by Jera
RECAP: Lucky and Liz were back in PC. V came to ask them to suggest some possible young new artists for L/B records.
Lucky was biting his lips and shaking his head at Liz, but V had already heard Liz's remark. She smiled excitingly.
V: Lucky? You sing? Great! We'll set up a date..............
Lucky raised a finger to stop V from finishing her sentence.
Lucky: Um, I'm very sorry, V. But....would you excuse us for just a second? Please?
Lucky dragged Liz to the other side of the room hurriedly. V drew her brows together, observing them from afar.
Lucky: Elizabeth, what are you trying to do?
Liz: Lucky, don't you think this is a great opportunity for you to give the music business a shot? You said you want to write music for a living, and they are looking for a new artist!
Lucky: Yes, I said I want to write music for a living, but I meant like maybe 10 years from now when I'm very good at it! Not right this minute! And I wasn't planning on singing it myself!
Liz: Oh, Lucky, but you ARE good! I've seen the songs you've written, and they are beautiful! And you have a wonderful voice! I have the tape to prove it too.....
Lucky: Tell me you aren't thinking about playing that tape for V!
Liz: Of course not! Why would I need to do that when she can hear YOU singing? Come on, Lucky, you have nothing to lose! Just go for the try out! What's the worse that can happen?
Lucky: How about being laughed at all the way to China?
Liz chuckled lightly.
Liz: Lucky, trust me. No one is going to laugh at you after they heard you sing. You always say that I'm biased when I tell you how good your music and your voice is, here is the chance to prove you wrong.
Lucky: Elizabeth............
Liz: Lucky, I hope you are not going give up your dream even before you get started! I believe you are the one who told me to go for everything I wanted in my life! Why don't you take your own advice?
Lucky opened his mouth, and nothing came out. He closed his mouth again, looked over to V, who was looking at him with interest. Lucky smiled dryly at her, and turned his attention back to Liz.
Lucky: Do you really think I should do it?
Liz: Most definitely! You are so talented, and I think the entire world should know it!
Lucky smiled tenderly, and took Liz's hand in his, brought it to his lips and kissed it.
Lucky: I'm glad somebody has that much faith in me. I don't even have that kind of faith in me.
Liz: Well, you should. Come on, give it a try?
Lucky took a deep breath, and nodded. They walked back to V.
Lucky: Um........I........I...........
Liz: I think he's trying to say that he would like to have a chance to try out for L/B.
V: Great! We'll set it up for you to come in tomorrow! Do you know anyone else that might be interested? Not....that I don't think you are going to be great, don't get me wrong, but I'm pretty sure Jax and the producers would like to hear a few more people...and it'll be more like a challenge for everyone involved, don't you think?
Lucky: Oh, yeah, of course! I'm sure you guys are going to listen to a few hundred people before you decide on anyone.....
Liz: I think we can come up with a few more people that we know of that are into music....
Lucky and Liz spent the rest of the evening writing down the names of some people they know that are very much into music. V left a couple hours later, with a sheet of names and an appointment time for Lucky at 2 o'clock the next afternoon.
Lucky sat outside of the recording studio, the guitar by his side, and waited. There were a couple people before him, and he was glad of it. Liz had to work the lunch shift today, and she promised she'd rush over as soon as possible. Lucky took a deep breath. Maybe it would be better if Liz couldn't make it.....he'd really hate to disappoint her if everything didn't go as well as she was sure it would. Lucky ran his palm over his face, over and over.
Lucky: Oh, who am I kidding? I want it to go well, too!
The minutes went by slowly. Liz made it in right before Lucky was called into the studio. Her apron still tied around her waist, her face red, her breath shallow, She ran straight toward Lucky, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Liz: Oh.....I.....didn't........miss......it.......did I?
Lucky: No, I think you are actually just in time. The guy before me just came out.
Lucky ran his hand up and down Liz's back, soothing her and himself unconsciously. Liz took a minute to catch her breath. She wouldn't have made it if she didn't finally break down and told Ruby that she had to go to Lucky's audition. She didn't say it was for a record company since Lucky didn't really want anyone else to know for fear that they would all make a big deal out of it and make him more nervous than he was----if that was possible.
V stuck her head out and asked Lucky to come in.
Lucky and Liz looked at each other, both taking a deep breath.
Liz: Here we go! Just have fun, OK?
