Author's Note, I'm just pretty curious. What do you picture Nathan Sheppard to look like?
Also, sorry to those of you who may have gotten 570482 notifications about this being updated, but my Wattpad wasn't letting me update this for like... ever. Lemme know what you dudes think!!

I'd been suffering through so many failed gigs and a lot of false hope the past week, that the Law of Averages was bound to catch up with me and give me some good news some time.

Granted, the good news in itself was that The Arrow liked Wyld Stallyns enough to keep inviting them back, but no other bars seemed open to the idea.

I'd been gifted with a light homework load, which gave me many opportunities to call around to other bars and small venues. The Arrow always welcomed us, giving us a nearly permanent slot on Saturday nights.

This coming Saturday was my first official date with Alonso. Actually, it was my first official date ever. This meant that neither Bystander or Wyld Stallyns was available, since it was not a permanent job for any of the bands assigned to play. It was more of a treat for the bar.

As I sat, dialing up different venues by the phone, grilled cheese in hand, thinking about Ted, much to my surprise, the phone rang. I gulped down what was in my mouth and picked up, expecting one of Team Stallyns to be calling.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Nathan Sheppard. Is this the manager of Wyld Stallyns?"

My blood went cold. This was unexpected, and I felt very nervous being called by Nathan suddenly.

"Yes, this is. Hello, Mr. Sheppard," I stuttered.

His voice sounded suddenly a lot more casual.

"Please, Nathan," he said easily.

"Yeah... Nathan," I replied awkwardly. "What's going on?"

That sounded sooooo professional.

"I was wondering if you and the boys would like to come down and try a bit of recording? It wouldn't be at the Electro Records studio just yet, seeing how that's in Hollywood and I hardly gave you any notice, but I thought it would be good to see how they react and sound when recorded professionally,"

Law of Averages strikes again! Yes!

"That sounds great! Thank you Mr. Shep-- I mean, Nathan," I stammered excitedly.

He chuckled, "Wonderful. I have a studio in downtown San Dimas if you'd like to meet there, say, this Friday?"

"Awesome. Thank you. I'll definitely tell the guys. They're going to be ecstatic to hear this!" I tried to sound as professional as possible, but I think even Nathan knew that I needed a bit of good news today.

We hung up and I very excitedly called Team Stallyns to tell them the news.

***

Friday came faster than I'd anticipated. Bill would drive the lot of us in the band van with all their instruments.

Honestly, none of us knew what to expect or what to bring, so it was in our best interest to dress up.

I stood on my porch, knees shaking, as I waited for Bill and the Team to show up. I had my portfolio tucked under my arm, hair teased up to the nth degree, glasses on the bridge of my nose. Once again, I was in my most professional white knit sweater and long black skirt, as well as wearing the necklace River had bought for me.

Bill pulled up and waved from the window, and I stumbled down the sidewalk in heels. Ted jumped out of the car to help me walk, and escorted me to the back, where Scar was sitting in a Van Halen shirt, jeans, and a leather jacket, her purple hair tied back.

"Hey girl," she said. I grinned, but shook my head sarcastically at her.

"Heya. Would it kill you to dress nice, once, dude?"

"Hey. This is nice. This jacket is brand new," She winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

Ted climbed in next to me and sat down, trying to fix his black jacket. His tie was loose, and hanging to the side. I leaned over him and straightened his bright red tie. He looked down at my diligent hands as I pushed the knot of the tie up to his collar, and I heard him audibly gulp.

I laid a hand on his leg and felt his muscles relax, just slightly. He still looked extremely tense for some reason.

I rubbed my thumb absently on his knee to calm him down, and he shivered.

"Alright, we gotta get River, then head downtown. What's the address?"

"153 Parks lane, Nathan said he'd be waiting for us at around 4," I replied easily, despite the nerves.

We drove a block to River's house and honked the horn. He came out 5 seconds later, running like he was chased.

"You're shotgun, dude!" Bill yelled out the window. I saw River's siblings looking out the door and windows at him, probably wondering why he was running like a madman. He jumped in the front seat.

"Jeez, River, where's the fire?" Scarlet laughed.

"Honestly? I thought I was late," he panted. "Turns out my clock is just fast."

He turned around to greet the rest of us in the back and Bill took off.

"Hey guys. Hey Lucky, cool necklace," he smirked.

"Yeah, thanks. This really weird guy bought if for me," I teased.

River threw a crumpled paper at my face.

"So what exactly are we doing today?" Bill piped up.

"Nathan said that we were basically just gonna mess around in the recording studio today, and maybe next weekend, we will actually go to Hollywood for a few days, where Electro Records is, and record for real," I explained.

"They also have a bigger production company in New York City, but he's not gonna take us there yet, probably not until you guys get a few albums under your wing. There's no need, especially when they're stationed in L.A."

