Dunphys house
"I can't believe you just sent him away!" Haley shouted, her voice tight with frustration. "It was the first time I ever brought him over, Mom! The first!"
Claire crossed her arms, her expression locked in firm disapproval. "He's a senior, Haley. A senior. And after that horrible song he sang in our living room, I had more than enough reason."
"That was romantic! He was just showing off his talent—he's a musician! I told you that!"
"Yes, and you bragged about it like we were getting serenaded by John Mayer. Instead, we got... whatever that was."
Haley groaned, stomping toward the kitchen before turning back around. "I can't believe you did this. I finally find someone cool, and you kick him out like he was homeless."
The front door suddenly creaked open, followed by a flood of voices. Without turning, Claire shouted toward the entryway, still mid-rant. "Phil! Can you please talk to your daughter before I—"
She froze as more voices reached her ears.
Claire and Haley both turned.
In through the front door walked Phil, a slightly overwhelmed smile on his face, flanked by Alex and Luke. But behind them came more—neighbors Samuel and Michael, and what looked like the rest of Alex's study group, including Dylan and Tori.
Claire blinked, stunned. Haley's mouth fell slightly open.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Hey... What are you guys doing here?"
Claire looked at her daughter, then the group. "No, what are you all doing here? I thought you had the study group at Samuel's!"
Her eyes suddenly widened as a memory clicked into place. "Oh no... Luke was shooting arrows!" She turned sharply to Michael, her voice rising. "Did Luke break anything?"
Before Michael could answer, Luke cut in with a shrug. "How could I break anything? The arrows were going away from the house... most of the time."
"Claire!" Phil said excitedly, stepping farther into the room. "You won't believe this—Samuel wrote a song! And Tori is going to sing it! Isn't that awesome?"
Tori blushed instantly, looking down and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Claire glanced between Samuel and Tori, her expression unreadable as her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
She forced a smile. "Oh, how fun..." she said with a strained cheerfulness. Then her eyes flicked to Phil. "But why are they doing it here?"
Phil grinned. "Samuel said he could play it on a piano, but he didn't have one at home."
Claire's forced smile faltered. Her eyes narrowed just a bit more. Great. Another performance. And this one by someone who didn't even have the right instrument in his own house. How good could the song really be?
I walked over to the piano and gently pressed a few keys, letting the tones warm up the room. Then I looked at Tori, who stood nearby, visibly nervous.
"Do you need something that would help?" I asked softly, trying to ease her tension.
She shook her head quickly, her cheeks flushed. "N-no, I'm r-ready."
As I turned back to the piano, I didn't notice the way Tori took one slow breath, grounding herself. This is the first time I'm singing in front of people, she thought. Please let them think I'm good... please.
Everyone was now gathered around the piano, forming a loose semicircle. Some stood behind the couch, others leaned in quietly, curious. Haley sat on the couch, seemingly indifferent, but had her phone angled subtly. She was secretly filming, already planning to show the video to her friends later.
I took a breath and placed my fingers on the keys, starting to play the chords of Coldplay's Paradise. It had quickly become a favorite. Ever since I started listening to the English playlist on Ed Sheeran's phone, I'd discovered a whole new world of music I never gave a real chance before. Paradise had this soaring, cinematic feel that hit something deep every time I played it.
As the familiar chords filled the room, I looked over at Tori, giving her a small nod.
She opened her mouth to sing... but nothing came out.
I looked around. No one else seemed to notice that Tori should've already started. Her eyes shimmered with nervousness, and for a second, it looked like she might cry. I didn't really want to sing—but she looked like she needed help.
So I did.
I sang the first line, surprising everyone in the room.
"When she was just a girl, she expected the world,
But it flew away from her reach,
And the bullet catch in her teeth.
Life goes on, it gets so heavy,
The wheel breaks the butterfly,
Every tear a waterfall.
In the stormy night, she closed her eyes."
