Life has no background music unless you are Sebastian Michaelson. He was a young man with the ambition and skills to change the music industry and had practically written a song for every significant moment of his life. Until life sent him a memo that it was just not meant to be, he had to put down his instruments to live life with the buzzing gossip of Green Valley as its soundtrack. But what if a stormy night changed all that in the form of a woman representing everything Sebastian avoided but gravitated to? Would he remain a bystander or sing his way through life like it was a musical number? NOTE: I do not own any songs used in this novel. This non-fiction was inspired by music by several artists, particularly Ed Sheeran and Tori Kelly. Enjoy!
Chapter 1 TRACK 00: Prelude
"It's my decision!"
"No!" He screams. "This is my family, my house-"
"Your house?" The woman laughs, "This is my house; you pay bills!"
"Why you-"
"Do it! Hit me, and I'll have you arrested!"
A 12-year-old boy held onto his little sister, asleep in his arms, covering her ears with his tiny hands, shielding her from downstairs chaos.
"Our kids are better off without you."
"I have the right to them!"
"You lost that right when you started sleeping with other women!"
"I told you, I never slept with anyone!" The man groaned, "You believe everyone in this town except the person who should matter."
"Cause all you do is lie! Where's that promotion, huh? That raise you were bragging about?"
"Krista, that's management...." He sighed, "They told me that I would get it-"
"Well, you didn't! Your daughter's sick, and moping around won't pay the bills."
"What do you want me to do? Leave them here alone at night while we both work?"
"We can get a babysitter-"
"You don't have time to look for one!" He snapped, "You don't want to leave them with your mother, and you won't let me choose either."
"Cause you'd probably get the easy young girl."
The man gave a tired laugh, "You know what, Krista? I can't do this anymore."
"What?" She watched as her husband walked to the door, "Wait, Ma-"
"Just..." He opens the front door, trying his best not to look back. "Just let me think, Krista."
Hearing the front door made the young boy sit up, setting his sister back in bed; he ran down the stairs past his mother, who was nursing a glass of wine; he threw the door open and ran out.
"Dad! Dad!"
Unlike his wife's, this is a voice the man would always respond to. He turns around and sees the boy standing a few feet away, tears brimming as he catches his breath. He waved his son over, and in an instant, the boy held on as if his life depended on it.
"Please don't go, Daddy."
"I'm sorry, buddy, but I don't want you and your sister to see me and your mom like this."
"Then we'll go back to how it was!"
"I'm not sure that that's possible, buddy." His voice was laced with so much kindness it was impossible to think he was in a screaming match with his wife moments ago.
"Where will you go?" The boy asks, looking at his dad.
"I don't know, maybe stay over at your uncle Jerry's place for the night."
As much as he'd like to keep the innocent look in his son's eyes, the boy already knew what was happening; he had heard enough parents separating stories from his friends that he felt left out of the trend.
Welcome to the club.
"Will you be getting a divorce?"
He sighed and wiped off the tears on the boy's face, "Go back inside buddy; I'll see you tomorrow."
"I have school." He sniffled.
"And who picks you up from school?"
His son gives him a toothy grin, "My rock star dad."
"That's right." His dad tousled his hair and kissed his forehead before lightly pushing him toward the house.
His wife stood by the door; the annoyed look on her face caused him more pain than it should.
"Good night, Dad."
"Good night, son; kiss your sister for me." He faked a smile and watched his son run up the door.
"I will; I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Johan."
The boy watched his dad drive off as the rain started to pour.
That was the last time he saw him.
Chapter 1 TRACK 00: Prelude
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Chapter 2 Track01: A-Team
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Chapter 3 Track 02: Drunk
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Chapter 4 Track 03 - U.N.I
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Chapter 5 Track 04: Grade 8
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Chapter 6 Track 05: Wake Me Up
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Chapter 7 Track 6: Small Bump
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Chapter 8 Track 07: This [RAW]
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Chapter 9 Track 08: The City [RAW]
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Chapter 10 Track 09: Lego House
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Chapter 11 Track 10: You Need Me, But I Don't Need You [RAW]
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Chapter 12 Track 11: Kiss Me [RAW]
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Chapter 13 Track 12: Give Me Love [RAW]
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Chapter 14 Track 13: Interlude [RAW]
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Chapter 15 Track 14: One
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Chapter 16 Track 15: I'm A Mess
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Chapter 17 Track 16: Sing
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Chapter 18 Track 17: Don't [RAW]
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Chapter 19 Track 18: Nina [RAW]
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Chapter 20 Track 19: Photograph [RAW]
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Chapter 21 Track 20: Bloostream [RAW]
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Chapter 22 Track 21: Tenerife Sea [RAW]
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Chapter 23 Track 22: Runaway [RAW]
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Chapter 24 Track 23: Tha Man [RAW]
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Chapter 25 Track 24: Thinking Out Loud [RAW]
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Chapter 26 Track 25: Afire Love [RAW]
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Chapter 27 Track 26: Take It Back [RAW]
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Chapter 28 Track 27: Shirtsleeves [RAW]
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Chapter 29 Track 28: Even My Dad Does Sometimes [RAW]
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Chapter 30 Track 29: I See Fire [RAW]
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Chapter 31 Track 30: All of the Stars [RAW]
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Chapter 32 Track 31: I Was Made For Loving You [RAW]
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Chapter 33 Track 32: Make It Rain [RAW]
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Chapter 34 Track 33: Beautiful People [RAW]
29/06/2023