Open Mic Night.

[Victoria Lorenza]

Everyone couple of months, Starbucks holds an open mic night where anybody can go up and show off their talent. For the customers it's a lot of fun, for the business.. well, it drives in customers.

This month, Victoria decided to go in it. She was up next and if she was being completely honest, the nerves were getting to her. She knew that she could sing but she'd never really done it in front of an audience. Her name got called up and she slowly walked up to the stage. The click of her heels against the floorboards filling the silence. She sat down at the piano they had set up and spoke into this mic. "Uh, this is an original song that I wrote. It's called 'For The Love of A Daughter' ...I'm sure that once you hear it, you'll know what it's about but.. it just goes to show that you don't really know what a person is like. You only see what they want you to see.". She took a deep breathe and let her fingers stroke the keys of the piano and she began to sing.

"Four years old with my back to the door. All I could hear was the family war. Your selfish hands always expecting more. Am I your child or just a charity ward? You have a hollowed out heart but it's heavy in your chest. I try so hard to fight it but it's hopeless, hopeless, you're hopeless. Oh father, please father, I'd love to leave you alone but I can't let you go. Oh father, please father. Put the bottle down.. For the love of a daughter. Oh, It's been five years since we've spoken last, and you can't take back what we never had. Oh, I can be manipulated only so many times before even I love you starts to sound like a lie. You have a hollowed out heart but it's heavy in your chest. I try so hard to fight it but it's hopeless,
hopeless, you're hopeless. Oh father, please father. I'd love to leave you alone but I can't let you go. Oh father, please father. Put the bottle down for the love of a daughter. Don't you remember I'm your baby girl? How could you push me out of your world? Lie to your flesh and your blood. Put your hands on the ones that you swore you loved. Don't you remember I'm your baby girl? How could you throw me right out of your world? So young when the pain had begun. Now forever afraid of being loved. Oh father, please father. I'd love to leave you alone but I can't let you go. Oh father, please father. Put the bottle down for the love of a daughter. For the love of a daughter."

As she looked up after finishing the song, she realised her eyes had filled with tears. This was the first time that she'd let anyone really see into her.. into what she was really going through. They all knew the truth. The truth could destroy her but she wasn't going to hide her music any more.

[Charlie Hudson]

Charlie had a shift during Karaoke night at Starbucks, and she got up to sing a song. Figures she'd look and sing flawlessly. Charlie was a bit annoyed until she introduced her song.
She listened to the lyrics, and quickly realized that she's been hurt badly. And she took that pain out on everyone else. It was clear to Charlie that she was dealing with a lot. Victoria's ended her song, and Charlie walked up to her as she exited the stage. "Victoria, that was amazing." she told her. Even though Vic probably hated her guts, she had to say it. "I'm really sorry about..that." she explained.

[Victoria Lorenza]

Compliments on her singing was something that Victoria didn't expect to get and from Charlie especially, never?. "Um, thanks I guess." Victoria laughed awkwardly, a smile on her face. "Are you gonna sing? Jordan's told me you're pretty good.". Victoria really wasn't in the mood for fighting and she could see Victoria's friendly-ness surprised Charlie. It was written all over her face.

[Charlie Hudson]

Charlie and Victoria were actually having a normal conversation, which was really weird for them. "Oh, no I don't think so. I save that for my bedroom..or the shower." she admitted. She didn't mind playing a character on stage, but singing her songs in front of people..made her sick.

[Victoria Lorenza]

"I was the same but once you do it, it feels great to show the world your music and what's in your heart." She told her. Victoria walked over to the counter and ordered herself a drink from Charlie.

[Charlie Hudson]

"I'm sure it does..I'm just not ready." she smiled. "I mean, I'd love to someday. But just not yet." Charlie explained. She got the drink ready that Charlie ordered and gave it to her. "How long have you been singing?" she asked her.

[Victoria Lorenza]

Victoria wrapped her long fingers around her coffee cup and brought it to her mouth, taking a sip before answering Charlie. "As long as I can remember. Music became my escape but tonight was the first time I played in public." "What about you?"

[Charlie Hudson]

"Really? How come?" she asked Victoria. "I've never sang in public." she admitted while wiping The counter off.

[Victoria Lorenza]

"How come what? That I never sang before?". She shrugged her shoulders a little bit. Victoria had just never found the right moment to share it. "What's stopping you? Nerves or?"

[Charlie Hudson]

"Yeah.." she said. "I mean, you seem pretty confident.." she told her. "Just nerves I guess. I haven't really dissected it."

[Victoria Lorenza]

Her fingertips ran circles around her cup of coffee. "Honestly? I was packing it. I mean, I'm a confident person but when it comes to singing.. no way." "But like once you're up there you're so into the music.. you forget about all that." She shrugged.

[Charlie Hudson]

Charlie nodded her head. "Oh." she said. This whole conversation was weird for her. Here she was having a friendly chat with the girl who lived to make her life miserable. "I don't know.." she bit her lip. "Seems pretty scary." she told her as she stacked the cups.