The Consequence of a Dream

Ch. 5

Phoenix's pov

The days only halfway completed and so far I've only managed to fully rehearse 6 of my songs and they are no where near what I want. But hopefully in the next 6 days, a miracle will happen. Because it truest sounds like a train wreck on my original music which is scary. I don't want it to sound the way it does right now on tour.

"How about we take a lunch break?" A voice asks.

Around the room is a reply of yes and everyone walks to where the table the food is being set on. I on the other hand stay on the stage and just pull my phone from my pocket as Demi walks towards me, "Are you hungry?" She asks.

"No ma'am." I say.

"Are you sure? You didn't eat much breakfast this morning." She says.

"I'm sure."

"What's your ideas for your last song?" She asks.

"My cover song?" I ask needing clarification.

I'm not sure if she meant the last song that we just started and got cut by lunch break, or my last song on the setlist.

"Yeah, apologize."

"I'd prefer to do it alone."

Because I need your band to focus on my original music and get that cleaned up. But also because this is a very important song to me and I need to do it alone. I did all my YouTube videos alone, I want to do this alone.

"So you just want it to be you and the piano?" She asks.

I give a small nod, "I like that idea. It kinda goes back to your YouTube roots." She says.

"Yeah, that's really what I want to do. I'd like at least one song where I'm able to just sing with a piano or guitar like I do on YouTube. It feels more me that way. I'm more comfortable doing things that way." I say quietly.

"Are you going to have the same arrangement you had on YouTube?" She asks.

"I don't think so, I want to make a better arrangement. I did that one along time ago when I was just learning piano so the arrangement isn't very good. I've got a really good arrangement in my head and I like it much better."

"Do you play by ear?" Demi asks.

"I can read sheet music well, but it's quicker for me to hear it and play by ear." I say.

"It's a pretty good talent to have if you can play by ear." She says.

"It comes in handy." I agree.

It's pretty cool to just hear something and be able to play it on the spot. But it's also good to be able to read sheet music in case you doing something where the option isn't to hear what you're supposed to play.

"It definitely does." She agrees.

I stare at my shoes to avoid eye contact. Despite my phone being in my hand, I don't look at it in fear of being accused of not listening. That's the last thing I want to happen.

"Do you want to go ahead and rehearse your last song? You're more than welcome to since you want to do it alone." She says.

Not sure if this is a hint to go ahead and rehearse so she can rehearse after me or just a suggestion, I go ahead and nod. It doesn't hurt to rehearse now anyway. It'll be just as effective as rehearsing later, I just get it done sooner.

I walk to the keyboard and Demi stands in front of me making me slightly nervous. I hate having her right over me right now. It makes me very anxious and uncomfortable. I feel so judged right now.

But I put my hands on the keys and just play the arrangement inside my head and keep tempo to keep on track with the song. After the first run through, I'm happy with it and work on my vocals with keys.

Because with the new arrangement, there's a lot of room for more of a vocal challenge than the original song. The songs I have aren't really a vocal challenge so my cover song is the one song I have to really push and challenge myself.

I work diligently for a bit before I'm interrupted, "May I provide some feedback?" Demi asks.

I look up at her feeling heart absolutely stop. This can't be good. Does she not like it? Am I going to get in trouble?

"I think you have a lot more to show in your vocal range than what this song is allowing you to do. I think where the song is now, it's too easy for you. I think you need to take it up an octave to show the beautiful motes your voice can hit. I want you to be able to grow a bit on this tour and I want you to show off your vocals more. You have such a beautiful voice and I want you to show that. The arrangement you have is perfect, but I think if you brought it up an octave, it'd really highlight what your vocals can really do." She says.

Well I can't say no, but she's not exactly wrong. Maybe that's what I was trying to figure out myself and couldn't.

"Yes ma'am." I say.

I move my hands up on the keyboard and bring the intro up an octave and then come in with the first verse an octave higher than I did last time. I hyper focus on my singing and hitting the notes that are a bit more do a challenge, but succeeding.

At the last bit of the song I end with a scale and a low note at the end. I take my hands off the keys and look at her for approval, "I liked that, it really showed your voice off a lot more. And the arrangement is heard more clearly. When you have lower notes sometimes they can sound so similar it's hard to hear them all. It's easier to hear higher pitches." She says.

"Ok." I say quietly.

Well that was easy. Wow, it's a lot easier to do things myself than work with a lot of musicians. Who'd have thought? Not me. I thought it'd be easier to work with them as they are professional musicians, but I thought wrong. It's easier when I have control of everything because I get it done quicker. I officially see why rehearsals are important.

*time skip*

It's not until 8 pm when we get back to Demi's house and at that point, I'm exhausted. But not only am I exhausted, my body is in so much pain.

"Alright, just get some sleep Phoenix. It's late and by the looks of it, I don't think dinners on your mind. Sleep is and that's about it. You don't have to take a shower tonight if you don't want, you can take one in the morning. Just do what you need to do." She says.

"Yes ma'am." I say quietly.

I walk to my room as she locks the front door and I change out of my clothes and into some sweatpants and another sweatshirt. I climb into the bed and put my phone on the charger to get it charged up tonight for the long day ahead tomorrow.

I open the nightstand and grab the bottle of Tylenol before pouring a couple pills into my hand and swallowing them. I put the cap back on the bottle before putting them back in the nightstand.

I take a deep breath before laying down in the bed and closing my eyes. I doubt I'll get much sleep, but some is better than none right? Even if it's just for a couple of hours? That still counts as some sleep right?