Chapter 9: Coffee House
Taylor's P.O.V.
Today is Friday, February 15th and it is the annual Choral Coffee House at NHS in the cafeteria! I love this part of the choral year because my choral group and I get to have some fun while watching our friends sing for the night. Alot of my friends in my choir auditioned for this in October, including Selina, Aerith, Callie, and myself. After about a month we auditioned, Selina and Aerith got in for solos while Callie and I got in as MCs for the show! I really don't mind being an MC, but I was a tiny bit upset that I didn't get a solo once I found out about it. Mr. Cole said my audition was fantastic and the song I chose fitted my voice perfectly, but he was shocked that I didn't get a solo at all. I don't blame him at all to be honest with you. It was just an audition and sometimes you get the short end of the stick in auditions, but that's ok because it can teach you how to do better in the next audition.
The reason why we do this show in the cafeteria is because we needed spots to plug in the coffee makers and to place out some food on a few tables for everyone attending to have something to eat or drink. And the room is huge for everyone to get in too. Callie and I got our cue cards yesterday and we've been practicing ever since. To our whole choir, they think that we make the perfect duo as we both work together really well and saying a few jokes from time to time that are actually funny. We both know that the entire softball team is coming tonight to see their two captains having some fun performing tonight.
I stayed after school today with Callie, Selina, and Aerith to help set up for the show tonight. I helped setting up the speakers and microphones while Aerith and Callie helped with the food and drinks. Selina helped with the tables keeping them perfectly straight and perfectly clean. After setting up the speakers and mics, I brought in the keyboard and tested it out making sure everything sounds great and it did. I tested the mics and speakers and they sounded great. "Callie!" I said into the microphone. "What Speedy?" she said. "Time for your mic test." I said. "Ok." she said. Callie walked upto the mic. "You did your mic test already?" she asked me. "Yep." I said.
Callie finished her mic test and we saw both Aerith and Selina walk upto the mics practicing their song. After they finished, we saw the other soloists and little groups walk in practicing their songs. I walked to the cafeteria next door and closed the door quietly. I sat on one of the tables, took out my cue cards, and read them silently to memorize every word. "Taylor?" said a voice. I looked up and turned to my right seeing Mr. Cole looking at me. "Hey Mr. Cole." I said. "Do you remember the song you auditioned with?" he asked me. "Lost Boy by Ruth B?" I said. "Yes, that's the song." he said. "Yeah… why?" I asked. "You better practice that song right now because you're singing that song tonight." he said with a smile.
I dropped my jaw slightly and then smiled. "You mean that I got my solo?" I said happily. "You sure did." said Mr. Cole. "Thank you." I said happily. "You're welcome." he said happily. He walked next door checking out everything. I took out my cellphone and immediately called my Mom. "Come on pick up, pick up." I said anxiously. "Hello?" said my Mom. "Hi Mom." I said. "Hi sweetie. Are you alright?" she asked worriedly. "I'm fine Mom, where are you and Dad?" I asked. "We're at home with Cloud and his parents. Why, is there something wrong?" she said. "No nothing's wrong with that. It's just… do you remember when I auditioned for Coffee House and I didn't get a solo?" I said. "Yeah… why?" she said. "Mr. Cole just told me that I got my solo." I said happily. "You did?!" she said. "I did. I'm singing my solo tonight." I said. "Congratulations sweetie! You know that Daddy and I are so proud of you." she said happily. "Thank you Mom, and hey can you tell Cloud about this for me? I'm going to be busy practicing my song and reading cue cards until you guys get here." I said. "I will tell him about it. Go practice and don't strain your voice ok?" she said. "Ok. Love you." I said. "Love you too sweetheart." she said happily.
I hung up and started practicing my song for a half hour. After practicing, I heard my phone vibrate on the table. I picked it up and saw a text from Cloud. "Hey pumpkin, just heard that you got your solo and I want to you know that I'm so proud of you! I can't wait to hear your beautiful voice sing tonight. Love you!" Cloud texted. I smiled at the text happily. I put my phone in my pocket and walked back to the show seeing everything now all set up and ready to go. "This show is going to be great." I said to myself.
Selina's P.O.V.
Four hours had passed by and I started seeing people walk inside. I sat down in the next room with Taylor, Aerith, and Callie waiting to see our families and friends walk inside. "Do we know how many people are coming?" I asked them. "Besides our friends and families, I have no clue." said Callie. We looked and saw a senior walk in with a three year old. "There's Ryan." said Callie. She saw his brown skater hair and his baseball hat and she knew that it was him. Ryan is a senior at our school and is on the baseball team with Cloud. He is also Callie's boyfriend ever since their freshman year. Ryan bought his ticket, saw the four of us and walked over. "Hey." said Callie. "Hey babe." said Ryan. They kissed and looked at the three year old.
