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"Avril, it's time for breakfast," her mother's voice called from downstairs.
"I know, I'm coming," Avril responded loudly, poking her head out of her room. After a couple more minutes she finally finished dressing and descended the stairs.
The rest of the family had already begun their meal. Being the middle child Avril received less attention from her parents compared to her older brother Matthew, and younger sister Michelle.
It wasn't that her parents didn't love her, but there was undeniably a difference in treatment between the eldest and youngest siblings. Nevertheless, Avril is naturally confident and never complained about it.
Fueled by an unwavering passion to perform, she often stood alone on her bed in her room singing out songs at the top of her lungs. Her love for music bordered on obsession. If she had known about her future achievements, would her excitement have been enough to lift the entire house?
"After breakfast, make sure to tidy up your rooms. The New Year holiday is coming to an end, so let's not leave them in a mess, okay?" their mother reminded them after the meal.
Little Avril immediately raised her hand. "Mom, can I listen to music as soon as I finish cleaning?"
"Oh my, is music all you ever think about?" Matthew retorted, interjecting before their mother could respond.
"If you don't like it, then don't listen to it anymore," Avril responded promptly, casting her older brother a disdainful look.
Without delay, she darted upstairs, leaving Michelle clapping her hands in delight. "Matt is falling behind again, Matt is falling behind again."
Matthew glared at his youngest sister in frustration and quickly retreated to his own room. Unfortunately, in most of these competitions, Avril emerged as the winner. This time was no exception. Matthew ended up watching his sister take Miss AM's record to her room.
Hearing the song《Complicated》playing from his sister's room, Matthew felt a strong urge to cover his ears. He was actually a big fan of Miss AM's songs and had even purchased her records. However, playing them in his room now would clearly violate the trust they had between siblings.
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Despite her occasional defeats, Avril had always been obedient and never resorted to secretly listening to music. Although, based on Michelle's "intelligence," Avril didn't appreciate it when she heard music coming from Matthew's room. As the older brother, Matthew couldn't afford to lose to his sister in this aspect.
Meanwhile, Avril, immersed in Miss AM's music, found herself somewhat unsatisfied. The initial excitement had faded, and the passion that had been ignited by Angela's encouragement was slowly diminishing.
She yearned for more guidance, but why hadn't Angela taken notice of her yet? Didn't she promise? Not even a single phone call. Avril always included her phone number in the letters she wrote, hoping for a call from Angela, but it never came.
With a sigh, Avril reached for the guitar she had purchased with her pocket money. She attempted to play《Complicated,》her favorite among Angela's three songs.
This particular song resonated with her on a deeper level than the others. However, her current skill level only allowed her to play simple fragments, far from performing the entire song. After several frustrated attempts, she flung the guitar aside and sulked on her bed.
Just then, her mother's voice called from downstairs, "Avril, your friend is here. Come down quickly."
Friend? Which one? Annie or Lisa? Another invitation for some mundane outing? Avril reluctantly rose from her bed, and her mother's voice reached her again, "Hurry up, please. It's your friend from the United States."
A friend from the United States? Did she have a friend in the US? Avril pouted as she searched for her shoes beneath the bed.
Suddenly, it clicked in her mind. Angela?!
She let out a scream of excitement and prepared to jump up and dash outside. However, she momentarily forgot her position under the bed and ended up banging her head on the wooden board, resulting in tears streaming down her face. But she didn't have time to dwell on the pain. She endured it and rose to her feet barefoot and rushed downstairs.
Looking down from the staircase, Avril's gaze landed on an 11-year-old girl seated upright on the sofa, engaged in conversation with her own parents. The emerald eyes scanning the room left no doubt—it was Angela, the very same girl she had met at the waterfall!
At that moment, Avril couldn't contain her excitement disregarding any concern for her appearance. She erupted in joyful shouts and hastily made her way over, launching herself at Angela catching everyone on the sofa off guard.
