"so this is your studio?" i asked as i looked around.

"yep." he said as he flopped on the chair that overlooks the booth. "get in there and sing your heart out." he said as he held his hand out for my laptop. i handed him the laptop. "let's run the one titled...'numb'." dominic said as he eyed the eight different songs.

i nervously stepped into the booth and picked up the mic, the song started to play and that was all...my confidence took over. i started to sing and put in everything i had. i belted out each lyric with such emotion, and when the song ended i was out of breath but very proud. i stepped outside of the booth and looked at him expectantly.

he was watching me the entire time, a huge smile spread over his lips. he rushed towards me and pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly. "god damn, you're such an amazing singer. that was beautiful." he said with genuine sincerity, i could tell he was really impressed. his voice got lower. "your voice was literally perfection...god, i'm so proud of you right now."

i smiled and laughed softly. "thank you...thank you."

he squeezed me even tighter against him, burying his face into my neck. "you have no idea how incredible you are." i laughed against his neck, closing my eye and enjoying the moment. he broke away from the hug and walked around me slowly, taking me in. after examining me up and down, he smiled again. he stepped close enough to me that his chest was touching mine, and i instinctively wrapped my arms around his waist. he sighed and pulled me into him again.

"i say you just drop this song, make it a single...see how it does, then drop the album following it." dominic said as he pulled away.

his suggestion sent my heart skipping a beat. could i really make this song my debut? it would mean the world to me. "do you really think that could work?" i asked him hopefully. "that my single could make a name for me and then i could drop the album and follow it?" i couldn't believe how easy he made it sound.

he nodded. "for sure...you're already getting some spotlight from solana's song, i think it'll be really beneficial for you to do it that way. and now we've already recorded the vocals, all you have to do is edit it somehow."

his suggestion made so much sense, although this meant that i would be dropping the song out of nowhere. but if it meant getting the spotlight i so desperately wanted, i'd do it. "how will we get people to hear the song though?" i ask him earnestly. "how will the public even listen to it?"

he smiled. "social media." he said with certainty. "once we edit it just the way you want it and make sure you're 100% happy with the sound, we'll drop the song on every streaming service, make sure you have it on your youtube, spotify, tidal, apple music, everywhere. you'll blow up in no time, you're halfway there...look, as long as the song is good enough, and you know damn well it is, you'll be the next face of rnb music." he said nonchalantly.

"you make it sound so easy." i said with a sigh.

"because it is, all you have to do is edit it and then drop it...then you promote it, then the hype will come automatically." he said with a shrug.

the plan was so simple. edit the song, drop it on every platform, and watch the momentum build. but it was so much more to me than that, this was the next chapter of my life starting to be written, and with him by my side, it was going to be perfect. "and after that, album right?" i asked after a beat.

"yep" he paused before continuing, "and by then i bet you'll be signed."

his words were like music to my ears and the idea of being signed to a major label filled me with so much happiness. my heart was racing, this was the future i've been wanting for so long. "what if it doesn't work though?" i asked him, trying to be realistic about the situation. "what if my single just ends up being ignored by the public and i'm not signed?"

"don't say that, 'laine...you know that won't happen, especially if i'm by your side."

my heartbeat slowed down and i grinned softly. "you'll be by my side?" i asked in a hushed tone. "through it all?"

he nodded. "absolutely." he smiled and motioned towards the empty chair next to him. "cmon let's edit this, i want you to drop this song by tomorrow."

his words brought another warm smile on my face. i nodded and walked over to the seat next to him. he opened a file on his computer and began to import the audio track from the booth. we sat together in silence for a couple minutes, my eyes focused on him the whole time. he looked incredible in this light, his jaw looked even sharper and more defined.

time passed between us as we stayed at the studio, editing one single song and by the time we were finished the clock read 12am.

"i never wanna be a producer." dominic said as he got up from the chair to stretch.

i smiled, we had been working on the song for hours and it felt like no time had gone by at all. "why not, you're really talented at it." i said with a chuckle but he rolled his eyes and smirked and then walked over towards me.

"how about you send this song off, and see if it gets approved, which i know it will...and then boom it'll be up on spotify and apple music and any other streaming platform." he said.

"you're probably right." i nodded, "let's upload it then.." and without another word, i sent the song to be submitted for approval.

moments later i got an email back, the song was approved. i smiled as i read the email and looked over at him. "it's approved, we can upload it to everywhere." i showed him the email.

"wow that was fast...usually it takes a little longer." he smiled at me. "oh wait, an album cover."

"oh right, we need artwork for it." i glanced over at him, eager to hear any suggestions he may have. "what do you think we should do for the cover?"

"be the artwork...make the album cover yourself, use an old photo or take one really fast." he said with a shrug.

"i have this old photo from a couple months ago...my friend, zoë was in this photography phase, and made me act as her model for these photos..." i explained as i scrolled through my phone looking for the photo.

"show me, let's see if it works." he leaned forward and looked at my phone screen as i navigated my photos, there were plenty of selfies and group photos, it took a bit before i found what i was looking for.

"here this is it" i said as i showed him the photo.

his face lit up as he saw the photo. "this is perfect, i think this would work really well as the cover art."

i smiled as i looked at the photo and i nodded, now conducting the drop.

~~

SPOTIFY

numb
elaine
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0:00 3:02

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elainehooks hi lovelies, i just dropped my first ever single, 'numb.' it's now out on every listening platform. written by me, beats by me, with the help of @dominicfike. enjoy!!

view all 2,452 comments

user1 your ear for making lyrics, sounds & vibes melt together so seamlessly is very needed very important to music
⤷ elainehooks omg 🥹🥹 my heart is so full 💕!

user2 on repeat

sza love it 👏🏾

_shayelrod okayyyy

user3 no you did not 😩 YESSS

zoe.barlow you're so talented
⤷ elainehooks ok so i actually love you

user4 why'd dominic fike help with it ughhh

~~

"thanks again." i said to dominic as he pulled into my driveway. "for helping with the drop, for taking me out...the whole shebang."

"anytime, my girl. i'm always here for you." he gave me a soft kiss before i got out of his car. i was still on cloud nine from how well the evening went and the song coming out. "see you later." he said softly.

"see ya" i said back, now getting out of his car. dominic waited for me to get inside before driving off.

inside, the house was dead silent and it was pretty dark. i guessed that shay was out and maybe raelynn was out with steve or some guy. zoë was probably locked in her room studying and i had no clue as to where anaya was.

i walked up into my room and immediately walked into the connected bathroom, taking a hot shower. the hot water was so calming and felt great, after a few minutes in the shower i stepped out and dried myself off, i applied lotion before getting dressed into my pajamas. as soon as i hit the bed, i fell fast asleep.

~~

a/n

hi beauties, just to give you all some perspective on the kind of music that i have envisioned for elaine, listen to the album, 'no rain, no flowers' by sabrina claudio. anything by sabrina is the kind of music that i have envisioned for elaine, but you're more than welcome to think of it in your own way! and i am aware that sabrina isn't the best person, but she's the artist that came to mind when writing this story.

hope you're all enjoying, if you have any ideas for this story don't hesitate to let me know. 💞💞