Music's In My Soul [Lauren&Ryken]

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

Lauren Elizabeth made her way over to the vendor, where she'd decided on getting a rasperry smoothie while the next band set up. Today was one of her only days off and was thankful she didn't have to work, or help her mother get all settled in her home near Pismo Beach. She'd insisted they stayed close while she finished her last year of high school. If that was really the case, why did they move across the US where she couldn't talk to her brother Trenton? Shrugging, she handed over a crumpled five dollar bill and looked for an empty spot in the middle of the arena to stand. She never liked standing up close where the crowd was, it was too much for her to handle. Lauren took a sip of her smoothie and looked around boredly. People watching was one of her favorite hobbies. Observing. Okay, so maybe it was a totally stupid idea to come alone. Everyone else here had been with a large group of people. But she needed to get away. Off campus before she went crazy.

And she loved music. Anything from country to hardcore rock. It was one of those things where every song has a meaning and you kind of have to embrace it for what it is. There were times when she had wondered if being a musician was her calling rather than fashion. Times like right now, where she wouldn't mind getting up on the stage and playing her acoustic guitar and singing her little heart out. As the next band started to play a faster rock song, Lauren smiled. What the hell? Everyone seemed to be having a good time and just because she was alone why shouldn't she? Plus, she was totally into this song. She began swaying her hips to the beat and attempting to sing along to the chorus. Even though she failed miserably because she had never heard the song before in her life. As the song progressed and got louder, her dancing grew crazier. Forgetting she had the smoothie in her hand, the lid managed to sneak its way off and all of the delicious contents spilled all over her shirt. Great. Frowning, Lauren made her way to the food court to get napkins.

"As soon as I start to relax and have fun, my clumsiness kicks in." She continued viciously scrubbing at her shirt, though the stain was impossible to remove. It was one of her favorite shirts though walking around with an embarrasing stain was one thing she couldn't do. Pulling the shirt off of her head and disposing of her shirt in the trash bin, her long and curly blonde hair wrapped around her shoulders and exposed a plain white tank. It didn't look terrible, it was a good thing she'd decided on faded skinny legs and a pair of flip-flops. She did not look like a million bucks and she wasn't sure if she even looked like a hundred. But it would have to do.

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

ryken vishnevskaya didn't speak english all that well, wasn't american, and pretty much despised this place since he had gotten here. that in itself was a good reason for him to get out as quick as possible, but he had to make due with a sucky situation. his grandmother was dying and he was her favorite person in the world, so he had to be the one to look over her in her dying days. he hated that that was what brought him to america, but he had to take what he was given. he knew his grandmother wouldn't last much longer and being the high status in the russian army that he was, he had seen and dealt with a lot of death. it hardly phased him anymore. he just took the whole thing as a part of life and moved on. in the meantime, he wanted to take as good of care of his grandmother as he could. he, however, didn't want to be stuck at home all day so he took up a job.

the russian army colonel general was also a pretty accomplished musician though not many knew that back home considering he liked to keep to himself. when he first came to pismo california, he immediatly took an interest in jillians and spent most of his time there. the locls began to get to know him and now he was working there. it was granted that his english wasn't good and when he spoke it his accent was thick and hardly understandable, but he knew guitars like some people knew the backs of their hands. he could set up and tear down sets quicker than anyone else and he did it right which was most important.

he watched the current band that he had just set up for, play by the vending machine. he took a long swig from his water bottle and tossed it away before he looked back to the attendance floor. girls and guys were dancing around like mad and had ryken been a less established man, he would have smiled at the way everyone was going crazy. sometimes he wondered what it would be like to be onstage, to command attention not by rank, but by passion. he quickly pushed that thought away before he noticed he was being called by one of the other technicians. he went to go over, but on the way he accidently bumped into a girl, but grabbed her arm before she could fall. "izvinite, prastite." the russian said quickly.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

