Page 94 of Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia 2)

He grabbed his guitar from the case and hoped up on stage.

Gripping the microphone in his hand, he smiled out at the crowd. “How are y’all doin’ tonight?”

The crowd, mostly high school and college kids, hollered in response.

“I’m going to sing a couple of songs for you before my lovely wife takes the stage,” he pointed at me.

I blushed profusely as all eyes turned towards me.

“Hi,” I squeaked, waving.

“This first song is one you’ve all probably heard. It’s a big hit right now, but I’m going to slow it down,” he lowered the microphone and sat down on a plain wooden stool. “This is Wake Me Up by Avicii.”

He strummed the guitar, a smile on his face, and began to sing. “’Feeling my way through the darkness. Guided by a beating heart. I can’t tell where the journey will end. But I know where to start,’” he pointed at me. “’They tell me I’m too young to understand. They say I’m caught up in a dream. Well life will pass me by if I don’t open up my eyes. Well that’s fine by me.’”

The crowd was getting into it, swaying to the beat. Trace had some kind of magnetism that seemed to capture everyone.

“’So wake me up when it’s all over. When I’m wiser and I’m older. All this time I was finding myself and I didn’t know I was lost,’” his eyes closed as he felt the music and the lyrics. “’So wake me up when it’s all over. When I’m wiser and I’m older. All this time I was finding myself and I didn’t know I was lost,’” he sang the chorus again. “’I tried carrying the weight of the world but I only have two hands. Hope I get the chance to travel the world. But I don’t have any plans. Wish that I could stay forever this young. Not afraid to close my eyes. Life’s a game made for everyone and love is the prize.’”

I sat riveted for the rest of the song, my mouth agape. He was so good and I wondered why he’d never pursued a career in music.

When the song ended, I clapped along with everyone else, jumping enthusiastically to my feet.

“I’m going to do a faster song with this next one,” he adjusted the guitar in his lap. “Feel free to dance and sing along. Look at the person next to you and make friends. Tonight is about making memories that will last a lifetime. This is Here Ya Say by Tony Lucca.”

I propped my chin on my hand as I watched him in fascination. He was so amazing up there, closing his eyes with a smile on his face, and just…letting go. When he sang, he was free. I wanted to feel that freedom too, but I wasn’t sure I could let myself.

The song ended and I clapped along with everyone else, still in a trance.

He cleared his throat and said, “I have one more song to sing before my wife gets up here. This is a song, that every time I hear it, I think of her.” A chorus of “awws” echoed around the coffee shop from the girls. He scooted the stool a bit closer to the microphone. “This is Mirrors by Justin Timberlake. Olivia, this one’s for you,” he looked into my eyes and began to sing. Everyone else disappeared and it was only us.

“’Aren’t you somethin’ to admire? ‘Cause your shine is somethin’ like a mirror. And I can’t help but notice you reflect in this heart of mine. If you ever feel alone and the glare makes me hard to find just know that I’m always parallel on the other side,’” his eyes closed for a moment and he bit his lip. “’Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go. Just put your hand on the glass. I’ll be tryin’ to pull you through. You just gotta be strong. ‘Cause I don’t wanna lose you now. I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me. The vacancy that sat in my heart is a space and now you’re home. Show me how to fight for now. And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy comin’ back here to you once I figured it out. You were right here all along. It’s like you’re my mirror. My mirror staring back at me. I couldn’t get any bigger with anyone else beside of me. And now it’s clear as this promise that we’re making two reflections into one. ‘Cause it’s like you’re my mirror. My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me.’”

He stared into my eyes for the whole song. But it wasn’t like he was just looking at me. He was seeing me and there was a big difference for those that understood it.

I don’t know if he knew it would have that affect, but the love that shown in his eyes as he sang erased all my fears. When he finished the song, I didn’t hesitate to stand and stride towards him. “That was beautiful. Thank you,” I bent, placing a light kiss on his lips. I wasn’t one for public displays of affection, but I couldn’t stop myself.

“Glad you enjoyed it,” he smiled.

I grabbed another stool and sat down beside him. He lowered the microphone so it was at my height.

“Hi,” my voice cracked as I addressed the crowd.

I took a deep breath. I could do this. I might not have had the charisma on stage that Trace possessed, but I could do it. I could. In a minute. Okay, no more stalling.

“I’m going to sing Starry Eyed by Ellie Goulding,” my voice shook and I prayed that it didn’t shake when I sang. The last thing I needed was to sound like a dying cow.

I glanced at Trace and he smiled reassuringly, giving me a thumbs up.

I closed my eyes and placed my hand around the microphone. I needed something to hold me up.

“’Oh, oh, starry eyed,’” my voice was soft and hesitant at first. “’Hit, hit, hit, hit, hit me with lightning. Handle bars, then I let go, let go for anyone. Take me in, and throw out my heart and get a new one. Next thing we’re touching, you look at me and it’s like you hit me with lightning,’” my nerves vanished as I got into the song. “’Oh, everybody’s starry-eyed and everybody glows. Oh, everybody’s starry-eyed. And my body goes. Whoa oh oh ah ah. Whoa oh oh ah ah. Whoa oh oh. So we burst into colors, colors and carousels. Fall head first like paper planes and playground games. Next thing, we’re touching. You look at me and it’s like you hit me with lightning.’”

I grew more confident and by the time the song ended, I was grinning like a fool. I was always so scared to get up on stage and sing, but after I actually did it, I felt like I was unstoppable. It gave me a rush and nothing else could compare to it.

The crowd applauded us and I said, “Thank you.”

A slight blush stained my cheeks at the attention.

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