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Chapter 14 - Rhythm of Friendship

The night had grown quiet after hours of talking, and eventually Emma, Ella, and Elia decided to sleep in the same room together. It wasn't unusual for them; they were used to staying close after long days of practicing and working on music. The room felt warm and safe as they spread out the blankets and settled in, still smiling from the conversations they had shared.

Emma stretched and leaned back against the pillows, her confident rapper's energy slowly fading into sleepiness. Ella, the group's vocalist with a soft but powerful voice, yawned and nudged her shoulder.

"Tomorrow's recording is going to be crazy," Ella murmured with a small grin.

Elia, the dancer of the group, laughed softly as she wrapped a blanket around them. "Only if you two stop arguing over lyrics."

They all laughed quietly.

The room grew peaceful as they settled down together. They cuddled close like sisters who had chased the same dreams for years, the comfort of each other's presence slowly pulling them into sleep. Outside, the city lights dimmed while the night stretched on calmly.

Hours passed.

The first pale light of morning slipped through the curtains.

Emma was the first to stir. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. "Hey… wake up," she whispered, nudging Ella and Elia.

Ella groaned dramatically. "Five more minutes."

But Elia was already sitting up, stretching her arms like a dancer preparing for the day. "Nope. Studio day. Let's move."

Soon the room was filled with sleepy laughter again as they got up and started getting ready. Emma pulled on her oversized hoodie and headphones, already humming a beat under her breath. Ella stood in front of the mirror softly practicing the melody she had written the night before, her voice filling the quiet room. Meanwhile Elia tied her hair back, her movements graceful even in the early morning.

Their excitement slowly replaced their tiredness.

The three friends stepped outside together, the cool morning air brushing against their faces. The streets were just waking up, and so were their dreams.

"Ready to make history?" Emma said with a confident smile.

Ella bumped her shoulder playfully. "We already are."

Elia spun once like she was already on stage. "Then let's go record the song that proves it."

And with that, the three of them headed toward the studio — a rapper, a vocalist, and a dancer, friends and dreamers — ready to turn another ordinary morning into something unforgettable.

When they reached the recording studio, the familiar scent of equipment, coffee, and quiet anticipation filled the air. The place felt almost like a second home to them. Posters of famous artists lined the walls, microphones stood ready behind the glass booth, and the soft glow of screens lit up the control room.

Emma pushed the door open dramatically. "Alright," she announced with a playful grin, "future hit-makers have arrived."

Ella laughed as she stepped inside. "You say that every time."

"And one day it'll be true," Emma replied confidently.

Elia twirled once in the middle of the room, looking around like she was already on stage. "Okay but first… someone get me coffee before I collapse."

"Dancer problems," Emma teased.

They dropped their bags on the couch and immediately the room filled with their usual playful chaos. Emma sat at the mixing desk tapping out a beat with her fingers while Ella warmed up her voice softly, humming a few notes that echoed beautifully through the studio.

Elia leaned against the wall watching them with a grin. "You know… if you two start another argument about lyrics, I'm dancing to silence."

Emma turned around dramatically. "Excuse me, my lyrics are masterpieces."

Ella crossed her arms. "Masterpieces that I have to turn into actual music."

"Rude."

They burst into laughter again.

After a few minutes of joking around, they finally started getting serious about the recording. Emma adjusted the headphones and stepped into the recording booth first. She grabbed the microphone stand and gave it a playful tap.

"Testing. Testing. Is the world ready for this?" she said dramatically.

From the control room, Ella rolled her eyes but smiled. "Just start rapping."

The beat began playing through the speakers — deep bass and sharp rhythm filling the room.

Emma's expression instantly changed. Her playful mood shifted into focus as she started delivering her rap with confidence, her voice flowing smoothly with the beat. Through the glass, Ella nodded along while Elia bounced lightly to the rhythm, already imagining the choreography.

When the verse finished, Emma stepped out of the booth with a proud smile.

"Okay, that was fire."

Ella raised an eyebrow. "It was… acceptable."

Emma gasped dramatically. "ACCEPTABLE?"

Elia burst out laughing.

"Alright vocalist," Emma said, pointing at the booth, "show us."

Ella walked inside, adjusting the headphones carefully. Unlike Emma's bold energy, Ella's focus was calm and steady. She closed her eyes for a second as the music started again.

Then she began to sing.

Her voice filled the studio — smooth, powerful, and emotional. Even Emma and Elia stopped joking for a moment just to listen. The melody wrapped perfectly around the beat, giving the song its heart.

When she finished, Emma clapped loudly.

"Okay fine," she admitted. "That was amazing."

Elia nodded dramatically. "I just got goosebumps."

Ella stepped out of the booth trying to hide her smile. "Thank you, thank you."

But the serious moment didn't last long.

Emma suddenly grabbed one of the spare microphones and pretended it was a stage mic. "Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the greatest trio in history!"

Elia instantly jumped into performance mode, dancing across the studio floor with exaggerated moves. Ella joined them, laughing as she tried to sing random notes while Emma beatboxed terribly.

"Stop! Stop!" Ella laughed. "We're supposed to be recording, not performing a circus."

Eventually they managed to calm down enough to finish the recording properly. Emma recorded a second rap verse while Ella layered harmonies over the chorus, making the song feel richer and fuller.

Meanwhile, Elia listened carefully and started planning the dance in her head.

"This part needs a strong move," she said, demonstrating a quick spin and sharp step. "And here the dancers drop with the beat."

Emma nodded. "That's going to look insane on stage."

After hours of recording, laughing, redoing lines, and teasing each other, the song was finally finished.

The final version played through the speakers.

All three of them sat quietly for a moment listening to their work.

Emma leaned back in her chair. "Okay… that actually sounds incredible."

Ella smiled softly, clearly proud.

Elia stretched her arms dramatically. "And wait until people see the dance."

The three friends looked at each other with the same spark in their eyes — the spark of people chasing the same dream.

Emma stood up and held out her hand.

"Team?"

Ella placed her hand on top.

"Team."

Elia added hers last.

"Team."

They laughed again, the studio now filled not just with music, but with the excitement of something new beginning.

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