Invisible String [T.S-E.S BOOK ONE]

1

February 13th, 2010

"The Album is great Taylor!" Andrea grinned, always one to support her daughter in everything she does. Her management, however didn't look as pleased.

The album consisted of eighteen songs, which she had narrowed down to nine. It wasn't enough, she knew that, but she knew the songs that she had locked away weren't right for this album. Maybe the next one.

"I like it, but it's kind of a downer." Taylor deflated. She was very proud of what she had done all on her own and after everything she'd been through with John, and everything she put Taylor through, she felt she deserved a downer album.

John destroyed her. To this day she doesn't understand why a grown man was so interested in her when she was only 19 years old. But alas, he was and she was dumb enough to fall for his pretty boy act.

And poor sweet Taylor. He was perfect. Always a gentleman, always showering her with love, always her biggest fan. And she fucked him over.

She hated herself, so she made a downer album.

Some of the songs were more uplifting, but behind the catchy upbeat tune there was some dark shit. She just couldn't find a way to write about something happy when she wasn't necessarily happy herself. She felt like she was walking on eggshells around herself, trying not to break down at any minor inconvenience that added to her crazy, fucked up, sad life.

"It needs love. Like raw love songs that's will make your listeners swoon." One of the men in the room, Jeff maybe, suggested. "I understand you've had a tough go of it with relationships, but we can call in some ghost writers to-"

"No." She immediately cut him off. This album was hers and hers only. She had decided it was time to finally assert herself and be confident in her talent by taking on the challenge of writing her third album with no cowriters. She would rather die than have this album taken away from her.

"I can do it." She told Jeff after a moment. "I mean, tomorrow's Valentines Day so maybe I'll be inspired."

He looked reluctant to agree, but eventually he realized he wouldn't win this fight, at least not yet. So he gave her some time to write some love songs and sent her on her way.

She should've been relieved that she got to keep this album her own, but she wasn't. She was terrified of falling short.

She needed to blow off steam and feel something other than her self hatred.

She called Abby.

———

February 14th, 2010

Eleanor Slater wasn't the most put together person out there, but she prided herself on having  some sense of awareness. So why the fuck was she in Nashville?

"This is stupid." She told her brother for the fourth time that day.

He shot her a grin, telling her to trust him. She did not trust Patrick Hawkins. The two of them met at nine years old when their parents began dating. By the time they were ten, they were stepsiblings and completely inseparable.

They were know for being the king and queen of dumb shit. Patrick more than Eleanor, but you get the picture.

Patrick was a baseball stud at the University of Tennessee, but he wouldn't be there much longer, seeing as he would be eligible for the MLB draft once the school year was over. He would've been drafted straight out of high school, but his mom wouldn't allow it.

Eleanor honestly didn't understand how he could be so committed to not only his sport, but also his plethora of schemes. For example, just last week he had called her saying that he had rented a horse for two days and was just chilling with it in his backyard. And that's not even the craziest story she has. But that's for another day.