The sun had begun to dip into a warm amber haze when David left the studio, his mind still humming with the rhythm of guitars and the echo of Avril's voice.
The last few hours had been productive — maybe even magical — but he was exhausted in the best way possible.
As he pulled up in front of the building Scarlett had told him about, he spotted her immediately. She was standing near the entrance, her hair catching the late light, phone in hand, practically bouncing on her heels.
When she saw his car, her face lit up, and she waved like she'd just won the lottery.
The moment she got in, she leaned across the seat and kissed him full on the lips — quick, excited, and almost breathless. "You won't believe what happened!" she said, her words tumbling out faster than her breath.
"I actually got a lead role, for a Sofia Coppola movie! Can you believe that? And then..." she held up a finger dramatically, "right after that, I got called for another audition! Two big breaks in one day! I'm so happy I could scream!"
David blinked, surprised but smiling as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "That's incredible, honey. Really." He gave her a proud squeeze.
"Just promise me you'll choose your roles wisely. Take your time. Don't let anyone rush you into something that doesn't feel right."
Scarlett looked up at him, her eyes soft and gleaming under the warm evening glow. "I know," she said gently. "That's why I have you to keep me grounded, right?"
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "That's the plan."
Her mood was too good to sit still. She was practically glowing, humming to herself as he started the engine. "Now," she said with mock seriousness, "since my career has officially begun, how about you take your soon-to-be-famous girlfriend to dinner? I want to celebrate, and you can tell me all about your day, rockstar."
David grinned. "You got it."
They found a quiet place tucked near the main street — dim lights, old-school vinyls on the wall, and a waitress who looked like she'd seen every wannabe musician in Coachella pass through her doors.
They ordered burgers, fries, and a bottle of cheap red wine that tasted better than it had any right to.
Scarlett was halfway through her second glass when she leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Alright, your turn. How was your day? And don't give me that 'it was fine' line."
David smirked and leaned back in his chair. "It was productive. I got the band setup done — found a drummer, a bassist, and a second guitarist. We even ran through a few songs."
She tilted her head. "That's fast. Who are they?"
He paused, almost anticipating what was coming next. "Well, just some new kids looking to get a break. Thomas, the drummer (almost wrote train xD), he's this energetic kid with the coordination of a caffeine addict.
Esperanza's on bass. Really talented, calm energy, kind of the opposite of Thomas. And then there's Avril, she's on guitar. All of them are young."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching. "Avril and Esperanza, huh? How many girls in this lineup again?"
David chuckled. "Two."
"Two girls," she repeated, smirking now. "So what, you starting a harem with your band? Rockstar dreams coming true already?"
David nearly choked on his drink, coughing into his napkin as she broke into laughter.
"Oh, come on," she said, patting his back teasingly. "You know I'm not the jealous type. I just want to set some ground rules before you become a legend and random girls start camping outside your dressing room."
He coughed one last time and gave her a playful smirk. "You mean like you?"
She froze mid-sip, narrowed her eyes, and gave him a mock glare. "Careful, mister."
David laughed, leaned across the table, and kissed her softly. "Relax. You're the only one I want annoying me for the rest of my life."
She pulled back, pretending to think. "Mmm. I'll take that. But I still get veto power."
"Veto power?"
"Yep. If any random girl starts throwing herself at you, I get to step in and say 'Nope, not happening.' I get to have a say if you are looking to spice things up. It's in our relationship contract."
He grinned. "You actually wrote a contract? And why are you encouraging me to date others."
"I should make a contract," she said, then added with a smile, "You don't make it easy to stay calm, you know. I just don't want you to find someone and face a moral dilemma about who to choose. "
David chuckled. " I can promise that. Not that I am looking for others."
She muttered softly. " I know. But I also saw you holding back for me. I just want you to be happy and free to do whatever you want."
He leaned in and kissed her. " I am lucky to have you."
On the drive back to the hotel, the night air was cool, the desert breeze carrying faint music from the nearby festival grounds.
Scarlett had curled up against his arm, her earlier teasing replaced by quiet contentment.
"So, tell me more about them," she said softly. "Your bandmates."
David laughed. "You really want to know?"
"Of course. I should know who gets to spend more time with my man than me."
He shook his head, smiling. "Tommy is this hyperactive kid. He drums like he's fighting for his life. Emily's serious but kind — you'll like her. And Avril's talented but still finding her sound. I'm not interested in any of them like that. They're just… good people to make music with. That's it."
She nodded, seeming satisfied, and held onto his arm tighter as they walked into the hotel lobby. "Good answer," she murmured, smiling.
Inside the room, Scarlett immediately dropped her bag, turned, and pushed David backward onto the bed.
He blinked, surprised. "Wow, no warm-up?"
"Warm-up was dinner," she said, crawling on top of him with a grin. "You know, today's been an amazing day. I got my dream role, you got your band together — seems like the universe is giving us a sign to celebrate properly."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what kind of celebration did you have in mind?"
She tugged her shirt off and kissed him deeply, her breath warm against his skin. "The kind where you don't sleep tonight."
