Hi, everybody!
I don't have anything to report other than thanks for waiting patiently and I hope you like this next chapter of I've Gotta Be Me!
BTW, be on the lookout for a better story cover for this fic, as well as some Steff Pearce art on my Tumblr page!
Brewtiful wasn't as packed with customers as it had been yesterday, but there were still plenty of tasks around the café to keep the Pearce family on their toes.
While her parents were preparing the food and working the cash register, Steff had her earphones in, finishing off polishing a recently used table as music played from the phone in her pocket at a low volume. And all the while, the young skunk was singing to herself. It was one of the last songs she and her grandma had sung together before she had died:
Girl, put your records on
Tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
"Steff, could you take this order to table seven please?"
The skunk perked up at the sound of her porcupine mother calling her.
"Coming, Ma!" She replied, replacing the cap on her polish before going over to the bar. Andrea had just placed a fresh steaming cup of espresso on the tray, next to a plump blueberry muffin.
"In a musical mood today?" Cassie asked playfully, hand on her hip while her daughter removed her earphones.
"Yeah, I was just... remembering Grandma." All three of their faces fell in sadness at the mention of their departed Julie. Steff, Cassie and Andrea all wistfully glanced up at the family portrait hanging behind the bar, with Grandma Julie squished in the middle of their loving hug.
"Come next Monday, it'll have been ten years since..." The skunk's words were cut off by the light touch of her ma's hand on her shoulder.
"We miss her too, Steff." Andrea said softly.
"Gosh, I remember how elegant she was whenever she got behind the microphone." Cassie sighed, staring at the photo with nostalgia. "How gracefully she sang."
"Yeah." Steff gave a tiny nod; even though it hadn't been her mom's intention, the skunk couldn't help feeling like she was being compared to her late grandma.
"And there's no empty spots for local bands or choirs or anything. I've checked." She cast her gaze down at the floor. "I'm starting to wonder if there'll ever be a chance for me to go into singing like her."
Placing a hand under her chin, Cassie gently turned her daughter's head back up to look into her eyes.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm positive there's a chance waiting out there for you." She said with a kind smile. "It just hasn't found you yet."
"Your mom's right, Steff." Andrea added, patting her on the shoulder. "For all you know, it could find you tomorrow or even today. So don't you give up hope yet." Steff gave a thankful grin at their words.
"Thanks, Moms." With that, she picked up the tray and made her way over to table seven before their order got any colder, feeling slightly better. Using her free hand to put her earphones back in, she softly sang the final lyric in her song's chorus under her breath:
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Ash and Lance were the only ones present in Harry's Bar.
Now that Lance had perfected his song, the two porcupines were busy doing some last checks on their equipment on the tiki bar's stage, bathed in a pair of royal blue spotlights. Whilst Lance adjusted his mike stand, Ash absent-mindedly tuned her guitar.
Admittedly her mind wasn't entirely focused on this audition. Ever since yesterday, all she had been able to think about was Steff. After leaving Calatonia High School, the porcupine had missed the talks they used to share during the time they got to spend together. Whether it was cracking jokes about their teachers or comparing music tastes, every moment spent with her had made sitting through high school worth it. Ash had gradually lost touch with her skunk friend thanks to Lance wanting the both of them to focus solely on building their rock careers.
But after bumping into her for the first time since, those memories had come rushing back in floods. In spite of how busy she and her boyfriend were these days, Ash hoped there would be some time to catch up with Steff.
"Ash? Babe, you ready?"
Her boyfriend's rough voice snapped Ash out of her daydreams. Darting her eyes around, she took notice of both Harry sitting expectantly at one of the tables in a Hawaiian shirt, and Lance standing behind his microphone with his guitar in hand.
"Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm ready." She responded, quickly straightening her posture. Lance's impatient glance quickly morphed into a confident smile.
"Alright." He said with a wink, making Ash blush under her fur. He got her with that move every time. "Let's rock this bar."
At those words, the backing music he'd spent all day creating from scratch blared from the speakers. The pair didn't see the polar bear manager immediately cover his ears as Lance began shouting the lyrics, with Ash backing him up.
One! Two!
One, two, three, four!
I don't wanna talk to ya (nothing to say)
I don't wanna walk with ya (outta my way)
I'm not gonna play for ya (don't wanna play)
I don't need anyone else…
Snapping his eyes open, Lance looked across at his girlfriend who started energetically singing his verse, even kicking away her mike stand in a burst of adrenaline.
Yeah, yeah!
I live my life by myself
Yeah, yeah!
She even took Lance's spot on the second microphone, right before he irritably barged her out of the way again.
I can't stand a thing that you say
I'm not listening any...
Lance's vocals faltered at the sound of the backing music suddenly cutting out. Confused, both porcupines turned their heads to see Harry holding the plug in his hand.
"Oh, my gosh! I thought you guys said you were musicians!" He said, completely aghast.
"We are musicians." Lance insisted, casting a sideways glare at his girlfriend. "Come on, man, let us do it right this time."
