More Than You Know - Part Two
Part two of the cheese...
"Hey, who's there? Come out." He called, reaching the place she had stood just minutes before. Jenni opened up the janitor's closet and closed the door behind her quietly. "I can hear you. Come out. They promised me no one would be here." He reached the janitor's closet and Jenni, her heart thumping mile to the minute, backed away. He rattled the door. "I was guaranteed privacy. Can I not even get that around here? What's your name?"
Jenni bit her lip and sat on the floor to avoid any clumsy accidents. Maybe he would go away. He sounded kind of spoiled. I was guaranteed privacy? What made him so special? "I know you're in there. Was that you singing?" Jenni remained silent. "Fine, we'll talk like this. A one-sided conversation. So, what's your name? I need it so I can report you." Jenni held back laughter. Yeah, 'cause that was an encouraging. "Fine then. Don't co-operate. I'll just kick the door in." Jenni shifted in panic. She heard laughter. "Now I know you're definitely in there." Jenni smiled. He sounded kind of obnoxious but his laugh was reassuring and friendly. His voice was kind and wonderful, if a little stuck up. "Unless the mice understand English." She smiled again.
The feeling felt alien. She hadn't, literally, smiled in weeks. She contemplated just confessing it was her, that she was in there, but she knew what sort of trouble she'd be in then. And she couldn't risk her college scholarship. She probably wouldn't be accepted anywhere else. She knew she was jumping the gun a little here, but he sounded really important. Who knew the consequences?
"Hey, so, I guess you're a fan. If you come out I'll give you an autograph. How about that?" He carried on. Jenni stood up slowly, carefully. So he was famous? She turned around, in search of a way out. There were always the vents. But that really would be movie style. She turned in a full circle. The closet was cramped and she had never been in here before. Then she noticed it. It looked like a little trapdoor or something. She undid the tough bolt, rubbing her fingers raw, careful not to make a sound. "Come on now. I'm not playing anymore. Just come out. I won't hurt you or anything.
He sounded impatient now. Jenni finally pushed the door open and got out into the fresh air, welcoming the cool breeze of the parking lot. Just before she shut the trapdoor behind her she heard a laugh. "Well, bye. I'm sure I'll see you again. I won't forget a beautiful voice like yours. Or the way we sound together." Jenni shook her head and pushed her fringe from her eyes. Beautiful? Her voice? It was Mellissa Howards' voice that was beautiful or even Tawny Philips'. Not hers. But then again, he hadn't heard them yet. He seemed new.
Jenni looked up, noticing for the first time the shiny black cars all parked up in a line. They must be his. And his bodyguards'? Jenni laughed at her luck. Even if he didn't know who she was, she had the memory of him talking to her, and it was kind of special. She smiled and walked across the tarmac to her dorm house. Maybe things were looking up.
Chapter Two
Jenni woke up feeling refreshed. After getting home the other day, she had just sang her heart out. Good thing the place was sound proofed. There was a strong feeling that had taken over her heart, and she knew what it was. Hope.
She looked through her closet of totally boring brown, beige and black sensible clothes. She really needed to go shopping. But apparently, that wasn't needed. She dug through the clean, coupled socks at the bottom of the wardrobe and pulled out two big black bin liners. In them was all the birthday presents, impulse buys and hand me downs she had never worn. Too extravagant. Too colorful. Just the kind of stuff to get her noticed. She WOULD change her life. Her own fate was in her own hands. And she would make the most of it.
Finally, after much rummaging, straightening and groaning, she found a prefect outfit. It consisted of faded gray skinny jeans, a purple top, matching pumps, and a tiny gray cardigan. She pulled it all on and smiled at her reflection. She looked pacifying. Then she quickly and expertly did her make up, taking extra care. This resulted in stunning consequences. With silver twisty earrings, silver bangles and her special charm bracelet, she was stunning.
She picked up her sheets of music and made her way down to the small music studio where her personal, one on one voice tutorials were held, aware of the quiet. Everyone seemed to be sleeping in. Last night must have been big. Jenni felt a pang that she had not been told about the contest by someone, but maybe they had let her grieve. She could get used to this new version of a deserted Antoinette.
She made her way to the studio and sat down at the control panel. The place was old but high-tech. She left the door open because her tutor wasn't there yet and anyway, there was no one there to hear her. She pulled out the lyrics of a song by Rihanna called A Million Miles Away. The college was strict on doing things that were more modern, so she had chosen this song. The dips in the song were good for her voice, as was the emotion, but she had a more mellow sound than Rihanna. So maybe it wouldn't work. She decoded to test it out.
