Chapter Nine

The aggressive wind blows down the street and sends my hair whirling through their air in a tangled mess. As I try to fight it into a ponytail, I hear someone calling my name.

"Lola, wait for me," someone shouts from across the street.

I indirectly stop to check whose yelling. It can't be for me, I don't have many friends here. But as I see the culprit step into the middle of the bustling street, I notice its Kol. He runs across the road with large plastic bags in either hand.

"What the heck are you doing?" I call out.

"I have a present for you." He huffs. "I bought recording equipment with my savings from working at Cuddles," he begins to explain.

"You can't give me a gift." I shake my head. "And I know recording equipment is expensive, so I'd feel better if I gave you money for the equipment," I say.

"No, Lola, it's a gift, so take it." He frowns. "I believe in your music, so this is me showing you it." Kol shoves the bags into my hands, then crosses his arms over his chest.

"I really can't." I bite my lip nervously.

"I won't take it back, Lola. It'll sit in my apartment and it'll be a waste." Kol's stern voice makes me submit to accepting the gift. I feel bad about accepting expensive equipment, but I'd feel horrid if it went to waste.

"Thank you for the gift, Kol." I half-smile.

"I thought we could record a song, maybe sell it on iTunes?" he offers.

"Why would we do that?" I laugh.

"Because I want to help you achieve your dreams, Lola," he responds.

"I don't think this is a good idea," I say as we walk inside the building.

"I will believe for the both of us then." Kol and I walk upstairs and into my apartment. We go straight to the kitchen and place the bags on the table. We go through and unpack the microphone, half reading the instructions as we go.

I leave Kol to set up the microphone to my laptop while I freshen up from a long day of work. When I return, Kol has the microphone and a camera set up in the kitchen.

"What is the camera for?" I ask.

"The music video to accompany the song," he casually replies.

"So we're also making a music video, hm, when did we discuss any of this?" Recording a song, sure, that sounds fun. Selling it on iTunes, perhaps that's a little exciting... but a music video? That's humiliating. I don't suit the likes of a camera, which could be another reason Jason dropped me from his imprint. I'd never cut it in the music industry. Kol has just wasted all of his money on me.

"Come on, Lola, it's going to be fun. What song do you want to record?" he asks.

"Do I get a choice?"

"I was thinking of an acoustic, something exciting, though," he suggests.

"Yup, there it is. Kol, you're being so demanding right now." I fold my arms over my chest and pout.

"Someone needs to get your lazy butt into gear," he retorts.

"Well, you have a point. It would be nice to prove Jason wrong." I chuckle evilly.

"It's set, let's start recording." Kol forces me behind the microphone and waits impatiently for me to start singing.

"I can't just start singing like that... I need to warm up and practice what I'm going to sing."

"Lola, you're making a lot of excuses. Sing with your heart and not with your head."

"Fine." I glare. "I have a backing track to a song, we can do that," I suggest.

"Sure." He nods his head.

I wander back into my bedroom and grab my iPod and earphones before walking into the kitchen. I slip in the earbuds and play the backing track. I give Kol a thumbs up, which allows him to hit record. I get myself ready and start singing along to the music.

I find it hard to shut off my brain, and even harder to open my heart.

"I never want today to end," I sing. "It's a piece of you I want forever."

"Stop," says Kol.

"What's wrong?"

"I see the fire in your eyes, Lola, it's begging you to let it out," explains Kol. "So let it go, let me hear the anger in your heart."

"You want to hear anger, I'll give it to you." I don't want to disappoint, so I try even harder. I'm going to prove them wrong – I can do this! Shutting off my mind, I open my heart and start with a new track, the one that burns my heart.

The angry thump of a pre-remixed turn pulses into my ears as I let go. The feelings of humiliation, hurt, anger and the desire to be better consume me completely.

"You left your handprint on my heart, just like I knew you would," I sing.

