Dean
After they ate and paid for their meal they went back to the dorms. As they reached the floor of Dean's dorm it occurred to him that they were heading to his dorm and he stopped in his tracks.
"Where are we going?"
"To your dorm duhhh."
"And why is that?"
"You have seen our room, now it's our turn to see yours."
"Fair point alright but don't judge, remember I just moved into the dorms,then" Dean said as they reached his door.
"We won't, we aren't girls."
"Hmm alright then," Dean responded as he unlocked his door.
After he moved aside for the others to enter then cringed, "Woah I was expecting your room to be covered with boxes and clothes on the floor all you have is an unspread bed, this is what you were ashamed of?"
"Are you sure you're a guy?"
"I'm guessing you're one of those rare guys that actually keeps their room's clean."
"Yep to all those questions."
"Damn you wanna take my place. The day my room is this clean my mom will buy me whatever I want."
"Guessing that hasn't happened yet"
"Basically."
"Wow"
"Quit the chit chat now tell me what were you working on?"
"What do you mean?"
Jake nodded towards his desk and on it laid his open binder with sheet music and his guitar leaning against the desk.
"Ahh, just messing around with some chords."
Jake picked up the binder and nodded.
"And what about the lyrics? Have you got anything yet?"
Dean was glad he hadn't written down the lyrics for the song yet, "no not yet like I said still working on it."
"Alright then, so what do you guys wanna do?"
"I'm up for whatever."
"Same"
"Dean, what do you do on weekends?"
"I usually read or walk around town till I find something interesting to do."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Nice, then let's head out."
With that, they walked out of the dorm and Dean locked the door behind them.
Alison
The light was seeping through the curtains and shining directly onto Alison's eyes and even after she turned she couldn't enter back into her dream, with a sigh she stretched and got out of bed. She then walked into her bathroom and glanced at the mirror and released a defeated sigh.
'Why didn't I braid my hair last night?'
'Because you were reading and when you finally decided to sleep you were too lazy.'
'Wow thanks for the reminder'
'Just saying now how will you fix the mess that is your hair?'
'I brought my flat iron so I can do my hair and be worry-free for the rest of the day.'
'Smart I knew you weren't fully hopeless'
'Just wow'
'You should be used to it by now after all I am your inner voice.'
'That is true.'
Alison put her hair back then washed her face and brushed her teeth, next she took out her comb, hairbrush, and flat iron and began to do her hair. After she was finally satisfied with her hair she chose her outfit for the day.
As she was slipping on her ankle boots she recalled that it was Sunday meaning that Monday was the following day and not only did she have to go back to school but she was expecting to perform for her class. Was she ready for that? NO. She remembered her last conversation with the Professor and sighed, he had faith in her but she didn't have faith in herself.
'Well the Professor is in for a major disappointment'
'Got that right'
'Not helping'
'What do you expect you can barely sing in front of 2 people how will you sing for an entire class?'
'How does the Professor have faith in me hell I haven't given him any reason too'
'Must be because you gave the new guy one of your more deep songs.'
'What was I supposed to do none of the other ones fit his range.'
'Well since you gave up one of the songs meant for your ears only the Professor probably thought you were finally opening up'
'Well he is so very wrong'
'So what will you do?'
'Dad! maybe he can make a call or something'
'Yes now get off the bed and find him'
With that, she sprang off the bed and went in search of her father. She knocked on his room door but there was no response, she opened the door and it seemed he had already left his room so she went to the kitchen. The coffee pot was halfway empty but still warm so there was only one place he could be. As she neared the back door her father turned around.
"Good morning Alison how did you sleep?"
"I slept well and how about you dad?"
"It was good I relived a memory"
"And which one was it?"
"Coming out and seeing both you and your mother seated on this swing singing till the sun went down," he smiled.
"She was amazing, each and every song was about love and joy, each having special meaning to her," she blinked away tears and returned a sad smile.
"Come sit darling I don't want you to cry."
"It's okay dad they're happy tears"
"Very well so tell me what is bothering you because you seem to have forgotten your cup of coffee"
"It seems I have," she took a deep breath and looked her father in the eyes," Dad you know I love music and writing songs but you of all people know how hard it is for me to perform. I still can only manage to sing in front of one person any more and I freeze, I-I I'm not ready yet but my Professor thinks I am, he is making me perform tomorrow, I can't dad, you know how I get, what if I get yet another panic attack?"
"I will call him after breakfast okay"
"Okay dad thank you so much," Alison hugged him and sighed in relief.
