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@kayla_cruz2019 I

You walk behind the group, your recent boyfriend, Julian walking next to you, hands pressed into his pockets as he searches the sky for something to talk about.

You let out a breathy sigh as you watch your friends joke around and chuckle at the thought of going to a karaoke bar. You didn't really expect them to want to go so now you're oddly anxious. The thing is, no one here knows you can sing and you'd like to keep it that way because you weren't very fond of drawing unnecessary attention to yourself.

Julian must have sensed your anxiety because he reached over and took a hold of your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Everything alright love?" He asked, searching your face for an answer. You moved your gaze to meet his and gave a slight shrug before putting on a smile.

"Perfect," you breathed out. Julian continued to eye you oddly, not buying your story. Your smile faltered.

"Okay fine, so I'm a little nervous. I didn't think we'd actually go to the karaoke bar," you said. Julian raised an eyebrow at you.

"You don't have to sing if you don't want to, you know? Even if the others try and pressure you, I'll stand up for you," he said. You smirked.

"So brave, are you sure your name isn't Prince Charming?" You joked. Julian smiled and moved closer to you.

"Cold out here isn't it?" He asked. You giggled, knowing he just wanted to stand closer to you.

As you grew closer to the bar, your group grew louder and began practically running into the bar, but still you were nervous.

You entered the joint, inhaling the familiar scent of coffee and lavender. You smiled for a second before your memories of this place were interrupted by the shouting of someone. You flicked your eyes to the person responsible, only to find the one person you wished wasn't here—the owner of the place and good friend of your family, who also happened to let you sing here when you were a teenager--Sonja.

You sighed as you saw your friends and Julian turn to you in confusion. You grimaced and waved at the woman, who eagerly fought her way over to you.

"Y/N! Have you come to gift us with a song tonight? It's been too long since I've heard you sing," she exclaimed.

"I didn't know you sang," Cisco commented. The woman spun around to him, a big grin on her face. She proceeded to lead your group to an open table where she told them about your time in this karaoke bar. You grimaced at every little detail being that when you say here, you were in your adolescence and something about that made the whole idea seemed childish, yet you couldn't deny the amazing memories that you made when you sang here.

You could almost remember the cheering from those who sat in the bar, who had no idea they would be whisked away from their current conversations to listen to a teenager singing. Yet, all eyes were on you every time you sang your favorite cover or belched out an original.

No one could deny you had talent, so they were encouraging each time you set foot on stage. Those in the bar grew to know you as you performed every weekend of just about every month, they became your fans, encouraged your pursuit of singing, and at the end of the day, were the people who inspired you to be something more, even if they were just a crowd in a bar--they were your crowd, your fans.

Sadly though, that all came to a devastating halt two years ago when the world seemed to turn against you and everything seemed pointless. You began becoming overloaded with school work, your part-time job became more like a full time job, your parents expected more out of you now that you were an adult. No more could you spend time in the bar singing your favorite tunes, that faze had ended and a new journey had begun, one where you had to leave singing behind and focus on the things that could take you into your future career.

Mathematics overruled singing. Science was much more important that writing songs. English even was more important than the thrill you got when you sang at the bar. Singing no longer held any importance in your adult life, you had no time for the pointless hobby, as the world had made it seem, now you were merely forced to focus on the academics.

"So you can sing?" You snapped back to reality and glanced over at the voice. Julian.

You let out a cough. "Yeah, I mean I used to, not anymore, that's all behind me," you replied. Julian looked at you with an apparent pout.

"How come?"

You shrugged. "Life got in the way I guess."

Julian pulled you into him for a hug. "It always seems to."

You smiled up at Julian before you were abruptly interrupted by Sonja.

"Y/N! I think you should give it a go, come on, for old times sake?" She asked eagerly. You looked between her and Julian who held a supportive expression. This was what you wanted right? To have a chance to sing again...But not in front of your friends.

You bit your lip in anticipation. Something inside told you to go for it, life got in the way once, but that doesn't mean you should let it again. You LOVED singing and you wanted to perform again.

You smiled widely at Sonja. "Still have that guitar?" You asked.

Sonja jumped in surprises. "Of course I do!" She ran off to grab the guitar while you prepared yourself mentally to sing in front of a crowd again. Julian grabbed your shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"You'll be wonderful love," he said. You smiled at him before leaning over to plant a kiss on his lips.

"Thanks."

Soon enough, Sonja returned with the guitar and you were being led to the stage.

"Attention ladies and gentlemen, we have our first karaoke of the night. I would like to present Y/N, who will be singing a cover of Something I Need by Moira Dela Torre."

You smiled at Sonja and readied yourself as she walked off stage. You looked out into the crowd, but no one seemed to pay attention except for your group of friends in the back who shot you thumbs up.

You sighed shakily before strumming a few notes on your guitar. You began to play your guitar.

"I had a dream the other night," you sang, your voice radiating through the entire bar. A few people looked up from their drinks.

"About how we only get one life." More people looked up.

"Woke me up right after two. Stayed awake and stared at you so I wouldn't lose my mind." Your eyes flicked across the crowd, more people were now engaged and looking at you curiously.

You smiled to yourself. "And I had the week that came from hell. And yes I know that you could tell. But you're like the net under the ledge. When I go flying off the edge. You go flying off as well."

"And if you only live once I wanna live with. You got something I need. In this world full of people there's one loving me," you sang, your spirit becoming more alive with each lyric. You flicked your eyes over to Julian who was smiling at you. You smiled back at him, glad to have him in your life.

You continued the rest of the song and by the end, the crowd erupted into a fit of cheers. You heard your friends above all shouting words of encouragement.

"Sing another!" You giggled at Ralph who you could tell shouted it.

"So do you guys want another?" You asked shyly into the microphone. The crowd began to cheer.

You laughed and put your hand on your chin as you began to think of another song. Finally the idea came to you. You cleared your throat and began strumming your guitar.

"...I'm missing you."