"Here we lay, face to face, once again
Silence cuts like a knife as we pretend
And I'm wondering who will be the first
To say what we both know
We're just holding on to could have been
When we should be letting go..."
"It didn't take you long." A voice cut through her concentration. Jenni jumped. It sounded like...No, it couldn't be him. Just wishful thinking.
"Who's there?" she got out the courage to call out.
"So the silence speaks." Jenni suppressed a gasp. It was him! What was he doing here? Worse, he knew it was her.
"Where are you?" She asked shakily.
"Sing to me and I'll tell you." The voice said. Jenni actually laughed. Wow, was that her own sound?
"No. How 'bout you just tell me where you are?" She felt at total ease for some reason, a drastic change to how she normally was with strangers.
"No. I want to hear you sing. Are you really a fan?"
"You've heard me twice already. And who am I a fan of?" She asked; her voice apprehensive.
"I don't care. I could listen to you all day. And you really don't know who I am?" His voice was disbelieving, mixed with a teasing tone. Was he serious about her voice?
"Nope. I don't get out much. I don't watch TV. Your existence, until now, was a total nothing to me. I really don't know you. But you look familiar." She was at ease with him. He made her feel comfortable.
"You just admitted it was you yesterday."
"So what if it was me? You were singing my favorite song. Your voice if great. I figured that I could sing a line with you, see how we sound together. But I got carried away and had to hide."
"Now, why would you get carried away?" He teased. Jenni looked down at her guitar and blushed. But then she looked right up again.
"'Cause I couldn't believe how much I ruined your sound."
"Yeah, yeah." It sounded like he was rolling his eyes. "So, you think my voice is great?"
"Yeah, duh. Who wouldn't?"
"Stupid question. Sorry. That is why they call me the teen sensation."
"Look who's full of themselves." She said it teasingly, but his voice was serious.
"Bingo."
"Huh?"
"I AM too full of myself. My career started out with the love of music and then it was just the love of fame. And girls, and money. I'll say it like it is."
"Man enough to admit it. Admirable."
"So I came back here. I dropped out a year ago but they let me back in, thankfully. I'm trying to rediscover love."
"Good luck with that."
"Thanks." Jenni grinned into mid-air. "So, you haven't told me. What's your name?" Jenni sighed and looked down.
"Jenni. Jenni Porshotti. No, don't say it's pretty. It's not my real name. I was abandoned when I was really young and didn't know any other. Porshotti sounds exotic because it's Italian, the second name of the nurse who raised me when I was a child. Unfortunately, she never let me forget it."
"Oh. I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not. It fits you beautifully. A tragic story, breathtaking voice, stunning looks, and a great future ahead of you." Jenni laughed.
"I wish. And anyway, aren't you meant to be getting over the love of fame, money and GIRLS? Not flirting would be a good way to start."
"Oh, that isn't flirting. That's my friendly comment. When I'm flirting, you'll know." He said in a fake seductive voice. Jenni laughed.
"So what's your name? You know mine."
"Prepare to be surprised." Jenni smiled. "Daniel Gray." Jenni laughed.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize you! THE Danny boy? That every girl would kill for?"
"The very same." He replied dryly.
"Cool." It sounded like he was smiling. "So can I call you Danny?"
"You know what? I'd like that." Daniel replied.
"Now will you come out? Please?" Jenni felt it appropriate to ask now. They had, after all, had a long talk.
"No. I want you to sing to me." His voice was persistent.
"What do you want me to sing?"
"A fan of old McCartney, huh?" Danny asked.
"His lyrics get to me."
"Well sing me one of his songs."
"Um...OK, then. This one's his famous 'Beautiful Soul'. OK." Jenni cleared her throat and looked around.
"I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're one I want to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul..." She smiled as her voice trailed off and laughed sheepishly. "There it is. Come on out now." She heard Danny laugh.
"Sure. But first, you're the most breathtaking singer I have ever come across. Especially when you sing McCartney's lyrics. I'm jealous." Jenni bit back tears and smiled into the empty air.
"Don't be. I just feel his meaning, you know?"
"Sounds like you're crushing on him." Danny sounded a little subdued.
"Whatever. Now come on out."
"So you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Wait till I tell him."
"Oh sure, 'cause a million other girls aren't crushing on him, too. Not that I'm crushing on him. I got another man in my life." Jenni replied haughtily.
"Oh yeah?"