"So what will we eat?"
"Do you want me to cook?"
"Well my shining star we both know your the better cook than I am"
She smiled, "How does waffles sound?"
"Delicious !"
She laughed then got up and went to the kitchen to begin making their breakfast.
She served two plates with waffles and fruits on the side and she also had maple syrup and honey out.
"Breakfast is ready dad"
"It smells wonderful darling"
"Well, shall we dig in?"
"We shall"
They both fell into a peaceful silence as they ate.
Leo (Alison's father)
After breakfast, he left Alison and went to his study to make a call to Derek (Alison's Professor).
"Ah Derek good morning"
"Good morning Leo, I'm guessing this is about Alison performing for the class tomorrow"
"Well yes, Derek you know she gets panic attacks why would you do this to her? Why can't she just make a recording like she did before?"
"Because Leo, she is opening up and I know she can do it."
"What do you mean she is opening up?"
"Well we got a new student and Friday they were paired and she gave him a song to perform for the class"
"Doesn't she usually do that?"
"Well yes but the songs she usually shares are based on events that occur in books or the future one hopes for, but the song she gave him referred to her past and it started bright and strong filled with emotion, and ended as if the memories were bittersweet"
"But she has never shared any song that relates to her personal life with anyone"
"Exactly and I know she has many more because she works on them in the studio on most weekends when the school is practically deserted"
"I may have seen her songbook once or twice and I know they are there but like I said I haven't even heard them before how did she just give it to this new student?"
"Well I may have left her no choice"
"What do you mean?"
"His vocal range differs from that of the other students and as we both know Alison can practically hit every note, so none of the songs she has prepared for others would work for him so she would have to open into her more personal songs"
"But how did you know that she wouldn't change any of her usual songs to fit the student?"
"I know Alison when she has completed a song she doesn't like editing it every note and lyric match giving a significant meaning so if she changed the song she would think she slightly changed the meaning"
"Wow"
"Yeah, but I knew she would either give him a personal song or see if he had anything to use so I specifically gave the instruction that either both could sing or one could sing something that the other created and we both know she would never willingly perform for the class"
"I still can't believe she gave up the song."
"She did and I may have peeked into the recording studio she always uses and found out that the song wasn't recorded so she had to sing it to him so he could learn the notes and timing."
"Wait, she sang it to him. Why didn't she use a recorded song?"
"Same thing I said and it is because she sang to a stranger I know she can perform for the class who she has grown used to over the years."
"Do you really think she is ready?"
"Yes, Leo I know she can do it."
"Okay I will try to convince her to do it but I want to ask, did you by chance record the song from Friday?"
"I knew you'd ask and yes I did and don't worry I didn't share it with the other teachers, I will send it to you right now."
"Thank you Derek!"
"No problem Leo."
He ended the call and smiled, he was so proud of her, she was opening up even more. He remembered 5 years ago after the incident she wouldn't speak for a whole year, all she did was write and read and cry till she began to open up and started talking again then 3 months after she sang for him and her brother her songs were beautiful and brought tears to his eyes because she sounded just like her mother and he knew she couldn't sing for others because it was her mother's career. Yet she couldn't fight it, her love for music being so strong she enrolled into the academy of arts and has been writing and recording songs like never before but she never sang for an audience at most one teacher but never for a class.
He was getting his daughter back, he always hoped that she would open up and show her true self and with each step she takes she is getting closer and nothing could make him prouder.
He went to Alison's room to find her where he expected, on her bed reading her new book.
Alison
John had just walked away, from a shocked Mark, with his phone when someone tapped her shoulder. She looked up to see her dad looking down at her with a smile.
"Guess you really are liking the book, I called your name twice and you didn't notice"
"Well in my defense it is a good book," she replied with a smile.
"Well I'm glad you like it now Alison I need to talk to you," he said as he sat down next to her.
"Sure go ahead dad"
"Do you think you can perform tomorrow?"
"Honestly dad I don't know I don't think I can"
"Why?"
"The same reason it has always been mom I made her a promise but I don't know if I can I don't want to disappoint anyone and I am scared"
"Darling you will never disappoint me and I know you can and so does your Professor"
"I don't know dad"
"Just try and if you feel a panic attack starting stop and excuse yourself from the class and call me immediately okay"
"Okay dad but just for warning keep your phone handy."
"I know you can do it darling, and if you don't tomorrow I know you will do it one day I love you Alison"
"I love you too dad."