Lemons
Cloud 9
*Emily’s POV (Evening, the Next Day)
I’m lying on my bed in the dorm playing my acoustic, trying to relax. I can’t stop thinking about last night. I can’t believe Hannah is going to be in London all summer. I’ll miss her so much. I’ll have to try and get along without talking to her every day considering there will be a 6 hour time difference and we can’t use our phones while she’s out of the country.
I’m also really nervous about industry night still. I know I have talent but so does everyone else at this school. I feel like I don’t stand out, that I’ll just be overlooked among the bulk of performers. If I could just know I’m going to get discovered so I could stop worrying, that would be wonderful. Suddenly my phone rings. It’s my dad…he never calls me unless it’s important. “Hey dad, what’s going on?”
“Everything is fine, pumpkin. I just have something interesting to tell you.” my dad informs me. “Okay…what is it?” “You know those demos of your music that you posted online? On…uh...cloud 9 or something?” My heart literally stops. “…SoundCloud?” I ask cautiously.
“Yeah that’s it! Well a brand new artist who is the newest client at Columbia Records in NYC found them and he loves you. He didn’t give his name, just his initials: ZM. He wants you to spend a couple months in the city with him, the whole summer if you have to, helping him write the music for his songs!”
I am speechless. “Oh my gosh no way! Dad, you better not be kidding around.” “I’m not, sweetie. This guy thinks you’ve got great talent and he wants you! So are you gonna do it?” he asks. “Of course I’m gonna do it! This is a great opportunity! Oh my gosh thanks for calling, dad. I gotta go tell Hannah. Bye, love you!” I say about to hang up. “Wait! Don’t you want the number of his producer at Columbia so you can tell him?” He shouts getting my attention. I write down the number and hang up.
And now, I sit here on my bed, looking at this piece of paper in my hand. If I take this opportunity, I’m gonna get a total jumpstart on my career. And this songwriting job could lead to more and could potentially set me up for a lifetime of success! I have to take this chance. Forget stressing about industry night. I’m dropping out of it to start my songwriting career early! I have to tell Hannah right now.
I’m about to run and find Hannah, but I stop when I remember the other girls. Hannah won’t be coming home because of London and now I won’t be home for summer if I stay here. 2/5 of us are gonna be gone. How will they react? …shit. I grab my phone and call Hannah.
“Hey Em, what is it? I’m at rehearsal.” “You know how you had some news last night for all of us? Well tonight I do. Text the girls that were having a meeting again when you have a free moment. I’ll see you when you’re done. Bye!” I say rushed before hanging up on her.
Normally I would’ve properly finished the conversation, but I’m too excited to call this guy’s producer. His name is Don DeVito...cool name. I dial the number and listen to the ringing on the other end. “Hello, this is Don DeVito of Columbia Records. May I ask who’s calling?” I take a deep breath and answer. “Hello, Mr. DeVito. This is Emily Taylor. Your newest client found my music online?...”
“Of course! He was very excited to play your music for me. You really wrote those compositions?” He seems surprised. “Yes I did! I also helped one of my friends write the music for her songs so I’m already a fair collaborator.” There is a pause before he says “Miss Taylor, your music is inspired and I love what I’m hearing. How would you like to meet with me and ZM once you finish out the school year? When is your last day?” Oh my gosh. “The 8th of this month.”
“Okay, how about we meet that following Monday...the 11th I believe?” AH! “That sounds perfect!” “Wonderful. Bring everything you need to temporarily relocate to the heart of NYC. I assume you will need to go back home over that weekend to get anything else you need and to see your family?” he questions.
“Yes I do. I’ll also need to buy a plane ticket to get back here from Chicago.” What he says next I can’t believe. “Oh that won’t be necessary. I will mail you a plane ticket within the next few days. It is our pleasure to have you join our team.”
I could literally scream. “Wow thank you, Mr. DeVito!” “Not a problem at all. Do you have any questions before I let you go?” he adds. “Actually I am curious about one thing. Why does this guy—your client, use his initials? What does ZM stand for?” There is a moment of silence.
He says “ZM doesn’t like to give just anyone his name. He prefers that only people who he has met and he really trusts learn his name. He likes to have a certain mysteriousness about him to strangers. ...I don’t really get it. ...Anyway, you will find out his name when you meet with us.” I say okay, thank him, and we hang up. And then I jump around the room uncontrollably because this actually happened tonight.
A few hours pass and Hannah comes in while I’m jamming on my electric. “Rock on, man! You must be in a great mood. You only jam out like that when you’re excited. What’s up?” “You’ll have to wait and seeeeee!” I say setting down my guitar. My laptop goes off and we rush to my desk. “Heeeeey!” the girls sing together. “So what’s your exciting news, Emily?!” Sammie says. I take a deep breath before continuing.