"No."
"Ha! I'm coming out now." Jenni waited to see where he would come from. There was a hidden door behind her. It opened and Daniel Gray walked out. Jenni had to blink. He was the hottest thing she had ever seen.
Jenni bit her lip and sat on the floor to avoid any clumsy accidents. Maybe he would go away. He sounded kind of spoiled. I was guaranteed privacy? What made him so special? "I know you're in there. Was that you singing?" Jenni remained silent. "Fine, we'll talk like this. A one-sided conversation. So, what's your name? I need it so I can report you." Jenni held back laughter. Yeah, 'cause that was an encouraging. "Fine then. Don't co-operate. I'll just kick the door in." Jenni shifted in panic. She heard laughter. "Now I know you're definitely in there." Jenni smiled. He sounded kind of obnoxious but his laugh was reassuring and friendly. His voice was kind and wonderful, if a little stuck up. "Unless the mice understand English." She smiled again.
The feeling felt alien. She hadn't, literally, smiled in weeks. She contemplated just confessing it was her, that she was in there, but she knew what sort of trouble she'd be in then. And she couldn't risk her college scholarship. She probably wouldn't be accepted anywhere else. She knew she was jumping the gun a little here, but he sounded really important. Who knew the consequences?
"Hey, so, I guess you're a fan. If you come out I'll give you an autograph. How about that?" He carried on. Jenni stood up slowly, carefully. So he was famous? She turned around, in search of a way out. There were always the vents. But that really would be movie style. She turned in a full circle. The closet was cramped and she had never been in here before. Then she noticed it. It looked like a little trapdoor or something. She undid the tough bolt, rubbing her fingers raw, careful not to make a sound. "Come on now. I'm not playing anymore. Just come out. I won't hurt you or anything.
He sounded impatient now. Jenni finally pushed the door open and got out into the fresh air, welcoming the cool breeze of the parking lot. Just before she shut the trapdoor behind her she heard a laugh. "Well, bye. I'm sure I'll see you again. I won't forget a beautiful voice like yours. Or the way we sound together." Jenni shook her head and pushed her fringe from her eyes. Beautiful? Her voice? It was Mellissa Howards' voice that was beautiful or even Tawny Philips'. Not hers. But then again, he hadn't heard them yet. He seemed new.
Jenni looked up, noticing for the first time the shiny black cars all parked up in a line. They must be his. And his bodyguards'? Jenni laughed at her luck. Even if he didn't know who she was, she had the memory of him talking to her, and it was kind of special. She smiled and walked across the tarmac to her dorm house. Maybe things were looking up.
Chapter Two
Jenni woke up feeling refreshed. After getting home the other day, she had just sang her heart out. Good thing the place was sound proofed. There was a strong feeling that had taken over her heart, and she knew what it was. Hope.
She looked through her closet of totally boring brown, beige and black sensible clothes. She really needed to go shopping. But apparently, that wasn't needed. She dug through the clean, coupled socks at the bottom of the wardrobe and pulled out two big black bin liners. In them was all the birthday presents, impulse buys and hand me downs she had never worn. Too extravagant. Too colorful. Just the kind of stuff to get her noticed. She WOULD change her life. Her own fate was in her own hands. And she would make the most of it.
Finally, after much rummaging, straightening and groaning, she found a prefect outfit. It consisted of faded gray skinny jeans, a purple top, matching pumps, and a tiny gray cardigan. She pulled it all on and smiled at her reflection. She looked pacifying. Then she quickly and expertly did her make up, taking extra care. This resulted in stunning consequences. With silver twisty earrings, silver bangles and her special charm bracelet, she was stunning.
She picked up her sheets of music and made her way down to the small music studio where her personal, one on one voice tutorials were held, aware of the quiet. Everyone seemed to be sleeping in. Last night must have been big. Jenni felt a pang that she had not been told about the contest by someone, but maybe they had let her grieve. She could get used to this new version of a deserted Antoinette.
She made her way to the studio and sat down at the control panel. The place was old but high-tech. She left the door open because her tutor wasn't there yet and anyway, there was no one there to hear her. She pulled out the lyrics of a song by Rihanna called A Million Miles Away. The college was strict on doing things that were more modern, so she had chosen this song. The dips in the song were good for her voice, as was the emotion, but she had a more mellow sound than Rihanna. So maybe it wouldn't work. She decoded to test it out.
"Here we lay, face to face, once again
Silence cuts like a knife as we pretend
And I'm wondering who will be the first
To say what we both know
We're just holding on to could have been
When we should be letting go..."