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Avril's parents, Jean and Judith, exchanged surprised glances. While they were aware of their daughter's occasional wildness, they hadn't expected such a reaction.
"Hey, Avril, you're crushing me," Angela protested, raising her hands in surrender.
Avril, feeling a twinge of embarrassment promptly stepped back surveying the scene.
Her parents, as well as her brother and sister, who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion, all gazed at her in astonishment. Even someone as audacious as Avril couldn't help but feel a tinge of awkwardness at that moment.
"It's alright, Mr. Benjamin. Our daughter... can be quite... enthusiastic at times," Avril's father, Jean, explained with a wry smile to the man seated next to Angela.
"No worries, Mr. Lavigne. Most of the time, my goddaughter acts the same way," Mr. Benjamin replied, smiling and glancing at Angela. "The well-behaved demeanor you just witnessed was merely her disguise."
This remark elicited laughter from the Lavigne couple. Angela, who had been prepared to retort, reluctantly closed her mouth. Avril then took hold of Angela's hand and turned to her parents saying, "Dad, Mom, can I show Angela my room?"
"Of course, dear," her mother nodded. The two girls swiftly made their way upstairs. Along the journey, Angela attempted to greet Matthew and Michelle, but Avril's eagerness propelled them forward too swiftly, leaving Angela only able to offer a smile to the siblings.
Once they were inside the room, Avril closed the door and embraced Angela in another warm hug. They held onto each other for a while before Avril reluctantly released her, a hint of grievance in her eyes. "I thought you were just pretending to visit me."
"Why would I do that? I remember in my last letter, I promised to visit, and here I am," Angela smiled, shrugging off any doubts.
"Alright, let's not dwell on that," Avril suggested as she picked up the guitar and looked at Angela with hope in her eyes. "Could you play《Complicated》for me again?"
Angela stared at her momentarily, momentarily taken aback, before breaking into a smile and responding, "Sure."
She took the guitar, tested the sound, and then recalled something. Looking at Avril, she remarked, "You haven't told anyone else..."
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"I swear, I haven't," Avril interjected, raising her hand in a solemn gesture. "When I received your EP I understood that you wanted to keep your identity a secret so I remained silent."
With a proud expression on her face, Avril puffed up her chest, seemingly seeking praise. Angela couldn't help but burst into laughter. Noticing that Avril's face started to fall, Angela suppressed her laughter and began strumming the guitar strings.
This time, Angela played the complete version of《Complicated,》the same rendition she had recorded for her EP. While listening to a recorded song held its own charm, experiencing a live performance was an entirely different sensation. Unable to resist, Avril joined in and sang along even after the song had ended she still yearned for more.
Angela playfully gazed at Avril after concluding the song, Avril couldn't help but blush. Was she showing off?
However, Angela didn't dwell on it and cleared her throat, announcing, "Alright, as a reward for helping me keep the secret, I have a new song to sing for you."
Avril's interest was piqued immediately. "Really? Which song?"
"《Sk8er Boi》!"
"《Sk8er Boi》?"
"Yes, pay close attention," Angela said meaningfully, strumming the guitar and producing an electric guitar tune.
From the moment the music began, Avril was enraptured. The wild and rebellious melody felt as though it had been tailor-made for her. In this moment, she might not fully grasp the song's meaning, but that didn't hinder her ability to connect with it on a profound level.
"This is absolutely amazing!" The little girl's excitement was palpable as she nearly jumped up after Angela finished singing.
Eagerly, she took hold of Angela's hand and exclaimed, "How did you know I love skateboarding?!" In her mind, Avril believed that Angela had written the song specifically for her.
Avril continued to ask a few more questions, unaware that Angela wasn't really listening. Instead, Angela stared at her with a captivating charm in her emerald eyes, causing Avril's heart to race.
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Fortunately, Angela quickly snapped out of her trance, turned her head to the side, and cleared her throat. "You mentioned it in your letter, so I... wrote this song."
