Page 70 of Rock Out Together
Mark took a step closer to them, almost as if expecting them to fight, but I knew he didn’t. I’d spent enough time around these guys to know they were always insulting each other. It didn’t seem very nice to me, but none of the guys seemed to mind it. Mark said, “Does that mean she’ll be coming over tonight?”
“Yeah. But if it makes you guys feel better, I told her to bring some of her friends with her.”
Jimmy sneered. “Are all the cheerleaders as slutty as Fay?”
Kage seemed genuinely upset by Jimmy’s remark, standing up straight. “She’s not a slut.”
“Chill, dude. I’m just fucking with you.” When Kage visibly relaxed, Jimmy added, “But are herfriendsslutty?”
Jason leaned over to whisper in my ear. His warm breath sent a chill up my spine, making me wish we were alone. “Let’s never be that couple.”
Turning to look in his deep blue eyes, I wanted to just get lost in them…to pretend like this moment could be frozen in time forever. Barely audible, I asked, “Whatcouple?”
“The one who fights, breaks up, gets back together every other week.”
Kage happened to overhear Jason’s last comment. “Every other week? We’ve been broken up since prom.”
Jimmy shook his head. “Must have felt like forever.”
“It did.”
There was something about the way Kage said it that made me feel bad for him. I hadn’t ever really known any of these guys, but I knew Kage the least because he’d only come to Central High sometime during our sophomore year—and many of the students I only knew by sight. Kage had been one of them until Jason and I had started dating.
Jason I’d noticed the first time I’d seen him. We’d been at freshman orientation, and although he hadn’t done a thing to get my attention, I’d noticed him when he’d walked into the auditorium. There was just something about him that spoke to me—and, even though he and Mark had been talking as they’d entered the large space, Jason exuded an air of confidence, as if he’d done this a thousand times before.
And then our eyes had locked for the briefest of moments…all because I’d been staring, probably with a slack jaw. Immediately, I’d turned to Emma as if it hadn’t happened.
Over two years later, Jason got up the nerve to ask me to prom—and I’d been breathless ever since.
As if they were part of a bee colony, when Mark started moving out of the living room, the guys followed—as did I, still holding Jason’s hand. Jimmy said, “Where the hell you goin’, dude?” A valid question since they usually practiced downstairs.
“We’re outside today so we can make sure we have our shit together for the party.”
“Oh. Makes sense.”
Jason said, “I need to get my drums.” Ordinarily, they’d been in the extra room in the basement where the guys always practiced.
“I already took it out there—and the amps. I had to buy two extra fifty-foot extension cords…so you guys can owe me.”
As we walked through the sliding glass door leading from the dining area of the kitchen to the deck out back, I squeezed Jason’s hand again. Grinning, he looked at me and I whispered, “We willneverbe that couple.”
When he gave me a light kiss, I tried not to think about the future…because, deep down, I wondered how we could work after graduation. I could hear Emma’s voice in my head, telling me to enjoy today. How many times had she said, “Stop and smell the present, girl”?
Every time, it made me laugh. And, even though she was probably right, it wasn’t something I was accustomed to doing.
So I squeezed Jason’s warm, firm hand tighter, knowinghe’d be gripping his drumsticks soon, ready to bang out a beat for the band.
I was trying to focus onjustthis moment.
Kage, setting down the case that held his bass, pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “The girls are here.”
Mark said, “Tell ‘em to come to the gate.” He was already walking toward the side of the house, eager to see just how many of them would be there.
At the time, I hadn’t known how pivotal that week would be in terms of these four guys’ reputation. All I knew was, for now, I would be sharing the “audience” space with several girls I didn’t necessarily dislike. Still, I was clearly the odd girl out.
Jason pulled on my arm, bringing me close to him again. But instead of kissing me, he brought his warm lips to my ear. “Cheerleaders or not, you’ll still be the prettiest girl here.” Then he leaned his forehead into mine. “I’m the luckiest guy on the planet.”
“Lucky?”
