The Collaboration - Chapter 14
Title: The Collaboration
Author: fictionfreak15
Beta: gwencarmichael Love You!!!! <3
Pairing: Adam & OMC, Adommy
Disclaimer: This did not happen. Don't own the celebs mentioned in the story.
Warnings: This fic contains swearing, insensitive comments, some homophobia later, light violence and a dash of sex
Summary: Adam is asked to lend his vocals skills after an emotional performance at the Oscars catches the artistic interest of a "High Rock" singer named Calad, right before Adam starts working on his new music video. When the pressures of the music industry and intolerance threaten to test their abilities as artists, the friendship they have formed must hold them together.
Special Author's Note: I’ve made up a rock band in this story called Tamera’s First Born. The members of the band are completely fictional; however, any song titles, lyrics and album names are taken from the real life band Coheed an Cambria. I will post links in various chapters that will include specific Coheed and Cambria songs mentioned.
Chapter Note: Adam hears news that prompts him to go to Milwaukee early...
A/N: Ok, I do have doubts that our boy would even consider traveling somewhere by himself, but I wanted him to go alone for this so I hope you can suspend disbelief :) Also, Mike is really gonna make you hate him...again. Love and Respect - fictionfreak15
P.S. I really could have been evil with the cliffies in a couple parts of this chapter, so I hope it's ok that this one's so long. Didn't want the pitch forks LOL - Enjoy!
Chapter 14
Later the next week, Adam was invited to return to American Idol to mentor the contestants of the new season. He was so happy and honored to be asked, and the whole band was really looking forward to it. Plus they wanted him to sing 'Whataya Want From Me' on the results show. He would do this in the middle of April, and then afterward everything would be ready for the video shoot. In May Adam would have to work hard to prepare for his tour to start in June. He couldn't wait to do all of it.
Adam had plenty to keep his mind off of negative things and focus on the future, and he was really looking forward to getting away while in Milwaukee. Sure, he'd be working, but it would be a small change of pace for a couple of days. Everything was going ok, and he was waiting for Calad to call. Adam was so busy that he didn't get to think about it til later in the evening.
***
Calad was in the studio recording, working with each band member as they laid down the finishing touches on the last track, 'The Final Cut'. He worked with Grady first and was happy with the slow drumbeat that was played to perfection. Next, he guided Chris with the bass line, one that was rather stood out more for much of the sorrowful song. Last was Mike, and Calad still had not yet tried to talk to him despite Grady's advice.
If they saw each other in the passed week, Calad would ignore Mike's little comments to let him know he was still pissed. He just figured he'd let the guy fume and try to get through this week without having any problems. It was tense, being alone with him in the recording room, and Calad made sure his new double neck was tucked safely in a corner. If he needed to play anything to show Mike what he wanted, then he played his Fender instead. When rhythm guitar was finished, Calad wondered if it would be the last time Mike would play with the band.
It was a heavy day.
Next, Calad recorded the vocals, wanting to save most of the lead guitar part for last. Grady and Chris talked Mike into staying so they could hear the finished song finally. They sat in the room while Calad belted out the lyrics in the sound proof room. They'd never heard such agony and pain in his voice as he hit the chorus...
"This is no beginning!!
Yeah, yeah, yeah-
This is the final cut!"
Mike watched in silence, not glowering anymore. He was too proud to applaud the power of the song with the rest of them, but there was no way that he could not be impressed.
Then Calad went a step further and said he wanted to record a wraith over the last line of the chorus. They knew what this was from a long time ago. It was what Calad called a vocal effect that he sometimes put in his songs. He would use a certain line that was sung and scream it in a growling voice behind what had been sung in the melody so one could hear it in the background. Modifications to the sound made it sound inhuman.
Last, Calad grabbed his double neck. It was a good guitar, but every time he held it in his hands he secretly lamented the loss of his old red one. Maybe some day he'd look into getting it fixed, but there just wasn't time. In the song, there was a good sized introduction before the first verse, then after the short group of lyrics, there was another long instrumental that provoked images of the crumbling of a world. It was unbelievable.
Everyone loved it, but Mike finally left the room so he wouldn't have to show it.
The only thing left to do was record Adam's vocals for the other two songs.
Late in the afternoon, Calad stepped out back for some fresh air. He'd spent a lot of time indoors in the last week, and he was exhausted, but it wasn't time to sleep just yet. He went onto the wooden deck and looked out at the still bare trees across the lawn. Spring was not coming for a while, and Calad longed to see something green. He had on his oversized denim jacket - glad it wasn't snowing - and breathed in the cold Milwaukee air.