I paused for a moment, glancing up from the keys. Everyone's faces were frozen in surprise, mouths slightly open, eyes wide. I couldn't tell if it was a good kind of shock or the bad kind. Either way, I had started it.
Figuring it was time to pass the moment back to her, I gave Tori a small nod.
She took a breath and straightened her posture. Bit by bit, she regained her composure.
Then, she began to sing the next part, her voice soft at first but gaining strength with each word.
"When she was just a girl, she expected the world,
But it flew away from her reach,
And the bullet catch in her teeth.
Life goes on, it gets so heavy,
The wheel breaks the butterfly,
Every tear a waterfall.
In the stormy night, she closed her eyes."
I felt the build coming, and without thinking, I joined in for the next part. Together, we sang:
"And dream of para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise..."
As our voices filled the room in harmony, reactions started to stir.
Claire leaned toward Haley and whispered, "Okay, I'll admit it—this is already better than your boyfriend's song."
"Mom!" Haley protested softly, but even she couldn't hide a small smile as she began subtly tapping her foot along with the rhythm.
Phil, Luke, and Dylan had begun to sway their arms in unison, completely caught up in the moment like they were at a concert.
Alex was quietly watching the performance , eyes wide with surprise at the sudden musical collaboration happening in her living room. Even she couldn't stop herself from humming softly under her breath.
Michael stood by the side, smiling warmly, his eyes shifting from Samuel to Tori with a proud, almost fatherly expression.
Tori glanced my way with an encouraging smile, her confidence visibly growing. We continued into the chorus again, our voices blending seamlessly:
"Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh..."
Luke waved his hands like a lighter back and forth dramatically, drawing laughter from Dylan and a playful elbow nudge from Phil, who was now fully lost in the moment, his eyes closed as if transported.
"They're actually pretty good," Dylan admitted aloud, as if surprised by his own assessment.
"Pretty good?" Phil echoed, looking over at Dylan with mock outrage. "This is amazing!"
With a brief pause, I continued, letting my voice carry the soft melodic "oohs" to sustain the momentum we'd built:
"Ooh-oh-oh-oh, ooh-oh-oh-oh-oh, ooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh..."
The room fell into a gentle quiet, everyone's attention fully captured as I felt the music deeply, my voice rising gently, filling with emotion as I returned to the familiar lyrics:
"When she was just a girl, she expected the world, But it flew away from her reach, And the bullet catch in her teeth. Life goes on, it gets so heavy, The wheel breaks the butterfly, Every tear a waterfall. In the stormy night, she closed her eyes."
I let each word resonate clearly, building the intensity slowly, pulling everyone deeper into the moment.
We continued singing the song, repeating the lyrics, our voices intertwining and growing stronger, building up to a powerful, shared crescendo. Together, we sang until the final notes faded softly into silence, leaving everyone in the room captivated by the lingering echo of our performance.
When we were done, the room fell silent for a brief moment, as if the performance had taken everyone's breath away. Then, applause broke out—genuine and warm. Phil dabbed at his eyes dramatically, sniffling with exaggerated emotion.
"Beautiful... just beautiful," he whispered.
Luke jumped up from the couch, throwing his hands in the air. "Again! Again!"
Just as the energy in the room began to settle, Dylan broke the silence with a wide grin, looking between Tori and me. "Okay, that was actually insane. Like, goosebumps-level. Do you guys do duets professionally, or is this just a casual Saturday at the Dunphys' thing?"
I chuckled nervously, scratching the side of my head. "Uh, yeah... definitely not professionals. It just sort of happened. Honestly, I wasn't even planning to sing—Tori was supposed to be the star." I glanced over at Tori, offering a sheepish smile. "I just figured she shouldn't have to do it alone."
Tori blushed slightly, her eyes shifting downward as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She glanced up at me shyly, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.
