18. Anything Can Happen 🎧

I cleared my throat and did a few voice exercises. I flipped open my notebook as I sat on my bed.

Song: "Suga"

Chorus: Suga, suga baby / It's not for me / It's way too sweet / I'm not playin'

I arched my right brow. I haven't sang this song since I wrote it the first day I got here. I forgot the original melody of it. Let me sing something else I wrote. Maybe, it'll come back to me later. I flipped the page.

Song: "Choose"

Chorus: Don't make me choose / I played this game before / I don't want to play anymore / I don't want to lose / You do something to me / You mean something to me

I scratched my head. Between the hour of the morning and the range of my vocals, I was expecting better. I'm not feeling anything. Did I write these songs? Let's try another one. I flipped another page in my notebook.

Song: "Forever"

Chorus: Day / Night / Long / Forever / I love you / Every day / Every night / I'll love you forever

Ugh! I quickly flipped the pages in my notebook. I'd written a total of seven songs. These seven songs sounded nothing like the songs I would write back at home. Did someone take my writing ability and switch it with someone else's? The songs  I wrote were: 1. Suga, 2. Choose, 3. Forever, 4. Again, 5. Mystery, 6. Keeper, 7. Dreams. Yep, I'm going to need some assistance in the writing department.

After retiring from my singing session, I made my way to the kitchen. Now that I know my way around the house, I was able to time how long it would take me to get to the kitchen from my bedroom with no problem.

I turned the corner and smiled when I saw Brigette. "Good morning, Bridgette!"

"Good morning, Jamie! I'm starting to think you only come to the kitchen when I'm down here." Bridgette handed me a glass of orange juice.

I agree. "Thank you! I just needed to stretch my legs." I took a seat at the dining table.

Bridgette folded her arms. "You came all the way down here to stretch? Uh-huh. You're worse than Mr. Polite. He once said he dropped his keys outside when I found him looking at the cars in the garage."

I smirked, "In his defense, the garage is technically outside of the house."

Bridgette gasped before laughing. "You are just like him!"

"Just like who?" Warren walked over to us.

Bridgette told him what we were talking about.

Warren raised his hand, and I gave him a high five.

"I'm gonna start calling y'all 'Like Father, Like Daughter,'" Bridgette pointed at us. Then, her phone rang. Seconds later, she waved at us before leaving the kitchen.

Warren asked me, "How have you been making it around here?"

"A lot better, but I'm so ready to rec-" I rubbed my throat. "Excuse me." I took a sip of my orange juice. "Something got caught in my throat, but I'm just ready to revisit some of LA." I had to pat myself on the back for that one. No one but Zeke should know why I'm really here.

Warren folded his arms. "I understand. If my memory serves me correctly, Zeke returns today."

"He does," I smiled brightly.

"It was good to see you, Miss Jamie. If you need me, call me. I'll be in my favorite space taking a break for a few minutes."

"The garage?" I took my last sip of orange juice.

Warren pointed at me with both hands. "Exactly. I'm sure you've found your favorite space."

I nodded my head as he walked away. My room is definitely my favorite space. At the sound of people talking, I left the kitchen and went to the foyer.

Jaylei was talking to Zeke while their bags were being brought in. I narrowed my eyes at the brand names on the shopping bags. Did they not need luggage for all the days they were gone?

Jaylei patted Zeke on the back. "Keep your phone on."

"Bet." Zeke's eyes were glued to his phone.

"I'll see you on Friday. Bye!" Jaylei walked out the front door.

"Look who's finally back," I stated.

Zeke looked up from his phone. "East Grove!"

I slightly tilted my head. "Jamie," I whispered.

"No, I wasn't calling you East Grove..." Zeke finally put his phone away. Then, he walked over to me. He spread out his arms, and I fell into him. We embraced. "I went to East Grove and bought some property next to a college."

I know all about it, because of my cousin's big mouth. I'm ready to record music.

Zeke took a stepped back. My thoughts were probably displayed all over my face. "How you doing, Jae?"

"I'm good. Are we going to... record," I whispered.

Zeke quickly grabbed my hand. "I told you when I come back, it's me and you. Give me one hour, and I'll call for you." He pinched my chin.

All the butterflies in my stomach were dancing. I waved at Zeke as he disappeared down the hall. I went back to the kitchen to find a plate of breakfast. Bridgette is amazing! I sat down to eat. After getting full, I made my way back to my room. I wasn't even there when I heard...

"You not lost, are you?" Zack stood in front of me.

"No." I pointed to my head. "I have it all memorized."

"Good for you. Ready for your next challenge?"

My brows merged as I looked at him.

Zack licked his hips. "The other day... when you told me you were a fan, I got inspired. So, I wrote a song, but I'm stuck on the hook. I was wondering if you'd be interested in giving me feedback from a fan's perspective."