As Angela regained her focus, the intense feeling that had set Avril's heart pounding vanished instantly. Avril let out a sigh of relief and, upon hearing Angela's clear explanation, immediately pushed aside the earlier discomfort. She couldn't sense any awkwardness in Angela's tone, allowing her to put those thoughts out of her mind.
"I don't even know how to express my gratitude, Angie. I wish I could be like you, releasing an EP at the age of 11. You're truly remarkable. Have you ever considered releasing an album? I will definitely be there to support you," Avril exclaimed with enthusiasm, shaking Angela's arm.
"Not at the moment... Actually, Avril, I never even thought about pursuing a career as a singer. Releasing the EP under the name of Miss AM was simply... for fun," Angela responded with a serious tone, yet avoided making eye contact.
However, Avril, feeling a sense of disappointment, paid little attention to Angela's words and anxiously exclaimed, "Angie, how can you not become a singer? Oh my God, look, no other 11-year-old possesses the talent that you do! If you don't pursue a singing career, it would be a great loss for the whole world!"
Angela couldn't help but laugh, finally turning her head to meet the little girl's gaze. "You know, Avril, I believe that you are the one who is destined to be a singer. Truly! I'm not lying."
Pausing briefly, Angela continued, "Here's the deal, dear. Once you can stand on your own and live independently, come to Los Angeles and find me. By then I'll write songs for you, alright? Of course, before that you'll have to practice a lot." She gestured with the guitar in her hand, emphasizing the importance of dedication and hard work.
"Is... is that really true?" Avril could hardly believe her ears, her eyes widening as she looked at Angela.
Angela didn't say much in response but simply extended her pinky finger in front of her, symbolizing a promise.
Disclaimer:
Please note that the translation provided at exotic-translation.blogspot.com is offered without any cost. I kindly ask you to access the website directly instead of relying on aggregated platforms. All the copyrights belong to the author.
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"Avril, it's time for breakfast," her mother's voice called from downstairs.
"I know, I'm coming," Avril responded loudly, poking her head out of her room. After a couple more minutes she finally finished dressing and descended the stairs.
The rest of the family had already begun their meal. Being the middle child Avril received less attention from her parents compared to her older brother Matthew, and younger sister Michelle.
It wasn't that her parents didn't love her, but there was undeniably a difference in treatment between the eldest and youngest siblings. Nevertheless, Avril is naturally confident and never complained about it.
Fueled by an unwavering passion to perform, she often stood alone on her bed in her room singing out songs at the top of her lungs. Her love for music bordered on obsession. If she had known about her future achievements, would her excitement have been enough to lift the entire house?
"After breakfast, make sure to tidy up your rooms. The New Year holiday is coming to an end, so let's not leave them in a mess, okay?" their mother reminded them after the meal.
Little Avril immediately raised her hand. "Mom, can I listen to music as soon as I finish cleaning?"
"Oh my, is music all you ever think about?" Matthew retorted, interjecting before their mother could respond.
"If you don't like it, then don't listen to it anymore," Avril responded promptly, casting her older brother a disdainful look.
Without delay, she darted upstairs, leaving Michelle clapping her hands in delight. "Matt is falling behind again, Matt is falling behind again."
Matthew glared at his youngest sister in frustration and quickly retreated to his own room. Unfortunately, in most of these competitions, Avril emerged as the winner. This time was no exception. Matthew ended up watching his sister take Miss AM's record to her room.
Hearing the song《Complicated》playing from his sister's room, Matthew felt a strong urge to cover his ears. He was actually a big fan of Miss AM's songs and had even purchased her records. However, playing them in his room now would clearly violate the trust they had between siblings.
Sponsored Content
Despite her occasional defeats, Avril had always been obedient and never resorted to secretly listening to music. Although, based on Michelle's "intelligence," Avril didn't appreciate it when she heard music coming from Matthew's room. As the older brother, Matthew couldn't afford to lose to his sister in this aspect.
