But I pull myself up
Brush it to the side
Ready to go
I hope no one can see
It’s all just a plastic smile
Is it perfect?No. There will be changes, but for a first run? It’s cathartic. Eric telling me that I have a plastic smile?
Fuck him.
I furiously scratch out lines and add more lyrics in while changing things up. A beat starts to form in my head as I hum a tune.
It’s all coming together in my head. But the vision starts to turn. From Eric to Jasper. From anger to one of love.
Then you came walking in
Open arms, safe and sound
A place to land
The home I never had
The words flowingfrom me now feel good. Feelright. I don’t remember the last time I was this inspired. Eric started it, but he’ll always be tied to my career. Jasper? Well, he makes writing songs about love easy.
The way he cares for me. Listens to me. Just…everything. Jasper is everything.
Tearing the page out, I set it on the coffee table and start a new song.
“Quinn?”
His voice startles me, sending papers flying everywhere. “Jesus.”
“Sorry.” Jasper looks sheepish. “I knocked and you didn’t answer.”
I press a hand to my heart, trying to calm my racing pulse. “It’s okay. I was lost.”
“In what?”
Jasper drops down behind the couch, resting his chin on the cushions. His hair is still damp from his postgame shower. A loose lock falls across his forehead and I tuck it away.
“Writing. Lyrics. Still changes to make but…” I sigh. “It felt good.”
“Is this the first time you’ve written since everything happened?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He walks around the couch and drops down next to me, pulling me into his lap. “Anything I can see?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. They’re still too raw.”
“Can I ask what prompted this?”
Jasper traces the lines on my palms. It’s hypnotic.
“I ran into Eric tonight before the game.”