"Excellent," Ted commented under his breath, fidgeting with his tie in hand. He was nervous, I could tell, and uncharacteristically so. He wouldn't even look me in the eyes.

In fact... he was looking...down...

"Ted!" I hissed, pushing up on his chin to make him look at me.

He blushed. Hard. "S-Sorry dudette, I zoned out...,"

"Uh-huh. Yeah. Sure ya did." I leaned my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around him, tucking up my knees. He sighed softly, seeming very content, and he shut his eyes and just breathed for a while.

***

Bill pulled up at 4:10, and he quickly scrambled to gather every instrument while I ran in to apologize to Nathan for being late.

The building was a little two-story thing, and I didn't know where to go. I heard music coming from upstairs and I ran up the concrete steps, following my gut. Nathan wasn't waiting outside, so I hoped he didn't want to cancel because we were late.

On my way up the steps, my heel missed and I fell down on my face, hitting my chin on the edge of a step and clashing my teeth together. I groaned in pain and staggered up the rest of the steps. I think a bruise was forming.

I burst through the door of the recording studio, hair falling out of place, little trickle of blood falling from my chin where I slammed into the ground, and I think I scared Mr. Sheppard out of his skin.

"SorryMr.SheppardIWontBeLateAgain," I said all in one breath. He looked puzzled.

"Sorry--Mr. Sheppard... we didn't--mean to be late, we just...," I panted, slower this time.

"It's not a problem, Miss Elwood. What happened to your chin?"

"Fell coming up the steps," I sheepishly admitted.

"Would you like ice?"

I was tempted to say no, but come to think of it, it felt like my knee was slowly breaking.

"If it's not too much trouble, sir," I murmured.

He nodded to a pretty young lady in red, he hair up in a frizzy bun, and she walked out of the room with a smile to me.

Nathan gestured to the room we were in. He was sitting at a panel filled with buttons and different levers, a lot like an amplifier, but with about 1000 more keys on it. The station was in front of a huge, thick glass window, and inside were several cherry red guitars and microphone stands.

The recording studio looked just like I'd always pictured it in movies, and I could only imagine what the one in Hollywood looked like. It was probably even bigger, and even more high-quality. My heart sped up in excitement.

"So, is your name actually Lucky?" Nathan asked me, making small talk.

"No, it's a nickname. I've always preferred it though, because my mom calls me it. My friends just adopted the tradition. Sometimes I forget that it's not my actual name though,"

"It's not bad," Nathan smiled.

I heard thundering up the stairs and could only assume Team Stallyns had brought every musical instrument in their possession, which was unnecessary.

"Guys, in here!" I called. They all shuffled into the room.

A minute later, the lady came back with an ice pack, which I held to my chin for a moment, hissing, then moved it to my knee.

"What'd you do to your knee, dude?" Bill asked.

"Fell up the stairs,"

Scar stifled a laugh.

"What song would you like us to do first, dude?" Bill asked proudly.

"Any song you'd like," he encouraged. Suddenly, Ted went stiff as he looked at the recording studio, and the color left his face. He looked sick.

"Break a leg, guys!" I encouraged, given Ted a gentle nudge. He wouldn't move.

"Ted," I whispered, "Go in the studio."

"C'mon, Ted," River whispered urgently.

Maybe it was claustrophobia? The recording studio didn't look that small to me, but maybe to him...?

I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. I don't know why. Ted blushed and looked at our feet.

I also leaned over and stole a quick kiss from Bill for luck as well, and he wrapped an arm around me cheerfully.

"I don't know what to sing," Ted finally said under his breath.

River took Ted by the arm and walked him in to the booth, gesturing for me and Scarlet to follow him. He whispered into my ear a brilliant idea, his hot breath on my neck.

Bill squeezed in after us, trying to hear the plan. Bill was on Ted's other side, arm wrapped around his Stallyn protectively. Scarlet was holding his hand, and I was on his other side, clinging to his arm.

I didn't really want to sing either, but if it would help Ted, then so be it. I suppose he just got performance anxiety. It happens to everyone.

"One, two, three," River whispered, then belted out. It was actually the first time I'd ever heard him sing. He was really good! The rest of us followed suit.

"Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done,
Lay your weary head to rest,
Don't you cry no more!"

Bill broke into a fantastic riff, and the tension dissolved, probably because no one voice was singing at the same time. I'd never sung in front of people before, save that one time I sang to Bill and Ted in Ted's room, but that was entirely different.

I wasn't ready to rock out on stage, but it was one of the most enjoyable things I'd ever ended up doing.

Bill took the first verse, and Ted finally loosened up enough to take the second one, still clinging to my and Scarlet's fingers. He probably would be hanging on to Bill if he wasn't busy playing guitar.

On top of that, as we collectively joined in for the harmonies of the chorus of a classic Kansas song, I saw Nathan Sheppard smiling and laughing, talking to his assistant with pride in his eyes.

He was proud of us. He was proud of Team Stallyns.