After a brief silence, she finally spoke, her voice soft and slightly shaky, though clearly filled with excitement. "That was amazing. I've never sung like that before—not in front of people. And I didn't even mess up. Thank you."
Before I could respond, she impulsively leaned in and wrapped her arms around me in a sudden, tight hug. Completely caught off guard, I froze, my arms awkwardly hovering in mid-air as my brain scrambled to figure out how to respond. Realizing she was hugging me, Tori's eyes widened with embarrassment, and I felt her stiffen slightly.
"Oh, sorry," she mumbled quickly, pulling back slightly but hesitating halfway through.
"Uh, no, it's fine," I stammered, still awkwardly positioned, before slowly and hesitantly placing my arms around her for a brief, uncertain hug.
We quickly separated, each looking away with flushed cheeks and shy, nervous smiles.
Thankfully, Claire broke the tension with perfect timing, clapping her hands together lightly. "Well, you two sounded like a real concert. This is the second time today someone's performed in my living room, and let me tell you—I'm just relieved I don't have to kick you out of my house as well."
Michael stepped forward slowly, his voice softer than usual. "I've heard you hum around the house, but this… this was something else. You didn't just sing—you moved the room. I'm really proud of you, kid."
I rubbed the back of my neck, not really knowing how to react to all the praise. I hadn't sung to impress anyone—I just wanted to help Tori when she froze up, and, honestly, I liked the song. When I heard her sing it, I couldn't help but join in.
I'd always thought my new voice sounded decent, maybe even good, but singing? I never really tested that. Now I found myself wondering... was I actually good?
Alex cut in before the silence could stretch too long. She looked at both Tori and me and said, "Yes, you guys sounded really good together."
Her tone had that unmistakable Alex edge—like she hadn't expected it, but couldn't deny it. Still, there was a flicker of something else behind her words—something almost like jealousy. Maybe it was how Tori had shined in front of everyone, or how easily we'd clicked musically.
"I mean, I wasn't prepared to say this today, but... that was a solid performance. Great song . And for the record, you officially earned a passing grade," she added, crossing her arms just a little tighter than usual.
Hailey leaned back, smirking at her screen as she watched the recording. She wasn't about to admit that this performance totally outshined her boyfriend's, but deep down, she knew. She scrolled to the part where Samuel hit the chorus—yep, that was the moment. Her friends were going to freak.
Hailey stopped the recording and stared at the thumbnail it generated—Samuel at the piano, Tori mid-chorus, the lighting weirdly perfect like it had been staged.
"Oh yeah," she whispered, already opening the YouTube app.
She typed quickly, fingers flying over her phone.Title:Insanely Talented High School original song "Paradise" – You Won't Believe This Voice!
She glanced at the tags and grinned as she added: #Original song #HighSchoolTalent #ViralDuet #SamuelAndTori
Then she hit upload.
"You're welcome, internet," she said, tossing her phone on the bed with a satisfied smirk.
This was going viral. No doubt about it. And when it did, every comment, every message, every share would come back to her.
Hailey Dunphy: Talent scout extraordinaire.
She was already mentally preparing her "how it happened" story.
Fame by association? Still fame.
Before anyone could say more, Claire glanced at her watch and sighed. "Alright, we've got to head out. Cam apparently has some kind of surprise waiting at the house, and we're having dinner there."
Phil perked up, already reaching for his shoes. "Oh right, I forgot! He said something about 'a small, surprise event,' which means I should probably brace myself."
Luke groaned, dragging his feet toward the door. "Do we have to go now? I was just getting into the vibe."
Claire gave him a look. "Yes. We're not showing up late again."
As everyone began collecting their things, Dylan nudged Tori gently. "Your mom texted me. She's out front."
Tori turned to me, still smiling, her cheeks a little pink from earlier. "Thanks again. I'll... see you at school?"
"Yeah," I said, my voice quieter than usual. "Looking forward to it."
Michael came up beside me, giving me a warm pat on the back. "C'mon, champ. Let's head home."
