No Strings Attached

Chapter 23: Solo

Friday. Solo night. Becca was sweating. Luckily she decided to wear black so that it's not too obvious, though the aircon also helped. She stood backstage and played air guitar as she tuned into her own songs in her head. There were other acts as well, all vying for that one chance to make it big.

"You'll be fine, sis. And we will be sitting right there with the best view", Richie encouraged his younger sister, but she was still very obviously jumpy due to the nerves.

"Shhh it's okay... You have your begist support right here, Tua." Freen hummed lowly in Becca's ear and it seemed to give her the last bit of courage she needed. She turned around in Freen's arms and looked up at those impossibly dark eyes and those delectable lips that she had missed so much kissing

Becca and Freen had managed to keep their distance from each other during the week during and after practice. Neither of them would admit that it was difficult, but it did help them to put all their efforts into their music, which was sounding great and almost ready for the great Bandslam a week away.

Back in the cocktail club, Becca was busy setting up her semi-acoustic guitar and plugging it into the pedals and amp. She felt brave with the one original song, the one she write for Freen. But it was the song she would start with.

With her melodic sounds that suited the ambience perfectly, and her smooth voice carrying the notes, it seemed like she could do no wrong. She raised her voice to emphasise certain parts that she truly aimed at Freen, such as "Outside and in, Such an amazing mind, With treasures for me to find, Around every corner..."

Becca made sure to make perfect eye contact as she sang, while Freen could feel herself melting into a puddle on the ground. Becca casually rolled into her next song, a smooth transition if there ever was one. It was time to play a cover, and yet still Becca couldn't take her eyes off of Freen.

"I've been waiting for the tides to change, for the waves to send you my way..." Becca started the more upbeat song, though it was still light enough for the establishment. "Cause I'll be there when you finally decide to make it home..." Locking her gaze firmly with Freen's, Becca poured all her soul into the words she sang in the Thai beauty's direction.

"Because when I'm in a room with you, that missing piece is found..." Becca continued playing directly at Freen to the extent that even their friends could cut the tension with a knife. "You know when you're by my side baby, nothing can bring us down..." She eventually slid down the end of the song by Vance Joy and finished it expertly.

After doing a cover, Becca needed to spit out another original. She hadn't practiced her other two songs as well as she did with the first one, but she knew she had to take a whack at it.

"Thought I saw you on the street, Stumbled over what to say. But never did we really meet, Never did you walk my way." The sound of her song was almost sad and definitely melancholic. She didn't mean for it to be that way, but the music steered her in that direction. The low sounds of the melody exuded from her lips with gentle ease..

"Last night I met you in my sleep. In my dreams I touched your face..." Becca's easy melody and rhythm continued when she shifted into the next song. Her eyes would shoot over the crowd now and then to see people quite interested in her performance. She truly felt humbled.

Becca slowly paused and waited for the recorded drums to get their start, then she leaned back into the mic. "Thought I heard your voice today; still sounded all the same. Thought I heard you call my name, But the sound faded away..."

Becca strummed the guitar through its chorus and bridge parts, until she eventually came to a slow stop for the second original

Becca gave her all on the second round, hoping the emotion in her voice would capture the audience. The applause coming for the random tables scattered about was somewhat comforting. Then as she looked over to her friends and had to bite her tongue to not burst out laughing at them.