Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 11: The Plan]

"Wait, I can't do this!" Taylor exclaimed, a hint of panic in her voice.

"You absolutely can, and you're the only one who can," Abigail replied instantly, as if she had been waiting for this moment to present her idea.

"The girls at school are all watching, and I hardly know him. You're the only one who can help us break the ice. He wants to be a singer, right? You can make up an excuse to ask him out, perform together, co-write songs, or even just discuss the next music video. Just get the ball rolling, and he'll definitely come. And as your friend, it makes sense for me to be there, right? This will happen once, twice, three times, and boom -- opportunity!" Abigail laid out her plan with enthusiasm.

"But... is this really a good idea?" Taylor said, feeling overwhelmed as she questioned her friend's suggestions.

"What's wrong with it?"

"You barely know him! He's a model; you know how messy that world is. He might not even be a good person! You just don't know him!" In Taylor's mind, Ryan was clearly not someone to be trusted.

"You think he's going to ditch me after a few days?" Abigail pondered.

"Exactly! That's what I'm trying to say!" Taylor nodded vigorously.

"Do you really think I'd be crazy enough to marry someone I've only met twice?" Abigail shot back with a bewildered expression. "Just like in Fifteen, how long do you think a high school relationship lasts? I've thought it over: if it's going to end in tragedy anyway, why not go for someone more handsome?"

"Uh..." Taylor was utterly defeated by her friend's logic, left speechless.

"Besides, with you around, he wouldn't dare get too wild. He might even behave better. And let's face it, maybe he's actually a decent guy," Abigail tried to reassure her.

"I'd be putting you in harm's way," Taylor thought for a moment but still shook her head.

"I know you mean well, but the moment I saw him in the lounge, I noticed him! When he walked into class today, it felt like fate. I can reach out to him and see how it goes. If there is a problem, we can just pretend nothing happened!" Abigail looked at Taylor with pleading eyes.

"You're the best," Abigail continued, nudging closer to Taylor as if seeking her support.

Taylor pushed her away, feeling a chill in her heart as the situation grew more chaotic.

"Didn't the studio staff say they'd help him spread his music on social networks? Why not use that opportunity to ask him out? He won't turn you down," Abigail added quickly.

'Did I even agree to that?' Taylor scoffed to herself.

"Absolutely not. Anyone else is fine, but him? No way," Taylor continued to refuse.

Abigail quickly retreated, smirking: "I knew it! You keep saying you're not into him, but I can tell... something must have happened between you two already!"

Her expression gleamed with a sense of realization.

"No! Nothing ever happened!" Taylor insisted vehemently.

...

While the two girls were deep in their discussion, Ryan found himself called over by the head coach.

"In recent years, many key players from our team have gotten full football scholarships to the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University. These schools are members of the Southeastern Conference. If you keep your GPA above 3.0, you could have the same opportunity," the coach said, making his intentions clear.

He mentioned the Southeastern Conference is one of the NCAA's Power Five Conferences; playing here could be a stepping stone to the NFL. The University of Tennessee produced top quarterbacks like Peyton Manning. While Vanderbilt often struggled in the Southeastern Conference, it held the title of "the Southern Harvard," ranking in the top thirty universities nationwide.

The coach was essentially saying that if Ryan committed to football, a bright future awaited him.

But Ryan didn't feel excited. He found himself at a crossroads; he didn't consider himself a genius. To remain competitive, he knew extensive training was inevitable, which would clash with his ambitions in music. He could only choose one.

After careful consideration, Ryan said, "I might not be able to stay on the team for long; I'd only be suited for a backup role."

He thought the coach would be displeased, but instead, the coach nodded eagerly. "It's great to hear you think that way! I was worried you wouldn't accept being a backup."

Ryan realized that by playing the tight end position, he could avoid becoming a target as a starter. Being a backup could allow him to shine when it counted.

"My offer still stands! But you need to make an impact when it matters. For the rest of the time, you don't even have to step on the field," the coach provided Ryan with remarkably lenient training expectations.

Now he could share this with Trey; she would be thrilled to hear this news.

...

Afterward, Ryan and a few newly acquainted teammates carried sports gear back to the locker room when someone whistled. "Look who it is -- the big star!"

"I haven't seen you in a while; you're looking even prettier!"

"Thinking about writing songs now?"

"Her first album was about four ex-boyfriends. You're telling me the next one should double that?" People chimed in with playful banter.

When Ryan looked up, he saw Abigail and Taylor walking toward him, hand in hand. They had clearly reached an understanding.

From this angle, Ryan couldn't help but notice that Abigail had a more appealing figure.

...

At a fast-food restaurant, Ryan and the two girls transitioned from talking about football to discussions about school life, eventually landing on the topics of music and social media.

"MySpace, YouTube, and Facebook combined have over 3 million followers, with MySpace having the most," Taylor said, a frown hinting at her popularity, clearly not wanting to engage too closely with Ryan.

But to distance herself from any perceived "suspicions" regarding Ryan, she had to play along.

"Do you usually use your social accounts?" Ryan asked.

"Of course! I reply to fan messages, share everyday photos. It's all part of the publicity game, but it needs to be managed under public relations oversight. Paula Erikson, who used to be in charge of A&R at RCA, helped shape my public image," Taylor explained.

"What does she think about the fact that your first album features four ex-boyfriends? Did she approve of that?" Ryan suddenly asked.

That question was quite pointed, and Taylor's eyebrows knitted in frustration. "First, not all those four guys were my boyfriends. Secondly, I collaborated with them after the album was released. And third, she believes discussing this openly puts me at an advantage. Maintaining the status quo creates additional buzz!"

She shot Ryan a glare. "This is my creative process! Clearly, it has led to more album sales. So not only do I need to change nothing, I have to stick to my guns even more!"

Implying -- who is he to comment on that?

The topic shifted back to promoting on social media, which was what Ryan cared about most. Under Abigail's guidance, they agreed that Abigail would first share Ryan's music as a friend, and then Taylor would reply to it. This way, it would appear Taylor maintained a distance from Ryan while promoting his work, creating a scenario acceptable to both sides.

While discussing related details, Ryan clearly noticed Abigail beside Taylor seemed overly enthusiastic. Recalling her behavior throughout the day, he began to suspect the truth.

What surprised him was that Taylor was actually willing to be the wingwoman. Did she really want her friend to connect with him?

At the same time, Abigail bravely invited Ryan, "By the way, spring break is in a couple of weeks. How about going surfing in Florida? There's also the UMF music festival in Miami; you could even interact with DJs there!"

*****

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