(3)
“Hi, I’d like to check in please, just one night.” Jaclyn smiled at the old man behind the reception desk with a frown engraved on his face.
“Just a single one?” he grunted. Jaclyn kept her smile, knowing fully that her cheerfulness was bugging him. “Yes please. It’s a lovely night isn’t it?” He ignored her question and thrust the key at her. “Here’s your key. That’s $30.” Jaclyn pulled out her wallet from her jacket pocket, pulling out a couple of notes and coins. She smiled through the whole ordeal. Down to when she dropped the cash into the chubby outstretched hand. “Thank you sir. Room number?” “9. End of the hall.” “Thank you kind sir, I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams.” She was returned by a sour grimace, which she returned with a big dazzling smile, bright enough to light up any gloomy face. Except for this guy. “Stupid ass.”=+=
“So, we’re going through it once again. Just once Tay, we’re already a little behind on schedule.”
“Okay dad, I just, I’d just feel better if you know, it sounded good. I mean, I know it’s hard to get everything perfect, but I just feel like I could do better.” “Well Tay, you’ve always been pretty ambitious. One of the traits your mother and I are proud of.” “Thanks dad. So, can we start now?”=+=
“Hi, I’d just like to check in for tonight. Just a single room.”
“Okay, we have a vacancy in room 24. Lemme just fetch your key for you, and I’ll get Jason to take your bags.” The short, petite woman turned towards inside the office. “Jason!” “Oh no, it’s alright, it’s only for one night. I’m leaving early tomorrow as well anyway, so don’t bother.” “Are you sure?” “Positive, but thank you for asking.” “Yeah mom?” a young boy of his early teen walked out, an inquiring smile on his face. “It’s alright, sorry, you can g back. Halt, wait,” she turned the boy back around “This is Jason Mendoza, my son.” The lady placed her hands on either side of Jason’s shoulders, beaming proudly at Jaclyn. Jaclyn smiled, offering her hand. “Hi Jason, I’m Jaclyn Roady. Or Jack.” “Hey Jack. You can call me Jase. How old are you?” Mrs. Mendoza laughed, her voice tickling the air softly. “Now don’t you go hitting on girls older than you!” “Hey, I’m not! I was only being polite!” Jason protested at his mother’s mock accusation. Jaclyn laughed. “I’m 16. How old are you Jase?” Jason smiled at the nickname. “I just turned 12 two weeks ago.” Jaclyn raised her eyebrows. “Really? I’m turning 17 in two weeks.” “Cool…so you can like, drive?” Jason asked in awe. “Yeah, other wise I’m not quite sure how I got here…” “Where you from?” “New York.” “Woah, that’s quite a bit away. Hey, can I see your car?” Jaclyn grinned at the boy’s enthusiasm. “Sure, although I warn you now, it’s nothing fancy.” Jason ran outside with Jaclyn following close behind. “Oh. So it’s not a Ferrari or a Jaguar or anything.” Jason stated disappointedly when his eyes landed on the aged vehicle. Jaclyn smiled, not taking offence and thinking of the sports car parked in her mother’s garage. “Nah, just a boring old Volks I’m afraid.” “Oh well, at least you can drive…hey do you think that maybe you can take me out for a drive or something later?” “Depends on what your mother says. Maybe I could take you out for an ice cream or something.” “I’ll go ask.” Jason sped away back inside and Jaclyn picked out the bags she needed for the night.=+=
“No, no, no, just go over the last two lines again. I think they sounded a bit flat.” Taylor noted, wrinkling his eyebrows. Zac rolled his eyes and slumped over from outside of the recording booth. “Taylor Hanson stop being such a perfectionist and just get over it! It sounded fine!” Taylor frowned. “No, I think we should try it again. Just once.” “And twice, then three times, then four, then five and we’re gonna spend the rest of our lives in this drabby ol’ studio. How exciting.” Zac mumbled. “Hey, I heard that.” “You were supposed to.” Zac shot back. After hearing the same lines of the same song over and over again due to Taylor’s requests, he was getting cranky.=+=
“So Jaclyn, where are you headed to?” Helen Mendoza asked as she walked beside Jaclyn. Jason walked ahead of them, happily licking his ice cream cone. “I’m going to Florida. To Orlando to be exact. I’m visiting my dad.” “Goodness and you’re driving all the way there?” “Well I wanted it to be a surprise and stuff and you know, a plane ticket just costs so much for no reason.” Jaclyn smiled to herself at the irony. “Yes, that’s a good point. So how long have you been on the road?” “Well, I’ve been driving and driving…it’s been three days. Another couple or so to go.” “It must be very hard for you.” “No, I enjoy it, you know, some me time and all.” “Well if you put it that way, it is a good escape for a while.” “Yeah…definitely.” Jaclyn smiled.=+=
“And I was just beginning to think I would die an old wrinkly virgin in there.” Zac mused as they trudged to the family car. It was late and dark. “Get over it.” Taylor grumbled. He had heard enough of Zac’s whining already. “I can’t…for some reason this one specific line just keeps on repeating itself in my mind…” Zac said before breaking out into a song, repeating a line over and over. Taylor rolled his eyes. “Grow up Zac.” “Ouch, what’s with the hostility?” “You. You and your constant whining.” “Yeah well guess what, you and your perfectionism gets on my nerves too.” “I just wanted everything to be perfect alright?” “Hey, hello? I don’t know where you’ve been the last 18 years of your life, but in my short 15, I’ve noticed and accepted that hey, life isn’t perfect.” “Shut up.” “Yes! Score one for the manly blonde and zero for his bimbo brother.” “Zac, Zac that’s enough. Taylor had his reasons and he’s entitled to his preferences. Now you on the other hand, I dunno…the way your voice has been sounding, I think we may have to start teaching Mack how play the drums…” Isaac contemplated, eyes twinkling. They then met with that of Taylor’s and received his younger brother’s relieved look of thanks while Zac burst out in a flurry of defense. Truthfully, Taylor’s constant self-criticism had bothered him, almost as much as it had Zac, but he wouldn’t allow himself to show it. He didn’t want Taylor feeling bad enough as it was with Zac. Taylor sighed as he stared out the window. All he wanted to do was produce some good, flawless music. He knew not everything was perfect, but it wouldn’t have killed Zac to perfect a song, at least to his liking. Their previous album since their ‘come-back’ hadn’t done as well as they liked, and he only wanted the best for them. What did Zac know anyway, he never took anything seriously.