Meanwhile, Avril, immersed in Miss AM's music, found herself somewhat unsatisfied. The initial excitement had faded, and the passion that had been ignited by Angela's encouragement was slowly diminishing.
She yearned for more guidance, but why hadn't Angela taken notice of her yet? Didn't she promise? Not even a single phone call. Avril always included her phone number in the letters she wrote, hoping for a call from Angela, but it never came.
With a sigh, Avril reached for the guitar she had purchased with her pocket money. She attempted to play《Complicated,》her favorite among Angela's three songs.
This particular song resonated with her on a deeper level than the others. However, her current skill level only allowed her to play simple fragments, far from performing the entire song. After several frustrated attempts, she flung the guitar aside and sulked on her bed.
Just then, her mother's voice called from downstairs, "Avril, your friend is here. Come down quickly."
Friend? Which one? Annie or Lisa? Another invitation for some mundane outing? Avril reluctantly rose from her bed, and her mother's voice reached her again, "Hurry up, please. It's your friend from the United States."
A friend from the United States? Did she have a friend in the US? Avril pouted as she searched for her shoes beneath the bed.
Suddenly, it clicked in her mind. Angela?!
She let out a scream of excitement and prepared to jump up and dash outside. However, she momentarily forgot her position under the bed and ended up banging her head on the wooden board, resulting in tears streaming down her face. But she didn't have time to dwell on the pain. She endured it and rose to her feet barefoot and rushed downstairs.
Looking down from the staircase, Avril's gaze landed on an 11-year-old girl seated upright on the sofa, engaged in conversation with her own parents. The emerald eyes scanning the room left no doubt—it was Angela, the very same girl she had met at the waterfall!
At that moment, Avril couldn't contain her excitement disregarding any concern for her appearance. She erupted in joyful shouts and hastily made her way over, launching herself at Angela catching everyone on the sofa off guard.
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Avril's parents, Jean and Judith, exchanged surprised glances. While they were aware of their daughter's occasional wildness, they hadn't expected such a reaction.
"Hey, Avril, you're crushing me," Angela protested, raising her hands in surrender.
Avril, feeling a twinge of embarrassment promptly stepped back surveying the scene.
Her parents, as well as her brother and sister, who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion, all gazed at her in astonishment. Even someone as audacious as Avril couldn't help but feel a tinge of awkwardness at that moment.
"It's alright, Mr. Benjamin. Our daughter... can be quite... enthusiastic at times," Avril's father, Jean, explained with a wry smile to the man seated next to Angela.
"No worries, Mr. Lavigne. Most of the time, my goddaughter acts the same way," Mr. Benjamin replied, smiling and glancing at Angela. "The well-behaved demeanor you just witnessed was merely her disguise."
This remark elicited laughter from the Lavigne couple. Angela, who had been prepared to retort, reluctantly closed her mouth. Avril then took hold of Angela's hand and turned to her parents saying, "Dad, Mom, can I show Angela my room?"
"Of course, dear," her mother nodded. The two girls swiftly made their way upstairs. Along the journey, Angela attempted to greet Matthew and Michelle, but Avril's eagerness propelled them forward too swiftly, leaving Angela only able to offer a smile to the siblings.
Once they were inside the room, Avril closed the door and embraced Angela in another warm hug. They held onto each other for a while before Avril reluctantly released her, a hint of grievance in her eyes. "I thought you were just pretending to visit me."
"Why would I do that? I remember in my last letter, I promised to visit, and here I am," Angela smiled, shrugging off any doubts.
"Alright, let's not dwell on that," Avril suggested as she picked up the guitar and looked at Angela with hope in her eyes. "Could you play《Complicated》for me again?"
Angela stared at her momentarily, momentarily taken aback, before breaking into a smile and responding, "Sure."
