I do not own Closer by Ne-Yo. Nor Don't Stop the Music by Rhianna. Nor Just for the Recordby Jordin Sparks.

Even if they're on my MP3 Player:3

Danielle grumbled mindlessly as she grabbed the broom out of the laundry room. She gave it a once over then sighed, deciding that the piece of garbage wasn't worth complaining over. She took it in her hands and head towards the back patio, still muttering about how pathetic her mother was being.

Sweeping the back patio?

When they had maids?

What was going on in that woman's mind?!

Danielle rolled her eyes effortlessly as she came to conclusion of what was really going on. Her grandma, that's what was happening. She was brain-washing her mom into believing chores were good for the teenage soul. As nice as that sounded, her mother was delusional for not see how that was total bull.

Danielle sighed.

I mean, seriously! she angrily thought as she passed the dining room, still heading for the back patio. Chores? Isn't that why we, the Citrics family, have maids? And butlers?

Danielle cursed under her breath as she finally reached her destination: the back yard. Taking out the broom from behind her back, she shooed her foul mood away as she pulled out her iPod from the back pocket of her jeans. She traced lightly over the object in her hand, selecting a particular song she had in mind. A smile formed over her face as the lyrics to Closer (by Ne-Yo) floated in her head. She shut her eyes, her grin growing bigger as the song progressed.

Closer...

The beat of the base pounded in her ear, her heart seemingly beating along.

Closer...

Mindlessly, Danielle pulled out the broom from behind her back.

Closer...

And with the next few notes, she began to sweep. Danielle swept swiftly and hastily, not caring whether she made a mess or not. All her mother told her to do was sweep, and that was what she was doing, wasn't it? The girl nodded along with the song, mouthing the words silently.

Turn the lights off in this place,and she shines just like a star.
And I swear I know her face,
I just don't know who you are.

Danielle did a twirl, still not caring if she looked like a little girl. She was having fun; she was sweeping — that was all that mattered.

Danielle felt the dust on the ground rise in the air, filling her lungs. She coughed suddenly, as if on cue. She waved at the dust particles in the air, trying to swat them away. Coughing once more in her hand, she continued to hum along to the song.

Turn the music up in here.
I still hear her loud and clear,
like she's right there in my ear.

Danielle bobbed her head, her expression becoming more animated by the second. She pointed the end of the broom to her mouth as she sang into it. “Telling me that she wants to own me,” Danielle cooed, her voice having an edgy touch, “To control me...”

She shuffled her feet, turning from side to side every four beats. “Come closer...” Danielle shut her eyes tighter, becoming more engulfed in the song. “Come closer...”

She jumped into the air, soon to land on her feet with a Thud! She swirled around the back patio, her broom still in hand. She swept for a second, then burst into song, using her cleaning utensil as a singing utensil instead.

“And I just can't pull myself away! Under her spell, I can't break! I just can't stop...” Sam paused as she hear Ne-Yo echo her voice in the background. She grinned as she continued to lead, “I just can't stop. I just can't stop.” She swept the ground for moments more, letting the song go on.

And I just can't free myself,
no way!
But I don't want
to escape.

I just can't stop.

I just can't stop.

I just can't stop.

--

Thomas Duvel, Danielle’s best friend, rang the doorbell to the Citrics’ Mansion at least four times before anyone bothered to answer. Mrs. Citric soon stood in the doorway, peering over the boy. He noted that she wore a pink colored sun-dress, frilled at the bottom and everything. It looked more like Sunday's best, but you couldn't tell unless you looked very close. It was just so filthy...basically covered in dirt and muck.

Frowning, Mrs. Citric pointed out, “The old woman likes Spring Cleaning only if we do the cleaning, not the maids or landscapers or anyone,” referring to her mother as “the old woman.” She paused, her breathing ragged. "Oh, she can be such a pain, that elder...” Thomas just stood there, gazing over the woman in front of him, speechless. “Danielle’s in the back, sweeping the patio. You can come in and visit, but only on one condition.”

Thomas cocked his eyebrow. “And what's that?”

“You have to help out.”

“Sure.” After passing Mrs. Citric, he rolled his eyes in annoyance. You know, Thomas thought, manual labor isn't quite the hardest thing in the world.

--

Danielle paused the song, still sweeping as she did so. She took out her iPod, scanning through the songs. The girl smiled to herself as she came across a certain song, one that she knew the words to, and that was upbeat, as well. She selected a song that would perfectly fit her mood, which was originally called Don't Stop the Music (by Rhianna).

Please don't stop the music.

Danielle swatted the broom against the floor, watching as the dust and pieces of leaves and grass were spewed all over the ground.

Please don't stop the music.

She swept at the dirt, trying to make the patio spotless — even though, you know, she believed the whole “chore”thing was pointless.

Please don't stop the music.

Danielle could feel the beat of the song sinking into her skin, her iPod burning in her pocket.

Please don't stop the music.

And, before she knew it, she was unable to control herself. Soon enough, Danielle was singing along with the song. “It's gettin’ late. I'm makin’ my way over to my favorite place. I gotta get my body movin’, shake the stress away,” she purred, her tone having an unusual sound to it. Danielle couldn't hear how different she sounded when she sang, but when others did, they were able to point out an obvious difference. “I wasn’t lookin’ for nobody when you looked my way.” She shuffled her feet against the ground, mindlessly turning. “Possible candidate, yeah...”

Danielle twirled the broom in her hand, instantly moving it from side to side. She tapped the object against the concrete, the dust gathering in the grass. She continued to sweep as the song continued.

Do you know what just started?I just came here to party,
but now we’re rockin on the dance floor, actin’ naughty.