"You think I'm gonna let that ear-bleeding garbage play in my bar?" The polar bear unceremoniously dropped the cable onto the floor. "Audition's over."
Their faces falling in disappointment, Ash and Lance were given no choice but to silently pack up their guitars and walk out, with Harry glowering as he held the door open.
"Ash, babe, I'm the lead singer, okay? Just stick to the backing vocals."
Ash hastily followed behind him with her guitar case in her hands. "Sorry, I-I get carried away."
"Yeah, I know, right?" Her boyfriend replied flatly. "It just kinda ruins my song, y'know?"
The female porcupine looked down at the pavement guiltily. There had been a few occasions where her enthusiasm for performing had overshadowed Lance and jeopardised their chances for a gig. And each time, Lance had reminded her to reign her habits in.
"Sorry, I'll control myself next time. It won't happen again."
"It better not if we're gonna land another gig." Lance said, looking back at her over his shoulder. "You can't compromise an artist's vision, you know, babe?"
His girlfriend promptly shook her head. "No, absolutely not."
"Here you are, sir." Steff said politely, setting a piping hot mug of cappuccino down on table two.
"Thank you, miss." replied the dog with a grateful smile. Nodding in return, Steff took the empty tray back to the bar, right as her mom checked her watch.
"It's been ten minutes, Steff." said Cassie, looking over her shoulder. "You can go on your lunch break now."
"Cool, thanks, Mom." With that, the skunk turned and made her way out the door at the back of the café. Heading upstairs, she entered the kitchen and immediately set to work on fixing herself some food.
Sitting herself down at the table, Steff fished her phone out of her dress pocket and went onto the music app. Sometimes she kept it turned off during work hours so she wouldn't be tempted to glance at it. But other times, she used her earphones to listen to her songs on a low volume to put herself at ease. Setting her favourite relaxing playlist on shuffle, the skunk leaned back with a blissful sigh and took a bite of her peanut butter sandwich as the kitchen was filled with the calming opening notes of Moonlight Sonata.
Fifteen minutes later, a notification ping jolted Steff out of her moment of peace. Glancing at the screen with annoyance at first, her face lit up when she saw that it was a text from Ash. Putting down her half-eaten apple, she read the message to herself:
Hey Steff, you doing ok?
Smiling, the skunk quickly replied.
Yep, work's going fine. On my lunch break.
How about you?
didnt get the gig
Steff frowned in sympathy before texting her back.
Oh, no, I'm so sorry to hear that. :(
yeah I blew it. got carried away on the chorus
Her mind flashing back to the junior year talent show and the cold reception Ash's rock performance got, Steff thought of an amusing yet comforting reply:
You sure it wasn't that jerk Principal Dower you auditioned for? Cause he's the only guy I know who would turn away a rock star like you.
Ash's eyes widened at that compliment before a modest smile crossed her face. Out of the two of them, she considered Lance the real artist. She simply tried to help his songs sound as great as he imagined them.
Sneaking a glance at her boyfriend still walking ahead of her, the porcupine quickly texted a short reply.
thanks, Steff
That Harry doesn't know what he's missing. I'm sure you sounded amazing.
Hope you get another gig soon.
me too.
Looking at the corner of her screen, Steff's eyes widened as she realised her half-hour break had almost completely finished.
My break's nearly up. Talk to you later?
sure, me & Lance gotta go catch our train in a bit.
Okay, have a safe journey.
thanks, hope the rest of your day goes alright
With a smile, Steff finished the last bite of her lunch before standing and brushing the crumbs off her apron. Deciding to turn her phone off for the remainder of her shift, she stuffed it back into her pocket and began descending the stairs to the café. Regardless of whether a chance for her to follow in Grandma's footsteps came or not, it was good to be talking to Ash again.
Ash and Lance silently stood hand in hand near the edge of the platform as their train came into view. He hadn't spoken a word since they'd left the tiki bar. Ash was hoping that he would forgive her for botching their audition once they got back to the apartment.
As the train screeched to a stop in front of them, a cloud of orange papers followed suite, swarming the entire station. The powerful breeze caused a couple of them to become stuck to their quills. The bold text printed on one catching her attention, Ash pulled it off her boyfriend's body and read it, her face brightening.
"Hey, Lance, look at this!" she cried as the male porcupine stepped on board without her. He quickly noticed as the doors shut behind him.
"Ash, babe, hey…" He called as the train rode off, leaving his girlfriend standing on the platform. The smile never leaving her face, she ran after the train while waving the flyer in her hand ecstatically.
Turning her gaze back to the orange paper, her excitement never wavering as she read the words over and over again; small gigs were one thing but this was the golden opportunity for her and Lance to truly make it as rock stars.
"I gotta tell Steff about this!" She said to herself, quickly pulling out her phone and speed-typing a text to her friend.
Brewtiful was close to empty by 3:55pm. Business has turned out quite well for a Sunday, and as soon as the most recent customer had walked out the door, the Pearce family began making a head start on cleaning up the café.
