Track Four
The Day of the Session
The studio feels different that morning. Not quieter. Not louder. Just... charged.
You get there early like you always do, setting things up the way you like them, levels checked, lights dimmed just enough, the room ready before anyone else steps inside it. You don't usually think about who's walking through the door.
Today, you do.
When Daniela arrives, it's understated. No entourage. No rush. She looks comfortable, like she knows this space isn't about performance it's about listening.
"Hey," she says softly.
"Hey," you reply, just as calm.
But you think, Jesus this girl is even more beautiful thanthe last time I saw her. Wait no, relax, calm down...
For a moment, neither of you moves.
It's different from the party. Cleaner. More focused. No distractions to hide behind. Just the hum of the equipment and the shared understanding that this isn't accidental anymore.
You gesture toward the chair beside you. "Whenever you're ready, I could show you some stuff that I feel like not just girls but especially you would like."
She smiles and nods, saying "yeah sure lets get started".
As the first track plays through the speakers, unfinished and open-ended, you glance over and catch her listening the same way she did that night. Not waiting to speak. Not rushing to fill the space.
Daniela says, "you know watching you work in person and seeing you in your element...I see why so many people like to work with you." You feel your heart start to beat a little quick. The feeling of validation and being seen really makes you feel good. Really good.
You think, briefly, that this might be the kind of session that lasts longer than scheduled.
Not because it has to. But because neither of you are in a hurry to leave.
Interrupting your thinking Daniela says, "you know you left kinda abruptly at the party, and I loved where our conversation was going. "
You say, " Well how about we fix that...
what more do you want to talk about" Daniela says, "i honestly want to know more about you.
..you would think most people when first meeting each other know more about the person's background but i think we got really distracted in other topics" while laughing at the end of her sentence.
You chuckle a little bit, "you're completely right.
..alright where to start.." Okay my names Y/N you already know that.
Full name "Y/N Kaylan Y/LN". Im 21, born and raised in New York.
..kind of be making that city my personality but i have no shame about it.
Hmmm the oldest child of both my parents so you know i take that big sibling role very serious especially now that im making money to provide for my spoiled ass siblings.
But shit what else..." you start just going on a tangent.
But not wanting to give too much you start thinking about how much you really want to tell her.
That feeling of keeping your walls up comes back.
So you get into how producing really helped when you didn't know what to do career wise after high school.
Becoming a great part to express yourself sometimes.
Then you switched it to Daniela, learning about her being born in Atlanta to her loving parents from Cuba.
Always proud to explain and connect with her cuban heritage that influences a lot of things with her identity.
How she pretty much grew up with eyes on her immediately.
She started dancing young, and was placed in many competitions.
Later on, going to Dream Academy led to her becoming a member of Katseye.
So appreciative of the girls, and the support she gets from her eyekons.
The more you guys talked the more you learned about each other, the more you were being pulled in.
"You know Daniela, when people usually come into this studio I just kind of get right to work, not really into too much small talk. But with you it's very different i dont know how to explain but it kind of gave me a little break from music all the time so thank you." you say
Daniela blushes a little, "No problem this was a great session... and now looking at the time i think i should go home unfortunately."she laughs
You look at the time : 1:35am
Shit...i didn't realize we were here for that long
"Oh shit, damn I didn't realize the time. Do you need a ride home or anything?" you ask, genuinely just wanting her to be safe this late. She replies, "no I'm all good i drove here, but thank you i appreciate the thought".
No problem you reply, but as you're walking her out a random wave of confidence comes over you.
"Hey before you leave, could I get your number? This session was great and you're a pretty cool person to just talk with."
SAY YES PLEASE DON'T LET ME EMBARRASSMYSELF
Daniela raising her eyebrow says, "of course you really know how to make a girls night."
YESSSS
You guys exchanged numbers and she surprisingly hugs you saying, "goodnight y/n get home safe."
Once she leaves, you sit back in your seat thinking, "where do we go from now..."