Chapter 169 Daydreaming
Luann Weaver's gaze withdrew from the rearview mirror.
The figures of Grace and her entourage grew more distant.
Relaxed, Nicholas at the passenger side said, "Didn't think your arrival would treat me to such a spectacle."
Luann replied with a light smile playing on her red lips. Her hands remained steady on the wheel, replied, "Yeah, consider it a free entrance fee."
Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of a diner.
The place was almost empty.
They found themselves a table by the window.
"You've made an enemy of Grace for helping me. She won't let this slide."
Nicholas spoke while browsing the menu.
Leaning her chin on her hand, Luann peered out at the sparse street lamps.
"She never intended to let me off the hook."
Nick glanced up, "You mean the Creative Director gig? Luann, you've always been so low-key. What's with all these fireworks these past few months? Gotta say, it's pretty surprising."
He had first met Luann Weaver four years ago.
At that time, the Weavers had just brought Luann back into the fold.
Nick, struggling for inspiration, hopped from place to place until he ended up in a remote suburban library. In the solitude of the deserted building, he let loose and sang his heart out.
...
"No, this tune's still not right," Nick muttered, clutching a small notebook, his pen furiously scratching out notes and reworking melody lines.
"It should transition here, and here..."
Thud—
A faint sound interrupted his concentration.
He peered out from behind the bookshelves, sweeping his gaze across the quiet library.
Unbeknownst to him, a young girl was sitting at a distant table. Her hair was half-tied back, and she wore a long white dress whose hem touched the floor, collecting a thin layer of dust.
She was silently sitting there, holding an upside-down book, lost in thought.
"A fan of my music?"
"I didn't realize fans were so dedicated to tracking me down..."
Filled with a mix of excitement and curiosity, Nick crept around the bookshelf, planning to give her a scare.
His hand landed on Luann Weaver's shoulder, but the anticipated scream didn't follow. Luann merely glanced at him indifferently and then looked away.
Nick sat down beside her, feeling slightly awkward.
"Your book's upside down."
"I know."
"If you're not into it, why force yourself?"
"I want to read it."
"How can you read it upside down?"
"I'm trying to see if I can memorize it this way."
There was a moment's silence as Nick's eyes filled with pity.
What a shame for such a sweet girl to be a fool.
He reached out and snatched the book from Luann's hands. The pages, crisp and new, sliced a tiny sliver into her delicate skin. A bright line of blood beaded up.
"Come on, recite it. If you can get three lines, I'll be impressed."
Luann's lips parted.
And then she recited.
Not just three lines.
Three full pages.
She would have gone on if Nick hadn't stopped her.
"That's incredible! Your memory is amazing!"
"Thank you," she replied quietly, wiping away the blood.
"Hey, did you hear me singing just now?"
Luann nodded.
"How was it?" Nick asked, eager for her opinion.
Remembering Nicholas's singing, which could be generously described as caterwauling, Luann Weaver decided to cushion the blow to his ego.
"Sounds great," she lied through her teeth.
Nicholas smacked the table triumphantly. "I knew it! I knew you'd be a fan! So, you want an autograph?"
Luann gave a nod towards the notebook in his hand, which he eagerly handed over.
To his surprise, instead of getting his signature, she left her own, elegantly penned name: Luann Weaver.
"Here you go."
Nicholas looked puzzled. "What for?"
"Aren't you asking for an autograph?"
A wave of frustration rushed over him. "I meant, do you want mine?"
Luann's elegant brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of skepticism in her dark eyes.
"Why would I want your autograph? It's not worth anything."
His annoyance turned to amusement as he considered her flawless, innocent face.
"And yours is?" he challenged.
Luann replied with utmost seriousness, "I could make it valuable anytime, anywhere."
"Big talk for such a little lady," he scoffed, hardly convinced this slip of a girl possessed such clout.
That was until his new single fell on deaf ears.
"Man, people just don't get good music these days," he lamented as his song went unheard.
Luann sat across from him, leisurely enjoying a slice of cake. The afternoon sun highlighted her delicate fingers with their neatly manicured, rosy nails. She sliced a piece of cake along its natural lines, bringing it to her mouth with an almost performative grace.
"Luann, you agree with me, right?"
She looked up, "Do you want the sugar-coated version or the truth?"
"Hit me with the sweet lie."
"Sure," Luann hummed, "you're spot on."
Nicholas wasn't pleased with that response.
"What about the truth?"
"It's a hot mess."
Nicholas was taken aback. "What was that? Say it again?"
Luann popped the final piece of cake into her mouth and simply smiled, offering no further response.
After a drawn-out silence, Nicholas sighed deeply, his posture slumping as he let go of his facade, looking rather defeated.
"I'm a dreamer, always thought I'd make it big. But I've got nothing to show for it," he confessed.
"Luann, you and I, we're on different paths. If I can't make it in music, I'll be stuck taking over the family business worth billions. Can you imagine the inner turmoil?"
Without waiting for her to answer, he sunk into his seat, a portrait of a dreamer confronting reality.
Luann Weaver glanced at the short sleeve with three big holes in it draped over his frame.
"So what?" she asked.
Nicholas, now a mess of sniffles and sobs, pleaded for help. "Help me, please!"
With some free time on her hands, Luann agreed to lend a hand. "Alright. By the way, which family are you from?"
Nicholas looked puzzled. "What do you mean 'which family'?"
Luann looked even more confused. "Didn't you mention you were set to inherit billions?"
"You dummy! That was just a pipe dream!" Nicholas exclaimed.
Luann was speechless...
And so, Luann Weaver began her journey of helping him write and compose music. Luckily, Nicholas had a distinctive voice, and with Luann's help, his first song was a smash hit.
He later signed with a talent agency, and with their backing and a dedicated composer, Nicholas's fame soared.
Nicholas wasn't ungrateful. At the first opportunity after his rise, he invited Luann to join his team.
But she coldly declined.
Then his schedule got busier, and his moments with Luann grew further apart. However, their friendship didn't fade, sharing the occasional chat. Whenever Luann felt like writing a song in her free time, she'd casually toss one his way. Without Luann Weaver, Nicholas wouldn't be where he is today.
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