Page 54 of Broken Melody
“Okay, that’s great. I think we got all that we need,” Garrett says. Maddox moves to set me down, my body rubbing against his suggestively the whole way. Our breaths are coming quick, and I can feel every place on my body his hands have been.
“Sailor,” he whispers, but before he can continue, Rocco, Henley and Nixon have all joined us and we’re being told to move to the black backdrop with all the lights.
He holds my hand the whole way over, not that it’s far. An assistant comes by and offers Maddox and I water. I take a few sips and then set it back down on the tray and immediately afterwards a makeup artist approaches and touches up my makeup, particularly my lipstick, before walking away. I notice they also powder Maddox’s nose and I can’t help but grin at him making him roll his eyes.
“Okay, let’s take a few photos as a group, and then let’s do the clothing change for the rest.” The guys all nod but I had no idea we were going to do a clothing change. God knows what they’re going to have me wear next.
“Alright, I’d like Maddox and Sailor in the middle and the rest of you to flank them,” Garrett instructs. “Sailor and Maddox, face each other, Nixon, move in closer to Sailor, that’s it. Henley, cross your arms over your chest, that’s good. Rocco, how about you stand facing front but look off a little to the side – perfect,” I hear the shutter click as Maddox and I face each other and he’s once again holding my gaze. I still see some heat behind his eyes, but he’s also wearing that maddening smirk of his and I’m pretty sure I’m returning it.
“Good, good. Sailor, look at the camera, but Maddox stay looking at her. Great. That’s good,” Garrett instructs several other poses and has us move around in various positions before he sends us off on a break and then for a wardrobe change.
I’m taken to a large curtained off area they’ve made in the warehouse instead of them taking me back to where I was before which catches my curiosity and seems a bit strange. They hand me an outfit and I move behind a changing screen that’s behind the curtained area. This time I’ve been given tight dark blue jeans and a deep plum strapless top. They’ve given me black studded heels to wear; they are to die for. When I emerge, they coo over the outfit, lift the top up in the back, but no other alterations are needed. They fluff my hair and remove my red lipstick and change it to a pinkish nude color.
When they’re finished I walk from around the changing area to find the guys in jeans as well, blue or black, with various shirts. Henley has a vintage rock band shirt, Rocco a short sleeved white shirt, Nixon is wearing a t-shirt with a cross and skull on it and Maddox is wearing a button down black shirt with dark jeans that is unbuttoned a little more than would be normal. He of course manages to make it look sexy.
He smiles when he sees me, his eyes telling me exactly what he thinks about the way I look. We’re rushed back to the backdrops and this time with the lights behind us, they have us all stand at various spots, separate from one another while looking at the camera.
“You look totally douchey, Rocco,” Henley says. “Why are you staring at the camera like that?”
“I think the correct question Henley is, why the fuck are you looking at me instead of the camera?” Rocco asks.
“It’s hard. I just can’t take my eyes off of you,” Henley says making me laugh.
“I’m just trying to get my smolder down like Maddox. I tried practicing it in the mirror for hours, and I think I’ve finally got it,” Nixon says making me laugh again.
“It doesn’t matter how hard you try, you won’t get it right,” Maddox says cockily making me smile. While I won’t admit it, the truth is, he’s probably right about that.
The guys continue to banter back and forth while several photos are taken. We’re then escorted to the backdrop that has all the instruments and microphones waiting for us.
“Okay, I’d like for you guys to play your single that you’re releasing next week so I can take photos of you while you sing.”
We all get into position, but before we begin, Maddox says, “Get rid of the microphone stands, we don’t need them. Let’s remember that the acoustics may impact our sound a bit so expect it to be a bit different. Sailor, come over here,” he says and I walk to him. “Let’s sing standing beside each other. Move to the music, whatever you feel, and we’ll sing to each other too. Just play it up.”
“Okay,” I nod and when the music begins to play, like usual, drums first, then the guitar, then the keyboard, Maddox starts singing his verse first. I move my body to the music and wait for my turn to sing. At first, even over the music I can hear the camera clicking, but once it’s my verse, I’m able to do what I always do. I let go. I feel the lyrics, I sing them with every part of me, and allow myself to forget everything else.
Maddox and I move, we sing to each other, I move next to Henley and dance by him when he has a guitar solo. It’s perfect. It feels like we are in sync and I know without a doubt that the photos will be amazing because they will be real, they’ll be us – the real us. Because we can’t help but become a slave to the music we love.
When we finish the song, the last notes ring out and die in the air as pure silence greets us. For a moment, it holds, but then applause breaks out and I realize that everyone in the studio moved to our location to listen to us. I can’t help but smile. It’s like our first concert. A mini concert. “She’s great, right?” Maddox asks and I swear… my god I swear right there and then, with him looking at me and smiling like their amazing talent is magnified because of me I have a revelation. I not only feel like I suddenly belong with them, that I’m part of this talented group, but I realize as Maddox leads them to all clap for me, that I’ve got it bad for Maddox Colt. God help me.
