The sun rose bright over Los Angeles, cutting through the thin morning haze as if the whole city knew something special was about to happen.
Inside the glass-paneled lobby of Sony Music's headquarters, the atmosphere buzzed with the kind of nervous electricity that always accompanied debut releases. For Gravity Dreams, it wasn't just another Friday — it was the day.
It was June 1st, 2001, the morning the world would first hear The Dream Begins.
The debut album of Gravity Dreams—the culmination of months of sleepless nights, studio sweat, and relentless belief—was finally out.
David stepped out of his car, dressed in a black blazer over a crisp white shirt, his dark jeans fitted just enough to look stylish without losing the rebel charm that made him magnetic onstage.
Scarlett was beside him, radiant as ever in a soft blue dress and sunglasses, her hair tied in a loose bun that gave her a quiet elegance.
She had taken the day off from shooting Girl with a Pearl Earring, something her manager had advised against — but she refused to miss this.
As they entered, the Sony lobby was already decorated with posters of the album cover. "The Dream Begins"—in bold silver letters across an image of a young boy flying a kite under a starlit sky, the thread of the kite tied to a shimmering star. It was poetic, symbolic, and exactly what David wanted: a metaphor for hope, for daring to reach past the clouds.
"Looks even better than the proofs," Scarlett said, tracing the edge of the poster with her fingertip.
David smiled, his hand brushing lightly against her back. "You think so? I told them the starlight would stand out better with that darker gradient. Guess I was right."
Scarlett turned to him, laughing softly. "You always are."
He leaned in, whispering something that made her giggle and slap his arm gently — a playful moment that didn't go unnoticed by a few assistants lingering nearby.
Inside, Tommy was half-asleep on one of the lobby couches, his jacket halfway off, a cup of untouched coffee going cold in front of him. Emily arrived just in time, holding a tray from the café across the street.
"Rise and shine, drummer boy," she teased, placing a steaming cup of espresso in front of him.
Tommy squinted. "You're a saint, Em. A saint with good timing."
"You look like you crawled out of a drum case," she teased.
Tommy took a sip and sighed. "I did, metaphorically. I was dreaming about tempo changes."
"Nightmare, you mean," Emily shot back, adjusting the strap of her leather purse.
And then there was Avril—bright-eyed, jittery, her excitement practically vibrating through the room. She was only sixteen, and her energy filled every corner of the lobby.
She twirled around once, admiring the posters on the wall. Sony had already put up promotional displays for The Dream Begins—the band's name glowing beneath the album title.
"This is insane!" she gushed. "We're actually in the Sony building for our own release! Like, our faces are literally there!"
David smiled at her enthusiasm. "Get used to it. This is just the start."
Avril shot him a look. "You say that like you've done this before."
David shrugged lightly. "Just feels it was meant to be."
Scarlett, standing beside him, caught that strange glimmer in his tone but didn't comment. She simply slipped her hand into his and leaned against him, the quiet gesture making him smile.
Avril grinned but couldn't hide her admiration for him, or for Scarlett, who she secretly envied just a little. She caught herself watching the way they leaned into each other, easy and affectionate, before quickly snapping out of it.
****
After some time, a couple of Sony executives appeared—smart suits, polished smiles, and the faint air of cautious optimism that came from betting on new talent.
One of them, a silver-haired man named Mr. Jacobs, carried a flat, rectangular envelope.
"Mr. Harper," he said warmly, shaking David's hand, "on behalf of Sony Music, it's a pleasure to present this to you and Gravity Dreams. Congratulations.
The Dream Begins officially hits the shelves today. Digital sales will start rolling in from midnight across regions."
He handed over a sealed envelope with a flourish. Inside was the first official copy of the album — pressed, wrapped, and gleaming. David tore the seal carefully, almost ceremoniously, and pulled out the CD case.
It showed a young boy standing on a quiet hill beneath a star-drenched sky, holding a thread that was tied to a star, like a kite.
