I let the backing vocals continue, and then my turn again.
Suddenly, someone taps my shoulder, and I get scared. As a reflex, I turn around and smack the book on my hand on who I now recognize as West.
“OW!”
I start to laugh and take my headphones off.
“But what were you thinking? Coming behind me and tapping me on the shoulder! You scared the shit out of me!” I’m dying from laughter.
He’s quiet for a moment, and then he starts laughing too. Once we stop laughing, I start to organize the books.
“You have a good voice.”
“Thank you…” I forgot that he heard me sing. Wait, why is he complimenting me?
“All these years and I never realized…” He seems to be talking to himself.
“Maybe because you were too busy with Amanda.” I say her name as though it were disgusting.
“I never understood what you two had against each other…”
“When we were kids, she would… Say that I was a nerd and weak and built like astick.”
I’m glad I at least filled up that department.
“Really? I never noticed…” He looks at me, frowning, and I avert my eyes. “If I had-”
“You would have joined her.” I say as a matter of fact.
“I wouldn’t.” I glance at him, and he’s very earnest, trying to make me understand that he would never bully me like Amanda. Then he smiles to ease the mood. “Besides, I’d like to think you and I have a special relationship. Full offriendshipandlove…”
I scoff at how ridiculous he’s being, and he eyes me, amused.
“I’m glad she’s not like that anymore. Amanda.”
Yeah right. If only he knew…
She’s the kind of girl who’s mean to other girls but an angel in front of the boys. When she realized that being mean would push boys away, especially Jake, she started to use this system.
Silence surrounds us, and for a while, it’s like for the first time ever, we’re coexisting peacefully.Until.
“Wanna sing a song with me?” He says, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Why would I do that?” I ask, confused.
“Out of the goodness of your heart?” He tries, and I level him with a cynical stare. “Yeah, alright, I already know it’s frozen, that was a poor choice of words.” He smirks, and I roll my eyes. “But it could be fun. You do know what that means, right? F-U-N, fun?”
“Yes, West, I do know how to spell…”
I throw a book at him, and his laughter fills my ears.
The thing about Jake West’s laughter is that it’s never contained and never halfway. It’s always full and loud, and somehow makes you feel instantly better.
Who said that?
“I justcan’t.” I ponder talking further about this. There’s no one else to talk about this to right now… “I freeze. I always think I’m going to hit a wrong note and then remember that moment for the rest of my life.There, I told you.”
“That’s a little bit drastic…”
