Midnight Music

Chapter 1

College is hard, no doubt about it. I'm in my third year of majoring in music therapy, and at the moment, that's basically my life. I'm renting an apartment with my best friend, my family lives out of town, and I have no boyfriend. Sure, I hang out with friends once in a while, and I go to Utah State University's social dance club once in a while. But right now, I'm a bit more focused on what makes me happy: music. My first, and currently only, love.

After a long day of classes and two hours of dancing at the dance club, I walked into my apartment with the intention of either going to sleep for the night, or doing my homework. However, Aspen had other plans in mind. As soon as I collapsed into the rolling office chair in front of my desk, my roommate swung the door open and entered my room.

She looked like some flower fairy that walked out of a children's storybook. She wore a bright yellow sundress with sequins sewn into the fabric at random places, white high-heels with a matching belt that emphasized her hourglass figure, and a circlet of yellow and white daisies on her head.

"What the. . ." was all I could say as I gaped at my friend's strange get-up. It's the middle of January! I've known Aspen since high school. Usually, I'm used to her crazy ideas and outbursts, but this hit a new high on the charts. She smiled, and quickly slipped over her head and circlet a flowery white mask to the top half of her face. Then she gave her straight, caramel-brown hair a flip.

"You ready to have fun tonight?" she asked with a saucy wink.

"What's with the costume, and what are you trying to get me involved in?" I asked seriously, crossing my arms as I gave her a look. What is she up to this time?

"It's Saturday night, Amy. And I'm going to a club that I think you might particularly enjoy." My roommate handed me her phone to show me a website. The overwhelming white, yellow, and orange page nearly blinded me. "I have a blog- just a little fun thing I do when I can. It covers all sorts of things; from fashion advice, date ideas, to the cool things that just happen to or around me."

"Daisy's Days? Is that your alter ego or something?"

"Yup. Pretty cool, huh?"

"It's. . . interesting. And what is this club that you're so sure I'll like?" I handed the phone back to Aspen-or Daisy, I suppose-waiting for her response.

"It's a music club, the Masked Muse," she answered bashfully. "Lots of performers, even singing contests, mostly musical stuff. I've been there a few times, and I think you deserve to have fun."

"I'm studying to graduate as a music-therapist. That doesn't mean I'm going to be performing anytime soon. I don't do that anymore."

"Nobody said anything about performing, although they welcome anyone who wants to. Monday nights are basically free-for-all karaoke nights."

"How are we even going to get in?"

"I know a guy. He's really nice and cool." She always knows somebody. Her connections can get her practically anywhere below the Pentagon. And with those, she can get almost anything. I can't even count the number of times she came home with free food because she knew the manager or some other person. That's how we've survived through freshman year, with part-time jobs.

I shrugged and shook my head. "I don't know."

Aspen got down on her knees, looking up into my eyes with her warm brown ones. "Please come with me. You can just watch. I'm just going to see him, but you might enjoy yourself. If you don't like it, you don't have to come ever again."

I sighed and glanced at my messenger bag. I do have homework. Although, it's been a while since I've had a night out. "Do I have to wear a ridiculous costume like yours?"

"Nah. You can just wear all black with a hoodie so that people don't notice you, since it's your first night and you're only observing." She knows me so well.