Being in the studio was often times fun, but sometimes it could be downright exhausting. Especially now as you watched your childhood best friend in the recording booth sing what seemed like take after take and you could tell that he was starting to get a bit agitated. He was never good at hiding his true emotions, often wearing his heart on his sleeve at times and you saw it clear as day.
You set down the mystery novel that you had been reading off to the side and glanced over at the producer as he let out a sigh and rubbed at his templesas he once again stopped the playback recording. "Smelly let's take 5 alright? Come out here for a sec" he spoke into the microphone and you watched as your best friend came out.
"Yeah Q?" He started, already knowing where this conversation was gonna head. "We've been working on this song for the past two hours and it's just not it man...it's just not sounding believable enough" Quincy started and your best friend let out a sigh. You could see in his features that he was definitely annoyed. You quickly glanced down at your watch and grimaced. It was officially after 1am. You were ready to go home and finally call it a night but you knew all too well how he was. Your best friend was a true perfectionist which was a blessing as well as also a curse. He would literally stay in the studio and keep recording until he got it right. Even if it took all night. "What do you mean?" He spoke and Quincy sighed again before he continued. "You're not singing the lyrics with a feeling. This is a love song yet it just sounds like you're just simply reciting the words....it doesn't sound believable. And if I can hear that, then the fans will definitely hear it too"
"I don't know what else you want me to do! I'm trying Quincy, really, I am" He stated before he walked over and took a seat next to you on the leather couch that sat comfortably in the corner of the room. "Look Michael, you're gonna have to figure it out because none of the takes you did previously are working... I'm gonna head to the restroom real quick" Quincy spoke before he excused himself and left the room, closing the door behind him. You glanced over at Michael as he let out another sigh and you couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He really was trying and was clearly frustrated with himself, something you often hated to see because you knew how how he could easily beat himself up over the little things.
"This is not how I wanted this to go! I keep trying to get this right and I just- I just can't. We've been stuck on this for the past two hours... I have a deadline to get this album out by November but this damn song is really kicking my ass..." he shook his head before he leaned back on the sofa, his head tiredly resting on your shoulder and you couldn't help but laugh a little at his cursing. He wouldn't do it often, only when he was genuinely frustrated or upset. As his head laid on your shoulder, you felt his body at ease and start to relax only if it was for just a few minutes. It was a gesture that he'd often do to you since y'all were young. He would always find a way to lay his head on your shoulder and you usually didn't mind it, as your fingertips normally would find a way threw his curly tresses and play in them absentmindedly never failing to soothe him even though he never expressed that to you.
"Do you really think I sound believable y/n?" He spoke quietly and you let out a sigh, hoping he wouldn't get upset with your answer. You agreed with what Quincy was saying.
"I have to agree with him, Mike. You sound like you're just going through the motions of the song...maybe he wants you to sing it more convincingly like you really want the girl you know? It's called The Lady In My Life right? He probably wants you to sound like you truly desire her..." Michael lifted his head up from your shoulder as he looked at you in slight confusion but you continued with your feedback.
"Maybe Q wants you to...you know, beg for it... Sound like you're really begging for her" you spoke, trying not to laugh at your choice of words.