She stumbled to catch her balance and turned toward the man who had a tight grip of her arm. A slight smile appeared across her lips before she parted them slightly to speak. "I'm not sure what you just said but if you were excusing yourself, don't worry about it." She chuckled and looked up at the stranger. He was very much taller than her and the sun was so bright, she had to squint to meet his gaze. "It could've been worse." The fact that he spoke another language, Russian it sounded like (Lauren however took French) intimidated her. They seemed superior to Americans and they were. The fact that she was all-American didn't help either. She had been taking French for years and loved it more than her native language. She loved talking to her friends in French because she could say anything and they'd have no idea what she was saying. After all you've got to have a little bit of fun with it right? Not like she had anything else to use it for.

Lauren suddenly remembered that she'd shoved her guitar in the trunk before she left her dorm. Was she hoping she'd fit in some last minute slot to get on stage and play a song that wasn't prepared? Maybe just
if she could .. no. She was meant to be a fashion designer like her mother. This was a constant war in her head that often ended undecided. Being a musician left uncertainties and anything could happen. She liked knowing what was going to happen and have everything planned. She would take over her mother's buisness when the time would be right and that would be that. It would be great. So why wasn't her whole heart in it?

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

ryken probably would have blushed had he been a more emotional person. ever since the military, he had just about the emotional range of a teaspoon. it took it out of you because if the enemy knew you were weak, they'd attack. if your troops knew you were weak, there would be muitany. he had to maintain order and the first step to doing that was controlling his feelings. he hadn't realized he wasn't speaking english at the time, of course. that would make no sense to speak russian here. no one in the entire california area seemed to speak his native tongue other than his grandmother.

"uh- sorry." he said lightly, looking over her to make sure she was alright before walking over to the technician and talking to him briefly. he explained to him to the best of his ability how to fix the amps so there was no more feedback which seemed to plague the band on stage. it was a quick fix honestly, you just had to readjust the gain, volume, and tone so they all matched up in a certian format. ryken just told him the new number adjustments and the other guy was on stage in a flash, fixing it so that the feedback stopped almost immediatly.

ryken walked back over to the girl, feeling abck about running into her and he pushed the hair from his face. "um... you good?" he asked as he looked to her, double checking that everything was fine. he didn't want her to go home and gossip to her friends that some dickwad of a guy ran into her and bruised her up or something.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

The eighteen year old blonde bombshell laughed and curled a small hand around her hip. "I'm fine. No foul no harm. I think I should be asking if you're okay. There had to be some crazy reason you ran into me and just about knocked me over." A playful smile appeared on her face and she showed off her pearly whites before speaking more softly this time. "I'm kidding." She reached up and patted his arm before bringing hers back down to rest at her side. That was one of the good things about Lauren. She knew how to make conversation even in the most awkward situations. She knew how to work a crowd and in a time of need cheer someone up or keep their mind off of things. It was what she was good at. Hell, she spent a whole year after the divorce trying to tell her mother that it would be okay and she'd get back on her feet again. Okay, it was exhausting.

Looking around to see what was going on, she noticed that there was a crowd near the stage. Which must've meant the same band was still playing. She watched him go over and talk to a worker about the set-up. He could get her on stage! But would he? The answer was probably no. And why did she keep bringing this up? This is the moment where if she were alone right now she would've slapped herself in the forehead and told herself to get it together. But right now she'd have to settle for mentally slapping herself, which she often- now more than ever found herself doing. She looked up and tilted her head to the side, waiting for a reply.

