Chapter 14 To Get The Sponsors

My dad closed the restaurant early today so that he and I can go home together. We talked on the way about things that happened earlier at the restaurant. We laughed and joked about the customers and our work. 

I actually enjoyed the ride home considering that I don't always hang out with my dad this much because of his busy schedule.

As soon as we got home, we found mom and Kaila on the couch talking in hushed voices. When they saw us, they both got to their feet. Mom beamed and came to hug me before she went to dad kissed him on the cheek.

Not wanting to see more of their PDA, I went and sit on the couch with Kaila. You'd think that 20 years of marriage will help cease the lovey-dovey affection of my mom and dad with each other but no. They’re still had over heels for each other.

I looked at Kaila and scrunched my face at her. She laughed and turned to face the television. My mom and dad headed for the kitchen to make us dinner. Even though we were in the living room and with the television going on, I could still hear the sizzling of something being cooked from the kitchen. 

Not to mention smell the aroma of something being cooked.

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, dinner was finally served and we all went to the dining room to eat. 

"So," Started my dad as he slices a piece of meat from his place before popping it into his mouth. "How'd the meeting go? I suspect that you got the sponsor?"

I nearly choked on my own meal after remembering how I ditched mom and went to dad. I suddenly felt guilty and looked up from my plate to my mom. Well, it couldn't be helped that my phone rang at the most inconvenient time after all. 

Thanks to a certain someone.

At the mention of the meeting, both my mom and Kaila became quiet. Kaila turned to my mom before she spoke for her. "It was alright." She said then turned her attention back to her plate, not giving us any detail of what really happened at the meeting.

From the looks of it, the meeting didn't go well. Dad must have sensed this too because he didn't press on the issue any longer.

"The Pandorgriffs just released their new album and it already sold 20 million copies!!" I turned my attention to the television. It showed a video of one of The Pandergrofs's music videos as the reporter continued to report. "These teenage girl and boy band are getting more and more-" The television suddenly turned off.

I turned to see mom up from her seat with the remote in her hand. Her expression was unreadable as she looked at the now black screen of the tv.

"Mom?" I asked her.

She silently took her seat once again and resumed eating. After what she did just now, I figured that it must be serious and I am worried for her. "Mom." I called her again. This time she looked at me and a small-forced smile. "What's wrong?" I asked her. "You’re acting weird. Please tell us."

She just stared at me as if she was contemplating whether to tell us.

"Are you mad at me that I ditched earlier? Mom, I'm sorry-"

Mom shook her head. "No, honey. It's not your fault." She shook her head and massaged her temples. "It's just a problem at work." She looked so stressed out that I felt sorry for her. The urge to help her suddenly came.

Dad suddenly reached out and held her hand in his. "What is it, love? You know you can tell us. Hailey and I will help you. You know that." Dad looked extremely worried as he gazed into Mom’s eyes.

Mom looked away and let out a long tired and exasperated sigh before turning back at us. She looked sideways at Kaila who gave her an encouraging nod.

"I think we should tell them." Said Kaila.

"Tell us about what?" I asked and looked from Kaila to my mom in search of an explanation.

Mom nodded at Kiala before turning back at us. Her eyes mirrored sadness. "We-we didn't get the contract for the sponsor."

"What!?" Dad and I both exclaimed. This was the first time that we heard of this. Mom's runway project always has a sponsor. She never fails to get one. 

"Are you sure?"

"Dear, maybe you've heard it wrong."

Mom shook her head. "No. He gave us back the papers."

"But how?" I asked, nearly getting up from my seat in disbelief. "Earlier I heard him congratulate you for your works. Seems to me that you've already got it signed." When I thought about it, dread suddenly filled me in when a realization suddenly hit me. "Wait. Is this because of what happened earlier with my ring tone that made them changed their mind? Oh mom I'm so so-"

"No!!" She quickly said. "It wasn't that - although you have to admit that they looked annoyed at that time. Hailey, listen, the reason why they didn't sign the papers was because I could not comply with their condition."

"What condition?"

Kaila spoke when it seemed that my mom was having a hard time answering. "He wants The Pandorgriffs to be the models for her project. If she can't get them then the contract won't be signed."

At the sound of their band name, I suddenly felt anger. "Why them?" I asked, hoping that my hatred didn't show when I said it.

"They saw the number of sales that we got from our last photoshoot with The Pandorgriffs from our online page. They figured that if The Pandorgriffs would model it then tons of people would come and buy our clothes." Answered Kaila.

My hands clenched my knife and fork tightly. Not them again. Why is everything about them? Why do all my problems have to start and end with them? It's funny, really, how I used to idolize them and listen to their songs and buy their albums to killing them with a butter knife and fork in my mind. 

I hate them so much. 

I grunted. "Can't we find other sponsors?"

"We can't. Not with the little time we have left. Plus, I think most of the trusted sponsors are already taken by other lines." I cursed under my breath.

"But, dear, can't you get them to agree? You already made them model once for Hailey, didn't you?"

"Greg, it took all my power and connections to get them out of their busy schedule just to model for my line. I don't think it will work again." Then she sighed. "It's fine though. I guess we just have to skip this year’s runway project." With that, she excuses herself and left for the kitchen with her plate to wash.

I was about to go after her when Kaila stopped me. "Don't." She said. "We can't do anything to help her." Hearing her say it left a heavy feeling in my chest. I looked helplessly at the kitchen door and sat back down. We all fell silent. I looked at my plate suddenly not feeling that hungry anymore.  

When dinner was over, I went to my room feeling heavy. I laid on my bed as I thought of what mom had said. I know for a fact that even though she said that it was fine, she was devastated. She loves her work with a burning passion. 

Just imagine it being taken away just because she cant hire a specific group of teenagers to model for her.

Speaking of the said teenagers, I felt a flash of anger towards them before it was gone. Well, I can't really blame them. They were just doing their jobs. It's their fame that is to blame. 

Kaila's words played over and over in my head. "We can't do anything to help her." I repeated and sighed. I buried my face in my pillows for a seconds before grabbing my phone to check the time. As the screen flashed, a notification suddenly popped up saying that I have a message from Sandy on Twitter.

My eyes suddenly squinted as I read Sandy's and wondered if I have dyslexia for I am seeing the name Sophie from The Pandorgriffs. I gasped.

I shot up from my bed, still grabbing a hold of my phone while Kaila's words suddenly grew fainter. "We can't do anything to help her my butt." I whispered as an idea suddenly popped into my head. We can't do anything about my mom's problem, but I'm pretty sure a group of annoying student councils can.

I went to my phone book to look for Sandy's number that I blocked. My fingers hovered over the unblock button as my heart race in excitement while my brain screamed at me that this was a bad idea. But I am doing this for my mom and I don't care if it’s a bad idea or not as long as I can help her.

Closing my eyes, I pressed the unblock button and turned to peak as I saved her number. After that, I clicked her name to write her a text message before pausing.

What am I going to say? 

Oh well. Might as well start typing.

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SOS I need your help. 

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Nah! Not this one. Too needy.

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I have a problem.

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Ew. Sounds…..sketchy

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HELP ME OR I SWEAR I WILL SPILL THE BEANS ABOUT YOU GUYS BEING THE PANDORGIFFS!!!

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Tempting but we'll just end up blackmailing each other in the end. Plus, I figured that if I want their help then I might as well do it nicely. 

With that in mind, I started to write something simple so we can talk about it personally.

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Hey, I need to talk to you guys tomorrow.

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Then I press sent and watch as the message read delivered.