In Your Dreams Dreads ( Dreads Frank X Reader )

Day Two: Recording Session One

  Wednesday

  Frank is already in the recording studio with the band as you rush in, ten minutes late. " Shit, I'm so sorry. I over slept. " you apologize. It's 11:10am. " Hey, chill, it's fine. It's only ten minutes. " Matt laughs. You see Frank is sitting in the office chair that you have mentally claimed as yours. " Hey, " you say pointing to Frank, " Get out my seat. " " Who says its your seat? I don't see your name on it. " Frank shoots back. " 'Cause I'm special and I sat in it yesterday. And I'm actually working where as you are just watching so you can sit it a normal chair. Now boot it Dreads. " you reply. " Make me. " he challenges. You stalk towards him and he smirks. You grab the back of the chair and start spinning him until he's dizzy. " Wee! " Frank says. The four other guys watch, laughing their asses off. " You two are like children. " Ray chuckles. " Thank you. " you and Frank say in unison making the guys laugh even harder.

  After about a solid two minutes of continuous spinning, Frank is still refusing to let you have your seat. " You fucker! " you laugh. " Just give up. You can't make me do shit. It's pointless. You're just being a stubborn ass. " Frank teases. " ' A stubborn ass '? Like you should talk. Just give me my seat you dick. " you scoff. " How about no. " he says. " Oh fuck you. " you shake your head. Frank laughs " I bet you'd like that. " You have had enough of him and decide that if he won't move then you're gonna sit on him. You sit in his lap and he wraps his arms around your waist and stands up, starting to swing you around like a rag doll. " Put me down! " you cry out, laughing. " Fine. " Frank groans. He puts you down in the chair and gives you a push towards the mixing table. " Thanks Dreads. " you smile. " Anytime. "

  " So, how do you guys want this to work? " you ask. " Whatever you think is easiest." Gerard says, turning to the rest of the band to see if anyone has any objections. " Okay. I say we record Romance first since it's just Ray and his guitar. We can start with drums and bass on as many songs we can fit in today. " you suggest. The rest of the group agrees.

  You pull your laptop out from your bag that's lying on the ground next to you and hook it up to the mixing equipment. You set up the program and plug in a blank USB to store the project. Ray steps into the recording booth, grabs his guitar and starts to tune it. While he's doing that you can't help but start to worry about exams. They're less than a week away and you fear you're going to fail. Your laptop isn't the only thing in your bag. You also have theory books to study. You pull one out and open it to where you left off before falling asleep at your desk last night.

  " ' Musical expression is the art of playing or singing music with emotional communication. The elements of music that comprise expression include dynamic indications, such as forte or piano, , differing qualities of timbre and articulation, color, intensity, energy and excitement.' " Frank reads from over your shoulder. " Exams are soon. I have to study or I'm going to fail. " you say nervously. Frank laughs " Relax. You can't do your best work when you're stressed. Put the book away and forget about exams for right now. Just calm down. " Mikey suggests. You sigh, " Your right. "

  Ray finishes tuning and gives you a thumbs up. You look around for a minute, confused, because your thoughts are still on your exams. You snap out of your daze and shift your focus back to the task at hand. " Okay, Ray. Whenever you're ready. " you smile and say into the talk-back mic. Ray starts to play beautifully. You follow his hands as they gracefully dance, plucking the strings of the guitar. It's fascinating to observe how someone plays and how it's different from how others play the same instrument. You watch, mesmerized, by the fluidity of the movements. It takes you a minute to come back to reality after the song ends. Gerard has to tap you on the shoulder for you to realize Ray had finished. " Ray, that was wonderful. Do you want to come hear the playback? " you ask. Ray comes out to listen to the playback alongside the rest of the group. " I think Ray played perfectly. " Gerard says with a little applause. The group agrees. " Do you want me to add some static effect? You said you wanted some yesterday right? " you ask, turning to face Gerard. He nods and you get to work on your laptop.

  It takes a few minutes before you find the right midi track to download. You place it over top the guitar recording and lower the track volume. You hit play for the guys. They all seem to think it's fine but to you the song still sounds a little off. " Hey, we're going out for a cigarette. Do you smoke? You can come out with us. " Frank says. " I wanna try something, I'll go out later if I need to. " you say. Frank shrugs his shoulders and follows the band outside. You listen to the recording a few more times through your headphones and figure out what you think is missing. It needs something a little higher to cut through the medium tones. You find a bell midi and quickly figure out a rhythm to play it in. The song is written in 3/4 time so on every first beat you hit a higher note that rings out above the rest of the sounds and sprinkle in a few transposed notes in between. You lower the volume of the track so it doesn't overpower the rest of the music.

  " Guys, take a listen to this. If you don't like it then I can remove it but I just thought it needed a little something. " you say as the five guys re-enter the room. They walk towards you looking intrigued. You hit play and at first, they don't hear any difference. " What did you do to it? " Frank asks. " Just wait. Focus. " you reply. After you say that Mikey smiles and mumbles an ' ah, I see '. The rest also hear the little ' ding 's throughout the song. " It isn't a drastic addition by any means but it needed more texture. " you explain. " You're right. You have a really good ear. I wouldn't have thought of that. " Ray says. You beam up at him from your chair. You save the song file to the USB and open another empty file.

  " Okay, Matt, you're up. Drums are the base of the song. It keeps the others in time so it's good if we start with that so the rest of the band can listen to the playback when it's their turn to record. " you say to Matt. He nods and goes into the recording booth and sets up his drum kit. " Okay, can you hit something for me to make sure the mic picks it up? " you ask. Matt starts making up some random beat. You nod and give him a okay sign. He stops and waits for you to give him the queue to start. You hit the recording button and smile, giving him a thumbs up. He begins with Skylines and Turnstiles. You record five takes and play them so that the guys can pick the best one. The same happens with the rest. 

  It's Mikey and his bass' turn next and it goes the same way, smoothly. You only get in three songs before the session is over.

  The recording session ends and you part ways but not before Frank asks hopefully and almost shyly, " Hey, um, my band Pencey Prep is practicing now. Do you wanna come watch? " You almost say yes just because of how genuine he sounded. It was different from the obnoxious, childlike guy you've hung out with for the last two days. But then you remember exams. " Fuck, I really would love to but I have to study. " you say, a little sad. Frank sighs. " I promise, another time. " you tell him sincerely as you rush out the door.

  It's another late-night study session, this time on the couch in your basement, where you fall asleep at two-thirty with your book open on your face.