Behind The Beat

XII - The Song

The days had bled into weeks. Rozalie was still getting used to the chaos of it all—of being surrounded by the energy of musicians who were so comfortable in their craft. There were moments when she couldn't help but feel like an outsider, trying to fit into a space that had already been built long before she arrived.

But over time, she'd begun to carve out her own place in their rhythm. Her fingers found the strings of her guitar with ease, her touch becoming more confident. The other band members had slowly started to see her not as the newcomer, but as an equal, a full-fledged member of the team. Her contribution to the songwriting process was invaluable, and her presence in the studio had become indispensable.

Mike had noticed how quickly she'd adapted, often teasing her about how quickly she'd gone from an outsider to a "core member." She'd laugh it off, feeling a growing warmth in her chest each time they joked around. He and Val had made sure to include her in everything, and that meant the world to her. But there was still one thing that weighed on her—a talent she'd been hiding from them all.

It wasn't something Rozalie had done in front of others for years. She'd always done it in the privacy of her room, her voice raw and unpolished, never meant to be heard by anyone. She hadn't considered the possibility of singing with the band—after all, they had Val's voice to carry the weight. But one afternoon, everything would change.

It was one of those rare sessions when the studio felt alive with possibility. The band had been working on a new track for what felt like hours, experimenting with chords and melodies, trying to nail down something that felt just right. Rozalie sat with her guitar in hand, her fingers lightly strumming the strings as she watched Val and Mike play. Their energy was infectious, and for a moment, it felt like the song was finally coming together.

— That's it — Val said, her eyes wide with excitement. — That's the rhythm we've been missing.

Rozalie smiled, catching Val's enthusiasm. But then, an idea popped into her head. It was silly—no, it was terrifying—but it felt right. Her fingers paused over the strings, and she found herself humming a melody under her breath.

Mike caught the slight shift in her demeanor, his head tilting to the side in curiosity.

— What's going on over there? — he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Rozalie froze.

— It's, nothing — she stammered, suddenly aware of how quiet the room had gotten.

— No, no. You can't do that — Val said with a playful grin, turning towards her. — Come on, don't leave us hanging. What were you humming?

Rozalie felt heat rise in her cheeks.

— It's nothing. Just some random melody.

But Val wasn't having it.

— Oh, I don't think it's nothing. Let's hear it.

Mike leaned back, raising an eyebrow.

— Yeah, Rozalie. You've been holding out on us. I think it's time you showed us what you've got.

Rozalie hesitated, her fingers gripping the neck of her guitar a little tighter. She felt a knot in her stomach, nervous about sharing something so vulnerable. But Val was looking at her expectantly, and Mike's playful grin made it hard to resist.

Taking a deep breath, Rozalie began to hum the melody she'd been playing. It was simple, but there was something raw about it, something genuine that resonated with her in a way she hadn't expected. As she hummed, her fingers found the chords to match, and before she knew it, she was playing along.

For a moment, everything else in the room faded away. It was just her, the guitar, and the melody, flowing out of her effortlessly. It was a song she hadn't meant to write, but it felt like it had always been there, waiting to be uncovered.

When she finished, the room was silent. She looked up nervously, only to find both Mike and Val staring at her in shock.

— Well, I didn't see that coming — Mike said, his voice low with awe. — Kid, you've got a hell of a voice.

Rozalie's heart skipped a beat at his words. She wasn't sure what to say. It was one thing to play the guitar, but singing? That was a whole different level of exposure.

Val leaned forward, her eyes locked onto Rozalie's.

— That was incredible — she said, her voice filled with admiration. — Why didn't you tell us you could sing?

Rozalie shrugged, the words catching in her throat.

— I don't know. I've never really—never thought it was anything special.

— Are you kidding? — Val's tone was sharp with disbelief. — That voice is a hidden gem. You have no idea what you've got there. We're incorporating that into the track. No argument.

Rozalie opened her mouth to protest, but the look on Val's face left no room for doubt. She knew that tone—the one that meant nothing short of complete determination.

— Come on — Val urged, grinning. — Let's lay down some vocals. I want to hear you do it live.

Rozalie hesitated again. Her nerves were racing, and the last thing she wanted was to mess up in front of them. But something about the way Val spoke to her, the way she believed in her, made her want to try.

With a slow exhale, Rozalie nodded.

— Okay. Let's try it.

Hours later, the band had made significant progress on the track. Rozalie had sung her part, her voice blending with the music in a way she'd never thought possible. The lyrics she had improvised earlier had taken on new meaning as she sang them out loud, and by the time they finished, the song felt complete.

Mike had given her a thumbs-up as she stepped away from the microphone.

Val, however, was still buzzing with excitement. She walked over to Rozalie, clapping her on the back.

— You did amazing. I'm serious, Rozalie. You've got so much potential.

Rozalie smiled, feeling a sense of pride she hadn't expected. She'd been terrified to sing, to put herself out there in a way that wasn't just about the music. But Val's praise, and Mike's supportive teasing, made it feel worth it. She was starting to believe in herself, even in ways she hadn't before.

As the rest of the band packed up their instruments, Val lingered behind, her eyes lingering on Rozalie.

— You okay? — she asked softly, her voice a little quieter than usual.

Rozalie met her gaze and nodded.

— Yeah. I think so. Today was... good. Really good.

Val stepped a little closer, her presence almost magnetic. She was still wearing that wide, proud smile, and something in her eyes softened as she looked at Rozalie.

— You know — Val said, her voice low and teasing — I can't imagine not having you around.

Rozalie's heart skipped in her chest at the compliment, and for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks again, but this time, it didn't feel as embarrassing.

— Thanks — Rozalie said quietly, not sure what else to say.

Val's hand lingered just a moment longer, her thumb brushing lightly against Rozalie's wrist before she stepped back, her smile warm and proud.

— You're more than just the guitarist, Rose.

Rozalie's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know if it was the weight of the moment or just the genuine sincerity in Val's voice, but it felt like something had shifted between them.