He didn't know that he wasn't alone.
Mike had been sitting in one of the chairs at the corner of the deck. He was still and quiet, watching Calad, glaring with contempt. Then he said, "Calad, lemme talk to you a sec."
Calad looked over, not moving when he saw who it was. He noticed Mike had just been sitting out there in a sweatshirt and jersey shorts. Mike was one of those guys who wore shorts all year round. Calad always ignored it as he was used to it but always had a feeling that he was doing it to impress everyone in some small way.
Mike stood and started walking over a few steps. Calad didn't move away, but he put his head down in a rather cautionary way and watched the guitarist out of the corner of his eye. Mike stopped about six feet from him. Calad wanted to go back inside, but he was thinking this might be a good time to patch things up like Grady suggested.
"What's up?" Calad mumbled.
Mike said, rather calm but serious, "I think you should send the songs to Johnny tonight."
Calad took a deep breath and looked at him. "Johnny will get the last three songs within two days, and the record will be ready in April like I promised."
"Look, Calad. Complete the vocals for the other two tracks; it'll take a couple hours! The songs are perfect. It'll be great. Just call it quits and leave well enough alone." He was trying to make it sound like a good idea. Calad easily saw through it.
"Mike, I'm sorry. They're not done. Not yet. But they will be by Saturday."
The larger man's temperature went up just a little bit. "Calad, I'm telling you, don't put that drag queen on our album. It'll be the last thing you ever do in this band."
Calad narrowed his tired eyes. "You would try to throw me out of my own band?"
"I wouldn't have to. I said it before. No one is gonna buy this record if he's on it." Mike was frustrated but looked like he was still trying to keep his cool.
Calad retorted, "I don't think our fans are that shallow. When they hear what we've done, and then when they hear Adam Lambert singing High Rock, they're not gonna care who it was I got to work with me. They're gonna freak."
"Calad..."
"Plus, we will also have an estimated number of a five hundred thousand copy increase in sales from potential purchases by Adam Lambert fans."
Mike took a few steps forward. "I don't want Adam Lambert fans buying our shit. It's not all about the money, man. TFB used to have standards."
"High Rock never claimed to exclude anyone. The more people who hear High Rock the more who are likely to enjoy it." Calad never knew Mike was so narrow minded.
"You're gonna ruin this band, man," the guitarist warned.
Calad was sad that he wasn't being heard. He said softly, "That's not my intention. I only want to finish this record, just like you. Just give me one more day to prove it to you and..."
"That cock-knocker is not coming into this house!"
Calad took a step back. "D - don't call him that," he asked in a small voice.
"What, cock-knocker? I know you were sheltered, Calad, but don't you even know what those fags do with each other?"
Maybe Calad shouldn't have said it, but it was hurting his pride, and he was tired of Mike's cracks this week. "No, I don't, Mike...Why don't you tell me?"
This insinuation infuriated Mike, and he lunged at Calad, knocking him to the ground.
***
Adam tried calling Calad for the second time in one day. The boy never did call like he said he would. Adam expected to at least hear from him because tomorrow Adam was flying to Milwaukee. He wanted to know how things were going, but Calad wasn't answering his phone. He decided to call that girl he met at the Oscars that night, Kelly Harper, and see if he could get some information. Kelly gave him the number for Dwayne Cole. He was the manager for Tamera's First Born, and she said Adam could get a message to Calad through him. He called the number and got Dwayne on the phone.
"This is Adam Lambert. I'm flying out tomorrow to record some tracks with Calad Areese. I wanted to talk to him, but he's not answering his phone. Do you know how I can reach him?"
The man on the other end sighed. "Well son, there's been a little trouble here today."
"What happened?"
"Well, Calad got hurt. He's in the hospital, and they got us waiting right now."
Adam's eyes got wide. "What the fuck happened? How'd he get hurt?"
"Uh, you know, kid, there's not much I can say right now," said Dwayne, sounding hesitant.
"Well, you can at least tell me what's going on..."
Dwayne sighed. "I - I don't know, kid. Everything's so fucked up right now."
"Is he gonna be alright? How bad is he hurt?" asked Adam.
"Well, he'll live; we're pretty sure."
"What the fuck! What are you talking about?" Adam was getting freaked.