"It didn't take you long." A voice cut through her concentration. Jenni jumped. It sounded like...No, it couldn't be him. Just wishful thinking.
"Who's there?" she got out the courage to call out.
"So the silence speaks." Jenni suppressed a gasp. It was him! What was he doing here? Worse, he knew it was her.
"Where are you?" She asked shakily.
"Sing to me and I'll tell you." The voice said. Jenni actually laughed. Wow, was that her own sound?
"No. How 'bout you just tell me where you are?" She felt at total ease for some reason, a drastic change to how she normally was with strangers.
"No. I want to hear you sing. Are you really a fan?"
"You've heard me twice already. And who am I a fan of?" She asked; her voice apprehensive.
"I don't care. I could listen to you all day. And you really don't know who I am?" His voice was disbelieving, mixed with a teasing tone. Was he serious about her voice?
"Nope. I don't get out much. I don't watch TV. Your existence, until now, was a total nothing to me. I really don't know you. But you look familiar." She was at ease with him. He made her feel comfortable.
"You just admitted it was you yesterday."
"So what if it was me? You were singing my favorite song. Your voice if great. I figured that I could sing a line with you, see how we sound together. But I got carried away and had to hide."
"Now, why would you get carried away?" He teased. Jenni looked down at her guitar and blushed. But then she looked right up again.
"'Cause I couldn't believe how much I ruined your sound."
"Yeah, yeah." It sounded like he was rolling his eyes. "So, you think my voice is great?"
"Yeah, duh. Who wouldn't?"
"Stupid question. Sorry. That is why they call me the teen sensation."
"Look who's full of themselves." She said it teasingly, but his voice was serious.
"Bingo."
"Huh?"
"I AM too full of myself. My career started out with the love of music and then it was just the love of fame. And girls, and money. I'll say it like it is."
"Man enough to admit it. Admirable."
"So I came back here. I dropped out a year ago but they let me back in, thankfully. I'm trying to rediscover love."
"Good luck with that."
"Thanks." Jenni grinned into mid-air. "So, you haven't told me. What's your name?" Jenni sighed and looked down.
"Jenni. Jenni Porshotti. No, don't say it's pretty. It's not my real name. I was abandoned when I was really young and didn't know any other. Porshotti sounds exotic because it's Italian, the second name of the nurse who raised me when I was a child. Unfortunately, she never let me forget it."
"Oh. I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not. It fits you beautifully. A tragic story, breathtaking voice, stunning looks, and a great future ahead of you." Jenni laughed.
"I wish. And anyway, aren't you meant to be getting over the love of fame, money and GIRLS? Not flirting would be a good way to start."
"Oh, that isn't flirting. That's my friendly comment. When I'm flirting, you'll know." He said in a fake seductive voice. Jenni laughed.
"So what's your name? You know mine."
"Prepare to be surprised." Jenni smiled. "Daniel Gray." Jenni laughed.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize you! THE Danny boy? That every girl would kill for?"
"The very same." He replied dryly.
"Cool." It sounded like he was smiling. "So can I call you Danny?"
"You know what? I'd like that." Daniel replied.
"Now will you come out? Please?" Jenni felt it appropriate to ask now. They had, after all, had a long talk.
"No. I want you to sing to me." His voice was persistent.
"What do you want me to sing?"
"A fan of old McCartney, huh?" Danny asked.
"His lyrics get to me."
"Well sing me one of his songs."
"Um...OK, then. This one's his famous 'Beautiful Soul'. OK." Jenni cleared her throat and looked around.
"I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're one I want to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul..." She smiled as her voice trailed off and laughed sheepishly. "There it is. Come on out now." She heard Danny laugh.
"Sure. But first, you're the most breathtaking singer I have ever come across. Especially when you sing McCartney's lyrics. I'm jealous." Jenni bit back tears and smiled into the empty air.
"Don't be. I just feel his meaning, you know?"
"Sounds like you're crushing on him." Danny sounded a little subdued.
"Whatever. Now come on out."
"So you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Wait till I tell him."
"Oh sure, 'cause a million other girls aren't crushing on him, too. Not that I'm crushing on him. I got another man in my life." Jenni replied haughtily.
"Oh yeah?"
"No."
"Ha! I'm coming out now." Jenni waited to see where he would come from. There was a hidden door behind her. It opened and Daniel Gray walked out. Jenni had to blink. He was the hottest thing she had ever seen.
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