Last Six Song
(Let Her Go - Passenger)
---
Lucas arrived early at the Electric Lady Studios. The lights flickered against the soundproof walls, casting a warm glow over the vintage recording booths. Greeting the staff with a nod, he made his way to the booth where he'd spend hours pouring his heart out through music.
This would be his last song for this record, and the speed at which he'd recorded six tracks in just a week and a few days had left everyone in awe.
Lucas sat down with the recording engineers, meticulously discussing every nuance of the song. The track's simplicity, compared to the previous five, meant that the instrumentals were already mostly complete. With only a few hours of fine-tuning, the final touches were added, and the stage was set for Lucas.
As Lucas was about to enter the soundproof booth, the studio's doors swung open, revealing John and a familiar face: Taylor Swift. Lucas smiled and greeted them both, feeling a surge of anticipation course through his veins.
"I've been dying to hear what you've been working on," Taylor gushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Well, you're in luck," Lucas grinned, "I'm about to lay it down right now."
John clapped a hand on Lucas's shoulder, "Good luck, man. Can't wait to hear it."
Lucas nodded, he stepped into the booth. The red recording light flickered to life, and the guitarist strummed the opening chords. In that moment, the world melted away, leaving only the music and the raw emotion spilling from Lucas's lips.
"Well, you only need the light when it's burning low," Lucas crooned into the microphone, his voice raw with emotion. The guitar strummed softly in the background, accentuating the melancholy in his words. "Only miss the sun when it starts to snow, only know you love her when you let her go."
The sound director and other staff members in the booth listened intently, their faces etched with concentration as they monitored the levels. John and Taylor, seated outside, were equally captivated, their eyes glued to the glass window separating them from the recording booth.
"Only know you've been high when you're feeling low," Lucas continued, pausing for effect before adding, "Only hate the road when you're missing home." The drums joined in, a steady beat echoing the a heartache that resonated with every word. "Only know you love her when you let her go."
Lucas's voice cracked slightly as he sang the next verse, "Staring at the bottom of your glass, hoping one day you'll make a dream last, but dreams come slow and they go so fast." The room seemed to hold its breath, hanging on his every word. "You see her when you close your eyes, maybe one day you'll understand why, everything you touch surely dies."
The chorus repeated, the instruments swelling in the background, "But you only need the light when it's burning low, only miss the sun when it starts to snow, only know you love her when you let her go."
In the control room, the sound engineers exchanged knowing glances, well aware that they were witnessing something special.
John and Taylor, on the other hand, couldn't tear their eyes away from the booth's glass window, transfixed by the raw emotion pouring out of Lucas's every word.
"Only know you've been high when you're feeling low, only hate the road when you're missing home," Lucas belted out, his voice cracking with emotion. The drums pounded in the background, mirroring the heartache in his words. "Only know you love her when you let her go."
The band members behind Lucas couldn't help but close their eyes as they became lost in the song's haunting melody and poignant lyrics. The drums softly tapped out a rhythm that mirrored a broken heart, while the guitar strummed each chord with the precision of a surgeon, cutting deep into the listeners' souls.
"Staring at the ceiling in the dark, same old empty feeling in your heart," Lucas crooned, his voice thick with emotion. "Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast."
Taylor, listening through the headphones outside the booth, couldn't help but feel the weight of the words. A single tear escaped her eye.
"Well, you see her when you fall asleep, but never to touch and never to keep," Lucas continued, his voice cracking ever so slightly. "Cause you loved her too much and you dived too deep."
The pain in his voice was palpable, resonating with Taylor on a visceral level. She knew, without a doubt, that this song would strike a chord with anyone who had ever experienced the bittersweet sting of love and loss.
As the last note of the song faded, Lucas remained in the soundproof booth, his eyes closed as he listened to the playback. John, observing him through the glass, couldn't help but marvel at the transformation that came over the young man when he was lost in his music. In that moment, it was clear to him that Lucas was born to be a musician, not an actor.
John knew he couldn't control Lucas's life choices, though. He was just a representative of the record label, not his manager. It was up to Lucas to decide where his heart truly lay: on the silver screen or in the recording booth.
