A Little Cinderella Moment

Chapter 45

Everyone looks at each other and nods. "There is one thing we would like to ask you." James says.

I look at them as if I should expect what he is going to ask. "What is this one thing?"

"If you could sing a set at the party tomorrow night."

A full set? What? "You're joking right?"

"No, I'm not joking Sav the girls want to sing a song with you, and everyone has missed your voice, and one song won't work. I have a band who will perform with you of course but would you please?" All the girls look at me with them big puppy dog eyes and pouting. What sane person can say no to three girls giving you them big puppy dog eyes? Nobody.

"Sure, okay I'll do a set, but you'll have to let me have some time with the band for a run-through tonight if you could arrange that it would be great."

"Done."

We all climb into James' truck. James and Brianna up front and the rest of us squeeze into the back. On the road heading towards Wake Forest, I get bombarded by all these questions.

"How cute are the Californian guys out there?"

"Did you bring any pictures of this Chase guy?"

"Are you guys gonna hook up?"

"Have you even kissed yet?"

"What did he say to you when you told him you were travelling here?"

Talk about bombarding me. And it's funny how most of the questions are to do with Chase. Which reminds me. I pull out my phone and text Dad, Jen and Selena saying that I have landed safely. I wonder what they all will be doing for Halloween. Before I could even put my phone back in my jacket pocket, I get replies from them.

Selena: Have a fun time Sav. We miss you already.

Jen: It's about time you have texted me saying you have landed. My brother has been driving me crazy with wanting to know if you had texted. Now when I tell him he will calm the fuck down.

Sav: I'm sorry. I'm in a car with my friends and I have only just remembered. Please tell Chase I am fine and that he can calm down and leave you alone LOL.

Jen: LOL I'll do just that, and I might push him in the pool for how crazy he has made me.
Selena: Remember video proof or it didn't happen. LOL

I miss these girls already and they have only been part of my life for such a small amount of it. I can't wait to tell them all about this trip when I get home. James drops Charlotte off at home first and then drives around the block before dropping Ocean and me off next.

I got settled in and Ocean was telling me how she applied to college she signed up to this freshman online chatroom. I thought with the technology nowadays there wouldn't be such a thing. But it will be interesting to see if Berkeley University has one too. It would be nice to talk to students who may be in my classes if I get the scholarship.

I bit the bullet, and I signed up to the upcoming freshmen chatroom. It will be interesting to see who I chat with on here. I didn't stay on for very long as I had a rehearsal to go to. I just can't believe I have been asked to perform a full set. I've got my work cut out for me as I have a wide selection of songs I could perform.

Ocean and I arrive at the Maddoc family ranch and drive up to the new barn. Parking up I grab Ocean's guitar from the back seat, and we walk into the bar to see the band already here and setting up.

"Hey everyone." I call out

"Hey."

"It's great to see you again Sav." everyone called out to me.

I walk up to the temporarily built stage to the band placing the guitar down in front of me. "So, what's happening? Any ideas on what the opening song is going to be?"

"Well, I was hoping that you and the girls could open up the night." James says.

"That's fine with me if it's okay with the girls too."

The girls all say that it is fine with them too and we all climb up on the stage and discuss what song we would open with. We agreed on a lovely song, and we ran through a quick practice of it before Charlotte and Brianna must get off to work. They are only working half shifts during my visit so we can spend more time together.

We agreed on a set I will play tomorrow night. Ten songs wow I have not sung that many in a very long time. The last time I did a big performance like this was when my mom was alive. Speaking of my mom when we arrived back at Ocean's house, I asked her if I could have a moment to myself and I went on a walk.

Knowing where I was heading, I walked in the direction of the local florist first so I could get a flower and walk to my mom's final resting place. Walking into the cemetery I go in search of my mom's plot. Walking up to her gravestone I place the flower down at the foot of the stone and kneel in front of the stone.

"Hi, Mom. I thought while I was here, I should come and see you." I place my hand on the picture of her on her stone so I could feel a little closer to her. "I hope you have been watching what has been happening over the last few weeks. It has been a whirlwind of emotions. School is doing great I am a shoo-in for a scholarship at Berkeley in the music program. School was a rough start, but my grades have been good, and I am planning the Christmas ball in school and the plans look fantastic. I just wish you were with us, Mom. We could have gone dress shopping together, yoga at the beach and just be there with us."

A tear free falls down my cheek and then as I wipe that one away, I start to silently sob. It never gets easier to visit a loved one even after time has passed and you have grieved. I spend another few minutes sat here talking with my mom and the entire time I felt like she was here with me.

I'm happy I saw my mom during this trip as she has given me confidence for tomorrow night and faith in all my decisions from now on. Walking back to Ocean's house it started to rain. I stop and just stand still, tilting my head back and feeling the rain pour. I take my time walking as I have missed the sound of the rain here. It feels very therapeutic listening to the raindrops splashing in puddles and hitting the roofs. If I could, I would fall asleep to the sound of rain.