on her screen. “Alright, that sounds good. You wanna meet at the Quad?”
“The Quad? Ahh…no…” C.C. answered a little too fast. “I mean…it would probably be better to pick me up at the dorm. You know, just in case my class is running late.”
“You mean you don’t know? Why don’t you just look at your schedule?”
“Because, my schedule is in my backpack and I’m walking to the dorm, now. I don’t have my schedule memorized yet. You know, it is the first day.”
“Okay, Friday at seven then. Is there anything else?”
“Actually, there is. You are going to look presentable, aren’t you? I mean…”
“What do you mean ‘presentable’? It’s just a movie,” Brooke cut her sister off.
“Yeah, but my friends might see you with me. I don’t want them to think you’re an old fogie or something.”
Brooke guffawed at her youngest sibling’s remark. “Chase, you’re pushing it.”
“Hey, I’ve got a reputation to uphold here, Sis. Help me out, will ya?” C.C. pleaded with Brooke.
Brooke growled into the phone receiver and shook her head in disbelief. “What do you want me to do…wear a tux?”
“Hey, if that would make you feel comfortable,” C.C. teased her older sister. “Just look nice.”
“Okay, I’ll leave the ‘granny-panties’ at home. Damn, you act like we’re going out on a date or something.” Brooke placed her feet back up on her desk, then leaning back in her chair, she found herself staring at the flashing icon on her screen. In an effort to release the tension in her body and mind, she picked up the pencil from her desktop and began playing with it between her fingers, deciding whether or not to open the new piece of e-mail for viewing.
“A date? I don’t think so, darlin’. You’re my sister and although some think you are fine as all get out, I don’t.”
“Yeah, yeah. Shall I bring flowers and candy as well?” Brooke asked, it was her turn to tease now.
“Now that you mention it…”
Brooke’s no-nonsense tone ended the conversation. “Goodbye, Chase. I’ll see you on Friday at seven at your dorm.”
The woman on the other end laughed as she said, “Bye, Brooke.”
Hearing the click of C.C.’s phone as she disconnected the digital line, Brooke’s thoughts turned back to the icon for new e-mail. Okay, equal time here. I returned one phone call, now I’ll read an e-mail. She clicked on her newest piece of e-mail and was surprised to see that it was a reply from Sam.
Subj: Re: Hi!
Date: August 20, 5:08:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Sam Moleson
To: brookeloran
Do you really think that your mother could influence me more than you could? I think not. BTW, you should never leave your business card with C.C. if you don’t want someone to use it. ;) She told me that you were a big supporter of Brooke Loran’s career. Not everyone would use her name as an email addy. I bet you have every album she’s on and then some. So, yeah, drummers do a thing or two to me.
Don’t worry, C.C.’s not warping me at all…at least I hope not. You may have to check on that every once in a while, just to make sure.
Talk to you soon.
Brooke couldn’t help the smile that found its way onto her face as she read the message. She shut down her computer, then made her way out of the office. The executive paused at the door only long enough to look back at the now blank computer screen. Suddenly, the day didn’t seem so bad after all.
The first week of school passed by without any major catastrophes, yet C.C. and Sam were both glad that the weekend was here. It was Friday evening already, and C.C. was sitting in her dorm room reading to kill some time while Sam occupied the bathroom. The girl glanced at the clock on the nightstand as it digitally flipped over, proclaiming the time to be 6:30.
“Shit, I’m going to be late for another class,” C.C. cursed, grabbed her bag and headed for the door of the bathroom. Sam was in the shower so C.C. yelled, “Hey, Sam?”
The blonde raised her voice over the sound of running water, “Yeah?”
“I’ve gotta run. I’m going to be late for my last class. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.” Sam called back. “Hey, what about the movie? I thought we were going to…”