CHAPTER 1 - HERE COMES THE NOISE

LIBERTY AVENUE DINER - EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

DEBS

It’s the roar that gets my attention. A low but very rich hum of a motorbike. I turn around and at first, see nothing. But then I spot the figure, coming through the dusk astride a kick-ass customised motorbike. He’s going slowly as if casing out the neighborhood, looking at each establishment. When he pulls up to the diner, he just stares at it for a few minutes before nodding his head and continuing on his way.

“Hmm.” I say to myself, and then almost scream the place down as I am tapped on the arm. I immediately swing my bag!

“Ouch! For fuck sake, Ma!” Michael screeches and clutches the side of his shoulder.

“What the fuck are you doing up so fucking early?” I bellow, and will my heart rate to slow down. Once I get a bit calmer, I unlock the door and let us in.

“I’m not up. I’m going home!” He explains and slides into the booth at the back. “Is Uncle Vic still mad?”

“Yes, Michael, he’s still mad. You can’t say you don’t have any money to pay rent, but then pull out a very expensive clubbing outfit!”

“I don’t see what the problem is.  I needed that outfit, and it’s not as if he’s not going to get the money…” He pauses and looks cow eyed at me. “...I mean, if you pay him and then I…”

“Won’t pay her back as per usual!” Vic’s angry voice makes us both jump as he comes out of the back.

“Vic…”

“You will work today!” Vic barks out as he starts to open up.

“Of course, I’m going to work today!” I bluster furiously.

“Not you...you!” He glares at his nephew. “You will work the shift and I will supervise from where you are currently seated. Now get your ass up and let me show you again how this is done!”

“But…”

“Or you can move out and get one of your very many friends to put up with your antics. But remember, those friends won’t stand for your lack of rent, do your laundry, make your bed, tidy your room or feed you for free in a diner that their brother owns!” He turns to face me. “He no longer eats for free. He pays like everyone else! Do I have your word?”

“Unc…”

“Do I have your word, Debs?!”

I can feel both sets of eyes boring into me, but I have to put the most important man first.

“You have my word, Vic.” I sigh, and wince at the grumbling emanating from the booth.

“Now get your ass home, Sis.” He orders and then turns to Michael. “And you get your ass up!”

“Can’t I do the shift tomorrow instead? It’s quieter.”

“You can either do today or today and tomorrow. Your choice.” He returns and then waves at Kiki as she bustles in. “What’s the buzz?” He calls out.

“Britin has been sold!” She calls out as she takes off her coat and then holds up her hand. “I know you already know that, but the new owner is moving in this weekend. And I just heard that he’s going to have a neighbor, because the mansion opposite the Opera House has sold too!”

“Fuck me!” I sit back down. “For Britin to go okay, but for both... Just wow!”

“You old romantic, Debs!” Vic laughs.

“What?! Oh come on, I know it’s a myth but you can’t deny that everytime a single person moves into one of them, they find their true love!”

“Ma, this sounds great! Tell me more…” Michael starts to make his way back to the booth. “Ow! Uncle Vic! Let go of my ear!”

“You are working. Now work! Start with the coffee. Oh and don’t even think of making it putrid. Hungover people will eat and drink anything, but I will not have my customers subjected to horrible coffee simply because you're throwing a tantrum!” They lock gazes, but I know that this is a battle that Michael will never win.

BRITIN - THREE HOURS LATER

DRIVEWAY

CYNTHIA

I have worked for Brian Kinney for almost all of my career. I love the guy, and I know his heart got broken when Adam cheated on him, but to buy this place in the middle of bumfuck nowhere is a bit extreme. But extreme or not, it is beautiful.

“Hey, bestie!” He trills as he opens the front door.

“It’s the asscrack of dawn! Why am I here?” I demand, grabbing my case and planting a kiss on his cheek.

“Stopping me from calling him back.” He replies quietly.

I sigh and put the case down to look at my best and most darling of friends. In business, he is a complete rampaging savage. He gets what he wants, how he wants, when he wants. But in his personal life, he’s as cautious as a newborn mouse. “He cheated on you and was completely unconcerned and remorseless until he found out about this place. Now he can’t stop apologising; he doesn't deserve another moment of thought!”

“I know, but…”

“You found him. You will find someone much better!  Someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated” I assert. “So how many rooms…” I smirk. “...for your metal babies?” He beams at me like a child at Christmas. “Okay, what did you buy?” He grabs my hand and pulls me outside and I stare at it.

“I rode all the way down here and it was awesome!” He takes a big breath. “And I bought something else and you must be super quiet and not, I repeat, not, do what you do.”

“You can’t show them to me and not expect me to do what I do!” I hunker down and look at two of the most adorable puppies I have ever seen! “What are they called?”

“The one on the left is Shadow and the right is Silver.” At the mention of their names, there’s a sleepy thumping but they don’t wake up.

“Come on. First we have…” He looks at his watch and nods. “...a Beam, and you tell me about this hometown of yours and how you convinced me that Ted Schmidt should be my CFO?”