David smirked. "You sure? You'll be the one begging for rest."
Scarlett laughed softly. "Who said I plan to sleep? I'm going to drain you dry so you don't get seduced by those concert groupies you were talking about."
He grinned, flipping her over playfully. "Challenge accepted."
The rest of the night unfolded with laughter, whispered gasps, and the quiet rhythm of two people who didn't need to say much to understand each other. The hours slipped by unnoticed, the room dim except for the golden light spilling in from the window.
When it was finally over, sometime past 3 a.m., Scarlett collapsed against his chest, her skin flushed, her hair a mess around them both. Sweat clung to her body, glistening in the light.
She sighed, breathless but smiling. "I swear, I need to start working out . You're going to kill me one day with that thing. Now do you see why I am so accommodating?"
David laughed softly and brushed a thumb across her cheek. "Then you should eat more too. You're too skinny for a fitness challenge. And stop asking for more when you are already tired."
She let out a lazy chuckle and glanced up at him. " You know, I actually noticed my body changing since I ran away. A bit curvier, healthier. My skin's smoother, too. Maybe I'm just… happier."
"Maybe," he said with a grin. "Or maybe I've got a magic touch."
She snorted. "Magic touch? Yeah right." she swatted his arm.
David laughed, pulling her close. "Come on, admit it. I'm good luck."
"Sure," she said, resting her chin on his chest. "Just don't share that 'magic ' with the whole female population of California."
He raised his hands in mock innocence. "No promises."
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "You're incorrigible."
"And you love it."
She sighed contentedly, tracing circles on his chest with her finger. "Yeah… I guess I do."
The laughter faded into quiet breathing, the hum of the night settling around them. For a moment, the world outside — the studio, the shows, the noise — didn't exist. It was just them, tangled in each other's warmth, somewhere between exhaustion and peace.
As Scarlett drifted to sleep, her hand still resting over his heart, David stared at the ceiling for a long moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He had no idea what the next few weeks would bring — the concert, the fame, the chaos. But right now, lying there with her, it all felt right.
He brushed a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight dear," he whispered.
She murmured something sleepy but happy, her breath slowing against him.
*****
The three days leading up to Coachella vanished faster than a drumstick in Tommy's hands. David, Tommy, Emily, and Avril rehearsed tirelessly — fine-tuning chords, teasing each other between takes, and laughing over bad coffee and broken amp cables.
By now, they weren't just a random lineup thrown together for a festival slot. They were starting to sound like a band. "Gravity Dreams," David had decided, a name that felt both grounding and limitless.
Their chemistry wasn't perfect, not yet .
Tommy was a little too energetic on fills, Emily liked to experiment with jazzy runs that didn't always fit, and Avril sometimes drifted from harmony into her own melody, but something about the imperfections made it real, alive.
By the morning of the show, the air around the Coachella grounds buzzed with a kind of electric tension that only musicians understood.
David woke up early, the California sun streaming through the window of his hotel room. Scarlett, wrapped in a bedsheet, yawned and gave him a sleepy smile.
"Today's the day, my rockstar," she murmured.
"Yeah," David said, pulling on his worn leather jacket, "today's the day we find out if 'Gravity Dreams' can make people feel something."
She kissed him softly before they left. "You'll do great. Just don't trip on the stage."
David grinned. "You're never letting me forget that one time, huh?"
They arrived at the festival around 9 AM. The grounds were already buzzing with energy — food trucks, vendors, sound checks, and young fans in colorful outfits flocking to different tents.
Scarlett tagged along as David led the band toward the artist zone. Tommy, sporting sunglasses and a grin, drummed on every surface he passed. Emily adjusted her bass strap nervously, while Avril hummed a random tune under her breath.
Scarlett smiled warmly when she met them. "So this is the crew that's stealing my boyfriend's time?"
"Hey, we're just borrowing him," Avril said playfully, shaking her hand. "You can have him back after we're famous."
Scarlett laughed. "Deal."
After a few more minutes of friendly banter, Scarlett pulled David aside, kissed him for luck, and whispered, "Go make them remember your name."
David squeezed her hand. "I'll make sure they remember ours."
"Alright," David said, giving them a nod. "No matter what happens out there, play like the world's listening. Even if they aren't yet."
Tommy grinned. "Hell yeah, boss."
Avril jumped up and down in nervous excitement.
Emily smiled nervously and clenched her guitar.
They stood together, hearts pounding as they took their positions behind the stage curtain.
*****
Then the announcer's voice thundered through the speakers:
"Ladies and gentlemen — please welcome to the stage… making their Coachella debut — GRAVITY DREAMS!"
The lights dimmed, and the stage was swallowed in blue and gold haze.
David stepped forward first, the soles of his boots thudding against the wooden platform. He blinked under the blinding spotlights and felt the heat of anticipation from thousands of eyes.
The roar was mixed — polite cheers, some curious murmurs, some clapping — that half-interested crowd reaction every new act gets before they prove themselves.
He walked up to the mic, adjusted it slightly, and said with an easy smile,
"Hello, California! We're a new band, Gravity Dreams.
