Chapter 82: Outcomes

Hide away.

That was Niall’s simple measure.

Given how much his name had been flying everywhere these days and was bound to for the rest of the year, he had opted to spend the rest of the year in the quiet, peaceful environment of Nashville’s outskirts.

Considering he’d also dipped way earlier before everything [Silver Comets] and [The Spire of Fate] reached a fever peak, he had easily been able to slip away without anyone tailing him or paying attention to his movements as at the time.

And though Niall was well aware he could be tracked if they wanted to be persistent, he also knew well enough that he wasn’t that popular just yet... enough that Hollywood and the Paparazzi would feel any need to overextend beyond that which they were currently doing at least.

It just wouldn’t be worth their time and resources.

Besides, for as nasty as the Paparazzi seemed to be, Niall had been in the game long enough before his regression to know that a lot of the ’persistency’ said pesky groups tended to have, was more curated than it was spontaneous.

Though the Paparazzi generally tended to have and maintain an exclusive network of informants to locate stars and celebrities, these very same stars and celebrities were frequently in secret cahoots with said bunch a lot of the time.

It was also why they usually tipped them off intentionally at intervals about their whereabouts, leading to ’spontaneous’ sightings that often did a good job of keeping the public interested in them, lest they fade into obscurity.

But for Niall who wasn’t even the least bit interested in the glitz and glam, and simply wanted to be renown for his careers and not much else, all he needed to do was just wait the hype out.

More than all that though, asides from wanting to spending quality time with his loved ones before the year 2018 came around, Camille was set to have yet another session come mid-November.

One he wouldn’t miss for the world even if he was fairly certain she was going to be fine.

Afterall, she was going to be having her resectioning of the tumor... one her oncologist hoped would be the final nail in the coffin to the darn disease.

As a result, it was all working out in his favor.

Even right now, he was currently seated on the couch in their house, his parents out on the porch as they rocked on their chairs in the evening glow while simply discussing mundane things.

As for him... well his red-haired dame was currently curled up on his laps, her head resting on his chest as she peacefully napped away.

Running his hands through her hair from time to time, he was currently engaged in a text with his agent, an amused smile on his lips.

-

Niall: By the way, those leaks... and that article by Starlight Magazine... it was all you, wasn’t it?

Victor: That it was.

Niall: Remind me never to get on your bad side.

Victor: I doubt you ever will.

Victor: Besides, those guys had it coming. Heard your former agent got sacked too.

Niall: Yeah. I saw the news. Karma finally caught up to him, I guess.

Victor: You say that as if you didn’t practically light a fire under him with those statements of yours at the press interview.

Niall: Whatever do you mean?

Victor: Very funny, Niall. Very funny.

Victor: That asides, Murray’s arranged for a reading session on the 5th of January.

Niall: Oh, he’s finally selected the other actors? That’s great to hear.

Victor: Yes. Filming should begin two weeks after.

Niall: So... January ending, then.

Victor: Yep. I’ll forward you the details in a couple days from now.

Niall: I’d appreciate it. Thanks, Vic.

Victor: Don’t mention it. Just doing my job.

-

No sooner had Niall received that message, he placed the smartphone down.

At the very same time, he noticed two caribbean-blues staring up at him, seemingly requesting for something.

Without bothering to speak, Niall began running his hands through her hair once more, a gesture that once again had the lady nestling into his chest.

’So cute...’ he inwardly remarked, a warm smile touching his lips.

Considering he’d subconsciously stopped stroking her locks mid-texting with Victor, he hadn’t even realized when Camille had woken up.

Naturally, the lady had waited for him to be done as she didn’t know how important what he might’ve been discussing may have been.

Only after she was certain he was done, did she look up at him, her gaze saying all that it needed to without a single word needing to escape her mouth.

That said, as Niall kept stroking her head, his thoughts naturally shifted and he honestly couldn’t help but look forward next year when he would finally be on a film set again.

As that was happening on his side of the world, Midnight Avenues were having their own moment.

Given how much [Silver Comets] had dragged not just them, but their old songs into the limelight, it was only natural that they had capitalized on it.

Still, it was a shame that they couldn’t re-release or re-record their old songs given how predatory and clause-heavy their contract had been--one that had them selling off not just the copyright, but also the ownership of said songs.

At the same time, it was also as a result of this that they couldn’t rat out their old label and Tyler Kingstone... not like they even wanted to.

To them, that phase of their lives was over and they wanted nothing to do with it... especially when their newly released single, [Boulevard] was already at number ten on the ’Buzzing 100’ charts at a hundred and fifty million streams, literally a week after they’d released it.

