19. What Dreams are Made of 🌎

After telling Zack that his brother was back, he walked me to the stairs. He asked me not to mention our "music affair" to Zeke. Interesting choice of words, because having an affair is not at all on my agenda. I gladly left his presence and skipped down the stairs to the hall where my room was located.

"Where are you coming from?"

I turned around to see Zeke behind me. I could ask him the same thing.

"Umm, exploring... trying not to get lost around here."

Zeke chuckled, "My fault. I should've taken you on a tour before I left."

"Don't worry about it. I know every major hall and room, now." I skipped to my bedroom door and opened it. Zeke followed me inside. "And how was your trip across America?" I asked him.

Zeke walked over to my chair in the corner and took a seat. "Trip across America?"

"It felt like you were traveling across the country without me," I admitted.

"After we release your music, that's how it'll be for you, but my business trips were all successful. My new talent show has a name. It's called The Power House."

"HA-" It slipped. I covered my mouth.

Zeke said, "Laugh all you want. Almost 100,000 people have auditioned to be on the show. That includes you." He pointed at me.

I walked over to Zeke and took off his sunglasses. "Do you ever not wear these?" I tried them on. Then, I ran over to the full length mirror near the closet to see how they looked on me.

"Honestly, I forgot I was wearing them. It's out of habit," he admitted. "Let's talk about you, though. It's been three days. I'm sure you have some questions for me."

I arched my brow. He either had cameras in my room or in my brain. "I do." I leaped onto my bed. "Why do y'all have a fake secret garden? Then, there's this animal figure in the center of the maze. I don't get it."

Zeke rubbed his hands together. "I meant questions about music, Jamie."

I took off his sunglasses and handed them back to him. "Well, I'm ready to record. I've written seven songs so far."

Zeke hung his sunglasses on the collar of his shirt. "What are they about?"

I took a deep breath. "That's my problem. I've been writing since I got here, but I'm not too happy with them, because they all sound the same. It's love song after love song after love song. It's like listening to Sade sing "Your Love is King" 10 times in a row."

"That's not a bad thing," Zeke continued, "We can work on the melodies and the pacing, but I won't touch your lyrics. That's your part."

"Zeke, I'm not a professional. I thought you were going to help me."

Zeke smiled, "I never said I was a songwriter."

I agreed, "That's right. You write movies and stuff."

Zeke licked his lips. "Sing one of your songs."

I took a deep breath and the song that came to my mind was "Mystery." I closed my eyes before singing the words.

Song: "Mystery" Verse: I'll tell you a little something about this mystery man / he's always there for me, and does the best that he can / and yeah, he may not be a mystery to me / but no one else knows he's everything I need

I opened my eyes. "That's the first verse."

Zeke shook his head, "Who is the mystery man?"

"A guy that she cares about."

"Who is she? I thought you were writing the songs."

My head tilted so fast, I almost broke my neck. "She can be anyone that listens to the song."

"No. She needs to be you. This is your story. Tell it as if you were experiencing it. Why is this man a mystery? Do you want to talk about a mystery or a man? Why are you singing about something you don't even want to experience?" Zeke questioned me.

I rolled my eyes. Why was he questioning every-little-thing about this one song? We haven't even recorded, yet. "It's how I was feeling after you told me you would take care of everything by helping me with my dream."

"Am I the mystery man?"

"You were!" The attitude was all in my voice.

Zeke hushed me. "This conversation is supposed to be in secret. Not for the entire house."

I folded my arms. "Sor-ry."

"You are passionate about writing and singing. That's a good thing, but you need to have that same energy when it comes to telling the story in the song," Zeke stood up. "If I'm no longer a mystery to you. Then, what's the point of the song? Or is there another man involved?"

"Me cheat on you? Never!" I playfully overreacted.

"We're in this fake relationship for life." I used my two fingers to point to my eyes and his eyes.

Zeke stated, "Instead of saying you want to tell the listener about the mystery man. Say all that without saying 'mystery man,' and when you get to the chorus say 'mystery man.'"

I thought about what he said before rewriting the lyrics in my head. Then I sang it out loud.

Song: "Mystery" Verse: I got something tell you / something too good to be true/ I found someone who is there for me, and / everything they do is the best for me, and /  yeah, it used to confuse me / but now I got everything that I need  Chorus: I fell in love, I fell in love with this mystery man /  Didn't know I could love like this, again / This is no longer a dream to me/ It's like living in a fantasy

I didn't realize I was still singing until Zeke put his fingers on my lips. "That's it. You felt that when you sang it. I heard it, and I believed it. Now, let's go record it." He walked over to my door.

"Sir, did you wash your hands?" I wiped my lips with the back of my hands.

"My hands are cleaner than yours," he joked.

I tightened my lips before I followed him from my room to his room. Then, we went up to his studio. The fact that I just left Zack's studio to end up in Zeke's studio was a little funny, but I promised Zack that I wouldn't mention our session just like I promised Zeke that I wouldn't mention our real relationship - artist and producer. Or is it artist and manager? I think Zeke would actually be the A&R in this situation. Whatever! I'm still learning. Wait, am I the mystery?

After three hours in with two songs complete, Zeke pointed at me. "I'm starting to think you lied to me."

"About what?" I stood in the booth, smiling.

"You said you never been in a booth before, but you just recorded two songs like a professional. You might be pretending." Zeke rubbed his hands together.

I knew he was joking - somewhat, but I had to throw a jab. "Just like you pretending to be my boyfriend when it's clear you have a crush on me." I stared in his eyes, trying hard not to blink. Not even a second later, I blinked and laughter escaped my mouth.

Zeke joined in, "You almost had me. You sure you don't want to be an actress?"

I clapped my hands. "Hey! I came here to sing. Don't play with me, Zeke."

He held his hands up. "I got you... You know I like this side of you. Bring out more of that personality."

I smirked. He was trying to make me blush, but I was going to fight off every compliment even if it was nice to hear.

"Let's work to the next song called 'Choose.'" Zeke told me.

"Okay." I adjusted the headphones on my head.

As I waited for Zeke to play the beat, and yes he had a ton of them, I couldn't help but feel like I was living in a dream. Just last week, I was back home in East Grove, working a job that I was probably going to retire from without a 401k and without benefits. I can't believe I was settling. Now, look! Zeke Rivers is my dream turned into reality. Please, don't wake me up.