I Lost It All - a Lost & Found Music Studios Story [ONGOING]

Rachel

Ugh, Leia's performing. Or, at least, that's what Maggie wants me to think. I'm actually kinda excited to see what Leia's gonna perform! She's a really talented songwriter. And even though we haven't spoken since the band broke up, and even though we have our differences, I miss her. I really do. We've been best friends for so long and it's really hard being near her every day and not talking to her or making any contact at all. But I guess I'll have to live with it. She won't want to reconcile anytime soon.

I see her go up on stage and she turns her gaze towards Maggie, Annabelle and I. I put on a bored expression so Maggie doesn't question me, but I hope Leia sees in my eyes that I'm not bored. Or angry. But it doesn't work. Unsurprisingly, she looks away.

So the intro starts and it's kinda weird because it sounds familiar. Like, very familiar. Maybe she was working on it when we were still friends? I don't know. She begins singing and although she sounds great and her voice is beautiful, something's off. It's...bugging me, but I just can't place my finger on what it could be!

Then it hits me.

Then I realise why it sounds so familiar.

It's Maggie's song!

I have NO idea why Leia would sing Maggie's song! I'm in shock. I don't know what to think. Leia was never one to steal someone's song but Maggie's?! I mean, what she did to the band recently was low, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that she'd plagiarise a song.

I look over at Maggie and see the hurt in her face. She looks so upset. Then I look back at Leia. I hear an unfamiliar tremble in her voice as she sings.

Hang on. I've got it. She knows we're onto her. My eyes dart around the room. I see everyone else as confused and shocked as I am. Leia notices it too. My eyes draw invisible lines from Leia to Maggie, Maggie to Leia, Leia to Maggie and finally to Mr T. And that's when I see something I thought I'd never see. Mr T has his hand up in the air. Calling for silence.

"Leia," Mr T says, the words ringing around the room, every ear taking in every syllable, waiting to hear Mr T's verdict. "I'm going to need you to come down from that stage and tell us all why you're singing someone else's song."

I see Leia's eyes shining with tears as she steps slowly and carefully off the stage, aware of all the eyes tracing her every move. I'm in shock and evidently so is she.

"Mr T..." Leia trails off, her voice barely audible through the shaking.  "I don't understand. I...I...I'm singing my own song. I wrote this. I...described my thoughts, and, and my feelings and...it resulted in this.  I just don't understand why you're accusing me of singing someone else's song."

"Mr T?" interjects a loud, clear voice. "This song that Leia is claiming is her own is clearly mine. I'm hurt that she would steal my song, but the worst part is that she's denying stealing it. Isn't that worse than just stealing it and then owning up?" Maggie looks at Mr T somewhat expectantly. She doesn't look hurt.

"Yes, Maggie, it is. And that's why this is such a serious matter. Leia, I'm gonna give you one more chance to own up otherwise I'm gonna have to take action. Did you take Maggie's song?" There is nothing but silence, every soul in the room awaiting Leia's response.

"Mr T, I am being honest with you, I promise. But I didn't steal Maggie's song. I didn't steal anyone's song. This is my song." As she whispers her reply, a lone tear rolls down her cheek like a river of despair. "I just don't know why you can't see that."

"Alright, well then we're gonna need some way of establishing what's gonna happen. You lied, and you're gonna have to face the consequences. I'm sorry, Leia, but that's the way it goes," Parker says, shattering the painful silence. "I think we should hear what all of you have to say." She turns to us, the onlookers, an expectant expression on her face. "What do you think?"

Maggie pipes up. "She stole my song and she should be punished for that, as anyone should."

"But she wasn't actually there the day you sang the song, so how could she have heard it? She didn't see you perform it," replies Luke. Maggie gives him a look that says she's gonna kill him, and Luke returns it. My gut tells me this is not going to well.

"But think about it, Luke! How could Leia have the exact same lyrics, the exact same chords, and, well, the exact same everything, without even having heard it?" Annabelle has a look of disdain painted on her face.

"Leia's never done anything like this before," begins Eva.

"Yeah, and I don't really think she has any reason to start now," adds Mary.

"Well, actually, she just got kicked off our band. That's pretty good incentive. And anyway, Clara didn't do anything like that before she plagiarised a song, but she did it," I hear Maggie's voice say.

"Why are we bringing Clara into this? That's just unnecessary. I just think-" Eva is interrupted by Theo, who says, "It's not about what you think. Maggie's song has been stolen, and, well, that's not fair to her. Leia deserves a punishment."

I turn to Leia. She's looking back and forth, her face wet with tears and I can't help but feel bad for her. She was my best friend. She ignores me, but the two of us stand watching the debate. It's getting pretty out of hand. I have no idea where this is going. All I'm guessing is...not a good place.