In a studio in Brooklyn, Jennifer, Nicki, and Danny sit around as if they were waiting for something… or someone. Jennifer sighs, finally getting up from her seat, annoyed.
Jennifer: *to Nicki* Did he message you back?
Nicki: I keep getting his away message…
Jennifer sighs, sitting back down in her seat.
Jennifer: I’m so sorry, Andie; our guitarist is usually always on time for rehearsal.
Andie, the sound engineer, nods his head and looks back to his computer. Moments later, the studio door opens and in walks Milo.
Jennifer: Dude! Where the hell were you?!
Milo: *out of breath* Sorry, I was traveling from the city.
Nicki: But school ended 2 hours ago.
Milo drops his bookbag on the ground, followed with two instrument cases. Jennifer notices.
Jennifer: Why do you have your violin with you?
Milo: *to Jennifer* Dude, what’s with all these damn questions?
Jennifer: Because you’re an hour late to the only studio time we have, mind you recording this was your idea.
Milo: I had practice for band, so chill out.
Nicki: *chimes in* We had an after school band practice?!
Milo: No, I just did…
Milo walks into the booth with his guitar which prompts the rest of the band to enter as well. Andie begins to set up the recording equipment together. In the booth, Jennifer turns to Milo, still pretty pissed.
Jennifer: You know a simple message on AIM would’ve been fine.
Milo: I’m sorry, Pep; I lost track of time-
Jennifer: You made me look like an ass in front of my cousin’s boyfriend. Like, what if he goes back to Beatrice and is like ‘your cousin is so unprofessional’…
Milo: *annoyed* For fuck’s sake, we’re in some small studio space in Downtown Brooklyn, not in Los Angeles with a celebrity!
Jennifer: That doesn’t change the fact that you embarrassed me. dude!
Before the teens can continue, a voice is heard through the intercom.
Andie: Uhm, guys… the mics are on… whenever you’re ready…
Jennifer’s face immediately turns red. She faces forwarded in front of the microphone. The rest of the band gets ready o start recording the demo of their first single.
…
Andie: Alright guys, that was awesome. Take 5 an we’ll get some adlibs in there.
The band takes off their headphones and takes a breather; Milo puts down his guitar and takes a deep breath.
Danny: Hey, Milo?
Milo: *looks up* Yeah?
Danny: Do you think we can talk?
Milo: *annoyed* About what?
Danny: Nothing serious, just about the direction of the song. I think it would be dope if the bass line went over the lead in that one part where Pep’s–
Milo: *corrects* Jennifer.
Danny: Uhm… yeah. Where Jennifer is singing the bridge all low and sultry–
Milo: I don’t think that’ll sound good; it’ll be too heavy and inaudible–
Danny: We can’t at least try it out?
Milo turns around, finally facing Danny.
Milo: No offense, but you really don’t have composition rights over a song you had no part in writing, or putting together.
Danny: It’s just a suggestion, Milo.
At this point, the girls overhear the conversation; in true Jennifer fashion, she investigates.
Jennifer: What’s going on?
Milo: *dismissive* Nothing.
Danny: I just had a suggestion, but its fine.
Jennifer: What is it?
Milo: *annoyed* Pep.
Jennifer: *to Danny* We’re always looking for new ways to revamp our songs–
Milo: Since when?
Jennifer: *defensive* Since we decided to record demos for these songs. *to Danny* What was your suggestion?
Danny looked shy, not knowing what to do. Milo rolled his eyes. Nicki walks to Danny, looking up at him.
Nicki: *softly* It’s kay to share.
Danny: I had suggested that the bass and lead should switch in tone to let the vocals shine through in the bridge leading up to the final chorus.
The girls cock up their eyebrows.
Jennifer: That’s not a bad idea–
Nicki: It’ll make the piece more sultry.
Milo huffed, annoyed. He walks out of the booth to gather his thoughts. Jennifer shook her head, annoyed at Milo’s behavior. Spontaneously, she hits the button to the microphone in the booth.
Jennifer: People who are late to their own band’s recording session can’t turn down suggestions.
Milo gets up from his seat and walks over to Andie, pressing the button to the intercom.
Milo: If it’s my band, then the person that created the band does have ultimate say in how the song that he wrote goes.
Jennifer: It’s our band, and again; maybe if you cared about making it to your band’s rehearsals on time, we would actually take you a little more seriously.
Milo: *argues* I literally had band practice for school after our vocal class; at least you get to leave after your major class at the end!
Jennifer: Nobody gives a shit that you’re a dual major, dude!
Nicki ultimately moves Jennifer from the microphone; she’s had enough of the back and forth between her two friends.
Nicki: *yells* That’s enough! For once can you two just get along at a rehearsal?! I’m sick and tired of you two constantly fighting over the stupidest things! *to Milo* It doesn’t hurt to try suggestions, especially if those suggestions come from someone within our band! If you two don’t get your shit together, there’s not going to be a band anymore!
Nicki storms out of the booth and out of the studio space. Danny goes after her. Milo’s face softens as he watches Danny go and check on Nicki. His face immediately hardens once he hears Jennifer, sighing as she walks out of the recording booth.
Jennifer: Sorry, Andie…
Andie: It’s fine, I’ll be outside the room when you guys are ready to wrap up; I have to go to a doctor’s appointment with Beatrice in about an hour.
The teens don’t say anything back; Andie closes the door behind him, leaving Milo and Jennifer in the space on their own.
Milo: *sighs* Why are you always getting on my case about the smallest things?
Jennifer: Because you always get on mine.
The two teens sit in silence until Jennifer sighs.
Jennifer: I’m sorry. Can we just make things simple for us? We both got tons of shit on our plates and we should really just… start to be best friends with each other.
Milo: I would like that.
Jennifer smiles at Milo, in which he returns the smile back to her. His cellphone is seen in the side pocket of his backpack vibrating with the screen lit.
Letters From Liz. 