Live While We're Young

[Laura Ray Simone]

Laura had been contemplating going to the cafe every sense she heard about it upon arriving to New Zealand. It was an okay sized restaurant/coffee place that happened to have open mic weekends. Laura had gone to places like this before in Paris, but she had always been with friends and hadn't been nearly as scary as when she walked in alone. She could see a lot of people through the hazy light and here some smooth jazz coming from the stage. Laura took a deep breathe and pushed through the crowd, guitar in tow. The air was sticky with the breathe of the crowd. It was oddly comforting for Laura to be surrounded by so many people, but she knew there would be one moment of shear terror before she took the stage. Most singers claimed to not get stage fright and she honestly didn't know, maybe you grew out of it. All Laura knew was it always vanished as soon as she started singing. Laura saw a list and signed up to sing. She would have to wait for two performers before she could go. Laura was surprised that the list wasn't longer with so many people her but the night was still young and she was sure some people were just scared. It reminded her of the first time she had come to a place similar to this, it had been Laura and her good friend Maya. They had both been so nervous but singing duet had made it easier. The crowd had loved them and they had both been shaking with delight when they came back off stage. It had helped strengthen their friendship and solidify a bond between the two of them.

Leaving Maya had been one of the hardest things that Laura had ever done. They had both cried when Laura had told her that she needed to move back to New Zealand, but she had supported her decision even though she hadn't understood it. Laura had promised to visit soon and found it ironic that sitting here in this dark little restaurant she had thought of her old friend. Coming back to her senses Laura realized that the jazz singer had finished and what looked to be a full blown cowboy, boots and all, had taken the stage and started a slow ballad about broken hearts and cowgirls. Laura smiled and adjusted her dress and tried to pay attention to the man on stage. her focus kept drifting, not many people were in to the song and the crowd was getting a little restless. The DJ came to the mic to announce the next singer. He called a few times but the next person on line up must have chickened out. The man simply shrugged and said they were going to move on with the program. Laura had never gotten used to people saying her name so when she heard the man call for her it sent a tingle up her spine.

Laura put on a determined smile and made her way to the stage. Laura made her way through the crowd and walked up the steps to the stage. There was a small house band which she told to follow her lead. Laura sat down on a stool and adjusted her guitar. The spotlight shined on her and she felt the welt of butterflies in her stomach, but she strummed a soft note and started to sing. The song started out slow and enchanting, Laura knew she had caught the attention of some of the people in the crowd, she started to pick up the tempo and the crowd seemed to wake up. Laura stood up leaving the stool and it was then that she heard the house band join her. Moving around the stage she sang about life and moving past the pain to the good things. It was uplifting and Laura could feel the crowd rise and fall with the twisting of her words. It made Laura feel alive and she forgot about everything except the song and became one with the people she was singing to. When the song finally came to an end Laura caught her breath and her heart skipped a beat when after a moment of silence the crowd roared and applauded. Laura knew she was blushing but smiled anyway and said a quick 'Thank You' into the mic before walking off stage and melting into the crowd to find somewhere to sit and listen. More people had signed up to sing and Laura was content to sit at a small two person table in a corner sipping water and taking in her performance over and over again in her mind, scrutinizing and appreciating what she had done.

 

[Elijah Tine]

He had gone places. Seen things. And it was really only the beginning. At nineteen, the boy had achieved so much. So much that he wasn't sure how he had really managed. When he looked in the mirror, all he saw was his eleven year old frame. Young anxious eyes. A burning passion for music. But, he was no longer that small boy, he was tall, confident, but still had the burning passion for music. It had been quite a year for him. It had been eventful. The last year had been everything he could've ever wished for. And to top it off, he had his girl by his side at each step of the way. It had been almost a year since he had backed everything up and headed half way around the world to follow his dream. He was now a successful musician, with many more years ahead of him. He had an album doing well in countless countries. There was a growing following, he gained more and more followers on the muggle websites. He had people stopping him in the street in almost every country he went to. Elijah Tine was pretty ready to say that he was making it. He was still on tour. The North American tour he'd started with, had very quickly become a world tour. It was the World tour, that was to prepare him for his own, headlining tour that he would do. His album being successful enough to merit such a thing. However, the young man was glad to be back in his home. New Zealand, was a place he found he missed. It had been where things had been simpler. He loved his new life, he was on top of the world, but being back in New Zealand brought back old memories. The first time he'd met Kynleigh, when he'd realised that he was in love with her. Being reunited with her. Everything had always been good to him in the land down under. However, this trip was only three days long, and he was trying to do as much as possible. He didn't want the time to slip away from him, and for him to be left with no more good memories of this place. He had left a jetlagged Knyleigh in the hotel room they were currently staying in. The past year hadn't been easy on their bodies. Eli had found that no matter how good things were, he missed the amount of sleep he used to get. There had been days while at School that he hadn't bothered getting out of bed. But, things had changed so much over the past years. He was so focused on his music that he didn't mind it. But, the traveling wasn't good for the sleep patterns he was trying to get himself into. Elijah still wouldn't change it for the world. He was doing his dream, and he felt so lucky everyday. There was no turning back now. He was on top of the world each day. He wouldn't change it for the world.

The former hufflepuff had spent so long away from New Zealand, that the only place he could remember well, was a very small cafe that had open mic nights. It was one of the places that Elijah used to go to, to play. It was where he truly fell in love with preforming and knew that he would doing that all his life, rather than something dull and boring. Why he knew, despite his father's best efforts that he wouldn't be a lawyer, or something muggle and boring. It made him think of his sister. Kiara. Did she like his music, had she even heard it. But, it wasn't something he thought too long on, instead he headed down the paths he remember. Recalling the days he could do this with his eyes closed. Finally, he got to the cafe. It was pretty dark by that time. New Zealand was heading towards the colder months. Elijah had lived in all seasons. Touring had taken him just about everywhere. In all times of the year. It was odd to be in New Zealand for him. He had spent a lot of time there, but his previous life was so very distant at this point. He pushed open the door, and was glad to just take a seat up the back. A girl, was called up as he moved to sign himself up to sing. No one had yet noticed him, which was good. He didn't want to be noticed. This in his eyes was just a chance to relax on an evening. The girl began singing and he found himself smiling. She was good. She was really good. He had heard so many singers in the many months of touring, but she was really good. She really was. He smiled. Wondering if she was interested in perusing that kind of thing. Music was either something you wanted to make with your life, or not. Elijah had fallen in love since the first time he'd ever picked up a guitar. At the mere age of seven he had fallen in love. The girl finished, and Elijah clapped loudly. He watched her leave the stage and walk to the back. He had a few singers until it was his turn, so he decided to take a chance. He pushed through the crowd. Which was larger than he remembered it. The girl, sat alone, without bothering to ask if it was okay, Elijah took a seat. His confidence had grown a lot over the past few months. He was a lot better with people than before. His job sort of required it. "You're good" He stated matter-of-factly. He smiled at her, before glancing at the stage. "Raw talent, which is lacking nowadays." Elijah looked back at her, giving a small shrug. "I'm Eli," He smiled at her, and held his hand out to her. He didn't think that she would know who he was. Which suited him fine. "Ever thought of doing music for a living?"
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