Sun and Star Academy: Book 1: Sun Kingdom

Chapter 9: Liam, The Romantic

Kareena had told the newly courted Zoe everything about the night before as they made their way to the recording studio but once outside, they came face to face with Rachel who was just exiting the studio, she summed up both girls with her eyes and wasn’t impressed

“Move” Kareena said

“Make me” Rachel said with a smile

Zoe held on to Kareena’s arm

“I’ve had just about enough of you Rachel…” Kareena started

“So do something about it” Rachel said with a casual laugh

“She’s taunting me…” Kareena thought, “She wants me to lose it….and I’ll be damned, it’s working”,
Kareena stepped forward

“Ladies” Chris greeted as he approached, he unlocked the door with a key card and pushed it open for Kareena and Zoe, “Liam is probably inside waiting for you”

Kareena nodded and went in with Zoe, she did her best not to look at Rachel but she just knew there was a smile on her face

Chris closed the door and raised an eyebrow at Rachel, “What are you doing to the girl?”

“Absolutely nothing Chris…well atleast nothing she didn’t already have coming”

Chris scratched his head, “I don’t like this any more than you do…but for Liam’s sake, suck it up”

“This is a mistake, through and through”

“I’m sure he knows what he’s doing Rach”

“You should be advising him against whatever he’s doing…” Rachel said with slight irritation, “I care about him yeah, but so do you and you know as well as I do that this isn’t going to end well, for her or any of us”

Chris massaged the bridge of his nose, “We’ll figure something out…I have to head in, see you later”

Rachel nodded and walked away

*******

The studio was huge, all the instruments you could think of were lying around, some grouped up, others not so much. Zoe took her seat at the grand piano and began practicing

Liam was sorting out the microphones and headphones, Kareena felt nervous all of a sudden, but noticed Liam smiling at her

“Need any help?” Kareena asked

Liam laughed and shook his head

Kareena then went over to Zoe, “I’m uhm, freaking out…what if I screw this up?”

“Have you heard your voice! You’re amazing! Just don’t over think it”

“Thanks Zo”

Chris walked in and went over to Liam, “Sure you want to do the recording here?”

“Yeah, more natural feel. If it gets approved, we’ll do the final in the vocal studio”

Chris nodded and helped plug in the microphones before going over to his laptop, “The levels are all fine”

“Ready?” Liam asked whilst standing by his microphone

Kareena gave a slight nod and walked over to the other microphone, “Maybe we should have a practice run first”

Liam smiled, his eyes assuring her, “Just follow my lead”

Kareena didn’t feel any better, she looked at Zoe, who smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Liam put his headphones on and nodded at Kareena who then did the same

“Alright, you guys ready?” Chris asked

They all nodded, Chris tapped away at his laptop for a few seconds and then gave a thumbs up, Zoe began playing and Liam sang the first verse. Chris kept his eyes on his laptop

As they approached the chorus, Liam looked at Kareena and she nodded. She sang the chorus beautifully and even took on the next verse, leaving the next chorus for Liam. And finally the last verse and chorus were sung by them both, together. Their voices blended so perfectly, they created magic with their voices, Zoe smiled as she played. Kareena couldn’t help but smile when she looked at Liam, even though she was freaking out and had butterflies doing somersaults in her stomach. When the song was done, they all looked at Chris who watched his laptop for an extra five seconds before nodding at them, “You guys were great- recording was flawless”

Liam removed his headphones and looked at Kareena, “No reason they won’t approve it but in any case, I’ll let you know as soon as I know anything”

Kareena nodded as she removed her headphones

Zoe neatened up and put her music sheets away

“Oh hey, I didn’t forget” Liam said whilst removing a piece of paper from his pocket, he handed it to Kareena, “Top secret stuff”

Kareena smiled and took it

“I’ll export it to your drive later” Chris called whilst slinging his bag over his shoulder and joining Liam to pack the stands for the microphones away

Liam nodded

“Shall we head out?” Zoe asked

Kareena nodded, her eyes not once leaving the piece of paper

“Is that the song? Read me a bit”

They opened the doors and walked together, arms linked, “When the evening shadows and the stars appear…and there is no one to dry your tears…I could hold you for a million years, to make you feel my love”

“Oh…my…god! You’re going to bag a romantic” Zoe teased

Kareena laughed as they continued to walk and read together