"Look, we're goin' through a bad time right now, okay?! This band is in a heap of shit and feeding you answers is not real high on my priority list."
Adam was getting mad and scared. "Tell me what hospital he's in."
The man didn't answer.
"Hello? Please, he's my friend. Please tell me where Calad is."
The man seemed to reconsider. "He's at Columbia St. Mary's. Listen to me, kid. You don't talk to no one, you got it? High profile cases like this have to be dealt with carefully. Say nothing..."
"How can I say anything? You won't tell me shit!" Adam ended the call.
Tommy was right there, the other band members nearby. "What happened, Adam?"
***
Adam had gone to the airport and was on a plane bound for Chicago. From there he would catch another plane to Milwaukee. He'd have to fly most of the night, but he just wasn't satisfied with arriving late in the afternoon the next day. He wanted to know what happened as soon as possible.
All his make up was off, and he wore a hat to cover his hair. A long sleeved shirt covered any recognizable tattoos, and he wouldn't take his sunglasses off for anything. His bags had already been packed since he planned on leaving early the next morning anyway. Everyone who needed to know he was leaving was told, and now he was traveling in clothes that in no way said 'Adam Lambert'. Due to all this precaution, Adam wasn't recognized.
In the air, he called Kelly Harper again but didn't get any more answers than what Dwayne gave him. He had a feeling that she knew more than he was telling him. Tommy called for updates and worried about Adam flying alone. All the guys were. Tommy offered to follow him, but Adam was afraid that, even in disguise, the sight of Tommy might let people know that Adam Lambert was nearby, and he didn't have time to take pictures and sign autographs.
By three in the morning, Adam was renting a car at the airport and was loading his bags into the back seat. He'd called Tommy to let him know he landed safely and had just got into the car. He'd looked up directions on his phone from the airport to the hospital when he was on the plane. Now exhausted and hoping he wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel, Adam put the key into the ignition.
A text came through. Adam picked up his phone from the passenger seat and read it.
Call me when you can...Calad.
Adam's eyes became wide. He couldn't believe it and quickly called Calad's number back. Sitting in the cold, quiet car in the airport parking lot, he waited for Calad to pick up.
"Adam?"
"Calad, what happened?"
"I can't believe you're up right now."
"Calad, please! I've been worried sick for like 10 hours now!"
"You have?" Calad sounded...normal.
"Calad, what the fuck happened to you? I heard you were hurt!"
Calad was stunned. "You heard?"
"Calad! Come on!" Adam was freaked out, stressed and dead tired but going on adrenalin.
Finally, Calad said, "I - I was in a fight...I'll be fine though."
"You will? What happened? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I mean, I will be. I didn't get hit in the face so it'll still be okay to do the video."
"The video! Oh Jesus, Calad! What the fuck is going on? I talked to some guy named Dwayne, and he wouldn't tell me fuckin' anything. He made it sound like you were...critical or something!"
"Oh, Adam, I'm sorry. You talked to Dwayne? When? What did he say?"
"Never mind that. I want to know where you are. I was on my way to the hospital...but..."
"The hospital? I thought you were in LA," said Calad.
"Dude, I've been trying to get to you all night. I thought you were dying!" Adam didn't know whether to be relieved or pissed.
Calad was quiet.
"Hello? Calad? Are you there?"
"...I can't believe you came all the way out here," he said in a small voice.
Adam melted. "Of course I did. You're my friend, Calad. I had to know if I could help you...Now, are you still in the hospital?"
"I was released an hour ago. I wanted to call you as a matter of fact...but, you know...the hour. I sent a message as soon as I got home."
"So you're home right now?"
"Yeah," said Calad. "You're not going to a hotel, are you?"
Adam paused, still trying to calm down. "No, I was going straight to the hospital. I guess I haven't thought about where else to go."
"Where are you now?"
"The airport."
"I only live a half hour from there. I'll send someone to pick you up. I don't want you to go to a hotel."
Adam said, "Fine...don't send anyone though. I don't like driving with strangers. Just text me directions, and I'll be there within the hour."
Calad did, and Adam nearly fell asleep waiting. But soon he was on the road, following the directions and he came to a good sized house in the woods. The outside lights were on, and there were two other cars in the large gravel driveway. Adam pulled into a random spot and stopped.
He got out and walked quickly to the front door, knocking on it. A few minutes later, a young man answered. He opened the screen door, and Adam had to back away fast to avoid being hit.
END OF CHAPTER 14