Sarah’s your vocalist

The statuesque brunette from your psych class knocks on the door, her stunning figure visible even through the frosted glass. Naturally, you open the door for her.

Sarah is dressed to the nines, her sequined teal backless dress wholly unnecessary for this occasion. You’re here to record her voice, not her beauty, so she could have shown up in her pajamas for all that it matters. But you’re not about to complain. Sarah looks hot in this dress. Your eyes linger across her lithe figure as she steps into the studio and you wonder what she’d look like without that dress on. Her bare back gives a promising indication that your imagination easily extrapolates from.

Sarah, seemingly oblivious to your mental undressing, takes in your set-up with a slight nod of approval and seats herself primly by the recording booth.

“Let’s get to business,” she says. “What’s the song that you’ve been working on?”

“I think you’ll like it,” you smile. “Here, give it a listen.”

You hit play and sit back, watching for Sarah’s reaction as the opening notes of your latest hit-to-be lilts over the studio monitors. She sucks in her breath as the glistening chords dance atop one another, slowly nodding in cut time to the music that you’ve created. After a couple bars have passed, she puts her hands together atop her knees, leaning forward and closing her eyes.

“It’s got potential,” she says, tilting her head to the side. “Where do the vocals fit in?”

“Give it a moment, they’re about to come in,” you say, holding up a finger though she can’t see it.

And there it is. The voice that sings is shrill and off-key. Sarah physically winces as she hears it atop your near-perfect composition. Her eyes snap open.

“Whoever sung that has a voice worse than nails on a chalkboard,” she shakes her head slowly, horrified. “Who did you get to record this? If she’s on campus, I’m making a point of never coming close to her.”

“I’ve got some bad news for you,” you say. “That voice is mine.”

Sarah stares at you and continues to shake her head.

“I was ready to compliment you for how you produced this song. But now I know, musical talent doesn’t apply to all things musical…”

“Forgive me, I don’t sound like a girl,” you say, the false falsetto you recorded in a haste now ringing over the speakers. It’s truly an affront to the senses.

“Just shut it off,” Sarah says, her voice practically pleading. “Believe me, I’m doing humanity a favor by recording new vocals for you.”

“Don’t worry, I never would have released it without your lovely voice on the track,” you laugh. “Speaking of which, shall we get to it?”

“Let’s,” your classmate nods. “Give me a minute to warm-up and we can jump right into it.”

An hour and a half into the recording session, things have gone smoothly.

“That one’s almost there. A couple more takes for the verse and we can move on to the last section,” you say, and Sarah nods.

You start up the loop and listen to her breathe in, her eyes squeezed shut as she starts to vocalize the high notes. Sarah sings with her eyes closed, lips softly parted. It’s a little thing that makes her look **** in the face of her usual Ms. Perfect act. Her tender voice carries over your music, and you find yourself closing your eyes too, enjoying the way she harmonizes with your instrumentation.

“That’s good,” you say, pausing the track after another take. “Only… could you try to get softer? I want your voice breathier, something that will barely float above the lead.”

“Let me try that,” Sarah says, as you start the loop up again.

She begins to sing again, shutting her eyes, her hands squeezed tight over her headphones. You approach her from the side, watching her gently sway her shoulders as she sings your lyrics. This is close, but not what you want.

You place a hand over hers and slide one of the earpads off. Sarah shifts, glancing at you, her voice trailing away.

Keep going, you mouth, making a go-on motion with your hand.

She resumes singing, warily shutting her eyes. Her voice is close, but not quite there.

“I want your voice softer,” you command. Your voice is hushed, but she instantly reacts, lowering her voice.

It’s not enough. How to make her understand?

You brush up against her, your lips placed by her earlobe.

“Softer,” you whisper into her ear.

She shivers, her eyelids fluttering, and her voice drops a hair.

“Softer still,” you whisper in a lower voice. You trace a fingernail of yours against the smooth of her bare back, lightly as you can. “Soft as this.” Your hand drifts dangerously low before flicking back upwards, until it crests her shoulderblades.

Her next breath is a sigh, a sigh preceded by her hairline whisper voice.

“I want it softer still,” you mutter into her ear. “Soft as this.” You lift your hand from her back. Now your fingers brush up against her rich pink lips. “I want to barely feel your lips moving against me.”

She obliges, letting just the slightest breath through her lips. They twitch against your fingertips. It’s a featherlight kiss. It’s her control stretched to the limit, just the barest hint of her voice carrying over the music. Now she’s got it perfect.

You pull away soundlessly, giving her two more takes at it, before shutting the music off. Her eyes flutter open, and you see her chest rising and falling rapidly, despite the minimal weight she placed behind her voice.

“Well done,” you say smoothly, flashing her your best smile.

“I’ve never… tried to sing like that before,” she says, blinking under the lights. “I think I like it.”

“Then we’re going to have to schedule another session together after today, aren’t we?” you say. “There’s another song that I want your voice on that we’re not going to get to today.”

“Well I can’t leave you to fill in the vocals, that’s for sure,” Sarah smiles. “Count me in.”

Sarah +20