Karaoke

The karaoke place was in a slightly seedy part of town, that was perhaps tellingly, relatively close to the university. I knew that at night these streets would be filled with people out celebrating, drinking at the bars and dancing at the nightclubs, and some maybe even heading into strip clubs, but at this time of day, they were relatively quiet.

It wouldn’t be for another few hours, when work got out for the nine to fivers and people’s minds started turning towards their vices, that these streets would begin to fill. Thinking about it rationally, this was actually the perfect place for a karaoke spot; no one would care about all the noise, and having a shifting sea of potential customers, inhibitions lowered by drink, was more than ideal for the business.

Aaron lead the way down the corridor, to one of the private booths, as I followed along behind him.

“It really wasn’t expensive at all…”

Aaron puffed up a little with pride, enjoying being seen as dependable and able to present some good ideas as he replied:

“Hm hmm, I told you. They do special deals for students, and special deals at this time of day too. Combine them, and it really is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Although, if you’re ever on a night out this is a perfect place to come as well!”

He lead me into the booth, before I noticed Jenny wasn’t following along behind.

“Huh, where did-”

“Right heeerrreee!”

“Oh my God!”

I stumbled back, startled, as Jenny emerged from the darkness of the corridor carrying a plate of shots.

“Ahahah, sorry Grace! Didn’t mean to scare you. I was just getting us drinks.”

“A-at like, three O’Clock?”

“They do a special rate on drinks at this time too.”

Aaron added, seeming just as self-satisfied about that as he was earlier.

“Hmm, of course! University is the only place where you can call a friend at any time of the day and they can be either asleep or drunk. It’s like being on the dole, but your parents are proud of you.”

Despite myself, I found myself laughing at Jenny’s comment. That was a little more my sense of humor than Grace’s, but I couldn’t resist.

“Hmm, okay, okay, so you really think it’s a good idea to start drinking at this time?”

“Uhmm, yeah, actually, I do. And don’t you try and say we have classes, I know the schedule well enough to know we’re all done until after Halloween.”

“We’ll probably need the drink if we’re going to be singing.”

Aaron added, laughing along a little sheepishly. Internally, I was a little torn. Grace did drink, although it was less because she really was a fan of **** and more because she had dreams of fitting in and having a fun college life. She was actually very inexperienced, and drinking at this time really would be out of character for her.

Although… Grace did give me the keys to her life for the afternoon. She is lonely, and does want friends… this might really help her get them!

And also, honestly, I just kinda want to do this for myself. I haven’t been to karaoke since starting University, plus getting to sing using Grace’s voice will be so interesting. It feels like I’m living more in her skin that my own doing all these errands for her, so why shouldn’t I have fun as her at the same time?

“Okay, let’s do it!”

“That’s the spirit!”

Jenny cheered, as she passed us both vodka shots.

“To getting through our presentation…”

Shouted Aaron, before Jenny finished the toast with a big smile to me.

“… and to new friends! Whoooo”

I was really underestimating just how little Grace had really drank, as the vodka seemed to burn in my mouth and even going down my throat, leaving a warm trail behind. I gagged just a little, and found myself weirdly grateful for her growing experience giving oral sex, as somehow I felt like that helped a little.

“I’ll go first! Break the ice, you know? I did for the presentation, so it makes sense to now.”

Jenny beamed as Aaron and I took our seats on the well-worn leather of the booth’s wrap around couch. Jenny scrolled around on the song selector, her smile growing as the warm, inspiring piano of “Don’t stop believing”, by Journey began playing.

“Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world… she took the midnight train going anywhereee.”

I laughed a little involuntarily; she wasn’t really great. She stuck her tongue out at me, teasingly, and just sang even louder. Even if Jenny’s ability to carry a tune wasn’t the best, her enthusiasm and confidence was infectious. Seeing her sing like that just made me feel all the more excited. For the last chorus, Aaron and I shared a look, and jumped up, singing along too.

Jenny held the mic in the middle, passing it between us as we sang, all smiles and energy. We blasted to the end of the song, and I found myself panting a little. I’d gotten so caught up in that, I barely knew what I was doing.

“Whooo, Jenny, you were great! So vibrant!”

Laughed Aaron, before I chimed in.

“Yeah, wow, you really have stage presence!”

She puffed up with pride at the compliments. “Mhmm, mhmm, okay, okay, keep them coming!”

“Ehh, I mean you were okay.”

“I’ve seen better.”

“Shut up you two!!”

All three of us started laughing now, our sudden teasing reversal not failing to bring us closer together.

“Okay, okay! So now that I’ve been the first to embarrass myself, I think it’s time for the new girl to show us what she’s got!”

Jenny extended the microphone to me with a grin.

“Ahhh, ehmmm, I don’t know…”

I started, the nerves from Grace’s borrowed personality spilling out, before I peeled it off me and let my own dominate.

Grace wanted people to see a more confident side to her, right? And I want to have fun! Jenny’s already broken the ice, so what’s the harm?

“… Okay. I’ll be next!”

