The apuse was still echoing when I slid my fingers down thest keys of the piano. The lights dimmed for a second before returning to their normal hue, and I stood up, giving a slight bow. The crowd pped once more.

    "Seems like I''m still good," I said with a smirk, then ced my fingers back on the keys and began to sing:

    (Say Something)

    ? Say something, I''m giving up on you

    I''ll be the one if you want me to

    Anywhere, I would''ve followed you

    Say something, I''m giving up on you ?

    ?...?

    I let thest note hang in the air, letting silence settle for a beat before my fingers danced across the piano again. As the melody picked up, a soft rhythm joined in by the warm strumming of a guitarist. The mood shifted slightly as I began the next song:

    (Let Her Go)

    ?Well, you only need the light when it''s burning low

    Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

    Only know you love her when you let her go

    Only know you''ve been high when you''re feeling low

    Only hate the road when you''re missing home

    Only know you love her when you let her go

    And you let her go?

    Then, a drummer stepped in, adding a steady beat that filled the room.

    ?Staring at the bottom of your ss

    Hoping one day you''ll make a dreamst

    But dreamse slow and they go so fast?

    As thest notes of the song faded, a silence settled over the room. I looked at the crowd and chuckled. "Okay, I forgot this is a birthday. Let''s change the theme," I said, shing a yful grin.

    I shifted on the bench, nodded to the guitarist, and then began to sing again:

    (Shallow)

    ?Tell me something, girl

    Are you happy in this modern world?

    Or do you need more?

    Is there something else you''re searching for??

    ?I''m falling

    In all the good times

    I find myself longing for change

    And in the bad times, I fear myself?

    "Hey, isn''t this the one he said he used to charm his first kiss?" Carly asked, turning to the group with a grin.

    "Yeah, I think it was this one," Freddie nodded.

    "What??" eximed Cher. "Lucky girl… If I yed hard to get, would I get a song too?" she murmured.

    I smiled and finished thest line.

    ?We''re far from the shallow now?

    Paige looked annoyed as she nced around. "Does he want to charm every single girl here?" she muttered.

    Meanwhile, a few people were clearing space near the center of the room, preparing the dance floor. Lights shifted to a softer glow, casting a warm hue over the space.

    I walked over to the mic again. "Let''s have at least one ssic dance before we start with the good stuff," I said.

    Turning my head, I called out, "Regina, you''re up."

    She approached gracefully, apanied by her father, who gave me a nod before stepping aside. Others began to line up around the dance floor as well—Cher with a boy I didn''t recognize, Carly with Griffin, Tasha with Paige, Cara with Pippa, and, surprisingly, Sam with Freddie.

    I took a deep breath, enjoying the sight.

    I returned to the piano and leaned into the mic. "This one is new for today—''Golden Hour''".

    My fingers moved swiftly across the keys, the familiar chords blooming into the air as I began to y.

    (Golden Hour - JVKE)

    ?It was just two lovers

    Sittin'' in the car, listening to Blonde, fallin'' for each other

    Pink and orange skies, feelin'' super childish, no Donald Glover

    Missed call from my mother

    Like: Where you at tonight? Got no alibi?

    ?I was all alone with the love of my life

    She''s got glitter for skin, my radiant beam in the night

    I don''t need no light to see you?

    While I yed, Henry danced with Regina at the center of the floor. He leaned slightly closer and asked, "Are you sure he is only a friend?"

    "Shut up, Dad," Regina replied

    ?Shine

    It''s your golden hour (oh)

    You slow down time

    In your golden hour (oh)?

    ?We were just two lovers

    Feet up on the dash, drivin'' nowhere fast, burnin'' through the summer

    Radio on st, make the momentst, she got sr power

    Minutes feel like hours

    She knew she was the baddest

    Can you even imagine fallin'' like I did? ?

    ?For the love of my life

    She''s got glow on her face, a glorious look in her eyes

    My angel of light

    I was all alone with the love of my life

    She''s got glitter for skin, my radiant beam in the night

    I don''t need no light to see you?

    ?Shine

    It''s your golden hour (oh)

    You slow down time

    In your golden hour (oh) ?

    As I yed the final notes, I let them linger, fading softly into the air. For a moment, the room was silent again—then apuse erupted from all sides.

    I looked up from the piano and smiled. The crowd was pping, some even whistling and cheering.

    I stood and gave another small bow.

    "Thank you, everyone!" I said into the mic. "Now, for something different—our next attraction."

    At that cue, a few security guards stepped forward and positioned themselves in front of the stage (there were already some). The lights shifted again, and a new rhythm started pulsing through the speakers. A fresh beat dropped, and a new song began to y, catching the crowd''s attention instantly.

    ?Oh, baby, baby

    Oh, baby, baby

    Oh, baby, baby?

    "Britney Spears!" I screamed before stepping off the stage.

    Ear-piercing screams erupted instantly—mostly from the girls in the crowd. The energy in the room skyrocketed as everyone rushed forward trying to get a glimpse of her.

    I made my way over to my friends, slipping through the excited crowd. Before I could say anything, I was greeted by a very excited Tasha, who threw her arms around me and kissed me deeply. We stayed like that for a long moment, the noise around us fading into the background.

    A loud cough sounded next to us, but I simply ignored it. Only after feeling a sharp pinch on my arm did I finally stop kissing Tasha.

    "What?" I asked, turning to Paige, who was making a face like she had just sucked on a very sour lemon.

    "You''re unbelievable," she muttered, crossing her arms.

    "What? It''s a party," I replied with a shrug.

    Before I could say anything else, the crowd''s cheers reached another level as Britney waved from the stage and began to dance to the beat, fully owning the moment. The lights flickered in sync with the rhythm, and the atmosphere felt like a full-blown concert.

    Then, the opening violin riff echoed through the speakers, and the crowd erupted again.

    ?Baby, can''t you see, I''m calling

    A guy like you should wear a warning

    It''s dangerous, I''m falling?

    Britney strutted across the stage, the lights catching every movement as the music intensified.

    ?There''s no escape, I can''t wait

    I need a hit, baby, give me it

    You''re dangerous, I''m lovin'' it?

    As the crowd swayed and cheered, Cher made her way over to me. She leaned in slightly, her voice yful and low.

    "You know I want these too, right?" she said, pouting.

    "Of course you do..." I said with a small smile. "I already talked to Britney about the date, and I''ve written a song."

    "You are the best, Jake," Cher said, giving me a warm hug.

    "And how are you two nning to return the favor?" I asked with a teasing grin, ncing between her and Regina.

    Fun fact: getting Britney wasn''t just about the money. She wasn''t just expensive—somewhere around $500,000 for a private show—but needed her approval. Just having the money wasn''t enough.

    "How about a ménage with Regina?" Cher said innocently.

    I immediately spilled my drink.

    "I was joking," she added mischievously before turning back toward the stage, swaying slightly to the music as if nothing had happened.

    This b*tchy

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