Granted those numbers were nothing in comparison to the billion streams that the top three songs they’d performed together with Niall in [Silver Comets] had gotten--songs that had now been moved to the ’Groovelist Top 100’, a chart that practically highlighted the most popular songs the entire year and had settled comfortably at number 10, 14 and 20, they were still very proud of it.

That said, it was becoming quite a nuisance that not only were several recording labels gunning to sign them on-board... but even their old label--VineWood Records--had shamelessly done the same.

Despite them stating clearly, over and over again that they would now be going independent, it seemed as if all the labels were taking that information through one ear and out the other.

Currently seated on the stools by the counter that offered a bustling view of the evening street, all three were sharing a comfortable silence as they took in the sights whilst sipping on their teas.

This had now become their usual routine everyday for the past couple months, one they seemed to look forward to at the end of every day.

"So, open mic session?" Archie broke the silence as he sipped from the mug containing chamomile tea.

"Of course." Sam replied, a thin smile tugging on his lips as he traced the edges of his cup with a thumb.

Just as Lucas was about to speak, the doors suddenly opened.

Though they were expecting another agent from yet again another record label, they were instead met with a face triggered a collective look of disgust from all three.

He had an overly composed air and a thin smirk on his lips as he took in the sights of their establishment, his hands removing his face mask, glasses and beanie.

However, whatever the reaction he’d been hoping to get from the trio, he didn’t.

Instead, he got a whiplash of disinterest from his former band members... almost as if they were informing him that he wasn’t even worth the effort.

"I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, but get the fuck out." Lucas simply sipped on his tea and then looked to his buddies, finally returning to their previous conversation;

"So, which songs are we gonna perform?"

"[Tightrope] to start off, then we can end the session with [Boulevard]. Everything in between, we can simply wing it." Sam said and to which Archie thoughtfully mused;

"Yeah, that’s fine. We should probably also inform our regulars ahead of time--"

"That’s not a very nice way to greet your former colleague--" Tyler’s voice interrupted Archie’s as he took a seat on nearby chair.

"Does this guy have ear wax in his ear or something?" Archie amusedly inquired of his buddies to which Sam shrugged;

"Beats me. Wonder where the massive sense of entitlement comes from though given his movie tanked harder than a crypto coin at the box office."

Lucas stifled a laughter upon hearing that, as did Archie himself.

Tyler’s eyes twitched, his jaw tightening and his calm façade cracking.

"By the way, we’re closed for the day so clean that chair before you leave and fuck off." Sam made sure to add while audibly grumbling under his breath;

"Bringing his snowy, furry ass coat into somewhere I just cleaned and mopped. Who fucking does that?"

This time, the duo burst into laughter, not even bothering to restrain the cackles that came with it.

Now furious beyond measure at the trio’s constant ragebaiting, Tyler slammed a palm onto the table, his teeth greeting in annoyance as he stood up to take his leave;

"I just wanted to remind you three that the NDA’s still in effect. Know that your chances of winning in court would be abysmally low if you ever speak out about what happened--"

"Big words coming from a scummy dirtbag who coasted off of his former bandmate’s songs." Archie coldly said, none of the previous amusement in his tone as Lucas similarly added;

"Now fuck off into your miserable condo in the hills before we make you."

No sooner had Tyler heard that, his face contorted in rage, some part of him ready to throw hands... only for Sam’s words to warn him, the lead vocalist’s tone frigidly cold;

"Trust me, you have more to lose than we ever will. So, if you know what’s good for you, and you don’t want the blackest eye and busted lip you’ll ever get on that Botox face of yours, leave."

As if rationality snapped back into his mind, Tyler realized he actually couldn’t win in a fight against all three... more so when does three had a serious disdain towards him.

Fuming, his face reddened and his expression utterly pissed, he furiously stomped out like a teenage rebel, jamming the door on the way out.

"Hey! We’re gonna venmo you the bill for that!" Sam amusedly called out after him, one that only served to infuriate him even more upon hearing the echoes of their shared laughter afterwards!

Given how angered he’d been in recent memory--courtesy of the executives at his record label putting him on blast after the failure of his tour movie--he had been even more pissed when he’d heard that the record label was considering resigning Midnight Avenue after their old songs had gotten a serious surge in streams following the release of [Silver Comets].

Clearly insecure about the outcome, he’d come here, hoping to remind the trio of their place, only to leave looking like the fool that he was.

Speaking of insecure though, one other man was about to deal with the outcome of it as he and his brother had arrived at a familiar mansion for yet again another ’family dinner’.

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07