I glared up at Dad. He frowned at me and sighed. "Do it again," he urged.
"No!" I exclaimed. "This is stupid. Can't you just accept that I don't play the guitar,"
"You do. You just need to concentrate,"
"If you tell me that one more time I'm going to break the damn guitar over your head," I growled.
"Effy," he warned.
"Can't you leave me alone? Matt's coming round any minute. He can teach me,"
"Who's Matt," he narrowed his eyes at me. I sighed and folded my arms across my chest.
"The one that supplied the cuffs last month," I explained. "The guy that's been here a lot and been a great friend,"
"Do you like him?" Dad asked carefully.
"Dad," I sighed.
"It's a simple question,"
"I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not," I shrugged.
"I don't think you're ready to date,"
"I don't either. Matt won't rush me,"
"How do you know that?"
"His sister. He asks my permission to just hold my hand because his sister was raped. He knows what I am and am not comfortable with,"
"I just don't want you to get hurt again," Dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I know," I nodded.
"Would you tell me if he did,"
"Yeah," I nodded and he raised his eyebrows. "Promise,"
"Okay," he sighed.
Then he door opened. We both looked over and Matt walked in, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, Mike was coming out as I came. He told me to come up," Matt explained.
"That's okay," Dad told him. "I'm going to that meeting. Don't break my studio,"
"Got it," I nodded. Dad left us alone and Matt came to sit next to me.
"This is so awesome," he smiled widely. I looked at him with raised eyebrows. "It is. Not everyone has a studio in their house,"
"I guess I don't notice it," I shrugged.
"Did you speak to the people to get your name changed?" he asked casually.
"Yeah, they're working on it. Should be a Fuentes before my birthday,"
"Someone's getting old,"
"Shut up," I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Grow up," Matt teased.
"You play guitar, right?" I asked suddenly.
"Yeah, why?"
"Want to play something for me?"
"Hmm . . ." He thought for a while. "Only if you sing for me,"
"Deal. Fair warning, I'm not as good as my dad,"
"If you're anywhere near how good your dad's voice is you're awesome,"
"Suck up,"
"Do you realise how fucking intimidating your family are?"
"They're not," I rolled my eyes.
"Because for starters four tough, tattooed Mexican guys aren't intimidating," he said dryly.
"You're talking like they're killers,"
"I know they're not Cholos but still,"
"What the fuck is a Cholos?"
"Seriously?" Matt laughed.
"It sounds Mexican. Can you eat it?"
"Effy, your British is showing," he mocked.
"Shut up and play the damn guitar,"
"Give me tabs or chords or something," he urged.
"See, Effy can't play. So Effy doesn't have a clue what a tab is,"
"And you take music?"
"Actually no. I went once, every time after I spent in my history room,"
"Why?"
"My teacher lets me," I shrugged. "Anyway, just play whatever and I'll sing," I explained. Matt looked at me before he started strumming. I waited a little while until I started singing.
"Last goodbye
Make it quick
Make it sweet
Last touch
Soft kisses from me
Warm lips on a pale corpse
Squeeze my hand
Please
I'm begging
Won't say it
You say nothing
Anymore"
I carried on singing until I finished my song. Matt sensed I was done and stopped strumming. I bit my lip as I looked at him. "So?" I urged.
"Did you write that?" he asked quietly.
"Um yeah," I nodded.
"What's it about?"
"My mum's mum. She died when I was fourteen," I explained.
"It was beautiful," he said easily.
"And my voice?"
"Better than the lyrics,"
"Not too high?"
"Effy, you have Vic Fuentes as a dad. If I want to sing like him I have to squeeze my balls. You're going to have a high voice,"
"So it was okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," Matt grinned. "Do you have anymore lyrics?"
"Loads," I shrugged.
"I have an idea,"
"Go on," I urged.
"I think we should make a demo,"
"Like a read demo that real people would listen to? And real record labels would hear?" I rushed.
"Yeah,"
"What if we suck?"
"So? Your voice doesn't suck. If anything it's my guitar skills,"
"Do you want me to hook you up with Tony?" I thought.
"Really?" his eyes brightened.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"This could work," he grinned.
"But what about other songs? Some of them need drums and bass and stuff,"
"You have musicians on speed dial," Matt laughed.
"We're really going to do this?" I breathed.
"Yeah," he nodded. "And I sort of need to ask you something?"
"What about?" I urged.
"Effy, I know things are shit now. I know you don't want to look at another guy. But when you want to, can we go out? I'll take you out,"
"Hmm okay," I agreed.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Just don't expect me to call you tomorrow,"
"And I won't kiss you or anything," he promised.
"Deal," I smiled.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Can Effy and Matt take over the world? Do you think they'll actually get a demo done? Will Vic be supportive? Any ideas for Effy's birthday party? Will Effy go on a date with Matt? I think she wants to :)