Full Circle

<SFTC: Full Circle by Miley Cyrus (I couldn't think of another song to fit this chapter bc I wasn't listening as I wrote this. Sorry!)>

Chapter 24

We walk into a relatively mellow scene of Ed resting against the couch on the ground, a few producers testing a series of things on the soundboard, and Max sitting a few feet away in a swivel chair. I'm relieved Ed agreed to write here, considering I had the session to record and Ed had different coverage for his album later today, now was the only time. We agreed to it after I record which would, hopefully, only take around 30 minutes. The rest of the time we could spend writing and maybe, if we got lucky, quickly record it. But I doubt that could happen.

"Eddie," I greet, smiling at him as Tanner and I are ushered in. We had somehow came to both cradle coffees on the way in. I set mine down on the table as I approach him and lower myself to a sitting position next to him.

"T-Swizz. I don't think I've met this boyfriend you've been blabbing about," He teases, sticking out a hand to Tanner who slowly leisures in. Ed had become accustomed to calling me T-Swizz instead of Taylor when he wasn't serious. I don't know where it came from, and I never asked.

"Tanner Parks, awesome to meet you, Ed." Tanner says, smiling from ear-to-ear. It was cute how flustered he was about meeting Ed. He also was blushing a little, probably from Ed's ending statement. I was also a little red in the cheeks about it as well.

"Better to meet you, I've heard loads about ya, mate," He leans closer to Tanner, lowering his voice to a level he thinks I can't hear. "Thanks for keepin' her steady while I was.."

He nods, his smile widening. "What I'm here for."

Ed turns his attention back to me, a grin pushing across his face as if I hadn't heard in the first place. "Shall we get started?"

"We shall."

-

We get almost through the chorus when the recording guy gets here, saying for a tenth time that he has to leave in an hour. He's tall guy, taller than me and Tanner, at least. Looks to be mid-aged, with hair that just looks to beginning to diminish. He gives us a half-smile as he enters, nodding solemnly to Max.

"I'm sorry for the shortage of time, my little girls birthday party is today and she's turning five." He says as he walks past before pausing. He walks over to the soundboard and starts tapping around.

"Ready, Miss Swift?" He says without turning around, tapping around on the soundboard. I say a quick yes and stand from Ed's scene.

"It most likely won't be long." I say to Ed.

"Nah, you're fine. I'll work on something for the chorus. Go ahead," He motions toward the booth, already back to trying to come up with a faster paced guitar basis.

I nod and tear myself away from the group and into the booth, nodding to the sound booth guy who I overheard Max call Jessie. I begin the song strong, the chorus coming out first before smoothing out into the lyrics as the words I'd memorized flow out effortlessly. I manage to make eye contact with Tanner momentarily to catch the flashing pride in his eyes. It almost makes me come off key but I manage not to, telling myself I'd redo the verse if anything sounded off or different on the rerun. I finish off the song with a dragged on high note and let my hands fall from their current suspended places in the air.

Jessie hits a button, "That sounded great, Taylor. Take five and we can go over any places you want to try again but I doubt it, you sounded amazing."

I laugh and say thank you, taking a water bottle from a table by the door and walk back into the studio room. The recording begins to play strong, erupting the whole room into a strong beat that has everyone stop their current positions to look up. Tanner had been leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, scrolling through something on his phone.

Honestly, it was the best I could do. I could attempt to try it again but I hit every note the first time and you could tell my voice didn't even waver at the part I thought it would've.

"It sounds good to me, guys?" I glance to Max, Tanner, and Ed. They all murmur agreements in a loud fashion, the only hint I can differentiate from is the nodding. "Okay, thank you. Tell your little girl happy birthday from me!"

"Oh, I will, she'll be thrilled. She adores you." He gushes, gathering up his stuff frantically. I make a mental note to send her something, anything. As birthday card or something.

"That's so sweet! Do you want me to sign something? I don't really have anything to give her off the top of my head but I can sign something?" I offer, already digging in my purse by the couch for something.

"That'd be amazing, thank you. She'll freak out," He laughs as he waits for me sign a napkin I pull from my purse. Not the most signature piece of significance but he doesn't seem to care much.

"I hope you have a great day with her. Thanks again!" I smile, as he walks out before returning to the circle of Ed and Tanner. I take a seat on Tanner's knee for the moment and lean my head up against his.

"Got a chorus?" I ask. Ed nods and starts up a passionate uproar of a buildup chorus. His voice sounds somehow better than it's ever had before. It's deeper, huskier, passionate. Even Tanners breathing slows as if at peace. It did it to me too, but into a state of abnormal serenity and estacsy.

He pauses after he repeats the last line twice, leaving off words he obviously haven't thought of yet. I slide down to the ground, pulling my guitar from the side of the chair with me.

"How about 'Too memorable to keep quiet, just because we're too reliable..'" I trail off, trying to fit it into his lyrics in a way they'd fit. "So it'd be like," I start strumming on the guitar.

I see him nodding as I do so, also trying to see where my fingers were positioned so he'd be able to mock my own chords.

"You should put a hitch here before '..in the rain'." Tanner says, shocking both Ed and I from his sudden intake of our lyrics. "Sorry."

"No, no, I think he's right." Ed tries it through and through and nods, looking up at Tanner with a grin. "Good that, Tanner."

"Sing the chorus," I say to Tanner, secretly eager to hear him sing. He shakes his head but finally gives in the second Ed urges. He takes a deep breath before beginning, following his own advice to hitch, and finishes off at what should be the next-to-last verse.

Ed looks out of breath while I just smile. "You can sing. That's all I'm saying." He mutters a few explicits after.

He blushes, "Thank you."

"Do you sing? -I mean, I know you sing but do you ever professionally?" Ed asks, setting his guitar on the holster. He must've decided on a repeat on the last verse or something, he'd asked or sang it over if he expected help.

"If you're counting on a pro shower singer, then yes. I'm extremely popular,"

"True. He drives the soap bar crazy," I tease, smiling up at him. "And me."

The last part was obviously too cheesy for both of their tastes because they groan before laughing.

"But seriously, lad, you should consider getting into recording an ep or something, I know I'd buy it."

"It would be a good idea, T," I say, moving my own guitar from my lap.

"I'll think about it," He murmurs, so quiet I barely can hear whether he's being serious or not.

••A/N

Sorry, I'm sorry!