Your hands around my waist’
just let the music play.
We’re hand in hand, chest to chest, and now we're face to face.

--

Thomas walked through the kitchen, tracing his hand over the wall. And then he hear it.

The voice.

He stopped in his tracks, straining to listen to the voice.

Her voice.

She sounded like an angel, singing about the guy she loved. Her voice was a small and quiet melody, soft and perfect. She hit those high notes amazingly, her voice flowing easily. She took her time singing, obviously being so talented. Thomas stopped, trying to listen harder, more closely.

Why, it sounded like someone he knew... Oddly familiar, her voice.

--

Danielle swept the floor, almost done with her job. It wasn't so bad, she confirmed to herself. A few hours of singing and working does good for the soul. Sam smiled at the thought. It’s kind of like whistling while you work.

Danielle gazed around the floor, looking for any spots she missed. When she confirmed she didn't, the teenager grinned in triumph. But then she noticed the dark spot in the corner.

“Crap.”

She squatted down, scooting closer to the dark spot in the corner. She selected the FORWARD button, forgetting that she had her iPod on Shuffle. A smile tugged at her lips as she recognized the song that had come on. Just to be sure, though, she checked the screen which showed: Just for the Record (by Jordin Sparks).

I can't help myself
If I don't wanna be with nobody else
I don't wanna leave my baby's side
And I don't wanna kiss another guy

Danielle pursed her lips together as she continued to sweep at the dust on the ground, sending them into the yard behind the patio. The teenager knew her mother would be angry that she taking the easy way out, but she was tired of sweeping. Why use so much time and energy on something that would just collect more dust right after?

I'll pass any test
‘Cause nothing in this world or in the next
Could make me second guess
Could make me change my mind
Could make me not protect what I'm feeling inside

She put the end of the broom to her face as she sang into it, still enjoying the song. Danielle smiled continuously as she thought of her baby, her Tommy. Sure, Thomas was her best friend for years, but between long nights in his basement, the most random arguments, and unforgettable memories, Danielle began to see the teenager in a new light.

Thomas Duvle, the boy she had called best friend for years, was the one that she wanted to be with.

She saw his brown eyes search her soul, searching her heart. She watched his face lite up in her mind, love in his smile.

“Hear me, hear me, this is for my Tommy,” Danielle murmured, her voice soft and soothing. “There will never be another, there's so many ways I love you, and that's just for the record, babe.” She grinned at the thought of Thomas holding her tight, his warm touch against her skin. She exhaled as she put down the broom. “I need you, need you, I can't wait to see you.” She put the broom against the wall as she relaxed. “I so love when were together, can't nobody do it better. And that's just for the record, babe.”

“Hey, you need this?”

Danielle looked up, startled, to see a teenage boy gazing at her from across the patio. Thomas held up a dust-pan, a grin on his face.

“No,” Danielle challenged. “That's why there's grass, right here.” She pointed at the dirt and dust on the yard.

Thomas laughed. “Sure.” He walked over to where Danielle was standing, pulling up a chair behind. He stopped, sat in the chair, and inhaled. He looked up at her expectantly.

“What?” Danielle asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

“You like singing? ‘Cause you never do.”

That caught Danielle off guard. “What do you mean?” she answered, trying to play innocent.

Thomas rolled his eyes. “I heard you.”

“You did?” Danielle bit her lip. “Was I that bad?”

Thomas shook his head. “No, not at all.” He smiled before adding, “Just for the record, babe.”

Danielle's eyes widened in shock. She threw the broom at Thomas, aggravated. “That's so mean!” she cried, folding her arms.

Thomas shrugged his shoulders. He snickered, waving her his way. "Come closer."

Danielle growled in frustration.

In response, Thomas grabbed her hand, pulling the teenager toward him. “We're hand in hand...” When she was finally near enough to be able to pulled closer, he did so. Thomas wrapped his arms around the little of Danielle back, edging her nearer. “...chest to chest...” His face was inches away from hers, now. Thomas’s eyes flickered with amusement, scanning the features on Danielle’s face. “...and now we're face to face.”

The teenage girl couldn't breathe. She tried to, but couldn't. After a few moments, Danielle finally gave up. She could have struggled for breath, but it didn't matter anymore. Thomas was holding her in his arms, his lips so close yet eons away. His breath tickled Danielle’s nose, causing her to scrunch it in response.

Thomas chuckled, nudging her closer. “You're so cute when you do that.”

And then they kissed.

Danielle felt her heart melt as she felt Thomas's lips on hers, loving every moment of it. She close her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer to her best friend, if that was even possible. He responded by her actions by deepening the kiss, becoming more excited by the second...

“Danielle!!”

Danielle snapped her head to the source of the voice, and to her dismay, saw her mother standing in the doorway wide-eyed.

“You're supposed to doing your chores! Not...making out with Daniel!!” Mrs. Citric turned to face Thomas, furious. “And you, young man, are supposed to be helping her!” She inhaled quickly, registering what she just said. “You are helping her! Ugh!!”

The woman turned on her heels, storming inside the house, leaving Danielle and Thomas alone once more. They looked at each other nervously.

“I can't help myself,” Danielle sang, batting her eyes at Thomas while he rolled his.

“I just came here to party,” the teenage boy quoted, nudging her playfully.

Danielle gasped, poking him in the arm. “I think you have to go,” she whispered in Thomas’s ear.

Thomas smiled. “Probably.” He backed out the doorway, still facing Danielle. He quoted once more, “Do you know what just started?”

Danielle nodded. “More than you know. My mom's going to kill me.”

“Not me!” Thomas exclaimed before chuckling.

And, with that, he took off, leaving Danielle standing there with a smile on her lips.