Jake: Tell your student I think he’s doing a great job!
Emma: You’ve never even seen him play.
Jake: He doesn’t know that.
Emma: His mom will think you’re recording the lessons. Don’t do it, Levi!
Kamila: On second thought, please hurry. These two are right next to me and are driving me insane.
Me: Jake, stop being a pain in the ass. Em, I won’t tell him that, calm down. Kami, I’ll be there ASAP.
Kamila: Save yourself, they’ve started arguing in the car, and I’m in the back seat like I’m their child.
Scoffing at my idiotic, yet lovable friends’ theatrics, I tuck my cell away and reach my grandma’s old car that thankfully still works because of my most recent repairs at the shop back home during the holidays. I open the back seat doors and place my hard electric guitar case under my acoustic one, and the small amplifier I use during lessons.
On the road, I blast “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac, which has been stuck in my head since Sunday night. And that’s because of one Stevie Winters.
I’ve seen her three more times since yesterday’s fucking fantastic pancake feast when I walked into the kitchen with the woman wearing an old-style short nightgown. The image of her singing Stevie Nicks quietly, while swaying her hips and flipping around the tastiest blueberry pancakes I’ve had to date, flashes in my mind. I didn’t have much of an opportunity to hear her voice due to her being so fucking quiet, but I’ve never had a more entertaining breakfast.
The surprise and embarrassment of her assuming that I was gay will forever be etched into my brain. I wasn’t offended, especially after knowing what she and her parents had found online. Those sleazy tabloids sure know how to manipulate pictures. Instead, her reaction almost made me piss my pants. I’ve never seen someone run that fast.
Since our brief conversation about her family and best friend, I’ve been waiting for her to tell me what her condition is. I haven’t seen her take any pills, but those are easy to hide. I’ve been observing her when I can and have noticed three things. First off, she likes baggy seventies-style clothing. Secondly, she’s somewhat reserved, but at the same time, it doesn’t seem likeshe’s shy. I’d lean more toward being careful. There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Stevie. And thirdly, she’s private. Not that that’s a bad thing, especially when it comes to the roommate situation. Hell, I’m happy that I get more alone time, yet I can’t help my curiosity as to what makes her, her.
Pulling into the parking lot behind Roxy’s, I open the front door a minute later and find Jake, Em, and Kami in a booth. I’m surprised when I don’t see Kamila’s boyfriend, Cameron. They’ve officially been together for only a little over a month now, but they’ve been attached at the hip since then, and they’re nauseatingly adorable. I’m happy for her, she deserves someone to love her as much as he does.
Em is the first one to spot me, and she smiles like we haven’t seen each other in months instead of three days.
“Levi’s here!” she shouts.
I walk faster toward the small blonde girl who just yelled.
“Hey, Levi’s here!” Jake and Kami mimic Emma at the same time.
“Very funny.” I sit in my usual spot beside Kami and kiss her on the cheek.
She raises both eyebrows and smiles. “You’re lucky Cam isn’t here. You know how he gets.”
I do, in fact, know how her boyfriend gets. He’s possessive with his girlfriend, something he and I have in common when it comes to our significant others. Not that I’ve had one in a while. Either way, I’ve learned that fucking around with Cam is fun. Jake’s also noticed and gives me an approving dickish smile.
Winking at Kami as she rolls her light brown, almost yellow eyes, I turn to Em, who’s pouting. Knowing what she wants and that she won’t put that lower lip back into its normal position till I give in, I lean over to meet her baby blue eyes and kiss her forehead.
She nods, satisfied.
I sit back down and open the menu, ready to look for the same thing I always order, when Jake speaks up.
“Hey, dude, I think you forgot your best friend.” Sighing, I raise my eyes and see Jake attempting to pout like Em was, but instead of looking cute, he looks fucking constipated.
“Seriously?” I deadpan.
He makes whiny sounds as Kami laughs and Em looks at him disgustingly.
“Fine, anything for you to stop making whatever kind of noise and face that is.”
Once again, I stand and give him a quick peck on the forehead. The douche starts fanning himself like a giddy schoolgirl.
“Oh my, Levi, does this mean we’re going steady?” he asks in a terrible Southern accent.
“For the love of God, Jake, shut up,” Kami says while trying to suppress her laugh.
