𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚗

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚠𝚘

I just stand there, gagged by my realization. I try to pull myself together. "Sorry, I just...oh my gosh wow-" I say, almost shaking. He just laughs, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Calm down, yes you're correct, I'm Conan" He reaches his hand out for me to shake, and I take it ecstatically. "I'm Summer!" I say. He smiles warmly. "That's a pretty name" he says. "Um, thank you!" I reply, shocked.

I stand there, waiting for him to say something. "So, where are you heading?" he says. "Oh, just to my apartment, about to record some stuff-" I respond, playing with my hands. "Like, music recording?"

"Yeah, just for fun though" I clarify. "Still, cool! Would you uh...care if I came with you?" THE Conan Gray. Coming to my apartment? To listen to ME sing? "I mean, not at all! I'm not that talented though...really...I mean you're such a good singer-"

"Oh stop! Lead the way!" he says. I walk towards the door of my apartment complex, entering the lobby. "Good afternoon" the woman at the front desk greets us. "Afternoon!" I reply. I press the button on the elevator, nervously waiting for it to come. Could it go any slower? As I'm waiting, I can feel his eyes on me. Finally the elevator arrives, relieving me of my anxiety. I press the button to the fourth floor, then step back as we move upwards.

Once we're to my floor, I walk up to the door when I smell something. Smoke. I turn to face Conan, trying to explain myself before he smells it. "Listen...um, my roommate is...well he's a smoker, and he has an alcohol problem...it's not really that bad! He just...likes to party I guess. I'm sorry, you don't have to come in if-"

"That's fine! I don't mind, really" he replies. I take a deep breath, opening up the door. The smoke wasn't horrible, I assumed it had only been on our balcony. However, there were bottles covering the floor, at least three wine glasses on the table. I walked past all of it, looking into my roommates room. He wasn't home. "He's probably...um...with his friends" I say, walking over to my room.

I walk in, immediately realizing the mess my room was. There were clothes on the floor, empty water bottles on my nightstand, and tangled chords all under my desk. "S-sorry, it's really messy. I promise I'm normally clean!" I pick up the clothes putting them in the hamper. Then I toss the water bottles in our recycling bin. "Hey, nothing to be ashamed of. My rooms not exactly 'clean' either" he says, putting a hand on my shoulder. Somehow, this makes me feel a lot better. 

I pick up my light brown acoustic guitar, grabbing my capo and notebook. "Oh! Sorry, you can sit on the bed if you'd like!" I say, pointing towards my white and blue striped sheets with a wooden bed frame. He walks over and sits down, taking off his shoes before sitting criss-crossed. I sit down across from him on the bed, holding my guitar.

"Okay, so um...I normally just...record, nothing fancy" I say, wondering why my anxiety is so bad. "Okay" he says, smiling at me warmly. I get my guitar in position to play, strumming a few chords. I take a big breath, getting out the nerves. I press record and start playing, singing the song that I had been working on for a few weeks.

We're driving in your car, turn the music up

The breeze is blowing hard, coffee in my cup

People stare but we don't care,

Got you on my mind

I can feel the nerves in my stomach as I sing, trying to ignore them. 

Yeah, growing up is strange, but we get it now

We adore the change, take our final bow

I made it through, all cause of you

Yeah we're leaving soon

And I 

Get that nostalgic feelin' 

It's brewin' in my veins

Gotta keep believin'

Livin' for the fame,

Ah, I

Take a minute to breathe...

(Breath intake)

He's just watching me, examining my notebook and my playing.

This dream is takin' me places

Flashin' past familiar faces

The silence is so loud

Don't care about the crowd

Make the moment mine,

(Breath intake, ah!)

I finish up the chorus, stopping the recording. "Wow, you are so talented. I mean, SO talented. That was absolutely incredible." I'm at a loss for words. THE Conan Gray thinks I'M talented?!? Look in a mirror!