While her parents began to stock up the cash register and sweep the floor, Steff went to clear off the outside tables. Fortunately only one of them had an empty cup on it, making her job a lot easier. Embracing the light breeze in the air, the skunk turned and pushed open the door, flipping over the OPEN sign.
As it closed behind her, a flash of orange caught the corner of her eye. Steff turned her head to see a neon orange flyer had blown in through the door. Reaching out her free hand, Steff grabbed the fluttering paper out of the air and gave it a look. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree as her eyes scanned the bold black text printed on it:
SINGING COMPETITION AUDITIONS
THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE THE GRAND PRIZE
OF
$100,000
OPEN AUDITIONS AT THE MOON THEATER
551 ECHO DRIVE
The skunk almost dropped her tray as she read those words, quickly setting it down on the nearest table. The opportunity that she'd been hoping for, her chance to be just like Grandma Julie, had finally arrived.
"MOMS!" Cassie and Andrea's heads snapped up in alarm at their daughter's excited shouting. "Moms, look at this!"
"What is it, Steff?" Andrea asked, leaning her broom against the bar. Waving the flyer ecstatically, Steff managed to calm herself and hold it still for both her parents to see.
"A singing competition!" she cried, jabbing her finger at the text. "At the Moon Theatre! Tomorrow!"
"No way, that's amazing!" Cassie took the paper for her and her wife to inspect the text closer. "I didn't know that old theatre was still kicking."
"And a hundred-thousand dollars? Quite the prize they're giving away!" Andrea added, straightening her glasses.
"This is exactly the chance you told me would come along!" said Steff, bursting at the seams with joy. "Listen, I-I know this is all rather last-minute, but can I please go along to the auditions?"
"Of course you can, sweetheart." Her mom replied with a smile. "Your ma and I can both cover your shift tomorrow. We've done it before."
"And if you make it into the show, we'll cover you as long as you need."
Letting out an excited squeal, the young skunk almost knocked her moms off their feet with a crushing hug.
"Thank you so much!" Kissing them both on the cheek for good measure, Steff whirled around and snatched the towel and polish off the bar. She began vigorously cleaning the nearest table as Cassie and Andrea couldn't help chuckling at the sight; their daughter's excitement was contagious.
Whilst they both continued their cleaning duties at their own pace, Steff managed to thoroughly polish every inch of the café in less than three minutes.
"Well now that that's over with, I suppose you'd better go choose a song." said Cassie, grinning at the jittering young skunk. "You've got a big day ahead of you."
Not needing to be told twice, Steff dashed out of the café, only stopping to neatly hang up her apron, and up the stairs toward her room. Yanking her phone out of her pocket, she promptly turned it on and was greeted by a new text notification from an hour ago.
Steff,have you seen? theres a singing contest tomorrow at the Moon Thetare!
Guessing that Ash must have wrote it in an excited hurry, Steff sat on the edge of her mattress and wasted no time replying.
Just saw the flyer! So awesome!
You auditioning?
Absolutely! what about you?
Is black coffee calorie friendly?
...i assume that's a yes?
The skunk stifled a laugh at her friend's confused reply; her coffee-based rhetorical questions usually went over Ash's head back in high school.
Heck yes, I am! LOL
XD just checking
I hope you get in. I haven't heard your rock skills since junior year, looking forward to hearing them again.
come to think of it, I never got a chance to hear you sing before.
can't wait to hear you tomorrow.
Well I'd better start practicing then. See you there. Good luck!
thanks, you too!
Holding the phone to her chest, Steff fell back onto her bed with a happy sigh. A chance to become a singer like Grandma and potentially be in the contest alongside the most wonderful girl in the world? This Sunday officially could not get any better.
Initially having trouble deciding from the hundreds of favourite songs in her playlist, she eventually settled on a tender piano cover of Thank You For The Music. Steff had strategised that she would start small and impress the judges just enough at the audition so they would see her potential. Then if they chose her as a contestant, she could really wow them later down the line with a perfect emulation of her grandma's stage presence, complete with a cover of Diamonds Are Forever.
Later, after nearly two hours of practice behind her closed bedroom door, the skunk finally felt ready for the challenge ahead.
"Steff, dinner's ready!"
The heavenly smell of tomato and spinach spaghetti glided under her door and into Steff's nose as soon as her mom called those words.
"Coming, Mom!" Pausing her backing music, she pocketed her phone and opened her door for the first time that evening, making her way downstairs. Stopping halfway down, she could hear her moms' voices from the kitchen.
"Can you imagine it? Our daughter, a singer just like Mom."
"I know, Cassie. This competition is such a wonderful opportunity for her."
Steeling herself, Steff cast a determined look at her grandma's portrait on the wall before continuing down the stairs to the kitchen.
I have to win this competition if I'm gonna make them proud. Most importantly, I have to win it for her.
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Song(s) used:
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
I Don't Wanna - Beck Bennett and Scarlett Johansson
Fun fact: I chose the piano version of Thank You For The Music from Mamma Mia for Steff's audition as a nod to Amanda Seyfried, my ideal actor choice for her.
The movie Sing belongs to Illumination Entertainment. I only own my OC, Steff Pearce.