Paper Heart - Bradley Will Simpson

Chapter 6.

            The break time had passed, and, around four o'clock, the girls heard knocking at their door, so they took their things and went out. The boys were waiting for them in the corridor and the group headed for the exit of the hotel. The recording studio was only a few blocks from the hotel, so the young people walked to it. The French girls were surprised to see the boys wearing sunglasses and hoods over their heads when the sky was overcast and the atmosphere very heavy. Apparently, they were trying to conceal their identity in order to go incognito through the streets of London. The young women were going to have to get used to be around celebrities and perhaps also to become celebrities...

            The studio was located in an old but tastefully renovated building. It consisted of a meeting room, a recording area, a mixing room, an administrative and storage area and above all a huge room full of instruments, sofas, armchairs, footstools and other seating called the "writing room". This playful space also had a balcony filled with plants that offered a breath of greenery and fresh air in the centre of the capital. Everything was done to inspire and the Faith felt immediately at ease.

"Do you like it? asked James.

- This place is incredible! Laura replied, dropping herself on one of the footstools.

- I can't wait to work! Alexandra added, rushing to try out the different guitars in the room."

            Her youngest sister joined her to test the magnificent grand piano while Chloé walked to the balcony. She had always had a predilection for outdoor spaces filled with greenery and she already felt that this small space would be her haven for writing. She was even delighted to discover a small hammock on the balcony where she was delighted to let herself fall down.

"I was sure you would like that corner, especially the hammock," said a voice behind her back."

            Chloe was startled and looked up. Bradley had followed her onto the balcony and looked at her with a calm smile. The young woman stood up and responded to the singer's smile.

"Apparently you know me well, she said, squinting mischievously.

- I'm trying, replied the young man."

             He winked and sat down on one of the deckchairs around the hammock where Chloe was sitting. They were both alone for the first time. They were as embarrassed as teenagers and were also perfectly aware that the others were planning to leave them alone for a while. Bradley could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest; in his pocket was his little notebook in which he had been secretly working on a little project that he was dying to discuss with the young woman, but he couldn't open his mouth. His brain was grinding so many thousand things to say that, in the end, he could not get anything out of it. So, he decided to give himself a little mental slap and took a deep breath before hurriedly taking his notebook out of his pocket, as if he was afraid not to dare. He took the time to open his notebook and leaf through it a little before looking up at Chloé, who looked at him intrigued.

"I took the liberty of reworking your song For You a little, began the young man, a little shyly. I hope you don't mind; I've mainly worked on the music but I've also changed one or two formulations that didn't sound good... Would you like to listen to it?

- With great pleasure, answered Chloé, whose face had just lit up with a big smile."

             Flattered, the young woman watched Bradley fetch his guitar and come back to sit next to her to perform his song for her. Even though they had written songs together before, she was still a little intimidated by Brad and his band because they were professional musicians while she and her sisters were still novices. She was also touched that Bradley liked the song she had written so much that he took the time to rework and perfect it for her. The young woman even got chills as she listened to the young man perform her song for her. She had no problem admitting that the new musical arrangements improved the song considerably and that the lyrics sounded better without the small mistakes in English that she had unintentionally made in her lyrics. She felt particularly proud to hear Bradley Simpson perform her song and found that the young man's voice enhanced the song. Chloe applauded very sincerely at the end of the song and then they discussed the song for a long time, before the subject of the conversation shifted to other themes. The late afternoon seemed to pass in a fraction of a second and, as the sun began to fade, Chloe and Bradley were surprised and hurried home to join the others, who did not hesitate to give them suspicious glances full of mischief. Chloe pretended not to see anything and walked towards her sisters to ask them what they had done.