I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
Cali was walking along the path to the X-mansion's gates alone with her mp3 at her waist and her headphones engulfing her nodding head. "But it's home to me and I walk alone" Cali mouthed.
Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
Cali sighed. That week she had gotten through everything she needed to. All her projects met their deadlines, all her articles for the school newspaper were handed in, and all her friendship problems had been sorted out. Her love life – HA – she didn't have to worry about that, it was non-existent.
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
She saw Sam running towards her. "HEY!" She grinned and waved at him. "What's up?" He smiled back. "Ah- I- Bah…" He tried to speak but all the running had caught up with him and his words came out in pants. Cali laughed at him. "Okay, walk with me a while until you get your breath back"
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do (I walk alone, I walk alone)
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now (I walk alone, I walk alone)
"You know, before you came just now, I was thinking back to before I came to the X-mansion… when I used to sit in my room all by myself and have only my fire people to keep me company… oh, I had friends, I wasn't a loner or anything but I was never close to anyone… it was like I was the class clown, the person who doesn't have a personality, she's just a friendly, happy joke machine"
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Sam stared at her in awe. He didn't know what happened to her to make her suddenly reveal her past like that. It's true. At times you would think that Cali wasn't actually a person. She's always happy, always friendly, always joking. She never reveals anything about herself. She never objects when people serve her mushroom or cooked tomato when in reality it makes her stomach yak, or when people are talking about 50 cent she never makes a face 'cause 50 cent's the worst thing music ever conjured.
Every day I wake up and it's Sunday
Whatever's in my head won't go away
The radio is playing all the usual
And what's a wonderwall anyway
"Uh…" Sam was at a loss of words. "And then there's guys" Cali laughed. "We're always just friends – I'm like one of them. It's great. I wouldn't want it to be anything more – but then it never is anything more. Just friends. But everyone says that being more than friends is even better so maybe… just once… I'd like to know what it's like… you know?" Sam nodded uncertainly. He wondered what it was like too.
Backbeat the word is on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you now
Usually Sam would have just stayed quiet and listened to Cali spill everything to him but he was tired of being known as the quiet guy. The tall awkward shy guy who everyone kindness everyone takes advantage of. Maybe Cali was sick too. Sick of being the robotic friendly joke machine. What they needed was to tell someone everything, someone who understands them and what they're going through, someone like each other.
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
"I- I know what you mean" Sam tried hard not to stutter but old habits die hard. "Everyone knows I won't reject a favor and they know I'll say 'yes' to anything. I don't want to go to another dance with someone who just asked me to go 'cause they couldn't get anyone else and they knew I'd agree. And I don't want to do Duncan's homework anymore. And I want to have a date t-tonight… like e-everyone else…" The last part Sam was not planning on confessing but seeing as everything else was coming out, it slipped out as well.
Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
Cali smiled understandingly and leaned her head on his shoulder. She popped one of the headphones out of its socket and placed it over Sam's ear and continued to mouth the words of the song. "Read between the lines…"
Read between the lines
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
Sam panicked. He had just confessed that he wanted a date and if Cali hadn't gotten the point maybe she was dumber than he thought – or Sam's worst fear had come true – she had gotten the hint but didn't feel the same as him so she decided to let music cover up the awkwardness. "Crap!" Sam thought "Should I come out with it? Just say 'Cali! Let's go on the date tonight!' and… and freak her out? Sigh Why is life so complicated?"
Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you (I walk alone, I walk alone)
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do (I walk alone, I walk alone)
"Ha…" Cali thought. "Funny… 'I walk alone, I walk alone' This is the first time I've listened to this song and walked with someone. Especially someone this sweet. The lyrics of this song are awesome. Read between the lines. What's- Read between the lines? Wait… I'm not reading between the lines! Did Sam just say 'I want to have a date tonight'? OH MY GOD!"
And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
But I don't know how
Cali stopped walking, causing Sam to be pulled back by the headphone. "Uh… Cali? What is it? I-Is something wrong?" "Maybe she can't take it anymore" he thought "Maybe… she's finally telling me that she doesn't like me"
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
"Uh… uh… I…" "Ew! Am I blushing? Oh God, I bet he can't tell the difference between my hair and my face now!" Cali screamed at herself inside.
Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
"Just breathe in and breathe out, girl!" She commanded herself and then she looked back up at Sam. The tall blond was staring at her with a worried expression on his face. "Ha… how cute" she smiled.
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
"I… want to have a date tonight… too… Sam" She managed to say in the bravest voice she could put on.
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
Sam gaped at her. "Ah… Hehe… Wh- Wow… Yeah, I- Uh…"
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
Cali 'shh'ed him and grabbed him by the arm. They continued walking down the road to the X-mansion together.
Because maybe
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me (You're gonna be the one that saves me)
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating (You're gonna be the one that saves me)
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me (You're gonna be the one that saves me)
'Til then I walk alone
Cali giggled and Sam could tell the serious moment was over. "Thanks for saving me, Sam" He smiled back. They had just both uncovered the real them to each other and Cali was right – it did feel great. "No problem… now… let's sing!"
Sing with me (sing)
Sing for the year (sing)
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good lord will take you away