She took the guitar, tested the sound, and then recalled something. Looking at Avril, she remarked, "You haven't told anyone else..."
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"I swear, I haven't," Avril interjected, raising her hand in a solemn gesture. "When I received your EP I understood that you wanted to keep your identity a secret so I remained silent."
With a proud expression on her face, Avril puffed up her chest, seemingly seeking praise. Angela couldn't help but burst into laughter. Noticing that Avril's face started to fall, Angela suppressed her laughter and began strumming the guitar strings.
This time, Angela played the complete version of《Complicated,》the same rendition she had recorded for her EP. While listening to a recorded song held its own charm, experiencing a live performance was an entirely different sensation. Unable to resist, Avril joined in and sang along even after the song had ended she still yearned for more.
Angela playfully gazed at Avril after concluding the song, Avril couldn't help but blush. Was she showing off?
However, Angela didn't dwell on it and cleared her throat, announcing, "Alright, as a reward for helping me keep the secret, I have a new song to sing for you."
Avril's interest was piqued immediately. "Really? Which song?"
"《Sk8er Boi》!"
"《Sk8er Boi》?"
"Yes, pay close attention," Angela said meaningfully, strumming the guitar and producing an electric guitar tune.
From the moment the music began, Avril was enraptured. The wild and rebellious melody felt as though it had been tailor-made for her. In this moment, she might not fully grasp the song's meaning, but that didn't hinder her ability to connect with it on a profound level.
"This is absolutely amazing!" The little girl's excitement was palpable as she nearly jumped up after Angela finished singing.
Eagerly, she took hold of Angela's hand and exclaimed, "How did you know I love skateboarding?!" In her mind, Avril believed that Angela had written the song specifically for her.
Avril continued to ask a few more questions, unaware that Angela wasn't really listening. Instead, Angela stared at her with a captivating charm in her emerald eyes, causing Avril's heart to race.
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Fortunately, Angela quickly snapped out of her trance, turned her head to the side, and cleared her throat. "You mentioned it in your letter, so I... wrote this song."
As Angela regained her focus, the intense feeling that had set Avril's heart pounding vanished instantly. Avril let out a sigh of relief and, upon hearing Angela's clear explanation, immediately pushed aside the earlier discomfort. She couldn't sense any awkwardness in Angela's tone, allowing her to put those thoughts out of her mind.
"I don't even know how to express my gratitude, Angie. I wish I could be like you, releasing an EP at the age of 11. You're truly remarkable. Have you ever considered releasing an album? I will definitely be there to support you," Avril exclaimed with enthusiasm, shaking Angela's arm.
"Not at the moment... Actually, Avril, I never even thought about pursuing a career as a singer. Releasing the EP under the name of Miss AM was simply... for fun," Angela responded with a serious tone, yet avoided making eye contact.
However, Avril, feeling a sense of disappointment, paid little attention to Angela's words and anxiously exclaimed, "Angie, how can you not become a singer? Oh my God, look, no other 11-year-old possesses the talent that you do! If you don't pursue a singing career, it would be a great loss for the whole world!"
Angela couldn't help but laugh, finally turning her head to meet the little girl's gaze. "You know, Avril, I believe that you are the one who is destined to be a singer. Truly! I'm not lying."
Pausing briefly, Angela continued, "Here's the deal, dear. Once you can stand on your own and live independently, come to Los Angeles and find me. By then I'll write songs for you, alright? Of course, before that you'll have to practice a lot." She gestured with the guitar in her hand, emphasizing the importance of dedication and hard work.
"Is... is that really true?" Avril could hardly believe her ears, her eyes widening as she looked at Angela.
Angela didn't say much in response but simply extended her pinky finger in front of her, symbolizing a promise.
Disclaimer:
Please note that the translation provided at exotic-translation.blogspot.com is offered without any cost. I kindly ask you to access the website directly instead of relying on aggregated platforms. All the copyrights belong to the author.