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

had it been any other man, they probably would have chuckled or mad a joke about how they were in a hurry to do something, but ryken wasn't like that obviously. he wasn't the type to joke around about stuff or smile during conversations. it took him a lot to laugh or smile- or really invoke any kind of emotion other than a seriousness about him. he simply nodded his head and shrugged. "job dealings." he said simply as he looked to the other technician, making sure that he did everything correctly. he wasn't really satisfied with others doing his work, but working here meant he did have to interact with the customers, or so the boss told him. it was odd to be under someone else having been nearly the highest authority in all of russia, but he could take direction well- as long as he agreed with it.

he looked over her once more, noting she was a rather beautiful girl. she was a bit tanner then the girls back home, but she had beautiful blonde hair and mesmorizing brown eyes that were easy to look into. he may have been a serious guy, but he was still a man like any other. "ryken vishnevskaya." he said, extending his hand to her as he looked down into her eyes, his accent thick and his posture perfect. the officers were always standing taller and more at attention than anyone else in russia, and that even showed in america.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

Lauren nodded and jumped slightly when out of no where she heard the crowd start whistling and hollering. As she heard the lead singer on stage shout "Thank you!" She knew they were done and it was time for the next act and couldn't help but wonder who was up next. The reason she'd probably jumped was because she was intrigued by this man and so drawn into him. He stood as straight as a pencil, was by far more serious than anyone she'd ever met, but still found herself interested in holding a conversation. Under any normal given circumstances she'd be polite and make an excuse to leave but she felt like she was frozen in place and couldn't move no matter how she tried. Like even if she wanted to, his dark stare wouldn't let her go.
Did he have this effect on everyone? Should she be scared? There were so many questions she wanted to know the answers to but couldn't bring herself to ask. She decided to let this conversation take its course.

"Nice to meet you, Ryken." She smirked and took her hand in his, shaking it before unwillingly placing her hands at her side. His skin was cold. Really cold. But she found it was also very smooth. "Lauren- Lauren Anderson." She knew a lot of people who didn't like the names they were given at birth. Lauren had always liked her name. She liked the way it sounded and how it sounded when her full name was said. A name that would go with whatever you wanted to be. Anderson Fasion Designing. Lauren Anderson, famous musician.

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

he gave her hand a slightly firm shake when she grasped his, and nodded. "nice aswell." he said lightly, meaning making her aquaintance was nice. he looked to the stage and noticed the band leaving before he looked back to her. "one moment." he said holding up a finger before he jogged backstage and ran onstage. he began packing up the various cords, mics, amps, and drum set parts and handing them to other technicians onstage with the greatest care. he would never put a scratch on anything musical because of how much he apperciated the art, and that's why most of the bands that came every week trusted him with their equipment. once the set was striked, he started setting up the new band's equipment and was finished within a ten minute time frame, leaving the others to settle things and get them fine tuned.

ryken came back out into the audience area and looked around for the girl before walking over to her. "excuse please, had some work to be done." he said lightly before grabbing a water from the server and opening it. he glanced to her and licked his lips lightly before pushing the blonde hair out of his face. "you come here much? not seen you around." he pointed out before taking a drink and looking to the band's technicians that were doing sound check.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

"You're good at what you do." Lauren nodded toward the stage and looked back at Ryken curiously. "How long have you been working here?" She crossed her arms and leaned all her weight on her right leg. To see someone set up a stage and jog back over so fast, she'd never seen anything like it before. It was almost hard to watch. Flipping her bangs out of her face, the sun came out from above the clouds which caused her brown eyes to sparkle. The warm weather was something she'd always liked. Especially going to the beach. It was a good place to just read a book, listen to music, or even get away from it all. She found the sound of the waves crashing very peaceful and calming, after a very long day. She never got many days to herself.

She'd felt bad if she was keeping him from doing his job because he had to keep running back and forth. That was something that would bother her, if she distracted people or kept them from doing what they were really supposed to. She never liked feeling bad. Most people don't like to feel bad in general. "This is actually my first time here and I really like it." Lauren paused. "I'm a musician myself. I don't know if you'd say a good one but I try." If her mother found out that in her spare time she liked to play her acoustic guitar and write songs she'd probably never see daylight again. Which was why she never told anyone. Too risky.

