Chapter Twenty Five

After we stayed in for a whole day, we we're back out into the world. As much as I wanted, needed, to stay in, I missed the people I could call friends now. We didn't go to Skyline tonight like I expected to go but to a different place. We went to Manafest. It's a live entertainment place. There isn't a lot of people here. Maybe around thirty people, out of the whole city of LA, are here.
    
Since it's a Friday night, it's open mic. Anyone can go up there and there were a lot of them who went on the stage. They were fun to watch. Some sang, others danced and made jokes. It's whatever you want to do.
    
I clap for the guy and girl who sang a love song. They bow and head off the stage. They were really good.
    
Another guy around my age walks onto the stage and cue the DJ. A mix between hip hop and R&B plays as the guy does a dub step. The way he moves his body is amazing but freaky at the same time.
 
He's a good dancer. I wouldn't have be able to move my limbs like that.
   
"That was awesome" Chris says for everyone in our group.
      
"It was but how can you do that?" Teri asks. "It looks unnatural."
        
Chris starts explaining how you have to be flexible and all that to be able to pull it off.
    
Hayes isn't talking to me. He hasn't said one word to me since we got here. I want to ask him what's wrong but he's sitting on the other end of the table, talking to Daire.
     
I try not to let it get to me and have fun tonight but I'm failing. Curiosity is burning within me. Why is he talking to Daire?
     
He's still friends with her. I tell myself. Just because I don't like her doesn't mean he has to stop talking to her.
   
I pry my eyes off him and tune into the conversation.
     
Chris is explaining to Teri and Shawn how he got into his first fight. Gina is rolling her eyes.
    
"That's not what happened" She says, interrupting Chris.
       
"Yes it is." He defends himself. "How would you know you weren't even there."
        
"Because I know you, Chris."She tells him. "You don't fight."
       
They start arguing and Gina finally wins. I don't know how they become a couple in the first place. They argue a lot.
      
"Who picked this place?" I ask Teri. It doesn't seem like a place they would come to on a Friday night.
      
"Hayes" She tells me. "He said something about it being quiet and a nice getaway from the loud music. I agree with him. It's nice."
    
Hayes picked this place? Why? He seemed like the type to party not the type to turn down a crazy night.
       
Before I can respond back, the manager walks onto the stage, demanding everyone's attention.
        
"Listen up" He says. "Our next performer is on the shy side so can we show her some love!"
         
Everyone starts clapping and whistling and cheering for the unknown girl. I was clapping but froze when the stage lands on me.
         
"Everyone give it up for Audrey!"
       
My eyes widen then I scan my table. One of them set me up. Did they all plan this? I land on Teri. She looks innocent but I don't rule her out.
          
"No-" I start but gets cut off.
           
"She's scared." The manager, Rick, says. "Don and Scott bring her on the stage."
     
The two older guys grabs my arms and even though I protest and they had to drag me onto the stage, I still find myself with a mic in my hand. And let me tell you being in the audience is way different than standing in front of one.
    
"Um, hey" I say, nervously.
       
This is the first time I've been on a stage. The only ones I use to sing to was my family and...Hayes.
    
The four steps. He planned this. I told him about my dream of singing on a stage and he's fulfilling it. I don't have to sing but I'm already on the stage and everyone has their eyes on me.
       
"I didn't know I was singing tonight" I tell them, my eyes staring, no glaring, at Hayes. He's smirking. "So bare with me."
     
You can do this, Audrey. I tell myself. It's not even a big crowd.
      
They have a drummer and a pianist. I grab the electric guitar and walk over to the drummer.
      
"Can you give me a hard core beat?" I ask. "I'll follow your lead."
        
"I got you babe." He tells me.
         
I look at the pianist. "I need something soft. I'm going start off acapalla but you'll know when to come in. Don't over think it, just trust in yourself"
   
They nod their heads and I walk to the front of the stage. I grab the mic and the room becomes dead silent.
    
I start off quiet but not because I'm nervous.

High all the time to keep you off my mind Ooo Ooo
High all the time to keep you off my mind Ooo Ooo

Then the music joins in and like I said, I follow the drummer's lead. They come in at the right time. My voice gets a little louder

Staying in my playpretend where the fun ain't got no end
Can't go home alone again need someone to numb the pain ooo

My voice is stronger when I repeat the same verse. The audience watches with awe. I stroke the strings, hard as my voice turns to raspy.

You're gone and I gotta to stay high all the time
To keep you off my mind
Ooo Ooo
High all the time to keep you off my mind
Ooo Ooo

My voice is still raspy but more powerful in the next verse.

Spend my days locked in a haze
Trying to forget you babe
I fall back down
I've gotta stay high
All my life to forget I'm missing you
Ooo Ooo

The drums stops playing and the only instrument left is the piano. I change my voice back to soft.

High all the time to keep you off my mind Ooo Ooo
High all the time to keep you off my mind Ooo Ooo

The drums come back in with it's hard beat and I play the guitar again.

Staying in my playpretend where the fun ain't go no end ooo
Can't go home alone again needs someone to numb the pain

This song would be boring if it kept repeating but I changed up the verses each time. It didn't stay the same tempo throughout the song.

You're gone and I gotta stay high all the time
To keep you off my mind
Ooo Ooo
High all the time to keep you off my mind
Ooo Ooo

I go back to my raspy voice but I hint it with a flare of sexiness.

Spend my days locked in a haze trying forget you babe
I fall back down
I've gotta stay high
All my life to forget I'm missing you
Ooo Ooo

The drums disappears and so does the piano. I'm singing acapalla again.

High all the time to keep you off my mind
Ooo Ooo
High all the time to keep you off my mind
Ooo Ooo

My voice rings out with the last note in the quiet room. Then slowly everyone comes out of their daze and clap for me, loudly.
     
I place the guitar back where I find it and head off the stage.
     
"Damn, Audrey" Chris says when I sit back down. "No wonder you didn't want to sing. Your voice leaves everyone speechless."
    
Yeah let that be the reason why. They don't know why I stopped singing. Better for them to think I have a powerful voice than the real reason.
     
"I told you guys she was mind blowing" Teri says, smiling at me. "You were amazing."
      
"It could've be better." I say. "if I knew I was singing tonight."
    
Hayes doesn't say anything. He just keeps smiling.
      
"But you did good." Gina says. "You sound like you've been practicing on that song for days and not come up with it in two seconds."
     
I shrug. "I felt like I could done more. I mainly just kept repeating myself."
    
"Yeah but it didn't sound that way. You changed it up and added your own style to it." Shawn tells me. "I doubt anyone will go up there after your amazing performance."
    
Shawn's right. No one got up to the open stage. I felt guilty. Like I broke their self esteem. I don't know why my voice has so much power behind it? I don't know how music speaks the way it does to me? I feel emotions no one can come close to feeling through music. I can feel their pain, their love, their grief, their everything. Music is a natural part of me and I realized how much I missed it.
     
"We can leave" Teri says. "Or Audrey can do another incredible performance?"
    
Every eyes lands on me and I can sense they want me to sing again. Even Daire had to admit she wanted me to sing and that was a surprise.
    
"What do you say, Boo" Hayes addresses me for the first time this night. "are you in for another song?"
     
I grin. This is what they wanted after all, time to give it to them. More people crowd into Manafest as I walk back to the stage. This is going to be one exciting night.