I accepted the microphone with a smile, and began to flick through the song selection. Should I try to go for something relaxed and soft, that would match Grace’s normal energy? Roleplay with the kind of song she’d be most likely to choose, if she ever had the courage to sing in front of people?

Or maybe… Oh yeah, this is the one.

I wanted to test out Grace’s voice, see her like I’d never seen her before. If Grace wanted people to view her in a new light, I was going to deliver. I picked a high energy rock song, totally at odds with the choices she’d normally make, and something I was excited to hear contrast as I sang in her voice.

Jenny and Aaron gave a cheer as the opening electric guitar riff of “Dirty Little Secret” by the All American Rejects rang out, while I struck a pose like I was a rockstar about to start my concert.

“Let me know that I’ve done wrong, when I’ve known this all along…”

I sang it out strong, Grace’s voice usually sounding so soft having a bit of an edge that sent a tingle down my spine. It was really was a strange contrast; her voice still had the smooth, silky soft quality it was known for, but with that extra spike powered up by the rock guitar it had an exciting quality that gave me little shivers of pleasure.

I kept singing through the first verse, tearing into the chorus.

“I’ll keep you my dirty little secret, don’t tell anyone or you’ll be just another regret, my dirty little secret! Who has to know?”

It felt so liberating to be up singing like this! Maybe it was just the ****, or the strange, inhibition lowering rush of karaoke, but I was feeling amazing! Even though I was only wearing her, I could feel Grace’s emotions, a release of tension and anxiety from the catharsis of performing in front of people. I felt lighter by the second, like I was rising up physically from being released from her long-standing burdens. It felt like flying.

“Tell me all that you’ve thrown away, find out games you don’t wanna play, you are, the only one that needs to know!”

I sang out the pre-chorus as I posed, smiling with reckless abandon as I winked at Jenny and Aaron. She squealed and clutched her heart, pretending she was a fangirl who’d been noticed by her idol, while Aaron began to bow down like I was his Goddess. I couldn’t help but laugh at their reactions, just managing to get it together to sing the second chorus.

I’d recovered just enough as I went into the bridge, feeling the energy in the room spike higher and higher.

“The way she feels inside, those thoughts I can’t deny, these sleeping dogs won’t lie, and all I’ve tried to hide…! It’s eating me apart… trace this line back.”

The guitar solo rushed in and I swung my hands down, pretending to play it while my long hair flew around me like a halo, before Jenny and Aaron ran up and joined me. Jenny was laughing as she hugged me from the side, her voice in my ear,

“You’re such a rockstar Grace!”

“Let’s all sing the final chorus together.”

Laughed Aaron, clearly getting just as caught up in all the excitement as Jenny and I.

“I’ll keep you my dirty little secret!”

I sang out the first line, before Jenny and Aaron joined in harmony just after me:

“Dirty Little secret!”

“Don’t tell anyone or you’ll be just another regret!”

“Just another regret, hope that you can keep it!”

“My dirty little secret, dirty little secret, dirty little secret, who has to know? Who has to knoooowwww?”

The final blast of guitar faded out as we all stood, breathing heavily, basking in the endorphin rush.

“Grace… that was a lot better than it really should have been.”

Lead Aaron, before Jenny broke through with another big hug, rocking me side to side as our bodies pressed together.

Oh my God… she smells and feels so good… I don’t think I’ll ever stop enjoying how casually girls get to touch each other… the way they can be so affectionate…

I struggled to resist Jenny before she almost whined into me:

“Grace! Oh my God, why didn’t you tell us you could sing? You seemed so quiet, but your voice is actually so good!”

“Ehehe, ehm, well, you know… I guess I just got caught up in the moment?”

“You should just stay caught up in it then, you looked so happy up there!”

“Jenny does have a point, you know. You’ve been holding out on us.”

Aaron sounded reassuring and kind, while Jenny just sounded so excited. Both feelings were really good just to be around.

These two really seem like good friends… I definitely made the right choice coming here with them. I’ve been having so much fun… Thank you for giving me your body this morning, Grace! Even if it was just to get out of doing your presentation.

A part of me wondered if I should start asking Grace if I can use her body more often, just for fun. I had to admit, it was very comfortable in here…

I wonder, though…

I was trying to decide what to do now. As Jenny and I sat on the couch, and Aaron scrolled through the song selection trying to pick his song, I plotted my next move.

I could just stay here, enjoy the day with Jenny and Aaron. I’m having so much fun! And it’s only fair that I should get to celebrate after doing Grace’s presentation for her.

Then again…

I thought back to how I’d felt performing, the sensation of Grace’s burdens lifting, the catharsis of song and performance boosting her confidence. She’d have the memories of that when I restored her, she’d know that it was possible. But she’d only really get the good effects if she did it herself. And right now is the best time!

I could go to the toilet, take her off there and restore her. Wake her up and send her back to perform herself, and meet her new friends. She might panic a little at the predicament I’ve set her up in, but really it’s what she deserves for relying on me so much.