“Sure.”
IdroveAvery to Matt’s, and while I still enjoyed her company, the trip back was much more subdued. It could have been from a long day walking around shopping, but I had a feeling it had more to do with the fact that Matt lived near Rainier. I had never been to his house before but remembered Rainier saying something about that when we were talking at work awhileback.
Avery gave me turn by turn directions until we pulled onto a quiet street. The house on the end had several cars parked in front of it, and I figured it was my destination before Avery pointed to it. I parked as we said our goodbyes and watched as she walked into the house withoutknocking.
As I got ready to drive off, I spotted Rainier’s house. Seeing it caused an emptiness in my chest I wasn’t expecting. I knew it was his, not because it was directly next door to Matt’s, not even because I saw his station wagon in the driveway. No, I knew it was Rainier’s house because from where I was parked in the street, I had a direct view of the flower beds that surrounded the house. And right there, next to some flowering bushes I didn’t know the name of, were purple flowers just like the ones Rainier had brought to me earlierthatday.
I took a deep breath and allowed myself to look at the beautiful blooms in Rainier’s yard for one more minute beforedrivinghome.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Rainier
The first thingI noticed when Avery walked in on our practice was that she was later than usual. She was usually here at the same time as Carter. A quick glance at the clock on the wall of Matt’s garage showed Avery had walked in an hour after practice started. She was coming in as we were taking a brief mid-pointbreak.
The second thing I noticed about Avery after she came in was the look on her face, more specifically the scowl that she directed toward me. As Michelle’s best friend, I could assume her tardiness and scowl were a direct result of talking with Michelle thatafternoon.
We were standing on opposite sides of the garage, and while I knew the frames on my glasses were thick, I still rose my eyebrows in defiance when she wouldn’t stop staring at me. I was not the one who decided things were over between Michelle and me. I was not the badguyhere.
Avery’s eyes widened before she leaned over and whispered something in Carter’s ear. Shortly after, I was on the receiving end of two venomous looks. Matt and Jenny were off in the other corner talking about who knows what, which irritated me further. I felt like the oddmanout.
“Break’s over,” I shouted over the sounds of everyone talking. “I’ve got a new song I’ve been working on, and I’d like to know what you all thinkaboutit.”
Reluctantly, my bandmates went back to their spots and got their instruments ready. Matt sat down at his drum set and gave me a quizzical stare, while Jenny and Carter grabbed their instruments without looking in mydirection.
I lifted my strap over my head and positioned my guitar across my chest. When it was just right, I closed my eyes and began playing my song. It was the same basic melody repeated over and over again, with a bridge that used almost the same chords as the rest of the song. It wasn’t complicated, and I figured everyone would be able to play along withoutissue.
They didn’t disappoint. I was just starting my second playthrough when everyone found how they fit in. Matt found a steady beat that didn’t rush it, but fit the melancholy tone. Carter was also quick to find a bassline that complimented the notes I was playing on the guitar. Jenny was the only one who hadn’t begun playing herinstrument.
I looked over to see her standing with her violin posed under her chin. Her eyes were closed, and her head was bobbing slightly to the music floating in the garage. Jenny’s left hand grabbed her bow and held her hand poised to pull it over thestrings.
When she did, it was heartbreakingly beautiful. The sound of the four of us playing together was better than I had ever imagined my song in my head. My three bandmates brought additions to my song I would never have thought toinclude.
As I started the next playthrough of the song, everyone continued to go with it. I took the opportunity to walk up to the mic in front of me. I hadn’t felt this anxious to sing into a microphone since that first performance at Wild Bill's when Owen got sick. Knowing I was about to bear my soul, my breath shook as I struggled toinhale.
I took a couple more breaths beforesinging.
The lyrics had to do with the pain of love that was never given a chance to develop. In a moment of inspiration this afternoon, I’d thrown in a few lines about spring flowers that bloomed brilliantly for a short time before fading and wilting. It might have been cheesy, but I couldn’t get the image of Irises out of my head. I imagined Michelle sitting in on our practice. Every word I sang was for her. I was surprised when my voice cracked with the finalwords.
I knew everyone heard it, but some prideful part of me didn’t want to acknowledge just how affected I'd been bythesong.
“Crap, a string just broke,” I lied. “I’m gonna run next door and grab a new one. Berightback.”
I walked as quickly as I could without running until I made it outside. Once out in the evening air, I slowed my pace as I made my way over to my yard. I doubted anyone believed my story, but I needed a minute to get my bearings. I sat down on my front step and closed my eyes, trying to force Michelle’s face out of my head. It was pointless, every time I closed my eyes Isawher.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard footsteps walking toward me shortly after sitting down, but when I looked up, the face that greeted me wasunexpected.
“Look, about inside…” I started, but sighed. I didn’t know what to say about the hostile looks we had exchanged in the garage. I was tired of fighting with people. I was tired of this summer. I just wanted things to get back tonormal.
“Can I sit down?” Averyasked.
I motioned at the space beside me. She was wearing a skirt, and it took her a minute to maneuver herself onto the lowstoop.
“Was that song aboutMichelle?”
“Do you needtoask?”
“She likes you, you know. And for what it’s worth, I think you two would make a greatcouple."
