The next weeks I got to know Ash and Kyle even better. I also could spend several days with Noah. We all went to Link's, we practiced the song we were recording for the Talent Show, and we stopped for ice-cream about two times. Noah also took me to "work on my attitude" and I dyed the tips of my hair purple and he dyed his tips red. But today is different, we're recording the song we practiced for the NYC TS and we're sending it for the judges to... well... judge. The only thing I'm nervous about is that if we don't win the TS, we also won't earn the $1000. And we need the money to keep recording at the studio. If we don't win, I'm afraid we might lose it all. "Okay guys, don't be nervous." Noah says trying to comfort us all.
"That's literally the worst thing you could say to a nervous person." Ash replies. Kyle and I laugh. I've begun to feel more comfortable between Ash, Kyle, Noah... and with myself. It's like if we are already a little four-person family. And that's why I'm scared to lose. This could end as fast as it started. The guy who's in charge of the recording and stuff makes us signs to begin through the glass that separates us.
"Well, here goes nothing." I say as we start to play. The sound of the guitar, the bass and the drums makes me feel like if I was home. I close my eyes to regulate my breathing and imagine I'm in my room. I smile and begin singing.
When will the princess figure it out she ain't worth saving?
Heavy the head that bears the crown
Of my mistaken, apathy for sympathy
I was never good enough to be anything but a remedy
To all of your constant pressing needs
And I never learned, so
Then, I feel as if all our hearts start to beat together before the chorus. I take a deep breath, jump and land right when I continue singing. I feel as the ground shakes below me.
I painted a picture of the things I wanted most
To color in the darker side of all my brightest hopes
But there's a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings (I'll paint you wings)
Now I'll set you free (I'll set you free)
(Yeah)
I smile while Noah plays the last chords and the song ends. I turn around and hug him, he hugs back. "That was great." I say smiling at everyone. They all nod agreeing with me. We hug it out and then the man that recorded us talks through the speakers.
"That was good guys, maybe a little more effort with the drums. Take two." he says having no chill at all. We all freeze and look at each other. Did we do something wrong? What did Kyle do? We all just take our places back again and start playing the song. If the guy told us we had to do it again, we had to do it again. We play the song seven times which takes about 40 minutes, and then listen to the recordings which takes us another 20 minutes. It is hard to decide which recordings to keep and which ones to delete, but we finally do. After packing the instruments up, we leave in Noah's car and drive to Kyle's house. We stay silent, we really don't know what to say. I guess we all kind of feel scared.
"Can we do it?." Ash asks breaking the silence, "Can we actually win the Talent Show?" I look back. I watch as Kyle looks at her eyes and then grabs her hand supporting her. We're all aware of what might happen if we don't.
"Guys, it's okay. We'll make it." Noah says trying to cheer us up, as always. "We'll send the video, we'll pass the test and we'll debut in Central Park at the TS. We'll become popular and we'll record our album at the studio with the money we earn." Ash and Kyle smile.
"Yeah. Besides, June has a great voice, Ash has god-like skills at the bass, Noah knows how to show off with the guitar and I did very well with the drums." Kyle says agreeing with Noah. I nod and take Ash's other hand.
"We'll win." I say. The atmosphere relaxes and we arrive to Kyle's house. We get off the car and go straight ahead to the living room. Kyle opens the laptop that's resting on top of the table and plugs in the USB the recording guy gave us. The file opens and a video pops up. It's us playing the song. I'm at the front-center, Kyle is at the back with the drums, Ash is at the left, and Noah's at the right. We watch us perform the song and at the end I turn to see their faces. Everyone's smiling, we did a great job and I can tell that they feel proud. "Shall we send it?" I ask and the three turn to look at me. I watch Ash breathing in and out.
"Let's do it." she says looking at Kyle. He nods and opens his mail. Kyle uploads the video attachment and writes the e-mail address at the top. We just stare at it for a few seconds and then see each other. "Ready?" Kyle says to us.
"Ready." Noah, Ash and I reply. We all take a deep breath and I feel as if our hearts start beating together again before sending the e-mail. I watch as the mouse scrolls up to the send button and clicks it. It's sent. I say to myself. Then I look at my friends and we all laugh. "Who wants OJ to celebrate?" Noah says smiling at me. I raise my hand.
...
After celebrating the whole afternoon, Noah drives me home. I let him in and we go upstairs to my room. Emma and Grams are not home yet so I don't really mind having him in my room. "Noah, do you really believe we can make it?" I ask. Noah sits on my bed and he gestured for me to sit beside him. I did. He takes my hands and looks straight at my eyes.
"June, we'll make it." he says. I don't know how Noah does it, but he tends to relax me. "You've got an amazing voice and besides, you totally rocked today." I smile and kiss him lightly on the lips. "I love your kisses." he says whispering. I giggle a little. He's so cheesy it hurts.
"I love your's too." I whisper. Then we keep staring at each other. Time stops and I find myself kissing him again but strongly this time. He wraps me up in his arms so close to each other that I can feel his heartbeat. We keep kissing intensely and he softly places me on bed. I hesitate for a second. "I... Noah..." I say breaking the kiss. "I'm not ready." I continue trying to avoid eye contact. Noah helps me up and we sit at the edge of the bed again.
"It's fine," he says, "as long as you're comfortable." I smile and thank him. Then I kiss his cheek and place my head on his shoulder. I can feel the awkward silence growing stronger. But after a while, it's not so awkward anymore. It turns into a peaceful silence. A moment where I can be with him without interruptions. I don't know if I love him, but I do like him a lot. Maybe time will tell, maybe it won't. I just know that I want to be with Noah.
YOU ARE READING
Strings
RomanceJune always wanted to become a musician, but she didn't have the confidence to begin learning. Noah, on the other hand, has been playing the guitar for ages. One day they meet at a record store, where their paths cross together, maybe forever. A sto...
