practice session. [onzy/open]

[Sync]

Josh knocked quietly on the door of Alice Monroe's room. The quiet twin had become relatively close to the equally quiet male when they had bonded over their love of music one day. Ever since, the pair regularly got together to practice in the music rooms. Alice wasn't one to share her talent, but when Josh had heard her sing one day while in the barns, he'd demanded that she sing with him. From then on, they met at least once a week. He hadn't told anyone of her talent, he'd promised her he wouldn't, though she seemed to be growing more and more comfortable with her talent. Much to Josh's pleasure. He loved to help others grow more comfortable with themselves, and it was reward enough for him. Though he'd love to be able to set up gigs for them. Sighing softly, he allowed his mind to wander to a certain blonde haired female as he awaited Alice to answer the door, grinning hugely as Melissa's face filled his mind. Yeah, he was more than a little love sick.

Ollie's head shot up at the sound of knocking coming from the door, looking over to Alice who had her head bent and working intently on the stitching of one of Savvy's dresses. How the girl managed to break so many clothing items astounded Alice, but she'd never turn away the opportunity to help her sister. Hearing the knock herself, Alice looked up and smiled slightly. She knew it was Josh, only he ever bothered to knock. Savvy always just barged in, as did Clary. Another girl she'd grown closer too since arriving at Park. Carefully completing the last stitch on the dress, she stored the needle she'd been using away and closed up the sewing kit. Ollie, seeing that there was no tension coming from his mistress, had returned to snoozing on the bed. She hung up Savvy's dress before walking over to scratch her lazy greyhound behind his audits. "See ya later baby." she cooed, grabbing her bag that had been dumped beside the pretty canine and walking to the door. Upon opening the door, her brow rose as she took in Josh's dreamy expression. Chuckling softly, she shoved him lightly on the arm. Obviously startled, he stumbled and shook himself out of his daze. Looking at Alice sheepishly, she laughed again. "C'mon lover boy, we've got music to make." she grinned, falling into step with him as they walked down the corridor.

Their walk to the music room was uneventful. Most students passed by without a glance, but there were a few looking at them curiously. Mainly members from the 'in' crowd. Obviously they were looking for rumors to spin. Josh and Alice sighed simultaneously. They both hated the way gossip flew around the college. Alice was extremely ashamed of her sister being one of the main candidates to spread said gossip, it was the one thing she could honestly say she hated about her identical sibling. Josh held the door open for her when they arrived at the classroom, and she nodded to him in thanks. Her eyes immediately scanned the room, thankful to see it empty. If it hadn't, they would have had to use a separate practice room. And they were much too cramped, and didn't give the same acoustics that the larger room did. "I wanna go over California King Bed today. As well as those two Newton Faulkner tracks you insist on singing." Josh told her as he sat down at the piano stool. Normally, he'd use his own guitar to accompany her, but the Rihanna song they were about to launch into sounded much better with piano accompaniment (even if the original was with a guitar). Alice nodded, dropping her bag beside the piano and leaned against it as she waited for Josh to finish warming up. Not five minutes later, he nodded to her and she straightened up. He then began to play the opening notes, causing Alice to suck in a breath before parting her lips and allowing the lyrics to flow from her.

Chest to chest
Nose to nose
Palm to palm
We were always just that close
Wrist to wrist
Toe to toe
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
So, how come when I reach out my finger
It feels like more than distance between us

In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king

She took a breath, grinning at Josh slightly. Her slightly husky vocals suited the words beautifully.

Eye to eye
Cheek to cheek
Side by side
You were sleeping next to me
Arm in arm
Dusk to dawn
With the curtains drawn
And a little last night on these sheets
So, how come when I reach out my fingers
It seems like more than distance between us

As she finished this verse, she nodded briefly at Josh who took this as a signal. As the chorus started up again, and Josh's deeper vocals swirled with Alice's own softer ones.

In this California king bed

We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king

Josh's vocals fell from the song again, as did Alice's as there was a brief instrumental solo. Soon, Alice's voice picked up the final verse once more.

Just when I felt like giving up on us
You turned around and gave me one last touch
That made everything feel better
And even then my eyes got wetter
So confused wanna ask you if you love me
But I don't wanna seem so weak
Maybe I've been California dreaming

To finish the song, Josh chimed in again for the final chorus. Their complimenting vocals fitting exceptionally well together as the continued.

In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
My California King

In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king

Holding the final note until Josh finished playing it on the piano, Alice took a breath after they both cut off. "That was brilliant Alice! Much better than last week." he congratulated her, and she beamed with pride. "Thanks Josh. It sounds much better when we both sing the chorus." she replied, to which he nodded too. And then frowned a little. "Dream Catch Me next? Or Gone In The Morning?" he asked, standing from the piano and leaning down to pick up his guitar and remove it from his case. "Dream Catch Me" she replied, placing herself on the piano stool that Josh had just vacated and absentmindedly playing random tunes as she awaited the boy to tune his guitar.

[Onzy]

Only two weeks into the term and already he was piled under the work load. He was busy trying to figure out something for his art, but nothing came, no inspiration, just a blank wall. He couldn't hand in a blank canvas, but he wasn't going to hand in rubbish. Throwing his pencil in frustration, Liam decided to get out of his pj's and go to the music room. He had an urge to play the guitar and he would follow that urge.

One thing Liam was thankful for was the fact that he had a quiet roommate. No loud music or untidiness, just the fact that he had a roommate. It was a blessing. Liam was a chosen mute. He didn't talk. Talking had earned him abuse at the hands of his father, and now his mindset was that talking equaled pain. Connor and Simon were the only people he talked to, and that was that. Trust was something that he would probably never be able to do, and yet, yet there was a person that had slipped into his mind as he thought that. Alice, the quiet girl from the trails and the first person that he might have talked to at first chance. His courage had failed him though and he had stuck to the pen and notepad.

Grabbing his guitar he headed to the music room, hoping that no one was there. There were smaller, sound proof cubicles leading off from the main room, but they made him claustrophobic and unpleasant. No student spared him a second glance. Opening the door, he heard an angelic voice drifting towards him, along with a piano. He saw that it was indeed Alice, and his eyes sparkled, even if his face showed no emotion. Once she had finished, his face colored slightly and he considered going to the paddock to practice. Shaking his head at his foolishness, Liam stalked to a small cubicle, hoping that no one saw him.