The kite's string wasn't just a thread—it stretched upward, seamlessly merging into the cosmos, as if the child was tethered directly to the universe itself.
At the bottom, in elegant silver type, was the title:
The Dream Begins
And beneath it, their name. Each in bold letters:
David Lucius Harper
Thomas Pridgen
Esperanza Spalding
Avril Lavigne
David exhaled, smiling softly. "This is perfect," he said. "It's exactly what the music feels like."
Scarlett leaned in to see. "It's beautiful," she whispered. "Like the night you first played me Kryptonite."
Emily smiled at the symbolism. "Kid chasing the stars, huh? Feels accurate."
Tommy grinned. "As long as that kite doesn't crash into my drum kit, I'm good."
Avril was quiet, just staring at her name printed there, real and undeniable. Her hands trembled slightly. "It's… my name," she murmured. "Like, actually on a real album."
David put a hand on her shoulder. "You earned it. Every note."
"Beautiful work," he said to Mr. Jacobs, turning the case in his hand. "You guys nailed it."
"Your team gave us great material," the exec replied. "It's been a long time since we've seen a debut album with this much personality. The pre-release buzz is insane."
David smiled faintly. "Let's hope it lives up to it."
They moved into the press room, a wide space filled with reporters, cameras, and microphones. The backdrop behind the stage carried the Gravity Dreams logo in bold font, with Sony Music Presents neatly above it.
Flashbulbs clicked the moment David and the others stepped inside.
David took a seat beside the Sony execs, Scarlett sitting in the front row with a smile so proud it made his chest ache.
"Thank you all for being here," David began, voice steady but warm. "This album, 'The Dream Begins' is something we built from the ground up. It's not just music; it's a story. About taking chances, screwing up, standing again, and holding on to whatever keeps you alive."
Reporters scribbled, camera shutters clattered.
"Tell us about the name," one journalist called out. "Why The Dream Begins?"
David glanced at his bandmates, then back at the mic. "Because that's exactly what it is. A beginning. Every one of us in this band came from somewhere different, carrying a dream that felt too big to say out loud. This album is us saying it anyway."
Applause followed, soft but genuine.
Reporters began snapping questions—about the songwriting, the process, and the sudden buzz around the mysterious frontman with the haunting voice.
One journalist asked, "David, what inspired The Dream Begins?"
David leaned into the mic. "It's about taking a chance on yourself," he said. "When everything's uncertain, you still jump. Because dreams only begin when you stop waiting for permission."
Applause rippled softly through the room. Scarlett's eyes glistened, though she quickly wiped them with a napkin.
Then came questions for the others.
"Avril," a reporter called, "you're only sixteen and already have a song in a major release. How does it feel?"
Avril smiled nervously, tugging at her sleeve. "It's wild. I just wanted to write songs that felt real, and David let me bring one in. Singing it with him was insane—in a good way. I'm still trying to believe this is real."
Emily's questions leaned toward musicianship—bass grooves, creative chemistry.
Tommy joked through most of his, claiming his biggest contribution was "not spilling beer on the mixing board."
Laughter filled the room. The energy felt light, unfiltered—like the band hadn't yet learned the art of being rehearsed, and that made them magnetic.
When the flashbulbs finally dimmed and the journalists packed up, David caught Scarlett's gaze from across the room. She mouthed, I'm proud of you.
He smiled back.
Once the interviews ended, Sony's executives handed over tour itineraries and promotion schedules—radio appearances, small-stage concerts, MTV spots, and late-night show invites.
David flipped through the list, raising a brow. "Guess sleep's cancelled."
Tommy groaned. "I just got used to waking up after noon, man."
Emily smirked. "Guess fame doesn't do brunch."
Avril glanced at the pages like a kid looking at a treasure map. "Does this mean we're actually… going on tour?"
"Looks like it," David said, folding the schedule. "But first, food."
