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My Understandings

The Final Episode (Lets Change The Channel)

Austin squeezed my hand and I squeezed Miley’s. We drove the short while to the record company. While everyone else piped up conversation, I was planning. Planning so far ahead.
We walked up the road to the huge building that will make my band famous. With our without me. after the retinue which involved a tour of the building, the Do’s and Don’ts, meeting some other bands that were here and of course, signing the contract, which was basically signing away my death will. My hand was shaking so much, I ripped through the copy and broke the pen. After a couple more tries, I finally got my signature printed on the paper, and we are now a part of Rise Records.
Is it bad guilt filled my stomach?
“Congrats! Welcome to the Rise Record family guys. Now any official business starts, I want to point out some rules, the number one rule is, no dating.”Phil raised his hand.
“But I have a girlfriend” he says.
“Yeah and I have a boyfriend!” Miley exclaims. Dan chuckles.
“No silly pickles, you can’t date anyone from Rise Records. Phil, I told you guys that when you were signed. But back to my point. No dating. That means crew, staff, and other band members. It lowers the stress and awkwardness and the need to release anyone from their contract.” Everyone made an ‘o’ shape with their mouths.
“Rule two, do not touch my desk. Any of the guitars hanging, any other band’s equipment and anyone else’s stuff.” Dan went through the whole list, but I wasn’t paying attention.
The meeting was quick and pointless. Then tomorrow I would meet Devin at Starbucks to talk about Sumerian Records.
"Well, what are we gonna do Austin?"
"About what?"
"The 'no dating other members' rule."
"Well we're not dating."
"But, we kissed and, ou know. Were you only doing just to get in my pants?"
"No! It's just, I haven't asked you out yet."
"Were you?"
"Well, not any time soon."
"Bye Austin." I stopped and took a sharp breath. Thanks to my stupid, oversized heart, I have an artery that could bust and kill me at any given moment. I’ve known this for two years, but never bothered to tell anyone, not even my brother. I should go ahead and get the surgery done, but I can’t afford that, not at this time. But if I don’t, they said don’t expect to live over 27.
That’s two years.
Trust me, I wasn’t planning on it anyway.
A hand on my thigh snaps me out of my thoughts. It’s Austin. I hadn’t even notice we were in the driveway of my house.
“Hey you okay?” he asks.
“Dandy.” I pull a fake smile. I lean my head on his side as we walk into the house. For now, I wanted to spend as much time with Austin as possible. “Austin?” I craok.
“Hmm.” He mumbles as he pops a movie into the DVD player.
“I-I-I, uhm. Nothing.” I mumble while throwing a blanket over me and settling next to Austin.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks while throwing an arm around me.
“Yeah, just dandy.” I lie.
I’m just dandy.