I grin, pleased that he’s got his business head on. If it was down to me, Adam would be stapled naked to the underside of a plane going to Alaska!

LIBERTY AVENUE DINER - EARLY AFTERNOON

EMMETT

My everything hurts! One Cosmo and home, that’s what I said! But then Ted came in grinning harder than he’s been for a long time. He finally got the job offer from Kinnetic, just like I said he would! It was a six times interview process, the last one being a call with the President and CEO, the one and only Brian Kinney. And hubba-hubba, that man is fine! But a total top and me being a nelly-bottom, he would be way too much for me! As I hone in on the booth, I just wish to sit and lay my head down on a nice cool, and please God clean, surface.

“Busy night?” I turn my head and frown at Vic and sit up. “Michael, some water and Advil, please.”

“Michael?” I look around and see Michael, scowling while wearing an apron and carrying a slop bucket. “I’m going to go with rent?”

“Today is for rent. Tomorrow is for sassing his mother.” Vic replies as Michael comes to the booth and puts the glass down in front of him. “And that is for Emmett, not me.” He tells him, as I reach for it.

“Wait, Emmett.” Michael stops me. “I just noticed the glass is dirty. Let me get you another one. Here’s the Advil though.” He takes it back and Vic chuckles.

“And next Saturday is for that glass!” He calls out to his retreating back. He doesn’t say a word when he returns to the table with a sparkly clean glass. I inhale the water and the Advil in seconds, and wait for it to kick in. “Charlie!” Vic bellows and I glare at him. “Sorry Ems.” He squeezes my arm and Charlie pokes his head out. “A hang...wait is Ted coming and how bad?”

“Yes and bad.”

“Two hangover specials please.”

And like serendipity, an extremely tired and hungover Ted slides into the booth. “Not one word.” He groans. “Debs, can I have water and Advil please!” He holds his head as he shouts above the din over the diner.

“No Debs. Try saying Michael.” Vic chuckles and Ted smirks then looks around.

“Oh, Michael! Michael! Could you be a dear and get me some still water from an unopened bottle and some Advil please?” Michael jerks his head in response and stalks to the fridge and I try not to cackle as Ted sinks onto the table.

“He’s coming back!” Vic hisses and immediately Ted’s head is up.

“Thank you, Michael.” He smiles and I shake my head.

TED

I feel rougher than a badger’s tongue covered with razor wire! I slide gingerly towards the wall, almost whimpering with relief when I finally can lean against a solid object. I watch Michael, one of Emmett’s dearest friends, walk around like he’s going to his execution. I have to admit that I don’t actually like Michael one little bit. I find him immature and arrogant, a deadly combination in normal folk but add momma’s boy to the mix then you have a whole host of trouble for him. But, as always, either Emmett or Debs comes to his rescue.

“So when do we get to meet your illustrious boss?” Vic asks.

“We don’t.” I mumble. “And we are not talking until the Advil and food kick in.”

“I concur.” Ems replies and rests against Vic’s shoulder.

BRITIN - THREE DAYS LATER, EVENING

BRIAN

As I go around switching the lights off and locking up, I am so pleased I bought this place. The peace, the space, the everything is just perfect. I know what Cynthia says about the dogs not being allowed upstairs, but it’s not as if I am letting anyone in my bed nor my heart for a very long time, if ever at all.

EARLY DAWN, NEXT DAY

BRIAN

“What in great fucking hell is that noise?!” I shout as the sound of a thousand cats being strangled and gutted jolts me out of sleep and onto the floor. I untangle myself from the covers and puppies and stalk to the window, flinging it open, I wait for a pause in the caterwauling.

“STOP MAKING THAT FUCKING NOISE!” I bellow as loud as I can, and wait for the blissful silence to continue. When it finally does, I head back to bed.

“THAT FUCKING NOISE GOT ME THIS MANSION, SO GET YOURSELF SOME FUCKING EARPLUGS, YOU NEANDERTHAL!” A voice screams back.

OPERA MANSION, ROOFTOP

JUSTIN

“What the fuck are you doing?!” Daph shouts at me and snatches away my bow.

“Give me that! I need to practice!”

“NOT AT THIS GODFORFUCKINGSAKEN TIME IN THE MORNING, YOU DON’T! GET YOUR ASS INSIDE! IT’S TOO EARLY AND TOO COLD!” She shrieks and I wince. I forgot how loud she can get.

“DO AS YOUR MOMMY TELLS YOU!” The voice shouts, clearly mocking me.

“FUCK YOU!” I yell back.

“ONLY IN MY NIGHTMARES!”

“Not another word!” Daph snarls at me before turning to the open space. “SORRY ABOUT THAT! HE’S AN IDIOT!”

“I KNOW THAT, BUT THANKS FOR APOLOGIZING ON THE IDIOT'S BEHALF.”

“I’M NOT SORRY!” I bellow.

“YES YOU ARE, BUT NOT IN THE WAY SHE MEANS!”

“NOW...okay-okay-okay!” I focus on her and the fact she’s going to drop my cello off the roof.

“Inside now!” She growls and I stomp down the stairs and vow to call her bluff the next time.