Summary: Michael helps Honey practice her singing, but she later finds a more effective teacher.
Warning: Swearing, sexual tension, mood swings galore
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The day is warm and quiet. I sit on the cement step just outside the front door of my home, hiding in the shade of our tree. I look out into the streets, watching the neighborhood kids play in the low sun that peeked through the trees. Seeing them brings back thoughts from my own childhood and how great it actually was, despite the piss poor conditions I was brought up in. I giggle, watching the three little kids play double dutch and fail miserably. I debate going over to teach them, until I hear footsteps in the distance.
A man approached me from the end of the sidewalk. I straighten myself out, leaning forward to inspect him, until figuring out the man in Michael. What is he doing here now?
I stand up, patting rubble off my skirt and slowly walking up to him. He greets me with a wave. "Hey! I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd stop by to say hello."
I rub my arm, awkwardly, really not in the mood to talk to him right now. "Well.. Hello." I force out a chuckle, guiltily hoping he'd leave already.
He laughs at this, thinking my awkwardness was cute. "Hello. Hey, sorry I forgot to call you last night. I got caught up in things with my band." I smile understandably at him, but deep down I was glad that call never happened. He takes a few steps closer to me. "I was thinking about your singing earlier." He admits.
I take a small step back, raising a brow. "What about it?"
He shrugs with a sly smirk. "About how good it was... and how I think you can take it far." A small grin creeps onto my face from his compliment. "But, before we get ahead of ourselves, I still think practice won't hurt. Otherwise, I really do believe you could make it out there."
With a sigh, I glance back at my house, before returning my gaze back to Michael. "It's hard. I'd practice at home, but... Ma don't know about it yet.
He nods in understanding. He remembers how she was. "We need to find you a safe place then." He raises his eyebrows, looking up to the sky in thought.
Hmm. Well, I'd rather not practice in a public area and I doubt a studio would just let us waltz in. I guess there is one place, but it could be risky. "Handy's closed on Sundays and I'm a key holder." I suggest.
He smiles.
After a 20 minute walk, we finally make it to the club. We sneak around the back to unlock the door, where I lead him upstairs to the empty bar. However, I have to keep in mind the hotel upstair, so anyone, including Sunbeam, could walk in at any moment. We'd have to make it quick.
"Wow. Strange seein' the place so empty." Michael says, hands on his hips as he scans the area. He lets out an amused chuckle, before reaching up for his fedora and placing it down on a nearby table.
I stand in the center of the room, facing him and awaiting instructions. "So... what should we get started on?"
With a sigh, he plops down into a chair. "First, let's get you on to the stage." He says, tilting his head in said direction. I spin around to do exactly that, now standing center stage in the unnervingly quiet room, although I could almost hear the ghosts of all the music that found its home in this very club lingering around me. Memories from yesterday flood my brain, causing my heart to quicken just at the thought of everyone's eyes on me again. Just standing there on the stage is enough to make my palms sweaty.
Michael looks around, eyes locking on a lone guitar propped up against the wall next to the stage. Sunbeam always keeps one handy, for emergencies. He gets up to grab it, before sitting back down in his chair and examining its strings. "Alright, let's try that song you did last night. 'Rock Me Baby', right?" I nod. "Alright," He mutters, messing with a few chords before a familiar melody catches my ears. "Whenever you're ready."
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𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚔 & 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 | (Austin!Elvis x Black!OC)
FanfictionThe year is 1954. Honey James has recently moved her and her mother to Memphis, Tennessee to secretly pursue her passion for music. However, now living in a bustling city, she is quickly met with the harsh realities of what it means to be mixed race...