I'm David, that's Tommy on drums, Emily on bass, and Avril on second lead. Hope you're ready, because we're about to change your taste in music forever."
The words got a few amused cheers and whistles. Someone in the crowd yelled, "Prove it!"
David chuckled, turned slightly, and gave the nod.
Tommy clicked his sticks — one, two, three, four! — and slammed into the steady heartbeat rhythm.
The opening chords of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" rang out like a wave rolling over the desert. The sound was raw, echoing off the metal scaffolding, Emily's bass humming low and heavy, Avril's clean guitar ringing in counterpoint.
It was slow, deliberate, haunting. A hush rippled through the field. People stopped mid-sentence, drawn in by that lonely, echoing guitar line that sounded like it had a story to tell.
David leaned into the mic, his voice rough and soulful :
🎵
"I walk a lonely road,
The only one that I have ever known.
Don't know where it goes,
But it's only me and I walk alone…"
🎵
The crowd paused, leaning forward on instinct, some with arms crossed, some tapping feet on the ground. The melancholy in David's voice struck them . It was raw, heartfelt, and carried a weight that made people stand up and listen.
Tommy's drums built gradually — not flashy, just solid and steady, like a heartbeat echoing against the desert night. Emily's bass wrapped around the rhythm, pulsing deep through the ground, while Avril added texture, the shimmer of strings that gave the melody its ghostly echo.
🎵
"I walk this empty street,
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams,
Where the city sleeps,
And I'm the only one and I walk alone…"
🎵
The energy shifted. People started swaying, nodding in rhythm with the drumbeat. Some shouted encouragement. A few teens jumped up, arms waving, clapping along with Tommy's rolling snare.
By the second verse, the audience was completely drawn in. David's voice blended seamlessly with the instruments, Avril's guitar lines cutting sharply but harmoniously, Emily anchoring the sound like a heartbeat.
Scarlett watched from backstage, frozen, her heart pounding. She'd heard David sing countless times — but this was different. The emotion in his voice wasn't an act. It was real, a story he was letting the crowd feel.
The chorus hit like a wave. Spotlights burst into life — bright white beams cutting through the night sky, rotating across the massive crowd. The first rows started raising their hands, waving slowly side to side.
🎵
"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me,
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating,
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me,
'Til then I walk alone…"
🎵
Now the audience was on their feet, some jumping, some pumping fists, some clapping and stomping in time. The unknown song had captured them completely.
David moved across the stage, feeding off their energy, nodding to each member, letting the music flow through him. Avril grinned as she caught his eye, Tommy smirked behind the drums, and Emily's calm focus kept everything grounded.
A girl in the front row shouted, "This is beautiful!"
Another yelled, "Who are these guys?"
David stepped closer to the edge of the stage, his voice growing louder, stronger, more desperate —
🎵
"I'm walking down the line,
That divides me somewhere in my mind.
On the borderline
Of the edge, and where I walk alone…"
🎵
The sound was electric , heavy but melodic and graceful. The desert air vibrated with each chord.
By the time the final chorus hit, even the skeptical faces were gone. Everyone, from the front row to the food stalls — was part of it. People had their hands up, shouting the chorus like an anthem they'd been waiting their whole lives to sing.
🎵
"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me,
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating,
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me,
'Til then I walk alone…"
🎵
Then David pulled back the mic, let the last line echo by itself —
🎵
"I walk alone…"
🎵
He let the guitar hang on a single sustained note, trembling through the amplifiers, fading into silence as the outro faded away.
For a split second, there was nothing. No sound. No movement.
Then , A tidal wave of cheers, whistles, claps, screams. The ground seemed to shake under the weight of it. Even the stage crew backstage were clapping, shaking their heads in disbelief.
A guy shouted from the back. " Who are these guys and why haven't we heard of them ever! They rock!"
An excited woman yelled from the front. " The singer is so handsome! I have a new crush now!"
Her friend chuckled from the side. "You have a boyfriend! Leave this one for me."
Tommy tossed his drumsticks up and down grinning widely and waving. Emily grinned relaxed for the first time all night, and Avril turned to David, eyes wide with excitement.
"Holy crap, they loved it!" she mouthed.
David's smile was confident. "Of course. We gave it our all."
He lifted his guitar slightly in acknowledgment.
"Thank you guys," he said into the mic, voice rough.
"That song's called Boulevard of Broken Dreams. And judging by how you guys sound tonight… I think none of us are walking alone anymore."
The crowd screamed again, chanting their name "Gravity Dreams! Gravity Dreams!"
Scarlett felt giddy with excitement. There he was singing like a pro and people were loving it. She was happy that David was able to make his dream come true. Now she wanted to follow her dreams and stand proudly beside him.
On stage, David turned back to the microphone, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Alright," he said with a grin. "That was just the beginning. Let's turn it up a notch…"
The lights flickered, the crowd cheered again, and Tommy's sticks clicked together for the next count-in .
One, two, three, four!
The story of Gravity Dreams was just beginning.