Skinny

Can You Sing?

Chapter Five:

After helping, Mrs. Wainwright with getting the groceries out of the car, a maid came to put them away.

"Thank you, girls, for helping us with that. I'm Gabriel's mom, but you can call me Anita. Although it's Mrs. W during school hours." She smiled and I shook her hand.

"I'm Raven Garcia. I will be attending for my senior year in the fall. This is Mia Harrow." She shook hands with Mia, who was grinning at the beautiful woman.

"My son told me that you want to sing?"

"Yeah, well I already know how to play a few instruments and I figured the next step was to figure out if I can sing and maybe dabble in that for my senior year. I love music and everything, but I wasn't really planning on pursuing it much further outside of high school, although I still would love to learn."

Anita nodded in understanding. "Follow me and let's find out what we've got to work with."

I followed her to their music room. I saw the beautiful navy blue grand piano. I was awestruck. I looked through the sheet music she handed me and handed her the song I wanted to sing. I already knew the words to it. She began to play and I began to sing.

No, I can't take one more step towards you 
'Cause all that's waiting is regret 
Don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore 
You lost the love I loved the most
I learned to live half alive 
And now you want me one more time
[Chorus:] 
And who do you think you are? 
Runnin' 'round leaving scars 
Collecting your jar of hearts 
And tearing love apart 
You're gonna catch a cold 
From the ice inside your soul 
So don't come back for me 
Who do you think you are?
I hear you're asking all around 
If I am anywhere to be found 
But I have grown too strong 
To ever fall back in your arms
And I've learned to live half alive 
And now you want me one more time
[Chorus:] 
And who do you think you are? 
Runnin' 'round leaving scars 
Collecting your jar of hearts 
And tearing love apart 
You're gonna catch a cold 
From the ice inside your soul 
So don't come back for me 
Who do you think you are?
Dear, It took so long just to feel alright 
Remember how to put back the light in my eyes 
I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed 
'Cause you broke all your promises 
And now you're back 
You don't get to get me back
[Chorus: x2] 
And who do you think you are? 
Runnin' 'round leaving scars 
Collecting your jar of hearts 
And tearing love apart 
You're gonna catch a cold 
From the ice inside your soul 
Don't come back for me 
Don't come back at all
Who do you think you are?
Who do you think you are?
Who do you think you are?

[A/N: Not my song and I do not claim it as such. It is Jar of Hearts sung by Christina Perri]

*******

Mia's Thoughts:

Man, I never knew she could sing so good. I know she will be able to get her revenge on those jerks. I just wish I had been there for her when she had needed me the most. I can't believe it was all because of that stupid boy I had a little crush on and it didn't even work out. I was so stupid to ignore my best friend for some boy. Man, I am no different than that bitch or Mick. I can't believe she 's even still talking to me. She never once yelled at me for being such a bad friend to her. I know she didn't just let it go but I want to make it up to her this year. I just don't know if anything I do will ever make up for how I neglected her.

I hope she can forgive me one day.

Oh my glob [A/N: Adventure Time! LSP is so funny!]

Gabe is so close to me! He is so cute. I wish he would notice me and ask me out.

Gabe's Thoughts:

Wow, what a beautiful voice. If only Mia could sing like that, but at least she's such a wonderful person and we have a decent amount of things in common. I wish I knew if she liked me too.

She smells so nice.

Man, we're really close to each other.

*************

I finished singing and waited for Anita to say something.

"You said you play instruments? Which ones?"

I went and sat next to her and began to play Fleur Elise by Beethoven. I then began to play Bound to You by Christina Aguilera. I began to sing. I got really into the music and lost myself in the song. I had watched that movie (Burlesque) with Mia and we had watched it so much we knew all the songs but that one was my favorite. When I was done, Mia and Gabe burst in applauding and whistling. I smiled and blushed. I should have known they would be listening.

I stood up and bowed to my audience and then laughed.

"Well, that was...."

"Horrible, yeah I know I'm not that great." I said, I figured my friends were clapping because of my piano skills.

"Actually, I was going to say fantastic. You're an amazing singer all on your own. Although I do have a few pointers and then maybe you could consider a career as a singer."

I was baffled. I had never thought of myself as a singer. I had considered being a doctor or a lawyer but never a singer, never. Why? Because singers were almost always attractive, which I was not, and until now I had thought I sounded as good as Mia when I sang.

"Pointers?" Anita smiled at my question.

"Yes. Well, for one when you sing, you need to sing from your diaphragm," she pointed to her stomach and she put her hand to the same spot on me. "Right here. This is how," she inhaled and her stomach puffed out as she let out a long opera-like note. Once her breath ran out, she was silent. I was amazed.

"So that's how it's done?" Anita nodded with a smile.

"Next, we have to test your octave range, so we can find a pitch you are comfortable singing at." I nodded. Mia and Gabe left as we went through some warm ups to find my range.

Anita told me that I'm a mezzo-soprano, which meant that I was a soprano and an alto. I didn't really know what that meant, but she told me I have a higher pitch and it's something I should be proud of.

She worked with me for an hour and I tried to hold out a high note like she did before but I couldn't quite do it. She told me it's okay to not be able to do that the first time around but we would work more on it once school started. I thanked her for her time and called Mia because I wasn't about to get lost in this big house. They met me at the front door and we went home after saying good bye to Gabe and Anita.