Everyone has a song that captures who they are. No one but Leila Gonzalez can hear them.
Melodies and tunes fill her head everywhere she goes, and all she wants is to replicate them in her songwriting. There's just one problem: she sucks at songwrit...
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AS SOON AS NEIL walked out on stage, gasps, hoots, and boos resounded through the crowd. Leila stayed by the side of the stage as he readied himself with his guitar and greeted the audience. She shifted her weight from side to side, burying the growing need to run off. But her eyes stuck on Neil and the way he looked almost at home on the stage.
He belonged there.
His black attire molded in with the matte black stage. The dark backdrop casted a shadow on them, but the bright afternoon light made him stand out, illuminating him for the entire crowd to see. Cameras filmed him taking position with his guitar. She didn't care to check if those were showing the performances to people that were too far from the stage.
Maybe she should've gone in all black too.
"Most of you know me from The Heights," Neil spoke into one of the microphones. "But today I'll be performing with someone else. Someone who loves music just as much as I do. Please give it up for Leila Gonzalez!"
Their clap was polite, as if they didn't want to make her feel bad for being unknown. The music turned noise faded in a buzzing sound as she walked to the stage, letting sun rays blind her vision. She stopped at the only open microphone and turned to Neil. His grin made her heightened anxiety dim down to a more manageable freak out. She stretched her lips into a tight smile.
"Today we will be performing an original song written by the two of us," Neil continued. "So I hope you like How I Want You."
Leila crutched her guitar like it was her life line, and sent a wide-eyed glance at Neil. He nodded at her and began to play the intro of their song. She bit down on her chapped lips and followed along, strumming her guitar like she had learned to do in the weeks prior.
The routine came back to her and she stepped closer to the microphone, ignoring her pounding heart and the thundering noise of the crowd's interweaving songs.
Saw you there where I least expected you That heavenly smirk and a few tattoos They say opposites attract, I guess it was true It was true Now everyone's telling me to stay back Everyone's screaming at me to turn back They snarl and they growl "you're not gonna like that" But I like that, like that
Leila finished up the first verse, her eyes still closed. She didn't want to see anyone's reaction to her words. Words that had been kept shut for all her life. Even if they weren't her most heartfelt words, they were hers. And it terrified her to sing them into tangible existence. But there was no turning back.
Neil sped up his guitar and she finally opened her eyes to the crowd. Their faces blurred together as she went back to her singing.
Cause your eyes remind me of a time Where everything was fine You are my fairy tale Rescue each other from the evil world No one can tear us down I'll stand by your side Grab your hand in mine Leave the angry mob behind Because that's how I want you
Once Neil shredded harder, the crowd cheered above their track. Her heart hammered, and she swore her pulse jumped to the beat. It all played out like a fever dream.
People talk when they got nothing else to do Sucks for them, I don't even care, I just want you They'll try and convince me of their bad views, Their bad views of you Bad news: I'm stuck with you no matter what I can't get you out of my mind, I'm about to combust This kindled fire was the beginning of this wild hunt Keep yelling at me to stop if you must, if you must
Leila didn't prepare for the crowd to shout their praise, but when she sang the last line of the second verse, they all did just that. A part of her wanted to stop the singing just to take in the moment.
But those eyes remind me of a time Where everything was fine You are my fairy tale Rescue each other from this evil world No one can tear us down I'll stand by your side Grab your hand in mine Leave the angry mob behind Because that's how I want you
She didn't have time to recuperate as they dove into the bridge.
A smile in the dark Everyone said stop But I threw my arms around you Screw the world but you No one understood That you were the light That you were the one That you were meant to be mine And now they shout in protest I can't help but confess How I want you
Leila snuck a glance at Neil, who was already gazing back. A smile formed on his lips and she laughed before turning back to end the song.
Cause your eyes remind me of a time Where everything was fine This modern fairy tale will survive No one can tear us down I'll stand by your side This love will be alright We'll leave the angry mob behind And I'll always have you
She sang the last note and stepped back from the microphone, holding in a gasp. Cheers resounded Townsquare and her stomach knotted, threatening to make her light breakfast reappear before her.
Elation. Anxiety. Euphoria. Unease. She felt all of it watching the audience lose their marbles as they ended their song. Leila had no idea that a teenage angsty song could produce such a reaction. She couldn't believe her eyes, much less because it was her onstage. It was her singing. Her performing. Her finally showing the world the songs that plagued her mind that she turned her own.
Neil thanked the crowd for having them and led her out of the stage. He held onto her hands to stop her from tripping over the steps. They made it out from the busy area where other performers were being called to show themselves onto the stage.
"Did that really happen?" She whispered once they were in the clear.
Neil grabbed both of their guitars and place them on the side before engulfing her in a tight bear hug. She encircled her arms around his neck.
"You did it," he spoke into her ear. She pressed herself closer to him, and he responded in kind, squeezing her body flushed against his. "You were amazing. Everyone loved you."
She let her arms fall back beside her body as she stared at his face for any evidence of lying. There wasn't anything, and she buried her face into his chest. "Thank you," she said.
"This was all you, Leila," he responded, tilting her head up to his. That grin of his reappeared, and she found herself smiling like a lunatic.
"Well, well, well," a familiar voice boomed. That guitar-shredding track filtered inside and goosebumps rose on her skin. Flynn Easton sauntered in, slowly clapping at them, the other band members in tow. "Quite the show you two put on."
