。·:*:·ﾟ☆。Johnny:
After the way Mackenzie stood up for me today, I couldn't help but feel gratitude. No one's ever did something like that for me before. I decide to wait for her after detention, so can walk home together.
I was waiting patiently, when I saw Mackenzie walking out the building on her phone. She seems kind of stressed out right now. She catches my eye and I couldn't help but smile, something I've done a lot of lately. Finally she hangs up the phone, and makes her way over to me.
We started walking home, and the memory of Kenzie and Marks' fight pops into my head. I chuckle at the thought of her throwing a chair at him; it was pretty badass. She caught on to my smile, and began asking me questions. When she asked me how long it's been since I've talked, I held up seven fingers.
When she finally guessed seven years correctly, she squeaked in surprise startling me a little. She apologized, but the way she apologized made my heart flutter. The way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and how she smiled nervously, her cheeks tinting red.
I held my fist out for her, and she bumped it back. And suddenly, I did something without even thinking. Without controlling it. It came freely.
And you know what I did?
I spoke.
。·:*:·ﾟ☆。Mackenzie:
He spoke. He just said something. With his lips! With his words! My heart fluttered at the sound of his beautiful voice. Sure he only said one word, but you know what is was? Friends. It means he trusts me.
He trusts me
"Y-Yeah, um, friends." I stuttered
Johnny grasps his throat in surprise, and looks down embarrassed. I touch his arm gently.
"Your voice is really nice." I complemented
Oh god. That's such a weird thing to say, isn't it?
I begin to internally beat myself up, but he responds.
"You know, you're my only friend."
"Great!"
Great?
"Um, I mean that in a good way, like yay we're friends, um..."
"It's okay," he says, interrupting my rambling.
When we arrive at our houses, I hear a phone ringing. I look over to see Johnny pick it up and answer it. Clearly tense and nervous now that he's talking again. It was pretty quiet, probably because he didn't want anyone to hear. I wait until Johnny finishes his phone call, and then he turns to me.
"Mackenzie?" I've never heard him say my name out loud. I like it.
"Yeah?" I respond.
"Wanna take a trip with me?"
I furrowed my brow, a little unsure of what he meant, and he noticed my confusion. Taking my hand, he lead me down the street on to the opposite direction. On a famous street in our city, Rodeo Drive.
It brings me back to the days where my sister and I would visit here during dance competitions and shop.
"We're here," Johnny says, stopping abruptly.
I look up to see a huge building and realize it's a record label's studio.
"Is this where you sing, Johnny?" I turn to him and see him sheepishly rub his arm. "Yeah."
We enter the building and meet with a famous producer, Johnny's apparently, named Tony Moran.
"Hey Johnny! And guest?"
"This is my friend, Mackenzie Ziegler," Johnny says perfectly. I bet he's talked to Tony before.
"Hi, I'm Kenzie," I say, stretching out my hand for him to shake.
"Oh, your sister is the dancer Maddie Ziegler, right?" He asked smiling.
"Yeah," I say. Of course he recognized Maddie. She is famous after all.
"Alright, John, ready?"
"Yes, but I have a duet I'd like to sing with Kenz. She's really great. Can she sing with me?" I blush at John's words. I sung to him once in class, I didn't think he would like my voice. Am I even that good?
"Really?" I ask him.
"Yeah," he whispers, blushing in return.
"That'd be great, especially for business!" Tony says. We make our way into a studio labeled Studio C and it looked incredible. Filled with gadgets and instruments, really professional.
I couldn't believe I was here. And with Johnny. Wait, with Johnny? Has he done this before?
"Wait, hold up, you're an actual singer?!"
"Have you ever heard of Juan?"
"Oh my god! You're Juan?" Johnny smiles and nods his head.
"Wow, you're like my idol!" He chuckles
"Thank you, but I'm not just your idol, I'm your friend." I blush, as does he, and we're soon interrupted by Tony.
"Alright John, we'll start with your song. Let's go!"
。·:*:·ﾟ☆。Johnny:
I was getting my headphones and microphone set up inside the booth, ready to pour my heart and soul into the song. I've never recorded or sung in front of anyone but Tony, so I was a little nervous for Kenzie to hear me. And not just through my bedroom window.
I sing a song I wrote in my room one day called "Missing You" and I get it done in just a few takes. I walk out the booth to see Kenzie's jaw hanging in utter amazement.
I walk up to her smiling at her cute little reaction. She soon embraces me into a tight hug, and says something surprisng.
"I really love you."
I look down at her in shock, but she quickly blushes, realizing what she just said.
"I-I mean I love your voice a-and music."
I giggle nervously at respond with a simple, "Thank you."
"Alright Kenzie, we're ready for you!" Tony calls from his chair.
I see her swallow hard and stutter, "O-Okay."
"Don't be nervous Kenz, you've got this," I tell her. She looks at me and relaxes a bit. She nods and makes her way into the booth.
Little did I know, that she had a small flash drive all along with a beat she pulled together on GarageBand. The song, "Breathe" My favorite.
When she finishes her song, it's my turn to be in awe. It was flawless. She's a natural. She exits the booth, embarrassed.
"H-How was it?"
My eyes widen. "Incredible!"
She smiles shyly and responds with a quiet, "Thank you."
"You know kids, my boss loves the song and would like you to make a music video," Tony says to Kenzie. "We have the equipment all set up, what do you say?"
Kenzie instantly gushes and responds with a positive yes.
...
The end of shooting comes finally, and watching her sing and dance freely was mesmerizing. She's been born a star. Just like her sister. But personally, to me, better.
"The video will be out tomorrow, Tony says," I tell Kenzie when she meets up with me.
Our phones suddenly ding and we get a notification from youtube, the video was already posted!
"3,000 views already?!" Kenzie squealed.
"You deserve it," I tell her. "You're beautiful and talented."
When we make it home, we walk up to out houses and exchange goodbyes. I walk into my house and my family's doing what they always do at this time. My moms making dinner, Lauren's on her computer, Maddie's gossiping on her phone, Dad's studying, and Darian's playing her Ps4. I walk in and close the door.
"Hey, hon, where've you been?" My mother asks.
I shrug my shoulders in response. I just started talking for the first time in a long time today, I'm not ready just yet.
"Okay, well, freshen up please, dinner's almost ready."
I simply nod and make my way upstairs. When I enter the bathroom, I find Lauren at the sink, looking at her phone. She must have just washed her hands. Lauren notices my presence and immediately squeals, "John! Have you seen this new singer?"
I only shake my head, though I think I have an idea of who she's talking about.
"Look!"
Lauren shows me the music video that Mackenzie had recorded today. Even though I was there when it recorded, I couldn't seem to take my eyes off her. I could watch her forever.
"And apparently she goes to our school! I've seen her around. In fact, I've seen her sitting with you, John!"
I throw my hands up in surrender as a joke, and she rolls her eyes. "Introduce me to her tomorrow, K?"
I stare at her, not really knowing how to react, but she takes it as a yes and kisses my cheek. "Thanks! Love ya!"