"There's my little brother." said Callie. She walked upto him, picked him up, and held him in her arms. "Hi Dylan!" said Callie happily. "Hi Callie!" said Dylan happily. He looked over Callie's shoulder and saw Taylor behind her and he made a huge smile. "You see Taylor?" Callie asked. She put him down and he ran to Taylor and hugged her. "There's my little chicken nugget!" said Taylor happily as she hugged him. I couldn't help but aww at that moment. "He loves Taylor huh?" said Aerith. "He sure does. Out of all my teammates, Taylor is his favorite." said Callie. We looked over and saw Callie's parents walk in and they waved at us. Taylor brought Dylan back to them and Ryan left to sit with them.
About a few minutes later, I saw my Dad and Emma walk in with both Aerith and Taylor's parents and then finally saw Reno, Zack, and Cloud walk in. I noticed that Taylor and Callie were on the other side of the room between the doors. I walked over to them and saw them talking to their softball team as they saw them. The two of them walked next door and went to their team. I looked back at Aerith and the boys as they looked at me as I walked back. "Where'd they just go?" Zack asked me. "To sit with their softball team." I said. "Doesn't their season start in six weeks?" said Reno. "The same day my baseball season starts." said Cloud.
We got up and walked into the next room seeing everybody getting their food, drinks, and seats. I looked at Taylor seeing her carry Dylan on her shoulders and hearing him laugh. I grabbed one of the show pamphlets as the rest of the group got stuff to eat and drink and we sat with our families for now.
Cloud's P.O.V.
I looked at the table Taylor was at with Callie talking to each other and I saw my little cousin there with them. I stood up and walked over to them. As I walked over, Taylor instantly recognized me. "Dylan look! Who is that?" said Taylor happily. He looked at me and ran over to me. "Cloud!" said Dylan happily. "Hey buddy!" I said happily as I picked him up and hugged him. "You giving the girls trouble?" I asked him. "No?" he said curiously. I lightly laughed and ruffled his hair which made him laugh and hide his face into the crook of my neck.
"Having fun you two?" said Callie. "A little bit." I said as I sat down next to Taylor. I looked at her and I closed my eyes halfway lovingly and she did the same. "Hi." I said lovingly. "Hi." said Taylor lovingly. I leaned over to her and kissed her for about 3 seconds. Our lips let go and we smiled genuinely at each other. "Guys, look at him." said Callie as she pointed at Dylan. We looked at him and saw that he was a little surprised of what we just did. "You ok?" I asked him. "She's your new girlfriend?" he asked. I nodded my head yes to my question. "She is. I've been dating her for almost two months now. Do you remember when I told you that I'm dating her?" I said. Dylan nodded his head yes.
He looked at Taylor as I put my arm around her as we looked at him. "Taylor?" said Dylan. "Yeah?" said Taylor. "You kiss him better than his last ten girlfriends." said Dylan. My face turned red and saw that Zack and the rest of me and Taylor's group sitting next to us at another table hearing them cheer a little bit. "You really think so?" Taylor asked Dylan. "Yeah, that's what he told me last week. He said that your kisses are sweeter than any candy in the world." he said. I looked away from Taylor and she knew that I was embarrassed. "And he also said that he is proud that he's dating the most beautiful girl in the world. His lucky star, his everything." said Dylan happily.
I could hear the girls saying "aww" as I looked away trying to put my hood on to hide my face. Before I could pull the strings, I felt a hand on my face. I instantly knew that it was Taylor just by her touch. "Babe?" said Taylor sweetly. I looked at her and shyly nuzzled into the palm of her hand. I saw a warm smile appear on her face and then she gently kissed me for a couple seconds. "Thank you for those very sweet words you said about me." she said genuinely. "You're welcome. I love you." I said sweetly. "I love you too." she said sweetly. "Hey Tay?" said Callie. We looked at her wondering what she's going to say. "Almost showtime." she said.
We looked back at each other and I gave her a kiss for good luck. "Cloud, you don't mind watching Dylan for awhile?" Callie asked me. "Sure, I don't mind watching him." I said. "Thanks cuz." she said happily. "You're welcome." I said. I picked him up and sat back down with me and Taylor's families.
Taylor's P.O.V.
After we saw everyone sit in their seats, Callie and I knew that it's showtime. "Ready Tay?" Callie asked me. "Ready." I said. We walked to the mics and took them out of their stands. "Good evening everyone and welcome to our annual Coffee House. My name is Callie Strife and this is my co-host Taylor Lazarus. We will be your hosts for tonight." said Callie. "Before we start the show, in case of an emergency, the exits are right here at this door next to me over there and also at the entrance to the parking lot. Also, this show is being recorded by the Nibelheim City Television and this recording will be on their channel next week at 6:30 p.m. next Friday." I said.