A bright smile appears on Kol's face as he gives me a silent thumbs up. Taking his approval into the mix of emotions soaring through my body, I continue singing.

"I was stupid enough to believe you really would be there. But I'm taking you down, down, tonight...." The music builds up and I jump back into the song. "I'm going to make you pay for everything you've done, done. You're not getting out alive, alive."

I smile into the song as I watch Kol rocking out to my vocals. I get to the end of the song and I feel the ache in my best starting to leave like the song is sucking it away.

"And I watched you fade into the darkness, begging me to complete you. But I won't, not again, don't think about it. I've made it on my own." As I finish singing the last note, Kol stops the recording and gives me a thumbs up.

I walk around the bench and open up the music file so that Kol can listen to the tune blended together.

"Was it good, should I re-do it?" I ask once he's finished listening.

"I'm going to change some parts to the track, but I think it's perfect," he explains.

"In just one take?" I smile.

"I'm going to crop and replace the end section, but otherwise, perfect."

"Thanks, Kol." I beam.

"No worries, Lola."

"I'll make dinner and you can edit the song?"

"Sure." Kol packs up the equipment and moves to the chair. I pull out pots, pans and food for dinner. I cook up a pasta with a Bolognese sauce to go with it. I even add some fresh herbs from the indoor garden I'm growing.

When dinner is prepared, I serve it up and place it on the counter. Kol brings my laptop over and plays the song for me as we eat. I can't believe it's really me singing alongside the newly edited track. It sounds amazing, and it's all thanks to Kol.

"Are you happy with it?" he asks.

"Yes, I love it."

"All you need to do is..." Kol slides the computer around and points towards a button on the screen. "Click that button and it'll be available on iTunes to be downloaded," he explains.

Without giving it a second thought, I hit the button and smile. I can't believe I've done it. I've recorded my first song and I didn't need the help of Jason to do it.

"What's next?" I smile.

"Dinner and then a short video to advertise your song," he explains.

I'm so excited, I gobble down dinner within record speed. There's nothing like the present to go and get your dreams... I want to take advantage of that time and stop wasting it. Kol and I discuss ideas for the thirty-second clip. It's hard to figure out what I want since it's an impactful song that doesn't have a lot of visual meaning.

Kol and I finally decided to film in the hallway. I'm slightly embarrassed at the thought of my neighbours walking out and seeing it, but it's exhilarating at the same time. I dress up in a pair of black jeans, a white shirt and some thick make-up which gives me an olden bad girl look.

Biting my lip, I suck up my doubts and walk into the hallway. It's late at night, so most of my neighbours are probably sleeping. Kol sets up the camera and we start with me posing against the wall. I move my arms around, flick my hair and briefly mouth a few lyrics.

I look ridiculous, but I keep going. Kol eggs me on, so I get into it even more. I lay on the ground and he hovers above me with the camera. I mouth the chorus before reaching up to the camera lens. Once we're done, we take a few shots with me walk in and out of the apartment for the opening and ending of the teaser clip.

I'm exceptionally happy when I walk into the apartment without anyone capturing what we've done. I leave Kol to play around with the footage while I wash off the make-up and change into my own clothing.

When I return, Kol is on the couch, still messing around with the footage.

"I'm getting tired, Kol," I announce.

"Come cuddle with me then."

"How much is it going to cost me?" I tease.

"It's on the house." He winks.

I set up a movie and plop on the couch. I snuggle against the side of his leg and watch the movie while Kol continues to play around with the computer. He's nowhere near done when I fall asleep aside him again.

Kol has done so much for me already, and I have no idea how to repay him for his kindness. The art of money would never be enough gratitude to thank him for helping me to take my dreams in my hands. Someday, I'd find Kol's dreams and I'd help him achieve it... whatever those costs might be.

Question of the chapter: Have you taken the leap and followed your dreams like Lola?

Don't want to answer the question...? Then just appreciate the pretty flowers.