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Chapter 60: In the Record Store
🕑 Added 2024-10-07 20:39:20 +0000 UTCThe sound of skateboarding came from the TV, with the camera starting at the wheels, then panning up to show white calves, thighs, and arms. As the shot zoomed out, a few guys appeared, fiddling with their instruments. The camera closely followed Avril as she painted graffiti on a wall, capturing each moment with smooth transitions.
The bright, vibrant colors immediately grabbed everyone’s attention. “That looks amazing…” Milan admired, to which Duval quickly added, “Are you talking about the graffiti or the girl?”
“Both!” Milan laughed in reply.
The music video continued with Avril finishing her graffiti, then joining a group of guys as they skateboarded through a mall. The upbeat music played while rapid cuts of skate tricks flashed across the screen, keeping everyone glued to the video.
Inside the mall, they fooled around with a McDonald's mascot, got kicked out by Cindy, then tried on multiple layers of clothes in a store. The guys were dressed in various women’s outfits, posing in ridiculous ways, which had everyone outside the TV laughing.
Avril did the same, but as the song hit the chorus, she extended her arms, tearing away her layers of clothes as if breaking free from a cocoon. Her intense expression, coupled with the energetic lyrics, conveyed a sense of rebellious freedom.
But Kaden, who played a store clerk, wasn’t amused. She grabbed a broom and chased after Avril and her friends. Then Cindy and a security guard joined the pursuit, creating a lively, chaotic scene in the mall. The whole video had a bright, joyful feel, perfectly matching the song’s vibe.
Everyone was so into the song, nodding their heads, tapping their feet, and swaying to the beat. Ethan was drumming on the table, adding a little beat of his own.
When the video ended, everyone wanted more. Duval even replayed the song repeatedly on the TV facing the window.
“That was awesome! Her name is Avril! I’m going to ask her out!” said a bald guy named Maiden to his friend, only to be glared at by his short, glasses-wearing companion, “No way, Maiden! Just because you have a handsome face doesn’t mean you’ll win her over. I won’t let you. Avril’s mine!”
Ethan glanced at the guy and didn’t see much “handsome” about him.
The bald guy retorted quickly, “Oh, come on, man! Have you looked in the mirror? Do you really think your thick glasses are going to win her over? Like, ‘Oh, Avril, I dropped my glasses. Could you pick them up and put them back on for me?’”
He mimicked a high-pitched voice, then leaned closer to the guy, puckering his lips. “Then you’d kiss her on the cheek? Forget it, man! I’ve been meaning to tell you—you’ve got bad breath!”
“F**k you, Maiden!” The glasses guy flipped him off, then blew into his hand and sniffed.
“Damn!”
He reeled back, fogging up his glasses. Maiden laughed loudly, and everyone joined in.
“Avril isn’t yours or mine!” the glasses guy declared. “None of us will even touch her fingernail!”
“That’s not for you to worry about, man. What if she performs here someday?”
Listening to all the talk about Avril reminded Ethan of their little rendezvous in the woods that night.
If this group knew he and Avril were close to “hitting a home run,” they might gang up on him.
Besides Avril, there were two other girls in the video who caught people’s attention.
“Who was the girl at McDonald's?”
“Not sure, but she looked amazing. Maybe she’s a model.”
“Check the credits on the album. Let’s see… The McDonald's girl is Cindy, and the girl from the clothing store is kaden!”
“I like kaden; she’s got an incredible body!”
“No, Cindy’s better! She seems so sweet!”
“Cindy, kaden, wow, they’re great. Do they have any photoshoots? I’d buy them!”
Ethan took note. If these customer service girls didn’t have any upcoming projects, they could start with photoshoots to get their names out there. With Avril’s song getting more popular, people would soon talk more about Caden and Cindy, so it made sense to prepare ahead.
After leaving the record store, Ethan grabbed two copies of Avril’s new single. At the counter, he overheard some guys still discussing the music video.
“Duval, I swear, I have proof that this video’s director is the same one who did Nelly’s last video!” Milan pointed to the credits on the back of the album. “Look, Avril’s director and cinematographer are both listed as Ethan. And Nelly’s last video listed Ethan as the cinematographer, too!”
Duval shrugged. “So what? Maybe Ethan just did a good job and took the lead this time. Besides, I think this video isn’t as visually rich as Nelly’s.”
“That’s nonsense! Avril’s song is upbeat and bright. This color suits her music. Look at all the kids outside—they can’t take their eyes off it!” Milan argued, pointing outside at the growing crowd of young people.
“Alright, you might have a point, but I still prefer the style in Nelly’s video.”
The debate went on, with others voicing their opinions. Ethan, observing quietly, found it amusing. They didn’t realize he’d been behind both music videos. Milan was right; the song’s tone should complement the video’s color palette, and Avril’s music wasn’t suited for that heavy film-noir style. Her audience was different from Nelly’s, too.
As he left the store and drove to his company, Ethan planned to talk to Jimmy about future company goals and upcoming projects.