John glanced at Taylor, who was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. It was clear she was just as moved by the song as he was. The staff, sensing Lucas's determination to perfect his craft, readied themselves for another take.
The band began to play the song again, and even though it was a repeat performance, the melancholy in the lyrics and the raw emotion in Lucas's voice didn't lose its impact. If anything, it seemed to affect them even more profoundly this time around.
After several takes, Lucas finally emerged from the booth, a satisfied smile on his face.
"I think that's a wrap, guys."
John and Taylor applauded, joined by the rest of the studio staff.
Lucas grinned, a mixture of relief and pride on his face as he accepted the congratulations and farewells from the staff. John and Taylor hung back, understanding that these were people Lucas had worked closely with for the past week, and goodbyes were in order.
As they left the recording room, Taylor turned to John, her eyes shining with excitement. "I've made up my mind. I really really want to collaborate with him."
John chuckled, "I figured as much. That song was something else, wasn't it?"
"You're understating it," Taylor said, shaking her head. "After hearing that, how could I not want to work with him? I have so many ideas already!"
John grinned, "Well, a collaboration between the two of you would be great for the label, but you know we don't have full control over Lucas. It's ultimately his call."
Taylor nodded, her determination evident. "I know, but I'll do my best to convince him."
John chuckled, "Confident, aren't you?"
"Of course," Taylor retorted, "I'll need your help too, though. The label should back me up on this."
"No doubt about it," John said, clapping her on the back, "we'll make it happen."
---
Lucas bid farewell to the studio staff, their laughter echoing down the hallways as they reminisced about their time together. It was clear that working with him had left a lasting impression on both sides.
As Lucas exited the building, the staff members couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. They'd witnessed something special, and they knew it.
One by one, they began posting selfies with Lucas on Twitter, tagging his account @LucasXKnight but not revealing their location. Little did they know, the internet sleuths were already on the case.
Within minutes, the posts gained traction, and the hashtag #LucasRecordingInSecret began to grow in numbers. Fans and media outlets alike speculated about the meaning behind these cryptic photos, and it wasn't long before the news broke: Lucas was indeed recording new music.
---
Lucas stepped out of the recording booth, blinking in the harsh fluorescent light. John and Taylor were waiting for him, deep in conversation. They greeted him with smiles, and the three of them chatted animatedly for a while.
Finally, they said their goodbyes, and Lucas climbed into the backseat of his waiting car, Shawn at the wheel. As they pulled away from the studio, Lucas couldn't help but chuckle to himself, remembering Taylor's enthusiasm.
"Please collaborate with me!" she'd practically begged, her eyes shining with determination. He knew she will be a superstar in the future, and yet, here she was, vying for a chance to work with him. It was surreal, to say the least.
Lucas leaned back against the headrest, a small smile playing on his lips.
The car pulled up to the sleek apartment complex, and Lucas and Shawn alighted, making their way to the penthouse suite. As they stepped inside, the mouth-watering aroma of home cooking greeted them.
"Hmm, smells delicious," Shawn commented, "Someone's been cooking up a storm."
Lucas grinned, "It must be Neil."
They found the man himself in the kitchen, apron-clad and stirring a pot of something that smelled divine. "Hey, guys," he said, not turning around, "I hope you're hungry."
Lucas chuckled, "I didn't know besides being my manager, you were also a chef material."
Shawn and Neil shared a laugh as they took their seats at the dining table. "Well, you gotta have some hidden talents, right?" Neil quipped, setting down plates of steaming pasta in front of them.
Lucas took a bite, savoring the blend of flavors. The pasta was al dente, just the way he liked it, and the sauce had a perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness. The chicken was tender and juicy, but he could tell it lacked a certain quality that only a seasoned chef could achieve that Lucas could found in Liza's restaurant. Not wanting to hurt Neil's feelings, he put on his best poker face.
"This is delicious, Neil," Lucas said, genuine praise in his voice. "You've outdone yourself."
Neil beamed with pride, oblivious to the subtlety. "I'm glad you like it! I've been practicing."