Chapter Ten

"She did not," Juliet says through bursts of laughter. "Alison Quick just owned you." She laughs again.

"I'm glad you find this so funny," I say as I pull the end of her ponytail. "It wasn't funny for me."

"Well, I mean, you kind of deserved it," Juliet points out.

Dad starts choking on his water. He brings his hand up to his mouth, clearly trying to hide the smile I know is there.

"I'm glad you guys find so much humor in my humiliation." I lean over towards Juliet. "You're kind of right though," I whisper just loud enough for Dad to hear as well.

"So do you think it's all going to work out then?" Dad asks as he grabs a towel out of the basket and starts folding it.

"I hope so. I'm trying my best. I know I'm pushing her buttons, but I'm not doing it on purpose. I hope she sees that I'm trying. I feel like that apology was a step in the right direction," I answer as I grab a stack of folded clothes and start to head towards the stairs.

"You better hope so!" Juliet shouts. "I don't want to have to tell people that my brother almost toured with Alison Quick."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that," I retort back as I start going upstairs.

"Loser!" Juliet screams as she holds her fingers up in a L shape.

"Brat!" I shout back, smiling.

"Hey Willow," I say as I push open the door to the room we're rehearsing in today. "I grabbed some coffee for everyone."

I walk over to the table while I juggle a carton full of drinks. "I wasn't sure what everyone's favorites were so I got a mixture of things. The cups are labeled, so take what you want." I pull one cup out of the holder and look towards Willow.

"I got Alison a nonfat caramel latte with extra caramel. I read somewhere that that was her favorite," I look at her with expectant eyes.

She smiles and nods her head quickly. "Nice job, Newbie."

"Do you think it'll earn me at least half a brownie point?" I put her cup off to the side and grab a different one for myself.

"It just might," she answers as she grabs a cup.

"Speaking of, you're her best friend, right? How do I get in her good graces? I feel like everything I do just upsets her more. I need help. Being here means a lot to me." I play with the plastic cover of my cup. "Not to mention, I think she's a brilliant artist, despite how I might have come off that first day. She's a genius when it comes to words. My little sister is obsessed with her, so we have a never-ending playlist of Alison Quick music going in our house. I'm pretty sure Alison is going to end up being my top artist in my end of year wrap. Needless to say, I've become very familiar with her music at this point," I rattle on.

Willow puts her hand up to stop me. "I get it."

I look up at her. "So, what should I do?"

"Well, I feel like I'm going against the friend code here by even talking to you. Pretty sure there's something somewhere that says that your best friend's arch-nemesis is your arch-nemesis."

"Wait, she sees me as her arch-nemesis? I'm not that bad, am I?"

Willow looks at me out of the side of her eyes. "Serious?"

She raises her eyebrows at me, waiting. I just look at her with wide eyes. She lets out a big breath of air before she continues.

"First off, it wasn't her idea to bring you on this tour. She actually was really angry when she saw your video. I don't think you realize how much she puts into her songs. She feels like your songs invalidate all of that work."

"That's not at all how I mean it though. Actually the opposite. I think it shows how amazing her songs truly are. They tell a story to a point where someone can write a response. Where someone like me was inspired enough to write a response."

"Well, that's not how she sees it." She takes a sip of her drink. "So you were already on thin ice coming in here. Then you make that comment when you first meet. At that point you were two for two."

I run my hands through my hair. "Yeah, I know. I should've just kept my mouth shut."

"Yeah, that might be a good lesson for you to learn for the future. I'm not done though. Next you show up for rehearsal and try to tell her how things are going to go. I mean, telling her where to stand at her own show. Like, Dude, really?"

She stares at me waiting for what I assume is an explanation.

I don't want to tell her why I did that though. I know it was stupid. I get why it pissed Alison off, I do. But I'm not ready to explain it to Willow, let alone Alison. I know it might help ease some tension, but I can't.

"Okay, okay, I get it," I say as I put my hands up in defeat. "I severely messed up. Help me fix it. Help me fix this."

Willow stares at me for what feels like a lifetime, not saying anything. Her eyes are questioning mine as if she's trying to find something in my face. I hold her gaze, despite how uncomfortable it's making me.

I want her to know that I mean this. That I truly plan on making this whole thing work with Alison. Finally, Willow breaks the silence.

"Fine, I'll help, but only because I think this whole thing can be beneficial for both of you."

"Thank you!" I all but shout at her.

"Under one condition, though."

"Yes, anything," I practically scream.

"Alison can't know. And if this all goes wrong, you're taking the fall for it. I will deny I had anything to do with it. And you have to actually listen to what I say. And you better not hurt my friend," she finishes with a stern look on her face.

"Uh, I think that was actually like five conditions," I smirk.

Willow gives me a death glare and holds up her pointer finger at me. "Strike one."

"Sorry," I say as I grab my cup of coffee and put my head down like a dog being scolded for pooping in the house.