New Year, New Us

Karaoke Confessions

The lounge was bursting with energy by the time Marissa and Carly entered. Warm golden lights flickered across the room, reflecting off the glossy tables and highlighting the small stage at the front, where a microphone stood waiting for brave participants. Laughter and chatter filled the air as a large crowd gathered, ready to enjoy the evening’s entertainment. A man on stage was just finishing a rather off-key rendition of “Sweet Caroline”, but the crowd didn’t seem to care—they cheered him on enthusiastically.

“This is perfect,” Carly said, nudging Marissa with a mischievous grin. “Exactly what we needed tonight. Drinks, music, and a whole lot of bad singing.”

“As long as I don’t have to get on that stage, I’m fine,” Marissa replied, smirking as she followed Carly to a table near the back.

“Oh, come on, Maris! Karaoke isn’t about being good—it’s about having fun. I bet you’d crush something classic. Maybe Madonna?” Carly teased as she plopped into her seat.

“No way,” Marissa said, shaking her head firmly. “I’ll cheer for you from here, thank you very much.”

Carly rolled her eyes, but her grin didn’t falter. “Fine, but you’re missing out.” She waved down a server and ordered two cocktails. “You’ll change your mind after a couple of drinks.”

Marissa gave a doubtful laugh but didn’t argue. Instead, she glanced around the room, taking in the relaxed, lively atmosphere. The tension she’d felt earlier in the day seemed to melt away, replaced by a growing sense of ease.

Their drinks arrived just as another performance began—a young woman singing “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, her voice surprisingly good. The crowd clapped along, a few people even getting up to dance.

“Okay, I’ll admit, this is kind of fun,” Marissa said, taking a sip of her drink.

“Told you,” Carly said smugly. “This is the best kind of night—no stress, just music, drinks, and laughter.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “You know, I heard that guy from earlier—the one you were talking to during the cocktail tasting—might be here tonight.”

Marissa rolled her eyes. “Liam? We just talked for a bit. Don’t read too much into it.”

Carly smirked. “You keep saying that, but I saw the way you two were looking at each other. He’s cute, charming, and actually seems interested. You could do a lot worse.”

“I’m not looking for anything,” Marissa said firmly, though she couldn’t completely ignore the flicker of warmth that spread through her at the thought of Liam.

“Whatever you say,” Carly said, clearly unconvinced. “But don’t be surprised if he shows up tonight. Guys like that don’t just disappear.”

Marissa shook her head, amused by Carly’s persistence. But before she could respond, Carly’s name was called.

“Finally!” Carly grinned, downing the last of her cocktail and standing. “Wish me luck!”

Marissa clapped as Carly made her way to the stage. The opening notes of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor filled the room, and Carly launched into the song with gusto. Her voice was strong, her energy infectious, and by the time she reached the chorus, the entire room was cheering her on.

“She’s good,” a familiar voice said beside Marissa.

She turned to find Liam standing there, holding a glass of amber liquid. He smiled as he slid into the seat next to her, his presence somehow making the lively room feel a little smaller and more intimate.

“Hey,” she said, feeling a flicker of surprise—and something else she couldn’t quite name. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I figured I’d check it out. Karaoke nights are always entertaining.” He nodded toward Carly, who was now belting out the second verse with dramatic flair. “Your friend’s got some serious confidence.”

“That she does,” Marissa agreed, laughing. “She’s always been the bold one.”

“And what about you? Are you going to sing tonight?”

“Not a chance,” Marissa said quickly. “I’m here strictly as the supportive friend.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, his smile teasing. “No judgment here. It’s all about having fun, not being perfect. Besides, I bet you’d surprise everyone.”

“I think I’ll stick to cheering from the sidelines,” Marissa said, shaking her head.

“Fair enough.” Liam chuckled, raising his glass in a playful toast. “But if you change your mind, I’ll be rooting for you.”

They turned their attention back to the stage just as Carly wrapped up her performance. The room erupted in applause, and Carly gave an exaggerated bow before hopping off the stage and making her way back to the table.