The house slowly emptied, voices trailing off as the front door closed behind them. I stood there for a moment, letting the quiet settle, before turning to follow Michael out.
The walk home was quiet for a while, just some cars on the road and the occasional blink of passing headlights. Then Michael let out a low breath and shook his head slightly.
"I've got to say," he started, "I knew you might surprise me one day, but not like that. That song... the lyrics, the way it came together—it sounded really, really good. Like, professionally good. I honestly didn't expect it."
I glanced over at him and gave a small smile. "Thanks... but honestly, if Tori hadn't started singing, I think the reaction would've been way different. Her voice—it's amazing. That's what really made it work."
Michael smirked. "Yes, yes, your little girlfriend sounded good as well."
I turned my head sharply. "Wait—what? She's not—" I stopped, blinking. "She's not my girlfriend."
Michael just chuckled and kept his eyes on the road. "So let me get this straight—you wanted to impress a girl with a song, and she's not even your girlfriend? You player." He burst out laughing, clearly enjoying himself.
I stared at him, still shocked by what he was saying. After a second, I just stopped responding and decided it was better to ignore him entirely.
When we arrived home, my uncle clearly hadn't run out of steam. As I stepped inside, he started singing in a mock-dramatic voice, "You are my paradise~" with exaggerated emotion.
I groaned and immediately bolted for the stairs. "Nope!"
I ran upstairs as fast as I could, hoping to escape the cringe and hide in my room before he could say anything else.
I closed my door and sat down on the floor, the adrenaline finally fading. My mind spun.
Did I go too far today? I just ripped off a song from my past life, and already people were acting weird—teasing, reacting like it was some big deal. It didn't feel wrong... just unexpected.
The enthusiasm, the applause, the attention—it was all a lot. Too much, maybe. I didn't know if I wanted to be at the center of it all. I'd always felt more comfortable in the background, observing, blending in. And in this world full of main characters, maybe that's where I belonged.
Still... Tori's voice. The way she sang, how it carried even when she was nervous—it stayed with me. There was something magnetic about it. Honest. When we sang together, it felt like we were in our own world for a moment.
I lay back on the floor and stared at the ceiling, unsure if monday would treat me like a background character—or something else entirely.
Cassie and Maddie pov
Meanwhile, across town, Maddie and Cassie sat side by side on the edge of Cassie's bed, the soft glow of a phone screen lighting their faces.
Cassie looked up from her screen and raised an eyebrow. "Did Hailey seriously just send us a video?"
Maddie leaned in, curious. "Of what?"
Cassie tapped the play button, and the faint opening notes of Paradise began to fill the room.
Maddie squinted at the screen. "Wait... is that Samuel? In her house?"
Cassie leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Why is Samuel even there?"
But before either of them could guess, the image became clearer—and so did the sound. It was Samuel, at the piano, singing. And next to him, a pretty girl began to sing along.
They both sat up straighter, eyes fixed on the screen, reacting quietly as the full performance unfolded before them.
When the final notes faded, Maddie blinked. "Okay... that was actually really good."
Cassie nodded slowly, still staring at the screen. "And Samuel can sing? Like—actually sing."
"I thought he was just the quiet new guy," Maddie muttered, already opening another tab. "What's that song even called?"
They typed in lyrics, tried different combinations—nothing.
Cassie frowned. "Weird. There's literally nothing online. No lyrics, no title, nothing."
"Let's just ask Hailey," Maddie said, already pulling up the group chat.
She typed quickly: Hey, what's the name of the song Samuel and that girl sang? Can't find it anywhere.
Hailey responded almost instantly: Apparently he wrote it himself and decided to sing it with his friend.
Hailey dropped her phone with a satisfied sigh, already seeing the notifications rolling in. The video was pure gold—no way it wasn't going viral. And best of all? Everyone would be coming to her for the details. She lived for this kind of buzz.