Chapter 2: They Really Like Me…

          "Wow! Susan this place really is great!" Chen exclaimed as her, Susan, and Abby walked into "Pure Talent," the new Karaoke place.

          "Told ya. I came here opening night, with my friend Erin, and there were so many people here we couldn't even get a table!" The girls looked around the place and found it way bigger than they thought it would be.

          About five minutes later Susan, Abby, and Chen, were seated, and had ordered their dinner. As they listened to the people who were onstage, Abby remembered one of the best days of her life…

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          "Ooh, ooh!! My favorite song!" Abby yelped. She leaned forward, and turned the volume up on the car radio. She grabbed her hairbrush, which was in the backseat, and started to sing along. Not too far into the song Carter, who was driving, began to laugh.

          "What?" Abby asked sounding hurt. "Am I really that bad?"

          "No Abby, You're really that good! I didn't know you could sing so well!"

          "Really?"

          "Really, really." They laughed. "You know, you should really dump County and get a performing job. You sound so professional…" By this point Abby was blushing so bad her face burnt.

          "Carter, you just made my day…I love you so much."

          "I love you too Abby…And don't forget what I told you. You'd be big. Trust me."

          "I trust you John. And who knows…I might actually make it someday. That is, if I can have to courage to get onto a stage first!" She giggled.

          "Oh yeah…I forgot that little detail…we'll have to work on that."

          "Yeah…we will." She inhaled deeply.

          She even finished the song. Just for Carter. Carter. What would she do without him?

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          "Abby? You okay?" Chen asked.

          "Huh? Oh. Oh yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking…that's all."

          "Anything you wanna talk about?" Susan asked sounding concerned.

          "Actually…I will. But not talking, talking…by song."

          She took a deep breath and walked onstage with shaky legs. Why did it suddenly get so cold in here? She asked herself as she shivered. "Come on Abby…you can do this. Do it for him. Do it for Carter. They wont hate you, Carter even said I'd 'make it big someday'" Abby muttered under her breath. She put the song in the CD player, and grabbed the microphone. As soon as she heard the music, she smiled. The audience was listening, taking time away from their conversations to hear her sing. It was just a heart-lifting feeling. And it's just the little things that make someone's heart soar. Susan and Chen were in the audience, smiling like a couple of lunatics, but the fact they were smiling felt so good. "Ok…this is it…" Abby thought as she heard her cue to start singing. The words described the way she was feeling so well, she didn't want to stop. She was even tempted to cry, but thank God that didn't happen.

Hope life's been good to you
since you've been gone
I'm doin' fine now--I've finally moved on
It's not so bad--I'm not that sad

I'm not surprised just how well I survived
I'm over the worst, and I feel so alive
I can't complain--I'm free again

          My god…she was doing it! She was actually over her stage fright! The look on everyone's faces blew her mind. Their eyes were popping out of their sockets, and their smile's grew with every word.

And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my breath--to forget

Don't think I'm lyin' 'round cryin' at night
There's no need to worry, I'm really all right
I've never looked back--as a matter of fact

          She just couldn't stop. This was so fun! The audience was wonderful. They were listening to every word, every tune, and every pitch. It was just great.

And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my breath--to forget

Mmm, no, I've never looked back--
as a matter fact.

          The song was almost over. Abby didn't want this experience to end. She was so into the song, it's surreal. She wished Carter was here to see her. She wished so bad. But he was behind her now. He'll never come back, and that was that.

And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my breath--to forget

Hurts when I'm breathing
Breaks when it's beating
Die when I'm dreaming
It only hurts when I breathe…

          That's it. The song was over. The audience roared, and they all stood. "A standing ovation!! Wow!!" she thought. She bowed slightly and noticed Susan and Chen standing on their chairs whistling…rather loudly. She laughed so hard inside, but instead a single tear rolled down her cheek. She was living her dream. She was living Carter's dream for her. She was a success.

          "They really like me…" Abby whispered, and she walked off the stage. She walked away from home.