Chapter 2: The Homestead

     "It's okay now. She went to sleep. You can stop crying."

     "How can I stop crying? She called you worthless. She said she never wanted us..."

     "You know how she gets when she's been drinking. She says some pretty stupid things. You just watch, I bet she'll apologize to us both in the morning."

     "If you say so..."

     "I do. Now will you please go to sleep? Its 11:30 and you have a test tomorrow, remember?"

     Ronnie groaned. "Please don't make me go, Ellie! I'm not gonna be able to concentrate tomorrow! Plus, I couldn't get any studying done. I'll FAIL if I go!"

     Now it was my turn to groan. "Alright," I sighed. "I'll let you stay home. But you'll have to go with me to the Garage tomorrow. No way am I letting you stay home with her after what happened last night."

     At this, Ronnie giggled. "Since when is going to the Garage with you any kind of punishment? You know I love that place. Besides, if and when I do take over as Queen of the Underground, I'll need to know the ropes."

     "Keep dreaming, kid. What you need to do is study. You may not be going to school tomorrow, but you will spend all day tomorrow with your face in your school books. You won't even be in the Garage. I'm gonna get Blake to let you sit in his kitchen and pig out on his food while you study."

      I put out another course of groans by kissing her forehead and telling her good night. She returned the wish and covered up; I turned out the lights and left.

 

      I love my sister to death. Ever since Dad left, I've been her shoulder to cry on; her study partner; her friend. Dad always taught us our music lessons; you know: singing, piano, violin. When he bowed out, I took over the lessons. I had already taught myself guitar, since Dad was a classical man, so I taught Ronnie that, too.

     Every weekend I take her to the Garage and school her on music. Weekends are the days that musicians I've already helped come back for Jam sessions. The rappers, the singers, the instrumentalists.... It's the most amazing part of life, happening every single weekend. It's glorious. It keeps her away from mom, and it keeps her thoughts off of Dad.

      But despite what you might believe, my family wasn't always so disfunctional. My Dad, Richard Brandt, is an internationally reknowned musician. He writes scores for musicals, composes music for the hottest new movies, sings in an Opera every now and then (I know, its intense, right?), and even performs on Broadway when he gets the opportunity. He's the reason I have so many connections. I've been tagging along to all of his meetings, rehearsals, dinner parties, and shows since I was three. The Biz knows I'm top priority potential.

      Mom worked her butt off. She was a sales rep for some pharmacutical company that crashed and burned a year and a half ago. Thats why I was always with Dad. I had always wanted to be in Music, so I went with Dad; Ronnie had always liked the idea of being in Medicine, so she was with Mom. We saw each other all the time, and there was no doubt that Mom and Dad loved each other. Loved. Past tense.

     All that time separated from each other is bound to make someone go off the deep end. And guess who it was: Mom. Better known as Beverly Brandt (or Bev, as her "friends" call her). She was, and I guess still is, a knock-out woman. Her lustrious burgundy curls (that I inherited) go all the way to her butt (as does mine). Her bright green eyes (those went to Ronnie) always shone with her love of life. Her height and her breast size always made a man turn heads. But apparently, she didn't turn the right head often enough. Mom thought Dad was cheating. Or to be more accurate, Mom thought Dad was molesting me. Sometimes he raped me, depending on how much beer she's had. He never did, of course, but as soon as she realized that my baby blues (that I got from Dad) made me better looking than her, she thought he liked me best.

     Thats when the court battles started. After six months or marital and familial agony, Dad couldn't take it anymore. He relinquished custody of both me and Ronnie, and he left. Right around that time, Mom's company went down the drain. She lost her job, and found a new crowd. The druggies of America. Three words: Oh My God.

      I eventually figured out how to survive without either of them, and I started my Underground operation. Wow, it actually sounds illegal that way, but it isnt. What I'm doing pays big time. I keep Ronnie with me as much as humanly possible, and I create music through the talents of others. Life is good. Sort of.

 

     RIIINNNNGG!!!   RIIINNNNGG!!!

 

     My cell phone. I picked it up and looked at the caller ID. Blake.

 

      "Hey baby, Whats happening?

      Just because he lets me use the Garage, does NOT mean I have to like him for it. He's cool and all as a friend, but he does not--

      "Don't call me "baby", Blake. My name is Ellie. It will do you good to remember that. Actually, I was just about to call you. Bev went haywire tonight and Ronnie couldn't study for a test. I'm bringing her with me tomorrow, but I--"

      "Say no more, Ellie. I'll let her stay in the house. And yeah, I just went shopping. But I was calling because I have a potential client for you.

     Oh dear god, no. No no no no no. "I swear Blake, if its another tootsie Miley Cyrus wannabe hack, I will move my business to a different location."

      "Hey! Chill, girl. trust me, I think you'll like this one. It's a boy band. I think they're scene or something. Beats me. But they sound amazing. Trust me, Ellie, I really thi--"

      "What's their name?" Let Blake try to make you happy, and you'll be deaf for a week. Best to cut him off early. Trust me. 

      "Name? Oh, uh... Dorothy's Romeo, I think is what the guy I talked to said."

      "And who did you talk to? If it was Missy--"

      "Nah, I stopped talking to her. You said she was too cutesy. Jerad. I talked to Jerad. His cousin Dominic is the band's drummer."

      Wow, I didn't think Blake actually listened to me...thats a shocker. And this might actually be a good client. Jerad knows what hes talking about when it comes to music.

      "Alright, I'll listen to them. I'll be there from 11:00 to 4:00. Tell them to come prepared sometime within that time frame."

      "Perfect! Jerad said they'd be here by noon, so..."

      "Great. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for the thing with Ronnie."

  

      I hung up before he could say anything else. Like I said, cool for a friend, but get him hopeful, and you just want to throw up. Dorothy's Romeo, hmm? This should be interesting.

  

Reviews

[Kathleen]

im really liking this story line! it is completely believable and original at the same time. im looking forward to the next chapter!!...i shall proceed to it immediately :)