Beautiful Stranger

2. Everyday for a month

Cedric was thrilled to see me, and it was like no time had passed. He was buzzing with excitement, reminding me of how we used to black out at his place after nights of recording and partying when I stayed in L.A. for a few months. But this time, he was all about showing me around, as if we hadn't already shared countless memories in this house. He insisted on giving me a tour, showing me my room, and then casually mentioned, "If you're up for it, we can hit the studio and record something, just like the old days. You know, improv some lyrics over random beats."

I nodded and said yes, even though my stomach was in knots. I hadn't sung anything new in over a year, and the thought of trying to create something now made me nervous. But I figured I'd give it a shot.

As we wandered around, I couldn't help but notice how inseparable Hayden and Cedric were. They were like magnets, always holding hands or sneaking kisses. It was hard to miss. And honestly, I was happy for Cedric. He'd found someone who seemed to love him just as much as he loved her. I had never seen him this happy or settled, and it was heartwarming—if a bit strange to witness.

When we finally stepped into the studio, my anxiety spiked. I hadn't been in a studio in months, and I was ready to see if I still had it, or if the rust had set in too deep. Part of me wanted to confide in Cedric, to tell him about my struggles with writing and creativity, but instead, I bit my tongue and decided to push through. I was determined to see if the fire was still there.

It was my turn to sing, and as soon as I opened my mouth, I saw the look of surprise on Cedric's face. He didn't say much, but I could tell he was impressed. We rehearsed the lyrics only once before he said we had it. His approval gave me a bit of confidence, like maybe I wasn't as lost as I thought.

Then it was Cedric's turn. As he sang, I couldn't help but notice how his gaze kept drifting to Hayden. The way he looked at her—it was like she was his entire world. He sang with a smile that hadn't left his face since I arrived. It was endearing, but also a little odd. It felt like they were becoming the same person. I caught myself laughing a little when I realized Hayden had started picking up on his gestures, even talking like him.

It was sweet, though—Hayden saw Cedric as the best person on Earth, and in her eyes, he could do no wrong. I could see why he was so crazy about her. They seemed perfect for each other, and for the first time in a long while, Cedric was in a place of pure happiness. I just hoped some of that happiness might rub off on me.

Cedric and I had to do some parts of the song together so when we entered the sound cabin and had some fun, Hayden looked at me in a very interesting way. I noticed there was a glimpse in her eyes that got stuck in my head. We made a special connection just by looking into each other's eyes. I wondered "Was I really falling for a girl I met just a few hours ago? Especially when she's my best friend's girlfriend... I don't think so." I refused to let these feelings grow because if I thought about it, it was ridiculous. I had been there for like 6 hours and I was already falling in love with someone. I needed a distraction and most importantly, I needed to start writing songs for my new album.

After we wrapped up for the day—around midnight—we decided to celebrate Cedric's last collab of the year by hitting a nightclub with his friend Patrick. It felt like the perfect way to close out such an intense day in the studio.

I've gotta say, there's something magical about L.A. at night, especially when you're driving with the right song playing. It's like everything clicks into place, even when life feels chaotic. Music doesn't follow any logic, but somehow, in tough times, the right track can make everything feel like it's falling into place. As we drove in Cedric's car, the cool breeze ran through my hair. I used to dye it red back then, and I loved how it gave me this bold sense of style I didn't even know I had. Cedric and Hayden were singing in the background, and for the first time in months, I felt calm—like I could finally breathe again after all the stress.