My heart thunders inside my chest.
“Of course, forget it, you wouldn’t understand.” I move past him, angry that I even thought about telling him anything whatsoever.
“Wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it as something bad, I’m just- Trying to make you see that things aren’t always as complicated as your head makes it seem.”
I glance at him, worried he’s being nice to me.
“I have an idea.”
“Must be great, coming from you.” I can’t help but mutter, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“I’m trying to be nice here; you have to at least try to do the same thing.”
I puff and come closer as he grabs my headphones.
“I’m going to leave the library, and you’re gonna put a song you love to sing at full volume.” He passes me the headphones.“And I’m gonna come back when I feel like it, and you’re forbidden to turn around.”
I look unsure at him. And then I look pointedly at him.
“Wait, this isn’t some evil plan of yours to pull a prank on me, is it?”
He eyes me with an offended expression. Then he breaks and turns serious.
“Fine, no. I promise not to pull a prank on you.” He breaks and raises his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
“And why would I trust you?”
“Why wouldn’t you? Look at this face.” He motions towards it. “Dependable, handsome, out of this world, hypnotising…”
“Fake. Andwhy wouldn’t I?Do I have to remind you of the time when you made my guinea pig be hit by a car? Or when you woke me up with a hose, and I couldn’t breathe for more than five seconds? Or the time in which you stole all my favorite DVDs and saw me cry and still didn’t return them because you were finding it funny?”
“Okay, okay!Jesus, a guy does one thing and all of a sudden, he’s untrustworthy… Besides, the guinea pig was anaccident.” He shakes his head to reorganize his thoughts. “Look, you have to trust me.”
I stare at him, arms crossed, and he sighs.
“If you do this, then… I won’t tell anyone about your dorky never list…” He dangles it in front of my face, and I’m mortified now.
I already don’t have friends, if anyone knew I made such a thing…
“Youwouldn’t…” I whisper, and he laughs, an evil laugh.
“Oh, like you didn’t tell everyone at camp that I still wore my Lightning McQueen underwear when we were thirteen?” He takes a step closer and narrows his eyes at me. “Oh,I think I would…”
“Fine.” I take the headphones from his malicious hands, and he smiles while getting out of the library.
This argument didn’t even make sense! Why was he blackmailing me in return for something for my own good?Whatever…
I restartI Won’t Say I’m In Love, and I feel my voice shaky, even with my headphones blasting the song, so I can’thear anything else. It takes after the chorus for me to pick up some kind of rhythm. Then I close my eyes and pretend I’m singing in the shower.
Throughout my body, I feel my voice blend in with the song, and I start to smile.
He’s not coming back… Even if he is,I don’t want to think about that right now.
I continue, ignoring my deepest darkest thoughts about how he could be whipping out his phone to record me against my knowledge.
I finish the song andimmediatelyturn around and- He’s not holding his phone… He’ssmiling. Widely. Genuinely. Heartbreakingly so.
I remove the headphones and cross my arms.