“Earlier tonight, my dad called me from Chicago. You know how I posted those few demos that I played for you on SoundCloud?” “Those? Yeah those were fantastic!” Susan says. “Thanks. Well…apparently some brand new artist found them and loves me!” “Oh my gosh how lucky are you?” Kenzie says. “Yeah but that’s not even the great news. The guy wants me to help him write the music for his songs!!” All the girls scream and Hannah tackles me in a hug.
“I start this month…here.” I shout over them. All of a sudden, there’s silence. “NYC?” says Kenzie and Susan. “Yeah he’s signed at Columbia Records and wants me to come there to meet him and his producer and basically live near there for a couple months…maybe the whole summer depending on how long it takes.” I say.
“So now only three of us will be home for summer now?” Sammie asks. “Yeah…I’m really sorry, girls but like Hannah’s this is a great opportunity for my career. I have to take it even if it means having to leave you all.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right. Well will you guys be coming home for at least a day to pack up your stuff?” Kenzie asks. “Yeah we’ll probably come home for a few days to pack and say goodbye but then we’ll have to go.” Hannah says. We’re all silent for a minute before Hannah and I say goodbye and good night to the girls and log off.
“I’m so happy for you, Em. This will be great for you. And now you’ll be busying yourself while I’m in London.” she smiles. “Yeah I’m just worried about the others. Especially Sammie. She depends on us so much.”
“She’ll be okay. Don’t worry. Mac and Susan will look after her.” Hannah reassures me. “So tell me all the details about how this happened! Dish, girl!” I tell Hannah about my dad calling, and then calling Mr. DeVito and the free plane ticket. I also tell her about the singer being ZM and why he doesn’t give out his name.
“Oooh sounds like a mysterious bad boy type! I’ll bet he’s hot.” Hannah says poking my arm. “Maybe...you know that’s my type, but maybe we should just keep our collaboration professional.” “Yeah, let me know how that works out for you.” she says chuckling. We hug before getting ready for bed and going to sleep and I can’t help but find myself wondering if any other big things will happen in our circle of friends within the next few days...
I’m lying on my bed in the dorm playing my acoustic, trying to relax. I can’t stop thinking about last night. I can’t believe Hannah is going to be in London all summer. I’ll miss her so much. I’ll have to try and get along without talking to her every day considering there will be a 6 hour time difference and we can’t use our phones while she’s out of the country.
I’m also really nervous about industry night still. I know I have talent but so does everyone else at this school. I feel like I don’t stand out, that I’ll just be overlooked among the bulk of performers. If I could just know I’m going to get discovered so I could stop worrying, that would be wonderful. Suddenly my phone rings. It’s my dad…he never calls me unless it’s important. “Hey dad, what’s going on?”
“Everything is fine, pumpkin. I just have something interesting to tell you.” my dad informs me. “Okay…what is it?” “You know those demos of your music that you posted online? On…uh...cloud 9 or something?” My heart literally stops. “…SoundCloud?” I ask cautiously.
“Yeah that’s it! Well a brand new artist who is the newest client at Columbia Records in NYC found them and he loves you. He didn’t give his name, just his initials: ZM. He wants you to spend a couple months in the city with him, the whole summer if you have to, helping him write the music for his songs!”
I am speechless. “Oh my gosh no way! Dad, you better not be kidding around.” “I’m not, sweetie. This guy thinks you’ve got great talent and he wants you! So are you gonna do it?” he asks. “Of course I’m gonna do it! This is a great opportunity! Oh my gosh thanks for calling, dad. I gotta go tell Hannah. Bye, love you!” I say about to hang up. “Wait! Don’t you want the number of his producer at Columbia so you can tell him?” He shouts getting my attention. I write down the number and hang up.
And now, I sit here on my bed, looking at this piece of paper in my hand. If I take this opportunity, I’m gonna get a total jumpstart on my career. And this songwriting job could lead to more and could potentially set me up for a lifetime of success! I have to take this chance. Forget stressing about industry night. I’m dropping out of it to start my songwriting career early! I have to tell Hannah right now.
I’m about to run and find Hannah, but I stop when I remember the other girls. Hannah won’t be coming home because of London and now I won’t be home for summer if I stay here. 2/5 of us are gonna be gone. How will they react? …shit. I grab my phone and call Hannah.
“Hey Em, what is it? I’m at rehearsal.” “You know how you had some news last night for all of us? Well tonight I do. Text the girls that were having a meeting again when you have a free moment. I’ll see you when you’re done. Bye!” I say rushed before hanging up on her.