Scarlett laughed. "There's a nice place near Malibu. Great food, quiet view. We can eat and maybe stop by Charlie's place after. Maybe crash at our beach house tonight."
David grinned. " Good choice."
Tommy raised his coffee cup weakly. "Not if there's beer."
They piled into two cars—David driving the Impala with Scarlett riding shotgun, the rest following in Emily's small red convertible. The highway toward Malibu shimmered in early summer sunlight, the Pacific glinting in the distance.
Scarlett leaned back, her hair fluttering in the wind. "You realize this is history, right?"
David smiled. "Feels surreal. Like I'm watching someone else's life."
"Maybe it's both," she said softly. "Maybe it's yours now."
At a seaside restaurant tucked near the cliffs, they found a spot with an open terrace overlooking the ocean. The breeze carried the scent of salt and grilled seafood.
Lunch turned into an hour of laughter and teasing—Tommy joking about getting mobbed by fans, Emily insisting she'd quit if they ever made a pop remix, and Avril constantly taking Polaroids of everything, documenting every moment like it might vanish.
At one point, Emily turned to Scarlett. "So what's it like, being an actress? Sounds glamorous."
Scarlett laughed, stirring her iced tea. "Not really. It's mostly waiting around in uncomfortable shoes, pretending you're not freezing, and trying not to trip on camera."
David chimed in, grinning. "Don't forget rehearsing in your sleep."
Scarlett turned to him, mock glaring. "Oh, I see, we're doing that now?"
He shrugged innocently. "You started mumbling your lines at two in the morning once. I thought we were being haunted."
Everyone laughed. Scarlett hit his shoulder lightly, cheeks pink. "It's better than your snoring, rockstar."
Tommy leaned back with a grin. "Yup, domestic bliss already."
Avril snorted. "You guys are disgustingly cute. Can I get the bill before I throw up?"
After dessert, the band said their goodbyes—Tommy heading to meet some friends, Emily off to see her brother, and Avril eager to go home and check every music store in town to see their CD on the shelves.
David and Scarlett lingered, watching the waves crash below.
"Charlie's expecting us," Scarlett reminded him gently.
"Yeah," he said, finishing his drink. "Let's go see what trouble he's stirring up this time."
They drove up the winding roads toward Charlie's Malibu house, the sun dipping low, painting the horizon gold. Scarlett rested her head against the window, humming softly—one of David's songs from the album, the one that had started it all.
David glanced at her, smiling faintly. For all the chaos, all the noise and flashing cameras, this was the quiet he'd dreamed of—the moment between the dream and the world's response.
Tomorrow, critics would write their opinions. Charts would move. Sales would begin.
But for now, as the wind rolled in from the ocean and Scarlett's laughter filled the car, everything was simple.
David smiled gently as he looked at Scarlett who quirked an eyebrow. "What?"
He chuckled. " Just appreciating what I have. I have the perfect girlfriend."
She smiled shyly. "Stop it. You always say these things that make me happy."
He smirked. " What can I say, you have that affect on me. A lot of people also thought the same when they saw you today. I even thought you were the star of the show , judging by how they stared."
Scarlett grinned mischievously. " Oh? Are you jealous babe?"
David lauughed. " Nope, I know you are obsessed with me. They'd have no luck."
She giggled and grabbed his thigh. " It's good that you know that. I'm happy with my rockstar." She then smirked. " Looks like someone else is also happy down there." She stroked his bulge.
David sucked a breath and stared at her. " What are you doing? You know I'm driving babe. You want us to crash?"
Scarlett rolled her eyes as she tied her hair back. " Then you should focus on the road while I help you relax." She went down and unzipped him.
David clenched his teeth and did his best to drive as he felt her lips wrapping around him. "You are crazy. Hope we can make it there in one piece." He sighed and used one hand to drive while the other pushed her head down, making her swallow deeper.
He sighed in pleasure. "I love my life."