Victorious: Make It Shine...Or Something Like That

It was around the time Sean turned seven that his parents slowly began noticing his musical talent. 

The first noticed how Sean seemed to be drawn to music no matter the setting. At home, he was always listening to the radio and insisted they kept it on at all times. Out in public, Sean would often stop and watch the musicians busking on the streets and every time they walked past a music store, he would run off inside without a second thought. 

Then, they heard him.

One late Saturday evening, Elina and Jay and been enjoying some alone time together when they heard singing coming from their son's room. 

When the peeked inside, they saw their son, drawing on a piece of paper while singing a song that had come on the radio earlier in the day. And it wasn't just a normal child's singing. He was hitting every single note with perfection, his voice steady and bright. Although the couple weren't very musical themselves, they could at least when someone whether someone was a good or a bad singer and for certain, their son was the former. 

They realized that their son possessed a gift. 

Then one day, they asked him.

"Son, would you like to take singing lessons?" 

Their boy's expression had never been brighter. 

In an excited tone, Sean replied, "Yes!"

Elina and Jay looked at each other and nodded. As parents, it was only right that they supported their son in honing his talent. They wasted little to no time in searching for a decent singing instructor for their son. Thankfully, L.A. was the home of many talented people and so, it wasn't too difficult to find someone that suited their criteria. 

Soon enough, they found an appropriate teacher. 

"Veronica Moore," the lady introduced herself at the door. She had a hint of a French accent. "Thank you for reaching out to me. Teaching children to unlock and embrace their musical talents is my passion."

Elina smiled and welcomed her in. 

"We noticed you have taught quite a number of students and nearly all of them have become quite a name in their various fields. We hope you will be able to guide our son as well."

Veronica flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and replied with a smirk, "Naturally. It is what I do. Worry not Mrs. Park, I will turn your son into a star!"

Elina could only chuckle awkwardly in response. She led the woman into the main sitting room where Sean was waiting. As soon as Veronica saw him, her expression brightened and she hurried to greet him. 

"Why hello there little boy! How do you do?" she greeted.

"Hello Madam! I'm quite well, thank you," Sean replied in a similar enthusiastic fashion. 

"My, you seem rather mature for your age," Veronica said, taking a seat beside him. "You must have very good parents."

Elina felt flattered at the compliment. In reply, she couldn't help but brag a little.

"Our Sean has always been a mature boy. He's never given us much to worry about because he stays out of trouble."

Veronica nodded, "You are quite lucky. My own boy has been nothing but trouble from the moment he came into this world. Haha, I still love him all the same though."

The ladies exchanged a few more pleasantries before Elina excused herself to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water for the house guest who, in the meantime, decided to test the so-called 'prodigy'.

It's not like Veronica thought Elina was lying when she told her about her son's singing talent, but doting parents tend to exaggerate their children's accomplishments. She's had quite a few students whose parents insisted their child would become the next Beyoncé or Michael Jackson. 

Most of the time, the children possessed some form of musical talent but rarely at the level their parents claimed they were at. 

She wanted to know if it would be a similar situation here.

"Well then Sean, do you mind singing a song for me?" she asked.

Sean tilted his head, "Sure. Any song?"

"Whatever song you know best."

The boy nodded and closed his eyes. A beat passed and then he opened his mouth to sing. 

"When I am down and, oh, my soul, so wearyWhen troubles come and my heart burdened be..."

Veronica's mouth fell open as she listened. 

"Then I am still and wait here in the silenceUntil You come and sit awhile with me"

Sean's voice hit the high note on the mark without wavering. Veronica was shocked and she felt something bursting inside of her. 

This...

This boy...

"You raise me up so I can stand on mountainsYou raise me up to walk on stormy seasI am strong when I am on Your shouldersYou raise me up to more than I can be"

Her heart clenched in pure uncontained excitement. She knew without a doubt that this kid was a natural born singer. He was a true prodigy with unlimited potential. Sean's parents were not exaggerating when they said he could sing well.

'Forget just singing well, the little boy is amazing.'

Sean's voice contained that high-pitched childish pitch but he was able to tame it and bend it to his will like a seasoned artist. Josh Groban's 'You Raise Me Up' seemed like a walk in the park for him despite it being a fairly difficult song to master on the first try. 

As he sang, he allowed himself to be enveloped in the song - drowning out all his surroundings. He sang as he always did, with passion. When it came to music, he would always give it his all because that's how much it meant to him. 

Finally, he reached the end and opened his eyes after singing the final note. 

He glanced up to see his new tutor staring at him in utmost awe. 

"Aye little monsieur! That was spectacular! Bravo! Bravo!" Veronica exclaimed dramatically as she clapped her hands together. "You are a prodigy, little one! A diamond in the rough!"

Sean blushed at the outpouring of compliments. His parents often praised him but it felt different when it came from a stranger. In an embarrassed voice, he said, "T-Thank you Teacher. Does this mean I pass the test?"

Veronica gasped as though the answer was obvious.

"Of course! You, my dear, pass with flying colours. We begin immediately!"

Sean grinned in happiness. At last, his dream was beginning to take off. 

Meanwhile, Elina had just entered the living room again with a glass of water when she heard the noise coming from the sofas. Seeing Veronica relentlessly praising her son, and her son's embarrassed face, she tilted her head. 

'Did I miss something?'