Watching Austin and the guys practice in the studio is so amazing. It’s awesome to see how much Austin puts into his work. I love how Aaron is just as focused, even though he didn’t write. It’s amazing seeing them work as a band. I’m grateful for the band I have. All my best friends. Max was studying Tino’s techniques on the drums since we’ve become a little more metal core; he needs to speed up the pace. In fact, we’re all watching them. Miley is studying Aaron, Ryan is studying Phil and I’m studying Austin, Alan, and Aaron. I wish we were as talented as Of Mice & Men. Compared to them, we’re shit. But as he begins to start Second & Sebring, his eyes met mine and I knew he was going to cry.
Another reason it’s going to be hard to let go of Austin. He’s like a giant fluffy teddy-bear (and wow did that sound weird) and teddy bears are hard to let go. You just want to hug em’ over and over again. David and Kyle soon came downstairs, David holding hands with Lynzie. As the song ends, Austin speaks over the microphone, his voice a little shaky.
“You guys wanna give it a shot?” we all looked at each other than them. “I saw the way you were gawking at us. Come one! Take their places, pick a song, and let’s see how you guys sound.” I turned to them.
“You guys want to?” their eyes beamed with excitement. “Okay, what song do we all know? Nothing with clean vocals for now.” They all pondered it for a moment. Then Max had a smile spread across his face.
“They Don’t Call It The South For Nothing.” We all looked at him. He may be young, but he is full of cockiness.
“You sure?” I asked, knowing he would seriously pick up a lot of speed.
“Positive.” We turned to Austin.
“They Don’t Call It The South.” He nodded and everyone left their gear to take a spot behind the glass to watch us. we filled in their spots. Max behind the drums, Miley picking up Aaron’s guitar, Ryan taking Phil’s guitar and me standing next to Austin behind a microphone with Alan’s guitar. Max counted the beats before starting.
Make waves, make waves, I'm sea, it's all you can take.
Come back, back down now, I'm drifting away.
Your ship's sunk. It's gone down, now your captain is dead.
Your saints become sailors, when my ocean is fed by these,
Bloody waters, Mark my words. Come on.
Alright I want you call to clap along and sing with me:
As things slowed down a bit, I began to sing along with Austin. Feeling loved and belong and surprised at how well we sounded, of course we messed up here and there, but we were killing it.
When I said I'd fight back, I didn't say that I'd fight fair.
I said I'd fight back, I didn't say that I'd fight fair.
I said I'd fight back, I didn't say that I'd fight fair
I said I'd fight back, I didn't say that I'd fight fair
Salt your eyes, sleep with all the fishes.
The waves start the flood that's drowning yourself.
Broken, then we'll salt your eyes.
No wind, this sound.
Waves, make waves.
Back down, stop drifting away.
Come back, come back, it's all you can take.
We'll pour salt in your eyes.
I said I'd fight back, I didn't say that I'd fight fair.
After that, my heart was beating irregular, but of course, being me I shrugged it off. Austin said he wanted to do a song with clean vocals so that I won’t damage my voice. So we played YDG. I’m proud to say, we actually kept up speed. Max didn’t mess up as much as he did the first time and Miley and Ryan we’re good a backing the vocals. If Austin wasn’t part of his band, I would totally as him to join ours. Maybe we could start a side project together……
Remember, you won’t be here long, so why start something you can’t finish.
Poop.
“Hey Ellie, good job.” Austin thanked me while chugging a water bottle.
“Thanks.” He hugged me and soon everyone joined the hug.
I’m destroying what I love.
I decided to take a walk to relive the stress on my mind. I was halfway down the sidewalk when Alan busts through the door to catch up with me.
“Alan, what do you want?” I ask, though I came out harsher than it needed to. But I didn’t care, I want to be alone.
“You’ve been acting funny since this morning. What’s up?” he walked alongside of me and draped an arm around my shoulder.
“Nothing. Just, nothing.” I wanted to tell Alan. I wanted someone to say it’s okay, everything is gonna be fine and be showered with hugs. But nothing is fine and nothing is okay. My heartbeat began to pick up again as my panic rose.
“Are you okay?” Alan asks. I stop walking and fall to my knees clutching my chest. Great, stupid artery wants to burst now? I shake my head no and point to the house. “The house? Does someone know what’s happening?” he asks. I nod and try to form words with my mouth, but it’s hard when your heart is basically preparing to blow up. I fall to my side and begin to shake.
I’m having a freaking anxiety attack while having a heart attack, wow. There’s a first for everything.
“Austin.” My mouth coughs out and Alan takes off running, his ginger hair flowing behind him. I roll to my side and consulate as the two come running back to me.
“Ellie! What’s happening?” he asks while Alan dials 911. He notices how I clutch my chest and the lack of air. I wheeze again and I swear something inside of me popped. My whole body felt cold on the inside and my arms are turning a bright shade of red. I open my mouth to say something, but only blood comes out.
“Ellie!” they scream at the same time. It wasn’t soon after the blood rushing out that the sirens were heard in the distance. Austin gripped my hand, or was it Alan, hard to tell as my vision was getting blurry. A stretcher was lifting me off the ground as my hands were placed over my heart. I lifted them up to see them covered in blood.
“What’s going on?!” Austin yelled at a paramedic who had those electric thingy’s that revive you.
“Her artery bust, she has internal bleeding!” and then the stars danced before my eyes and I blacked out.
“Clear!”
I wake up to see people surrounding me with goggles and white coats on. Everyone was rushing, taking out tools and yelling at each other. Someone finally acknowledged me and walked towards me.
“Sweetie, put this on.” They put a mask over my face and gas rolled into my lungs. “We have to perform open heart surgery right now in order for you to survive, so take a look out there. You see that man,” I looked towards her finger that was pointing towards the glass. Austin had his hand on the window, looking at the doctors rushing around. I knew this was scary for him. He’s been here before. “Focus your attention to him so when you black out, you’ll see a familiar face.” I kept my eyes on Austin’s face. the color was drained from his face, his eyes wide and in a panic. When he looked my way, he forced a fake smile. We locked eyes until I felt myself slowly slipping out.