I looked at Callie and nodded my head knowing that my little speech was done. "With all that said I hope that you all will enjoy the show tonight." said Callie. "And we promise that the show will be done at 9:00 p.m. so that alot of our Mom's can watch Scandal." I said. We could hear alot of Mom's cheer for that. Callie and I looked at Cloud and Ryan shake their heads in embarrassment. I looked behind myself and saw the Freshman Choir walk onto the rafters as Callie announced them walking into the room. After she announced them, we put the mics back on their stands and walked to our team.
I looked over seeing Dylan quietly get off Cloud's lap and walked over to me. "You wanna sit with me?" I asked him sweetly. He nodded his head yes to my question. I picked him up and put him on my lap. Callie looked at me and saw her little brother sitting on my lap. "Dylan?" said Callie curiously. Dylan and I looked at Callie wondering what's going on. "Aren't you supposed to be with your cousin?" she asked him. I looked up and saw Cloud begin to panic. "I got this." I said as I picked Dylan up and put him on my shoulders. We looked at him and saw a huge smile on his face.
Callie saw both Cloud and Ryan looking at us and seeing Dylan on my shoulders. They both breathed a sigh of relief. I looked next door seeing both Aerith and Selina there knowing their song will start in 5 minutes. I slowly stood up and walked next door to stay with them while keeping Dylan on my shoulders. "You're hired as the babysitter of my future children." said Selina jokingly. "Gee thanks." I said jokingly. We looked at the stage knowing that the freshman finished their stuff seven minutes ago and a soloist from the sophomore class was almost finished.
I looked at Aerith and Selina seeing them a little nervous. "You two are gonna be fine. Just pretend it's only me there, forget about everything around the both of you. You're going to sound great." I said happily. "Thanks for the confidence Taylor." said Aerith happily. "Anytime." I said happily. After saying that, we heard a knock on the door and saw Callie peek into the room. "You two ready?" she asked Aerith and Selina. They nodded their heads yes and walked upto the door. I walked out the door with them and saw both Zack and Reno take out their phones to record their girlfriends as they sat with Cloud and Ryan. As Callie introduced them, I looked at the pan flit and saw that I was next to perform!
I looked at Callie as she looked at her cue cards as she walked upto me. "What are they singing again?" I asked her. "Brave by Sara Bareilles." said Callie. We looked back at Aerith and Selina hearing them sing beautifully. Callie looked at the pan flit wondering who was next. Once she saw my name and my song, she was really surprised that I got my solo after all! I took Dylan off my shoulders and gave him to Callie knowing now that it's my turn up on stage.
Cloud's P.O.V.
After hearing both Aerith and Selina sing together, and after both Zack and Reno's cheering, it was Taylor's turn. I took out my phone and started recording as Callie introduced her. I cheered for Taylor and she smiled happily at me. Once the keyboard played and Taylor sang, I instantly fell in love. Both of Taylor's parents saw the smile on my face as we heard their daughter sing like an angel. I looked over seeing Callie, Aerith, and Selina recording Taylor's performance too. After a couple minutes, Taylor's performance was finished and she did fantastic! I stopped recording on my phone, put it away, and walked upto Taylor as she sat with Aerith and Selina. "Great job babe." I said to Taylor. She looked up at me and smiled happily. "Thank you honey." she said. She stood up and I hugged her for a couple minutes.
The show took a ten minute intermission, which gave the girls time to eat and talk. After ten minutes, Taylor walked to the mic hosting the show again. During the show, she made sure that everyone was having a good time. After all of that, she walked to the stage with Callie, Aerith, and Selina to perform with their main choir group. Callie had a solo during one of their songs and she sang really good. About ten minutes later, the show was over. i helped Taylor clean up a little bit before leaving the building with her. We said bye to everyone and left the place with her parents. "Did you guys like the show?" Taylor asked me and her parents. "We sure did honey." said Taylor's Mom. "The three of us loved your solo the most Taylor." said Taylor's Dad. "You did?" Taylor asked happily. Her Dad nodded his head yes. Taylor smiled happily. "Did you have fun hosting?" her Mom asked. "I did actually, but I wish I could've done a few jokes up there." said Taylor. "You were great up there babe. I think you had alot of fun up there." I said. "Thanks babe." she said happily. We drove back to her house, walked inside, and played with Tempo for a little bit. After that, I kissed Taylor goodnight, went home, and slept for the night.
Thank you for reading Chapter 9 of the series! The songs that were in this story, I do not own the rights to them at all! They were used for entertainment purposes only. I hoped that you all liked this chapter!
Next time, Chapter 10: The Perfect Date. Reno wants to make the perfect dinner date for Selina at his house and he asks Taylor, Aerith, Cissnei, and Yuffie for help and let's just say it will get pretty chaotic.