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

he gave her a short nod when she said that he was good at what he did. he knew he was. it was always something he strived to aim for. he wanted to be perfect at everything he did, and rightly so. who would want to only be able to do something half way because they weren't that good at it. he was excellent at being a technician because he knew so much about music, and he was the best officer in all of russia currently at only the age of twenty-three. he wasn't perfect at everything though, as much as that annoyed him to admit. he didn't think he was all that good at playing music, though the others in the brracks though differently. they would ask him to play and sing for them constantly and if they did well on their missions, he would, but only than. it was like a treat for them for some reason, and he was alright with treating them every once in a while. he couldn't do it too often though, it would spoil them.

ry wasn't surprised it was her first time here. he was at this place even on most of his days off and he knew a lot of the faces even if he didn't know the names. he knew a new fce when he saw one. he was glad she enjoyed it though. the customers were what kept everything open and runnning smoothly. "musician?" he asked curiously and pursed his lips before nodding. he finished off his water and tossed the bottle in the trash before leaning against the stand. "you play, yes?" he asked, nodding from her to the stage, wondering if she wanted a spot. "i do as well, not... so much here. no.. professional. just- recreation." he explained, pausing slightly to think through his words and trying not to get them lost in his thick accent. "work about seven week here. lots of music in and out. pretty.... standard. good though. they like." he shrugged slightly and stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

"Not professionally no. God, I don't think I'd ever have the guts to be able to do something like that." She looked at the stage with a sigh and back down at her shoes nervously. The idea made her stomach twist up in tiny little knots. The idea of so many people watching you, judging you, was just completely overwhelming. She'd have to be really brave to do that and she didn't think she was. She wasn't afraid to admit she did not have the guts. She knew she had faults and was willing to admit them. As far as she was told, it made you a better person. Stronger in the end. She wasn't ever afraid to share what was on her mind or be open. Growing up with her brother Trenton, he'd shown her the ropes. Told her stories and taught her lessons that to this day she won't forget. It was, as much as she hated to admit, nice to have someone protective over her.

"Are you any good? You should play for me sometime," Lauren giggled and playfully winked his way. What made it so funny was that she hadn't learned how to properly wink until she was fourteen. Being terribly bad at multi-tasking, winking and talking just wasn't something she could accomplish. Or she'd close both eyes and look like a total idiot. Which was often how she made herself look but now it didn't matter so much.

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

he rose a brow when she said she would never have the guts to do something like that. he wasn't quite sure what that meant, but the tone of her voice made it sound as if she would be appauled to do it, or frightened. "scared?" he asked before shaking his head. "ti takaya neobichnaya." he said in a rather disappointed tone. he never understood how or why people could be afraid to do something. it was one thing if you weren't good enough, or that you couldn't accomplish such a task, but to be too afraid to do something, to let fear control you- it was a cop out in his opinion. "you let fear control all, no one wins, yes?" he said as he looked into her eyes. it was something he told his soldiers often, only in a more dignified tone considering he knew russian a million times better than he knew english.

as she asked him to play for her and winked, he drew his head back slightly, curling his lip as if he were a young boy and girls had cooties. he hadn't meant to act in such a manner, but he was completely taken aback by her whole behavior towards him. he hadn't had a girlfriend, a date, or a flirt in quite some time actually seeing as how he was always working. he cleared his throat slightly and stood straighter, if possible, than before. "no." he said simply before walking towards the stage and pausing. "miss anderson, you sure fear is enough to stop you?" he asked, raising a brow and folding his arms.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

The distance between them grew as Ryken moved closer toward the stage. Her heart began to race and she looked at all of the people in the crowd. It wasn't that she was totally afraid but she'd never performed infront of; well people. She'd always practiced in her dorm. No one new about her ability to play the guitar, she had never shared it with anyone. Besides Ryken. She took a step back nervously and placed a warm hand on her own forehead as if to catch her breath and re-gain strength before stumbling. Lauren: afraid to do what she's always wanted. She could see the headlines now. Would it be worse to not do anything than to go up and have the potential to make a fool of herself? There was no one up right now, all of the bands were taking breaks. It would be so simple to just go up and get out her guitar and- could she? Did she have the guts to do this?

