Beyond The Sky

48

We met up that weekend, and we both had a fantastic time. It was great to be able to talk face-to-face again, even though it hadn't been that long without me seeing him. I asked him if he was willing to learn a couple of songs, and luckily enough, he agreed! I couldn't be any more excited to work with him and teach him the duet I learned.

I also wanted to include another one, just for fun. I was thinking about using that duet after introducing Lance to Evynne... I just hope that isn't too weird. I don't personally think so. Plus, she asked me about it. Of course I'm going to completely take her idea.

I wonder if she'll introduce me to Liam some time after?... For the second time, I mean. I knew him in middle school. He probably won't even recognize me. That's okay.

*********

For a few nights in a row, I was non-stop practicing chords for the songs I wanted to teach to Lance. I wanted to make sure it was perfect. I would be seeing him in just two days, and we have... two days to have it somewhere close to what I wanted: perfect.

And this was all (mostly) for Evynne. Also just because people think it's cute when a couple does a duet like that... Do they still think that? I really, really hope so. Otherwise this is all for nothing.

I put my guitar down and check my phone for the time, and that's when I realize I've been going at this for almost three hours tonight. It's basically midnight, and I start to freak out a little bit. I take my guitar once more, placing it on the stand. I glance down at my hands, calloused from the constant playing, and sigh, going to turn off my lamp. This is really going to be the death of me.

I sit down on the edge of my bed and then flop myself backwards, my head hitting one of my many pillows sitting on my bed. It's now pitch black in my room, so falling asleep shouldn't be hard, right?

But it was.

I was so stressed out about getting this perfect that I didn't want to stop playing to make sure it was right. I couldn't stop thinking about some of the more difficult sections I didn't hit right the first time I learned it. But that was all just for pleasure.

Because, no, I don't "perfect" a song like this when I'm playing for myself and myself only. I didn't judge myself too hard then.

Now that I'm going to have an audience (and I'll admit, it's a small one), I'm nitpicky. But... isn't everyone?

No, ...that's not the chord. That doesn't sound right.

          There's got to be an easier way to play that.

                                                  Nope, that's not how that goes.

                                        Maybe try a different strumming pattern and see if that sounds any better?

This song doesn't isn't even all that difficult.

It's the darn rhythms that get me, along with trying to get the lyrics at the same time.

I'm waiting to have a breakthrough on how to get this done. That doesn't require me watching an acoustic performance from the original singer and watching him do it. That's basically cheating in my eyes.

I turn myself over and slide under one of my blankets to make myself a little more comfortable as my thoughts dart around my head. I need to let loose and just keep trying. I have at least 32 hours to make this as close to perfect as I can before Lance learns it. Even if it's not the 100 percent I expect by the time I have to teach Lance the lyrics, I can work on it a little bit longer during that and... maybe even let him pick up a couple of things from me about being a guitarist. That... actually sounds kind of fun.

I won't force him on it though. That would be really mean of me.

I let my eyes flutter closed and before I knew it, exhaustion succumbed me and I was out like a light.