Chapter Twenty One

"You first!" I cross my arms over my chest, I'm not letting this go.

"No, you," Alex retorts.

"Nope." I shake my head.

An older lady standing near us glares and shakes her head at us. There's nothing wrong with wanting to hide out in a lobby, especially with the crowds hanging around outside.

"I insist." He smiles, "Ladies first." He gestures with his hand.

Growling under my breath, I take a few steps forwards to week around the corner. There's a large group of paparazzi waiting, cameras in hand. I can't understand why people holding pieces of plastic that flash bright lights look so vicious and intimidating. Wait, that's right, they're aiming to ruin your lives with them - or sight, which ever one comes first.

"How about this," I suggest, "We paper, scissor, rock it? Whoever loses gets the privilege of going out first."

"Well," he mumbles, "Fine, but I think it's silly."

I ball my hand up into a fist and wait for him to do the same.

"Paper, scissors, rock," we both say together.

After the three counts, Alex finishes up with a rock and a bright smile on his face.

"I win, I win," he starts cheering, "Rock beats scissors."

His excitement makes me laugh. Shaking my head I wave my hand sign at him.

"This is a gun, therefore it beats your rock." I poke my tongue out.

Alex's face drops - like a child who's just had their Halloween candy stolen.

"A gun isn't even in the game," he protests.

"Yes it is." I giggle, "I just played the move." I point my finger up so I can blow the imaginary smoke away from the fired shot.

"Fine, but let's play again," he insists.

"Paper, scissors, rock," we chant together.

Alex has a determined look on his face, and an evil glint in his eyes. At the end of the three counts, he's positing his fingers like a gun - the move I had just before. This time, I have one hand on the nose of my air gun, and my other hand is clasping the base with one hand on the trigger.

"Machine gun beats your hand one any day."

"You can't do that! It's unfair," he growls back - annoyance clearly displaced across his face.

Raising an eyebrow, I point the pretend gun at him and giggle, "Are you sure about that?"

Alex shakes his head and frowns at me, "I can't believe you cheated on a basic game."

I shrug my shoulders and smile at him, "I like to throw in some twists to keep the game interesting."

"More like cheats," he grumbles under his breath.

"Hey, you're the one being a baby over walking out the door - you've been a celebrity for longer, you should be immune to it," I point out.

"If one of you doesn't walk out, I'll throw both of you over my shoulder and carry you out," Mitch threatens in a somewhat humours tone - a deadly humours tone.

"Well I vote Alex," I say.

"So now we're voting?" Alex practically shouts.

"While you two figure it out, I need to chat to someone. Don't move, I have my eye on you both," he warns.

Both Alex and I take a break from our argument so that we can watch where Mitch walks. It's only a few metres from us where he stops to chat to another buff looking man - probably someone on our security team.

"Who's that?" I whisper to Alex.

"Isn't that your Dad?" he replies.

"Yes Alex, because my Dad would seriously look like someone who's recently stepped out of jail!" I say aloud.

"I saw him walking out of your hotel room this morning."

"What?" I turn to face him.

"I just assumed he was your father..."

Alex and I stand in silence as we watch the two talk. I wonder what he was doing in my room this morning, which seems like an odd thing. Wouldn't I be introduced before he comes in my room?

I'd say, ten minutes later, Mitch returns to us with the same unamused he left with.

"Are you two ready to do?"

"Who's that?" I cut in.

"Another member to your security team - your family hired him this morning. We've been working on a plan to incorporate both teams since you'll both be working together," Mitch explains.

"Okay, thank you."

"Let's get moving," says Mitch, "We're behind in schedule."

Mitch is the first person to walk out, followed by Alex and then me. As the automatic doors close behind me, I shuffle closer to his body and he grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly. When the flashing lights start, and the questions are hurled left right and centre - I don't hide my face, I keep my chin up and charge forwards.

The security team help us get inside the car safely - it's a nice feeling when the door is slammed shut and their questions are but mumbled noises. It's nice to be wanted, but it's also nice to be out of the eye of others.

"You did well," Alex says, "You'll be a natural soon."

"Thanks." I smile.

Once again, we're back in the studio in no time. I'm sitting at the desk staring at the blank lined paper wishing it would do something - but it just stares straight back at me, reminding me I have a job to do. Write.

"Can we have a break?" I ask.

Alex looks over at my blank page and shakes his head, "I thought you said you have lyrics in mind?" he asks.

I nibble on my lip and shake my head, "Well."

"So you lied?"

I don't respond, I just smile brightly.

"You're going to pay for that! You better get your thinking cap on, because it feels like we might be having a late night," he says.

"Of course," I honestly expected that.

"Things could be easier." Alex takes a seat next to me and places my lyric book in front of me, "If you used the lyrics you've already written, it would take less time."

"No." I shake my head sternly, "These are horrible lyrics. I need something better."

"They're a good base to start with."

"Fine, what am I looking at?" I glare at him.

Opening the first page, I push the book in front of him. The page is messy, there's scribbles of lyrics and revisions for different words and meanings the song could take. I have random pictures and quotes to keep me motivated. I wish they were neat.

"I've made a few notes, and added a few things." Alex pulls a note from his pocket and hands it to me.

There's a revised version of my lyrics and a combination of his.

"Just read it, okay?" he says nervously.

"Okay."

I've been running from today,

Searching for tomorrow,

But, I've been lost in yesterday.

I'm searching for the right way,

To say to you right now,

I don't know what to say,

But you take my breath away.

I look up at smile at a nervous Alex before I continue reading.

Is there a place that I can begin?

A phrase you can suggest me?

Because I'm losing all my words to you.

"These are beautiful Alex, you've really highlighted what I wanted to say."

"Good." He nods his head.

"I have some more line in mind for the song," I say.

"What are they?"

"I'll sing the song and then try adding them, it helps."

"That's okay, whatever works."