Our next album was coming along a lot faster than anticipated. Now that we were all together under the same building that also had our own studio, we worked every spare hour we could find.
Honestly, it didn’t even feel like work because we kept messing up and trying new things. This was the first record that sounded more like us than any of our other works.
Emmie didn’t even bother with Mikey as he continued to fix the melody to his lyrics. I usually helped him with the songwriting process, but this album was completely written by him. And he did it in mere weeks.
Maybe being back with his girl sparked all his creative juices.
I came into the process last because I was busy following a certain angel on the streets, but I had already produced the rhythm, and Matty had tweaked everything into shape.
It was just the four of us and a few of our closest friends working on this, and we liked that our sounds shined more loudly that way. It was raw, yet the sounds merged perfectly in sync.
Suddenly, everyone’s phone went off at the same time, except for mine.
And all of us stilled, exchanging worried glances.
The last notes of our instruments hung in the air as it laced with the slithering tension growing in the room.
“It’s Sierra,” Matty whispered, and they all mumbled it was their girl, and I just knew that something was wrong withher.
I jumped to my feet, a cold hand gripping my heart as I rushed out of the studio. I was tunnel-visioned as I ran up one story to Emmie’s apartment.
I thumbed the code and headed straight to the TV room, where I knewshewas hanging out with the girls.
“Katy,” Evy’s soft voice beckoned while a concerned Sierra and Lily hovered over a cold, unmoving figure on the floor.
Katy.
My Katy.
Fuck.
“Angel,” I gasped, pushing them away as I took her in my lap, fear choking me alive.
She looked so pale, but her pulse was loud and strong. “Katy,” I said softly, gliding my finger along her cheek while I pressed soft kisses along the path. “Wake up, baby.”
A second passed and then another before a low groan ripped out of her throat. “Lan,” she moaned, nuzzling her nose to my chest. “Lan, is that you?”
“Yes, angel.” I forced a smile. “You’re okay. Give me those beautiful eyes.”
Her nose scrunched before her eyes slowly blinked open. “Lan?” Some of the ice around my heart cracked at the sight of those pale green eyes speckled with golden hues.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I think so,” she mumbled. “Why…” A daze filled her eyes as they darted around the room to meet the worried eyes of our friends.
In seconds, her confusion dropped as a blank look covered her eyes. It was like it was all coming back to her.
“K, are you feeling alright?” Her twin’s eyes were brimming with dread.
“Yeah, Matty.” A tight smile tugged her lips. “Can I… can I have some time alone with Lan?”
Everyone nodded as they quietly left the room.
Katy scrambled off my lap and pulled herself to a seat beside me, hugging her knees as her forehead dropped to her thigh.
“Katy?” I swallowed. “Is everything okay?”
“No.” Her chin turned toward me and she gave me the saddest smile. “At least, I don’t know.”