Slipping the device into my pocket, I release my hold of the neckline and begin wheeling the cart into the room. And since no one is around who could hear me, I start humming to the music. In addition to listening to the music, I would occasionally sing too. Ms. Elaycia loved having me sing at night when she wanted a more sultry vibe for the back end of the club. Despite it being for getting men even more so in the mood, I still loved it.
The piano version of Jade LeMac’sConstellationsstarts up and I start mumbling the words to it. I had written over a hundred songs on that list Jullia had been talking about. Knowing her she probably added every single one on here.
I’ll have to do something extraordinary to say thank you. This. . . giving me music. . . there’s no greater gift.
Pulling out the bucket and mop, I start cleaning this first section. With my music time moves differently. Faster, or maybe I finish the tasks faster. I never minded cleaning – as long as I had good music. And withmymusic, nothing could much bother me right now.
Section after section, area after area, equipment after equipment. I don’t miss a single inch of anything. This room is about to be cleaner than it has ever been before.
“. . . long tan legs and her cowboy boots,” I hum with a smile, “sippin on shine in her daisy dukes, take me for a ride on the way you move, drivin’ my blues away. . . “
You can’t not bop your head to Joseph David-Jones. Even though I’ve only listened to two of his songs, no matter what mood I’m in they always hit.
“Let’s yippee-ki-yay in my black Chev-aay, Z seventy-one on a bale of hay, damn, you look good on my tailgate. . . drivin’ my blues away.”
I finish mopping this mat and wipe my forehead. Who needs a workout when you can just clean a gym? My arms slightly tremble as I lift the mop and stick it back in the bucket of dirty water. Flo Rida is currently blaring in my ears withGood Feelingand I take a mini break to nod my head to the beat as I shimmy my shoulders.
“I get a feeling. . . that I never, never, never, never had before, oh no, I get a good feeling. . . “ The laser feeling base drop hits and I do a little spin while nodding my head to each bump of the base. “Let’s get it, let’sFUCK!” I rip the ear buds out and clutch my chest as I veer back. There’s a slight smirk on his face before he neutralizes it. “What the fuck are you doing here!”
My heart is pounding in my chest and threatening to come out through my throat. Thorne is standing about ten feet away doing nothing but watching me. At least he has a shirt on now.
But. . . how long was here there? He couldn’t have been there for long. Why is he here? Doesn’t he have president society things to do? Aren’t there parties he should be at?
More thoughts and questions ping pong in my head as I take long, deep breaths. Normally I’m more aware of my surroundings, especially when I have both earbuds in. I’m usually able to sense when I’m being watched. That just means he couldn’t have been here for long. Unless I was too absorbed with the music to notice?
“Can I help you with something?” I ask cautiously. Before today I hadn’t seen him since Saturday night. I haven’t seen Darian either and Callahan hasn’t tried speaking to me since Monday when he asked about my paper.
I had finished it Monday night and went to Professor Asier’s classroom Tuesday morning before breakfast to see if I could hand it in. He wasn’t there so I had just left it on his desk with a note stating I was incapacitated because of circumstances that were out of my control. I don’t know if Thorne or Castiel told him about what happened, but he didn’t say anything today about it and my grade on the portal had been updated to a ninety-four percent out of a hundred.
There weren’t any notes for why I wasn’t given a hundred percent, but I’ll just assume the six points were docked because it was technically late.
Whatever.
“What were you singing?” he asks lowly, which for some reason is one thing I didn’t think would come out of his mouth.
My heart returns to its normal pace, but it feels like its beats are stronger. Thumping hard against my ribs as I shift my weight and lick my lips. His eyes dart down before looking back up with an expectant expression.
Lady Gaga’sApplausecan be heard from the earbuds and I didn’t realize how loudly I had the music.
“Uh. . . a song?” I shift again. I don’t know if he knows about the things from Earth. “Good Feeling– from Flo Rida. . . ?”
He cocks his head and glances down to my hand still tangled with the wire. His body it nearly entirely rock solid. I can’t make out what he’s thinking or read anything from his body language. Jullia didn’t make it seem like listening to human songs would be illegal or anything. Maybe he’s just curious?
“Do you sing often?”
His tone also isn’t telling me anything. Mild curiosity – maybe. Or maybe I’m too nervous to read anything from it. Nana says I can be oblivious sometimes even though I’m an excellent observer and can notice things others don’t.
“Yes. . . ?”
Something lightens in his expression by a decimal point. “Are you asking or telling me?”
I give him a dry look. “I did on Earth.”
He hums and slides his hands into the pockets of his shorts. They’re the same ones he was wearing when he was training with Asher. I’ve been here for at least two hours so does that mean he hasn’t gone back to his room to change?
“What’s your favorite song to sing?”
My shoulders tense and it must be a visible reaction because his eyes drop to them.
