Speak

Chapter 1: Festivals and Introductions

The speakers boom with base, thousands of people hum along with the beat as it quickens, "EVERYBODY JUMP" and they all do. The crowd holds signs, flags and glow sticks, hair painted, body art and sweat mingle with the crowd.

Jake: One sign stands out among all of them. This one has a light of its own, literally. The words illuminated are my name and insignia as well as small words that I can't make out. I can't make them out because I'm standing higher than anyone in the crowd, I'm the one who brings the music and talent I'm the DJ. I push the sign to the back of my mind for later and focus on the music.

Brooks: I feel like I'm floating, no flying I'm where I belong it doesn't matter that this huge sign that I'm holding are making my arms burn, its' totally worth it. Being it Ultra Miami is a dream come true, one that I've been dreaming since I was 12. It's definitely a check off the music festivals bucket list. Being here is just giving me a reason to come next year and find more places to go... maybe even as an artist?

Jake: Fifteen minutes to go on the clock. Time to bring in the new song. I ease it in and I hear the crowd go silent, listening, waiting for what comes next. The first strand of lyrics begin to pump through the speakers and the lights flick accordingly as, "I look up through the lights..." comes out with a burst of sound and the crowd screams, I smile.

Brooks: The lyrics that I researched ahead and found and already mixed into my music pump through the enormous set and I begin to sing along. People stare as if they've never seen someone sing along to a song that was already partially released. I close my eyes and smile as the last strands of the song fade out and Jacob begins to play the ending of the set. I look around, I need to find a way to get noticed by him.

Jake: I flood in the end of "Blur" as an ending to the set and say my goodnights and goodbyes for the night, another round of Ultra Miami has come and gone. I hop down from the ledge of the stage and call Ben over, it's time to get ahold of the person and that sign.

Brooks: As the set ends and the flood lights come out, the crowd carries me into the alley that would go out to the main courtyard. My still illuminated sign becomes a hazard and a huge roadblock. All of a sudden a tall, broad shouldered man stands in my way. "Excuse me" I say trying to push by him but a huge hand stops me.

Brooks: "What do you want?" I ask looking up towards the huge floodlights, the huge flood of crowd has slowed to a trickle. I notice the face that I'm looking up into. "Ben Gerixo?" my voice comes out in a squeak.

"That's me" He flashes me his molars, "I was sent out to fetch you and your impressive sign"

"By who?" I manage out, a question that we both know that I know the answer to.

"Follow me" He turns and walks toward the building. I swallow and follow him. He takes a key ring out and unlocks the door and opens it and motions me inside with an, "After you." I step forward into a cavernous room illuminated by huge color changing LEDs and screens showing the recent footage from mainstage that two guys are watching and commenting on. They don't hear the door open or close and as I walk forward I catch snippets of their conversation, "...done better...happy but not entirely satisfied...big crowd-" until the conversation is cut off by Ben clearing his throat.

Jake: My breath catches when I look up and look at the girl standing in front of me. She, a tall... for a girl, but still shorter than me, thin muscled build, wearing shorts, Nikes and an artistic music festival tank top and blond hair. And to my surprise when she looks up I see big blue eyes sharply rimmed by black eyeliner. She took me by surprise and it was a minute before I said anything, "-Um, hi... hello and welcome to the green, er, red room" is what comes out my mouth. Making me sound like a complete and utter idiot. What's wrong with me? I can't think straight. This has never happened before. WHATS GOING ON!