Normally I would’ve properly finished the conversation, but I’m too excited to call this guy’s producer. His name is Don DeVito...cool name. I dial the number and listen to the ringing on the other end. “Hello, this is Don DeVito of Columbia Records. May I ask who’s calling?” I take a deep breath and answer. “Hello, Mr. DeVito. This is Emily Taylor. Your newest client found my music online?...”
“Of course! He was very excited to play your music for me. You really wrote those compositions?” He seems surprised. “Yes I did! I also helped one of my friends write the music for her songs so I’m already a fair collaborator.” There is a pause before he says “Miss Taylor, your music is inspired and I love what I’m hearing. How would you like to meet with me and ZM once you finish out the school year? When is your last day?” Oh my gosh. “The 8th of this month.”
“Okay, how about we meet that following Monday...the 11th I believe?” AH! “That sounds perfect!” “Wonderful. Bring everything you need to temporarily relocate to the heart of NYC. I assume you will need to go back home over that weekend to get anything else you need and to see your family?” he questions.
“Yes I do. I’ll also need to buy a plane ticket to get back here from Chicago.” What he says next I can’t believe. “Oh that won’t be necessary. I will mail you a plane ticket within the next few days. It is our pleasure to have you join our team.”
I could literally scream. “Wow thank you, Mr. DeVito!” “Not a problem at all. Do you have any questions before I let you go?” he adds. “Actually I am curious about one thing. Why does this guy—your client, use his initials? What does ZM stand for?” There is a moment of silence.
He says “ZM doesn’t like to give just anyone his name. He prefers that only people who he has met and he really trusts learn his name. He likes to have a certain mysteriousness about him to strangers. ...I don’t really get it. ...Anyway, you will find out his name when you meet with us.” I say okay, thank him, and we hang up. And then I jump around the room uncontrollably because this actually happened tonight.
A few hours pass and Hannah comes in while I’m jamming on my electric. “Rock on, man! You must be in a great mood. You only jam out like that when you’re excited. What’s up?” “You’ll have to wait and seeeeee!” I say setting down my guitar. My laptop goes off and we rush to my desk. “Heeeeey!” the girls sing together. “So what’s your exciting news, Emily?!” Sammie says. I take a deep breath before continuing.
“Earlier tonight, my dad called me from Chicago. You know how I posted those few demos that I played for you on SoundCloud?” “Those? Yeah those were fantastic!” Susan says. “Thanks. Well…apparently some brand new artist found them and loves me!” “Oh my gosh how lucky are you?” Kenzie says. “Yeah but that’s not even the great news. The guy wants me to help him write the music for his songs!!” All the girls scream and Hannah tackles me in a hug.
“I start this month…here.” I shout over them. All of a sudden, there’s silence. “NYC?” says Kenzie and Susan. “Yeah he’s signed at Columbia Records and wants me to come there to meet him and his producer and basically live near there for a couple months…maybe the whole summer depending on how long it takes.” I say.
“So now only three of us will be home for summer now?” Sammie asks. “Yeah…I’m really sorry, girls but like Hannah’s this is a great opportunity for my career. I have to take it even if it means having to leave you all.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right. Well will you guys be coming home for at least a day to pack up your stuff?” Kenzie asks. “Yeah we’ll probably come home for a few days to pack and say goodbye but then we’ll have to go.” Hannah says. We’re all silent for a minute before Hannah and I say goodbye and good night to the girls and log off.
“I’m so happy for you, Em. This will be great for you. And now you’ll be busying yourself while I’m in London.” she smiles. “Yeah I’m just worried about the others. Especially Sammie. She depends on us so much.”
“She’ll be okay. Don’t worry. Mac and Susan will look after her.” Hannah reassures me. “So tell me all the details about how this happened! Dish, girl!” I tell Hannah about my dad calling, and then calling Mr. DeVito and the free plane ticket. I also tell her about the singer being ZM and why he doesn’t give out his name.
“Oooh sounds like a mysterious bad boy type! I’ll bet he’s hot.” Hannah says poking my arm. “Maybe...you know that’s my type, but maybe we should just keep our collaboration professional.” “Yeah, let me know how that works out for you.” she says chuckling. We hug before getting ready for bed and going to sleep and I can’t help but find myself wondering if any other big things will happen in our circle of friends within the next few days...
WHAT!!!!!! DID I JUST READ THIS RIGHT???? LEMONS HAS 20,000 VIEWS!?!?!? Holy crap, you guys. I love you all so much for reading this story. It is my pride and joy. :') <3
1/22/16