Page 65 of Hard Rock Muse

19

“Idon’t know what you were so worried about,” I told Seth. “This is great.”

I handed him back the sheets of music paper with the lyrics he’d written for his song.

“You think?” He perked up, the anxious expression on his face clearing. “I wasn’t too sure. Even back in our old band I left the songwriting to you and Julian.”

The music room we were in was a little small, but we weren’t playing instruments, just looking over the music. I had gotten used to walking into the office building that housed Cherry Lips, but there were still so many floors and rooms, I thought the place must be a never-ending maze. Every time I showed up I was put in a different room. I wondered if eventually I might learn my way around.

I wondered if I’d still be employed by Cherry Lips long enough for that to happen.

“That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement, of course,” I told Seth. “It’s good the way it is, but if you’re open to some constructive criticism…”

“Always!” He clapped his hand together once and leaned forward on the sofa we were sitting on. “Lay it on me.”

“This part right here?” I pointed to one line on the paper. “I know you probably think you’re being clever, rhyming these two words, but it sort of comes off as cheesy.”

His face fell. “Cheesy?”

“Just a little bit,” I hastened to say. “It’s not bad. It just might put off some listeners.”

“Okay…” He lifted his eyes skyward and tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Okay,” he said, more decisively this time. “I can think of another way to phrase it.” He looked back to me. “Are those the kinds of changes you’re talking about?”

“Mostly,” I replied. “Like I said, the song is good. You just need to polish it. And don’t feel bad,” I added. “All writers have to edit their first drafts, and writing lyrics is essentially the same as being any other writer. Think of it like poetry.”

“Poetry, huh?” Seth grinned. “I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it.”

He winked as I groaned.

“That’s the kind of cheesy stuff I’m talking about,” I told him.

“Sorry,” he said. “I kind of learned to shoot out those cheesy one-liners to amuse Julian.”

“I doubt Julian actually finds them amusing.”

“He always groans like you just did, but I know he secretly thinks I’m funny,” Seth said.

“You sure about that?”

“No,” he grinned. “But it’s not going to stop me.”

I cocked my head and gave him a soft smile.

“You haven’t changed at all, have you?” I said.

“Hope not,” he said. “‘Cause the old me was pretty awesome already. Not much more room for improvement.”

I poked him in the side and he flinched away with a squawk.

“Well, you’re less gangly, I can tell you that,” I said. “Your body seems to fit your limbs, unlike the last time I saw you.”

“Thank god for that one last growth spurt,” he said.

I threw my arm around his shoulder.

“I really missed you, Seth,” I told him. “I forgot how cheerful you are. You always light up a room.”

“Aw, you’re being all sappy,” he teased, but he bumped his head against mine. “I missed you too, Ever.”