One side of Lucky's mouth tilted up, he nodded. One hand with the guitar, one hand with Liz's hand, he walked into the studio.
Jax and V smiled at him, and introduced him to the two producers in front of the panel. One of them was in his early 40's, pony tail, mustache, sideburns and everything that said he had lived in the 70's. Including his shirt. A tie-died shirt. He smiled generously at Lucky and Liz. The woman dressed in plain T-shirt and jeans, looked to be in her late 20's. She waved.
V: Lucky, this is Mr. Bucklew. Chris Bucklew. And Miss Langston. Shelby Langston. They are the two producers that would be responsible for the album we are planning on doing for the superstar of tomorrow that we are searching for right now.
Chris: Hi! Don't worry, we look tough, but we are actually pretty nice....
Shelby: (smiling) I tried to tell him that someone else should tell him that he's nice, and not him telling people.
Jax: And because he constantly tells people that, no one thinks they should tell him that he's nice when they do think he is.
Lucky smiled, his nerves eased a little bit more. Liz squeezed his hand lightly before he went inside the recording booth. She took the last chair in the small space, her arms around herself. On the other side, Lucky took the guitar out of the case, sat down on the stool, tested a few chords, made necessary adjustments, cleared his throat a few times. His eyes locked with Liz's, and they both smiled. Shelby spoke into the microphone and told Lucky that they were ready whenever he was. Lucky was to sing two songs for them. One of his own music, and the other by another artist. Lucky licked his lips, struck the strings, and started the first song. He had chosen to sing the song by another artist first. The acoustic guitar and Lucky's voice gradually filled up the room. Liz smiled, looking over to the others in the room. It was obvious Lucky got their attention. Liz's smile grew wider as she turned her gaze back to Lucky, who was singing with everything in him.
"You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want the story to remain untold
All the promises we made
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you'll give me a highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll five me eyes on a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you....................."
Lucky finished the song a few minutes later, and looked much more relaxed than when he first went in the booth. Chris nodded at him to signal him to start the second song. Liz winked at Lucky when their gaze met, she mouthed a few words to him, and drew a wonderful, somehow sensual smile from him. He started the second song, his song.
" The way you smile
Always touches a part of me that I couldn't feel before
And I know you are the one
You are the one
And I let you walked away
And I walked away from you
So my heart chased you
When the rest of me didn't
Your voice stayed
When the rest of you didn't
So our love lies here waiting all alone
Till I couldn't lie to myself
Till I couldn't stay here another second without you..................."
When Lucky was done, he put his guitar down, and looked down at his hands for few seconds, and heard the voice coming from the other side just as he looked up, and saw Liz's eyes sparkle with tears.
Chris: Lucky, that was really good.
Shelby: I would have to agree on that one, Lucky. You have a wonderful, expressive voice.
Lucky thanked them, and put his guitar back in the case, walked back into the control booth. Liz greeted him with a hug, blinking her eyes to keep the tears from rolling down her face. Jax and V stood up and shook their hands.
Jax: That was incredible! You can be sure you are on the top of my list!
V: Oh, My god, Lucky, I'm glad you let Elizabeth talk you into coming in! That was just.........well, absolutely amazing! Are you really 16?
Lucky: Well, I'll be 17 pretty soon.
Chris and Shelby had finished what they were doing, and stood up to shake Lucky's hand.
Chris: You are a real talent, Lucky. I have to agree with Jax. You are on the top of my list as well. And I'll have you know that I didn't say that because he pays my bills.
Shelby: Well, from all the people we've heard so far, you really have stood out. Do you have more songs that you've written? We'd love to hear them if you do.
Lucky: Um, yeah. There are ...... a few of them........
Liz grinned, thinking of the stack of music sheets in Lucky's room. She certainly wouldn't have used the phrase "a few".
After much praise and questions from the foursome from L/B, Lucky and Liz finally stepped outside of the recording studio, their hearts pumping loud and clear. Lucky held on to Liz's hands tightly, smiled down at her.
Lucky: We did it.
Liz: YOU did it, Lucky.
Lucky shook his head, touched his forehead to Liz's.
Lucky: Elizabeth, WE did it. We did it.
Liz smiled, leaned up to kiss him. The crowd passed them by with smiles on their faces as the young lovers kissed and embraced at the moment when the world stood still and sang the triumph with them.
TO BE CONTINUED...................
Note: The first song was "All I want is you" by U2
The second song was something untitled by Jera.........
