Dim morning light snuck through the half-cracked blinds of Elaine's bedroom, painting subtly rays of light across her coffee cup and laptop atop her desk. Her headphones were propped over the darkened screen, and the power light blinked slowly in the fading darkness.
After a few passing minutes, 6:30 AM blinked on her clock, and her phone buzzed across her nightstand. Once. Twice. Then again. A unique rhythm of a song tailored to a silent alarm.
"...I swear if that's Eleanore sending me cat memes again…"
Elaine murmured, reaching her hand from under her plush comforter in a blind search for the buzzing menace. Groggily, she found it and snaked it under the blanket, squinting at the unnecessarily bright screen.
╭────────────╮
{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
THAT PERFORMANCE WAS INSANE OMG
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
POD actually came to BD to perform and u just left 😭😭😭
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
i'm stayin at kendra's 2nite btw, don't wait up 💕luv u
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
u missed it girl! the fans were wild it was chaos 😭
╰────────────╯
Elaine gave a groggy blink, slowly sitting up with the comforter wrapped around her. She rolled her eyes, half smiling at the energy exerted from her best friend in the messages, "Of course it was chaos. It was a Friday," she murmured, covering her mouth as she yawned, squinting at the screen.
Below Eleanore's chat was another message sent a little after 1 AM. She stretched before clicking on it.
╭────────────╮
{Unknown Number} (Text)
Hey, just wanted to make sure you got home safe.
- Luca
╰────────────╯
Elaine blinked. Blinked again. Then she remembered the events from the previous night. "...Oh my god."
She stared at the screen like a deer in the headlights before she attempted to quickly get up. Her sheets wrapped around her leg, tangling her up. "No, no, no, no- ow…" Her descent downward was less than graceful as she caught herself on the corner of her nightstand while her phone made its escape across the floor.
She groaned, unraveling herself from the bedding that held her captive before slowly retrieving her phone. He actually texted.
Her mirror betrayed her as she caught sight of herself. She looked like a disaster in pajamas with a cartoon cat shirt with enlarged print stating: "You got this."
Do I, though? Do I really? She flopped backward onto her mattress with a groan, pulling a pillow over her face.
"What does someone even say to that? 'Thanks, I didn't die'? Great conversation starter." She grumbled into her pillow. After several seconds of internal debate, she lifted her pillow and picked up her phone to finally respond.
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
I did, thanks. Hope you got to your destination without incident.
╰────────────╯
She hits send before she can overthink it; however, staring at the message, she immediately regrets her choice of words. "Without incident? What am I, a flight attendant?"
Her eyes caught part of the screen as it lit up before the phone could lock. Typing…
"Oh no, he's typing back…"
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
There was a minor hiccup, but otherwise, yeah. We made it back fine.
╰────────────╯
Elaine slowly sat up, blinking at the screen. "A hiccup?"
There was a debate on whether to ask or not, but her curiosity won.
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
What kind of hiccup?
╰────────────╯
A few seconds later, a link popped up with his message.
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
This kind.
╰────────────╯
Elaine tapped the link, and it opened to a video comment on a Popbeat Central Forum that auto-played.
[Caption: Luca Hunt Knocked Over by Fan at Black Diamond 😭😭😭]
Elaine covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the scene unfolding on her phone. "Oh no, that's awful." She tilted her head as it came to a close, "But it's also kind of hilarious."
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
You laughed? Most people would've had a meltdown.
Are you alright though?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
I'm fine. Just bruised my ego a little.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
Well, glad you're okay. When you said hiccup, I thought you actually meant something serious.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Nah, nothing serious.
Anyway, how'd you sleep?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
Pretty well, actually. You?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Well…
╰────────────╯
Elaine watched the typing pause and squinted at her phone. Well? Before her brain could go off on a tangent of questions to type back, he sent another message.
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Honestly? I haven't yet.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
And why not?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Been working on a new song.
╰────────────╯
One sentence. Elaine groaned, setting her phone down, "He can't just casually drop that like it's nothing…" She lay back down over the edge of her bed, picking her phone back up, "You know what…"
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
You can't just say that and not give me any details. That's illegal.
╰────────────╯
She smirked for a moment before it faded along with the light from her screen as it locked, "Ah. Too forward?"
Ding.
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
That grabbed your interest, hm? Want a sneak peek?
I can send you the studio address.
╰────────────╯
Elaine's eyes widened, staring at the screen, completely dumbfounded. He's joking. He's joking, right? He has to be joking. No one invites a complete stranger to a private studio. Especially not famous people.
Before she could even type anything back, he sent another message, leaving her lying on her mattress staring blankly at her screen.
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
[Location Sharing: Mix It Up Studio]
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
…You're serious?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Depends. Are you planning on coming by, or should I start pretending it was a joke?
╰────────────╯
Elaine's fingers hovered over the keyboard as she stared at his message. This is insane. Completely insane, right? She stared at her ceiling for a moment before giving an amused hum. Might as well, right?
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
Oh, no, I'm coming. You don't get to back out of that invitation now.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
I wasn't planning on it.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
You sure? You sounded like you were reconsidering.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Only wondering what I just signed up for and if I should make a run for it.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
Too late. You'll find out soon enough.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Figures. Should've known you were trouble the moment you smiled.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
You say that like it's a bad thing.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
I'll let you know the verdict after the session.