“Did you see that?” Carly said, grinning as she flopped into her seat. “I totally nailed it!”

“You were amazing,” Marissa said sincerely. “The whole room loved you.”

“Obviously.” Carly grabbed her drink and took a long sip before turning to Liam. “So, are you going to sing something?”

“Still deciding,” Liam said with a grin. “I’m more of a last-minute performer.”

“Well, you should. You’ve definitely got the charm for it.” Carly winked at Marissa, who groaned inwardly, already anticipating Carly’s matchmaking attempts.

“I’m going to grab another drink,” Carly announced, standing. “You two keep chatting—I’ll be right back.”

Marissa shot her a look, but Carly just waved it off, heading toward the bar with a knowing smirk.

“She’s subtle,” Liam said, amused.

“She thinks she’s helping,” Marissa said, rolling her eyes. “Ignore her.”

“I don’t mind.” Liam’s tone was warm, his gaze steady on hers. “Besides, I came over because I wanted to see you.”

Marissa felt a flutter of something—nervousness, maybe? Or excitement. She wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t deny that there was something about Liam that put her at ease, even as he made her heart race.

“How’s your night going so far?” Liam asked.

“Better than I expected,” Marissa admitted. “Carly dragged me here, and I wasn’t really in the mood at first, but… it’s been fun.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Liam leaned back in his chair, studying her thoughtfully. “You seem more relaxed tonight.”

Marissa hesitated, caught off guard by the observation. “I guess I’ve been trying not to let things bother me so much. This trip didn’t start out the way I wanted, but I’m trying to make the best of it.”

“That’s all you can do,” Liam said. “Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, but that doesn’t mean they can’t turn out better than you expected.”

Marissa smiled faintly, surprised by how easily he seemed to understand her. “You always say things that make me think, you know that?”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Before the conversation could continue, Carly returned, setting down two brightly colored drinks on the table. “Okay, I got us something fun. Try it—it’s supposed to taste like a tropical island.”

Marissa took a cautious sip, her eyes widening in surprise. The drink was sweet and fruity, with a hint of citrus and coconut. “Wow, that’s really good.”

“Told you,” Carly said proudly. “Now, Liam, are you finally going to sing, or are you just going to sit here looking charming all night?”

Liam chuckled. “Alright, you win. I’ll do one song.”

Marissa felt a flicker of anticipation as Liam made his way to the stage. A few moments later, the opening chords of “Wonderwall” by Oasis began to play, and Liam started singing. His voice was smooth and strong, carrying the melody effortlessly. The crowd swayed and clapped along, clearly enjoying the performance.

Marissa watched him, surprised by how captivated she felt. There was something about the way he sang—confident but not showy, relaxed yet heartfelt. By the time he finished, the room erupted in applause, and Liam gave a modest bow before returning to their table.

“Okay, that was impressive,” Carly said, clapping him on the back. “You officially raised the bar for karaoke night.”

“Thanks,” Liam said, laughing. “That was fun.”

As the night wore on, the performances continued, but Marissa found herself more focused on Liam than the music. Talking to him was easy—effortless, even—and she couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so comfortable around someone.

By the time the final performer wrapped up, Marissa realized how late it had gotten.

“We should probably call it a night,” she said reluctantly.

“Agreed,” Carly said, stifling a yawn. “But that was fun. Totally worth it.”

“Definitely,” Liam said, standing and offering Marissa a hand. She hesitated for only a moment before taking it, his grip warm and steady.

“Thanks for coming,” she said softly.

“Thanks for letting me join you,” he replied, his eyes meeting hers. “Maybe we’ll run into each other tomorrow?”

“Maybe,” Marissa said, her heart doing that strange fluttering thing again.

As they parted ways for the night, Marissa couldn’t help but feel that something had changed—something small but significant. For the first time in a long while, she wasn’t thinking about what was missing or what could go wrong. Instead, she was thinking about what might come next.