My eyes lit up like fireworks. Finally! Something I would enjoy doing. "Yeah!" Calm down, Jamie. That was too fast with too much excitement.

Zack grinned, "You got time, right now?"

"Yeah." That was better.

Zack put his arm around my neck. "I knew you wouldn't let me down."

If uneasy was an emoji; it would be the one with a stoic expression, showing all the teeth. 😬Yeah. That one! Remember the little girl meme? "Chloe, we're going to Disneyland." That's the perfect face, right there.

Zack continued to talk as did my thoughts. I may be a fan of his music, but I'm no groupie. Oh, my goodness - I haven't used that word in years.

Truth is, Zack reminded me of every f-boy I came across from high school to college, and too many as an adult. I don't have time for the games. Therefore, if he moves to the right, I'll move to the left. If he jumps, I'll squat. If he tries to Save the Last Dance, I'll have no problem giving him the iconic line "'cause tonight, you suckas got served." I may have some insecurities, but I'm no fool. I refuse to be son'd or in You Got Served case - Sonny'd.

We walked upstairs to Zack's third floor, and everything looked the same from the sofas to the darts game on the wall. I started to walk over to the bar to take a seat, but Zack tapped my shoulder. "The studio is back here." Zack walked down the hall before disappearing into a room.

I swallowed all my saliva. I need another cup of orange juice. I followed him with preparations to run. The room was a small yet fancy recording studio. Zack sat in a black leather chair in front of the workstation.

"Take a seat." He pointed to the black leather chair next to him.

I did as told.

Zack reached down to open a minifridge that was on the floor next to him. "Thirsty?"

"I'll take water." I saw the juice, but I'd rather drink the ones from the kitchen.

Zack grabbed a cold bottle of water. "Here you go."

"Thanks." I immediately opened it and took two full gulps of it.

Zack began messing with the audio equipment in front of him. Then, he began playing the keyboard. Out of nowhere, more instruments joined in. I started looking around for the mystery band, but it was all him on the keyboard. He was playing like Bethoven.

The bass came in and he began to rap. After the first bar, I was all in ready to "whoop that trick!" Then, I remembered it was just me and Zack. So, I kept it to a head bop.

Zack went into the bridge, "They don't make 'em like that anymore, showroom floor, such a beauty is to me. I thought I missed out, no cap, no shout, this one keeps it clean, the perfect body Audi, luxury, yeah she more than a fan, got me like quicksand..."

When I thought the song was over, he continued to play the keyboard even after all the other instruments stopped. Then, he looked at me and smiled. "That's it." He took his hands off the keys. "What you think?" He asked me.

I slowly nodded my head. "I like it... I'll be the first one to buy it." I just had to say the first thing that came to my mind.

"Do you really like it or you just saying that, because I'm Rival?"

"I'm telling you the truth." I really do like it, but I rather be the one singing.

Zack held his hand out to me.

I stared at it.

"Take my hand," he told me.

"Okay," I did.

He got up and I followed him. He opened a door behind me and turned on the lights. From the padded walls to the centered microphone, my heart was just as confused as my brain. It felt like a setup, but my zeal from what my eyes could see was clouding my judgement.

Zack walked me over to the microphone. He released my hand and placed the headphones over my ears.

I protested, "Oh, no! I can't do this."

"Yes, you can. Just imagine you're in your room, writing in your notebook."

"Zack, I'm not a singer." Lies!

"I'll be right outside the door. You'll be able to hear me." He walked out the booth and closed the door.

"Zack!" I called.

"Jamie, can you hear me?"

I adjusted the headphones on my ears. "Y-yeah."

"This is just for fun. Repeat after me... oooohhh, ohhhh, youuuu-oohhhh."

He didn't sound too bad. I smiled before twisting my lips. "Oo-ohhh-woooo, youuuu-woooo," I repeated what I heard.

"One more time," Zac coached me, "But please sing it for real."

I closed my eyes. "Ooohhhh-ohhhh, ya-oohhhh."

The door busted opened. "I knew it!" Zack pointed at me.

Did it get hot in here or did I get caught? Guilt was written all over my face.

"I knew you had it in you, Jamie. I knew you could do it. Tell me was that hard?" Zack walked over to me and took the headphones off my head. He took my hand and brought me back to the studio. "Listen to this."

He played my voice. It sounded like, like a...

"Opera. You have a little bit of a classic sound. It's beautiful. You should sing for my brother. He says he doesn't like music, but I bet you can prove him wrong." Zack winked at me.

"Can you play it one more time?" I asked him.

Zack said, "I got you. Anything you want."

I was hearing my voice in a recording studio for the first time. Although I wish it would've been in Zeke's studio, this was technically Zeke's family's house, I was happy to hear my voice. Like how cool is that?

"Do you want to go back in and record more?" Zack asked me.

I slightly smiled at him. His eyes were focused on me. "Umm..." I took a deep breath.