╰────────────╯
Elaine paused, a smile creasing her lips as she shook her head. That kind of sounded like he was flirting. Not that it's a bad thing. She checked the location, making sure it was legitimate, and it was. The name alone carried a reputation in the music world, and aside from that… Luca doesn't seem like the type to send a random location to a woman.
She set her phone down to get dressed, pulling her hair into a messy bun that would fit under her hat after she pulled on a slightly oversized black hoodie and skinny jeans. She packed her equipment into her production bag and collected her purse, ensuring she had everything before she slid her boots on by the front door and snagged her keys out of the bowl in the entrance.
After a quick morning greeting to security, she walked to the garage to her car and slid inside, connecting her Bluetooth. The moment it connected, the GPS synced onto the screen. She tapped through her playlist, tuning it to something that would wake her up more.
She opened her messages and clicked Luca's contact to message him.
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
ETA says it's about twenty minutes.
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
Good. I'll keep the coffee hot.
Drive safe, Miss Future Producer 🎶
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Elaine} (Text)
You assume I'm driving?
╰────────────╯
╭────────────╮
{Luca} (Text)
You don't seem like the type to wait for a ride.
╰────────────╯
Elaine shook her head, giving a light laugh, "Touché."
She took a deep breath, smiling faintly as she finally pulled out of the parking garage into the already bustling streets of the city. The traffic wasn't bad, considering it was early on a Saturday morning.
Twenty minutes passed quickly with her playlist. One last turn and her car rolled into the parking lot of one of the city's most famous studios. She spotted someone sitting on the trunk of a sleek black car as she parked and realized it was Luca when he lowered his mask just enough for her to see the faint smirk on his lips before it was recovered back with the black fabric.
He walked over as she stepped out, opening the door to grab her bags. "I didn't think you'd actually show up," he mused, holding out a hand to take her bags when she closed the door.
Elaine blinked, smiling as she secured her mask and handed her bags over. "I'd be insane to turn down a chance to learn from a pro," she hummed, "Even if said pro ambush-texted me."
Luca stifled a chuckle, tilting his head to the side, despite his hat covering most of his hair, some strands still fell across his face as he pretended to think. "Hm… Ambushed feels like a strong word. Invited, maybe?"
"Depends on your definition of subtlety." Elaine mused.
Luca looked down at her, both quiet for a moment before he gave a low laugh, gesturing towards the side door to the studio. She smiled behind the mask and followed him into the building.
The walls were lined with posters, golden records, framed newspapers, and more memorabilia from many artists who had passed through the studio. Premise of Design's debut paper was framed next to several posters of the band. Luca led her through the halls to a room with his nameplate and the band's logo placed upon it.
"Welcome to my little sanctuary." He pulled his mask down, which prompted Elaine to do the same as he nudged the door open. "Smells like caffeine and bad decisions, huh?"
Elaine chuckled, giving him a faint smile as she trailed inside, "More like creativity and overnighters." She took in the space, examining the equipment both inside the booth and around the monitors. "It's… warm. Like a second home."
Luca set her bags gently on the desk next to his workspace, "Sometimes it's my only one."
He spun a chair, gesturing for her to sit before she could read too much into what he said. She wanted to ask, but sat in the offered seat. He reached over and pulled it closer to the desk, and she chuckled faintly, looking at everything scattered across the wooden surface. Lyric sheets, headphones, various cords, writing utensils, and a coffee mug with the band's name written across it.
"What kind of coffee would you like?"
"Do you have hazelnut?" Elaine inquired.
Luca gave a small smile and spun his chair just enough to get up, walking over to the coffee station in the corner to make her a cup, "Sugar?"
"No."
"Interesting." Luca murmured, pouring a cup before walking back and handing it to her, "So, am I correct to assume you brought your stuff?"
Elaine held the cup, taking in the aroma before chuckling, setting it on the desk next to his, "Always."
She opened her bag, pulling out a worn binder filled with a mix of lyric sheets, melody notes, doodles, outfit concepts, and other random things she had forgotten to remove. Too late now. She offered it to him, and he took it lightly.
As she set up her equipment, he was looking through everything with real interest. When he paused, Elaine blinked, seeing a grin cross his lips. She wasn't quite sure what had caught his interest, then she remembered. Oh God.
"Oh no. Wait, those- uh, those aren't-"
Luca lifted a hand to shield his smile. "You designed these?"
Elaine ducked her head, completely flustered. "It was… after Premise's debut. I just…" she groaned, "I just had ideas. I found the measurements online for practice. I swear, I'm not a stalker."
She heard the page's rustle and glanced over the hands she had over her face to the design page Luca was holding up, "You're kidding, right?"
Kill me.
He turned the page, looking them over, "These are stunning."
Wait what? Elaine lifted her head, watching him trace the designs with his index finger. "You've got an eye for character. It's not just fashion, you capture motion."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah." He paused, looking between the sheets, "Actually… Do you mind if I borrow these sometime?"
Elaine's brows furrowed, confused. "Borrow them?"
Luca tilted his head, looking at her with a smile, "Well… forget borrow. I kind of want to wear them."
Elaine froze mid-motion while sitting up, still faintly flustered. She hesitated before finally regaining her composure, "...Then I guess you should keep them."
Luca pursed his lips. He seemed rather amused, then gave a quiet laugh as he zipped the binder back up. Elaine took the opportunity to pretend to focus on setting her laptop up the rest of the way. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"
Elaine had to keep herself from grimacing. She took a drink of the coffee, finally turning to face him as he leaned back in his chair. "You have no idea."