They didn’t know it, but I was watching when Scott dropped Cal off at the warehouse yesterday. I can see their friendship growing, they might even care about each other a little, but the main thing is, Scott might be here for Cal when I can’t be. It sounds weird saying it, but I’m relieved there’s someone else around to take care of Cal because I’m not sure how much longer I will be about.
My stomach drops when I think of leaving my girl behind. I’ve dreamed of an opportunity like this; playing Braebeach festival is massive. Playing the home crowd, aneven bigger deal. However, a small part of me is dreading it because this is the last full day I get to spend with Cal for a while. I also haven’t got around to telling her we leave for London tomorrow night.
I got a text late last night from Dani, detailing our schedule for the next few weeks. They’ve packed the first week with non-stop interviews after several news and radio stations latched onto the ‘local band done good’ angle. From there we go into the recording studio to lay down our first track, then release it as a single.
What really bothers me about all this is that we fly straight to New York once we’re done in London. The plan is to finish the album there, which could take months, but it means we’ll be around for appearances and interviews. Bernie said we have to strike while the iron is hot. New bands come and go in the States so we could easily be forgotten in a week if we don’t put the work in.
Our first single will be released to coincide with our flight out there. It means the world gets to hear our music before the plane hits the tarmac at JFK. All this is happening without Cal by my side to share it.
I can’t wait for Cal to wake up any longer. I run my fingers through her hair, “Baby?” She shifts again, humming. I love this sound. Maybe I’ll record it so I can listen to it while I’m away. I try again; whispering close to her ear, “Cal, baby.” She finally stirs and rolls onto her back. Gently her eyes flutter open; her lashes bat up and down like a butterfly’s wings. So delicate, so beautiful.
“What’s up?” Her voice croaks slightly then she stretches.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey,” she smiles. “What’s the time?”
“Just after 5.”
She groans, “Am or pm? If it’s the latter, we’re late.” Hereyes catch mine, then she frowns. “Are you okay or are the nerves kicking in?” Maybe she can see I’ve got a whole load of stuff on my mind.
“I’m okay, but I need to talk to you about something.”
“Can it wait until I’ve eaten, I’m ravenous.”
I laugh. “It won’t take a minute.”
She shifts herself up on her elbows. “What’s going on?”
“I had a text late last night. I need to talk to you about it.”
“Okaaay.”
“Tonight, after the gig—fuck, I don’t know how to say this.”
“Just say it,” she urges.
I exhale the breath I’m holding. “It’s our last night together for a while.” Shit, the worry on her face is punching my heart already.
She shakes her head a little, “Wh-what? What do you mean?”
“Playing Brae Fest and the recent airplay—it’s caused such a wave. We’re heading for London tomorrow night to get started on publicity and stuff.”
“Oh,” she looks away initially, biting a nail. After a beat, she half-smiles. “But you must get a day off at some point, or I could come up one day? Watch you do your thing or—” she doesn’t finish her sentence.
“I won’t have a minute Cal. Dani made it pretty clear the schedule is full-on. We have interviews all week, and because of the New York trip, they want us to get as many tracks down in the studio time we have here. The rest we’ll finish in the States.”
“I see.” Cal looks down to the duvet now gripped between her fingers. “And when do you fly out to New York?”
“A week today.”
Her lips knit closely together and roll. “It’s okay, I’ll see you just before I go back to uni then.”
I close my eyes. Fuck, this is difficult. “No, Cal.”
“No?”
“We go for at least a month. I’m sorry, I won’t be back before you leave and the U.S trip is open-ended.”
