I must have a surprised yet confused look on my face as I'm thinking back to when I was a young child. Gwen seems confused too, probably about my reaction. But I remember I used to listen to Gwen Stefani's music when I could as a kid. I loved it. I even learned to play her song 'Cool' on guitar. Since I had very limited access to the internet, I didn't really know much of what she looked like or any of her newer albums, only her first solo album. That's why I didn't recognize her or barely recognize her name. It's been years.
"Vi?" She questions to get my attention. I lift my head to lock eyes with her.
"I remember now, I used to listen to your first solo album all the time as a child... or at least when I could." I say.
"That makes me so happy. Thank you." She grins.
"And I taught myself to play that song on guitar right before I stopped playing." I tell her. Her smile gets wider if even possible.
"Would you like to give it a go?" She asks as she works on her muscle memory while talking to me. I remember I used to do that a lot. It was the quicket way to learn the chords. Recite each chord without actually playing it.
"Okay, thanks."
Gwen hands the guitar over and I carefully take it, glad that we're both right handed for this. I think back, as much as it hurts, to the last few weeks with that guitar to remember the chords. Then, I start to strum, a little rusty on my playing, but a huge smile forms on my face. I've missed this so much. I play through the intro and the first verse, mouthing the words to myself as they start to come back to me. I had this song on repeat back then so I've barely forgotten it. I stumble a bit on a few of the chords, but each time I look up to see Gwen giving me an encouraging smile. She seems surprised herself too. Am I really that good after years are not playing? I doubt it.
When I get to the second verse, I can't help but to quietly sing along to the words. I must really trust Gwen. I never would have sang in front of anyone.
"We used to think it was impossible/Now you call me by my new last name/Memories seem like so long ago/Time always kills the pain," I sing softly. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gwen's eyebrows shoot up and a grin appear on her face. I decide not to think about her reaction and focus on playing. I'm still stumbling on these chords.
"Remember Harbor Boulevard/The dreaming days where the mess was made/Look how all the kids have grown, oh/We have changed but we're still the same/After all that we've been through/I know we're cool," I continue with a little more confidence now. Then, for the last bit of the song, she chimes in.
"And I'll be happy for you/If you can be happy for me/Circles and triangles/And now we're hanging out with your new girlfriend/So far from where we've been/I know we're cool," We sing together. I can barely contain myself at hearing her voice. She was the voice of my childhood and I've missed hearing her voice a lot.
And when we finish the last line, I look up to lock eyes with her, smiling.
"You're so talented, Vi! It's amazing!" Gwen compliments me, making me blush slightly. I wait for her to criticize me though. Of course she has to. Can't she find something that was bad about it?
But no matter how long I wait, she doesn't say a bad thing.
"Your voice is so beautiful, honey. And I told you that you wouldn't be up against much. You've got skills that I don't on that guitar." She says as I give the guitar back to her.
"Thank you." I sheepishly say.
"I mean it. You've got something special." Gwen smiles. I don't realize that I'm tilting my head in confusion. It's just my natural response to compliments now. Somehow I don't understand that they can be talking to me and saying all of those good things.
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A New Perspective
FanfictionAll Vivian has ever known is cruelty and abandonment. She doesn't believe that it's possible anyone could ever want her. She has grown up with barely any family and few shallow friends along with a negative perspective on life. One night, Vivian is...