Was he trying to make her feel bad as she did? Like a God damn idiot because he had, as far as she knew, no emotions? And why was she so upset? Lauren's hands started to get all clammy and her breathing became more rapid. "Yes, yes I'm scared. There are all of those people out there waiting to hear music and I don't even know if I'm any good. At least I can admit it." She moved a couple steps closer to where Ryken was headed and paused to catch her breath. If there was one thing she hated it was to feel like this. To be so intimidated and to feel like she can't do something. For others to act like they're so superior toward her.

Now this, this was the hardest thing for her to get out. She took a deep breath, unclenched her fists, and looked up into Ryken's eyes full with hope. "Okay. So can you get me up there on stage or not?"

[RYKEN ALEKSASHKIN VISHNEVSKAYA]

if there was one thing that ryken knew it was how to change someone's mind about fear. he had been doing it almost the past ten years between pre-training, training, active duty, and leadership in the army. it was just something he knew how to do and it saved millions of lives. if you let fear control you, you messed up worse than when you just recognized what the fear was, rationalized it, and got to the root of the problem. once it was fixed, there was no stopping you and you could preform at the optimum level you were designated to. thankfully, ryken's troops always listened to him about things such as this, as did his so-called friends. he was glad he was so good at his job.

the girl explained why she was sscared and he arched his brow further, a slight smirk threatening to appear on his lips, but it didn't though his eyes seemed to be showing it as they brightened up a bit. "they want music, you play. whether good or not, doesn't matter. no one judge unless fear takes over. know the fear, fix it, let go- play. easy as that. they'll love." he explained lightly, confidant in his broken english before he allowed her to step closer to her, his head rising slightly as he looked down at her.

when she asked if he could get her on stage, he nodded and looked to one of the technicians. "get your guitar." he instructed before he disappeared into the back and talked to a few people, pulling some strings. when he came back out, he beckoned her to him with his finger to the backstage doors. he smirked, just barely a twitch of his lips and looked at her. "vsyo idyot kak nado." he said reassuringly touching her shoulder and leading her through the back as he told her everything was going to be alright.

[LAUREN ELIZABETH ANDERSON]

Lauren dissapeared into the parking lot, grabbing her guitar from the back of her trunk and slung the guitar case over her shoulder. She fought through the crowd until she reached the stage and saw Ryken. She was happy she had an Electric/Acoustic converter guitar. She'd been wanting to play a new song she heard on the radio and absolutely fell in love with. She took her guitar out of its case and put the strap over her left shoulder so the guitar rested infront of her stoamach. Biting her bottom lip, she whispered to herself. "It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay." Before getting ready to step on the stage, she turned to Ryken
and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Thank you, for this." It almost came out as a half whisper.

As one of the set-up crew announced Lauren's name, it immediately hit her. Her stomach was twisted into so many knots she could barely breathe. The crowd cheered and she took a few steps backward- and forward. This was it. This was the moment she'd for so long been waiting for. She had to pull it together. Being just as confident as she could, she walked out onto the stage and waved to the crowd. After plugging in her guitar to the AMP, she leaned forward into the microphone and began singing. And she's never felt so good.

I can't take your hand and lead you to the water
I can't make you feel what you don't feel
You know you want to find out how to crack me
Log in, try to hack me

Underneath the surface
There's so much you need to know
And you might feel like you're drowning
But that's what I need to let go

The song played and it went well. It was all Lauren. She strummed her guitar wildly to the song and sang her little heart out. Her voice was a mix between Demi Lovato and Kelly Clarkson. She knew her voice would be sore after, as this was a powerful song to take on, but for the first time in her life she felt free. Even during the guitar solo she managed to step back from the microphone and flip her hair and do a few moves. When the song ended, she could not believe what she was hearing. Were people actually cheering for her? She unplugged her AMP, bowed for the audience, waved and headed off stage out of breath. Success.

Song Got Dynamite - Demi Lovato