Striking the Right Chord

[Kyle Underly]

"So," Kyle said as he slid into the seat across from Addison Sloane. Kyle held up his phone, showing a little video of the girl singing. "When were you going to let me in on the fact that you were actually this good?" He arched his brows before lowering his phone. He'd already all but ambushed Addie while she was eating at the school cafeteria, so he knew he was pushing it slightly with just that, let laone what he was actually going to propose. But if it was one thing that Kyle had learned in his time on this planet, it was that springing things on people and going on the offensive generally worked to his benefit.

"Also," Kyle started flipping through his phone again, "rumor has it that you're also running some sort of indie label? While going through college? Good move: gets you right where the raw talent is, especially at a school like this. We're on the track to becoming the school to watch now."

Kyle smirked, more than a little certain that he'd be part of what helped nudge this school more on the map. He tilted that cocky look a little toward Addie, knowing full well that she was smart enough to figure where he was going with all of this.

[Addison Sloane]

The project was due in one week and Addie was stuck halfway. It didn't help that her anxieties had come back when she heard the news. God, she had just settled in. She didn't need this weighing on her while she was in town trying to get a college degree.

And then there was Kyle Underly. The douchebag who might have hit a nerve with her the last time they had met. Showing her a video of her in a jamming session on a radio show. She sighed when he used the words 'actually good' so flippantly. She took a deep breath and continued to ignore him, trying hard to concentrate on her studies but he was still talking.

Once he was done, she slammed her book shut and looked him squarely in the eyes. "What do you want, Underly?"

[Kyle Underly]

Should he care that she was actually working on something? Because if it didn't involve Kyle or what he wanted, then he really didn't. Her fault for showing up somewhere in public. She was just asking to be bothered, really, and Kyle was something of an expert in that. He was already grinning when she slammed the book and gave him a look.

"I know, I'm just so charming," he said, giving his head a slight shake. "Buuuut we both know that I've got some talent. And it's really not hard to figure it out from there," but Kyle leaned forward to spell it out anyway: "Let me sign onto your label," he leaned back, shrugging. "It works for us both, really. I need something to help me spring back, and working with an indie company run by someone who's getting some traction will make me look like I'm getting in touch with my creative roots. While you," he pointed at her, "snag an artist that will actually move copy. You know I can at least sell a few thou thanks to leftover Disney fans. They bite music like it's candy."

He bounced his brows at that, grinning in a manner that almost looked predatory.

[Addison Sloane]

Addison continued to stare at Kyle with the most deadpan expression on her face as he continued talking. Why was he still talking? She wanted to smack him up the head and call it a day. The brunette could feel her blood boil and tried to calm down, lest she started vomiting out blood or causing him to vomit out blood. Calm thoughts, Sloane. Calm thoughts.

"What exactly about me made you think would I even remotely consider bringing you on to my label?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sorry but Disney fans aren't exactly our demographic." She opened her book back to where she had dogeared it and continued to study it and take notes.

God please just make this self-absorbed turdlet go away. She thought to herself.

[Kyle Underly]

Kyle had to chuckle. He did see the venom in her and all. He'd seen that before, usually from various indie artists who thought that people like him were selling out. They were just jealous, really. He'd have thought that Addie would've been a bit better, but maybe he'd oversold her and her mind.

"Because you know that money makes the world go round," he replied, shrugging, "and yeah, obviously you're probably not going to want to get the tween market on board. Sure, they're just the ones with a lot of disposable income who are willing to snap up music just because it's got a pretty face attached," he pointed at himself and smiled. "But can you really pass up a sure thing? Particularly when you know that he's talented, even if you do think he's an ass."

Kyle leaned forward. "And c'mon, you know that's not completely true. There's some part of you that finds me charming in an annoying brother sort of way."