Feel The Beat
Chapter 3
Lily was at Panera the day after her lesson with her best friend, Oliver. They were sitting down eating their food, when Lily felt Oliver looking over her shoulder.
He scoffed, "Why is that guy wearing glasses in here? And that hood? What a fool." Oliver smirked.
Lily leaned over and whacked Oliver's head. She immediately recognized the dark locks. "That's Joe Gray, you doughnut." Lily said quietly and calmly, while rolling her eyes.
"Lils?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah" She answered.
"Was that really necessary?" He asked, shaking his head dramatically. Lily just laughed and went back to her food. "And why are you so calm, Joe Gray is here?!" Oliver asked, suspiciously.
"I don't know, I mean, we've met lots of stars with Hannah, Mike. Do you still get star struck?" Lilly said. Trying to cover up because she hadn't told Oliver that Joe was her new guitar teacher.
"Well, no, I guess not. But Lils, it's Joe freaking Gray. He's a BABE." Oliver exclaimed, then turned to make sure that the boy, who was now in line, hadn't hear him.
"Have a little crush, Ollie?" Lily asked, moving her eyebrows suggestively.
Oliver gasped, "Must I remind you that I have a girlfriend, Lillian!"
Lilly looked around. Oliver's loud gasp had people staring at them. "Oliver! A little quieter, please." She said tensely.
Feeling Oliver looking over her shoulder again, Lily sighed. "Who is it now? Orlando Bloom?"
"Sorry to let you down, but it's just Joe." Lily turned bright red as she instantly recognized that voice. Turning around, she saw Joe standing right behind her, his hand on the back of her chair. Oliver sat in a shocked daze. "Hey, Lily." He said, smiling.
"Oh hey Joe, what are you doing here?" She asked.
Joe smiled crookedly, "Same as you, I suppose, eating."
Lily laughed nervously, "Right. Of course you are."
Nodding and still smiling, Joe said, "Well, I gotta go get this food back to Nick. I'll see you tomorrow." He finished, walking away. He turned back, just as the blush was finally draining Lily's cheeks, "And don't be late, Lily!" He added playfully, waving as he headed out the door with his food bag in hand.
"Lily." Oliver stated shortly.
"Yes?"
"Why will you be seeing Joe freaking Gray tomorrow?" Oliver asked, his face turning into a smile.
Lily blushed, looking down. "Calm down, Oliver, he's just my guitar teacher." Lily informed him.
"Wait a second, he's been teaching you?" Oliver asked, stunned.
"Taught me. One time. I just started." Lily said.
"Joe Gray is your guitar teacher, and you didn't tell me! Lily, we've been together all day!" Oliver exclaimed.
"Minor detail, Ollie." Lilly stated peacefully.
"Pysche! Having a Gray brother for a guitar teacher is most definitely not a minor detail!" Oliver said, shaking his head.
"Alright, alright, sorry." Lily muttered sheepishly.
Oliver smiled, "Your forgiven. Does Miley know?" He asked.
"Nope. Busy with-" Lily started, but Oliver finished for her.
"Hannah. Like usual." Oliver said and nodded understandingly. That's what Lily loved about their relationship. They understood each other, often finishing one another's sentences. Her and Oliver had been best friends since kindergarden. Miley too, but since she was always busy with being Hannah Montana, lily was closer to Oliver.
He checked his phone. "Oh shit, I have to go. I'm supposed to be taking Henry to karate, uh, five minutes ago." Oliver got up and hugged Lily quickly, and ran out to his car.
Soon after Oliver, Lily also left. Deciding to take the long way home, Lily rolled down the windows and blasted the music. Her favorite song, "Young Crazed and Peeling" by the Distillers was booming from the stereo. Driving was Lily's getaway from reality. Whenever she needed a break from her mother, who would ever be acrimonious about her divorce, or from her stoner brother, she'd just get in her car and drive. She usually took Oliver with her. He always went along wherever she needed him, another thing she loved about him.
Lily woke up late the next morning, forgetting she had an early lesson. She quickly grabbed an old Ramones shirt off the ground, and slipped into her black skinny jeans, tying her gray converse tight before she ran out the door.
Her hair askew, Lily ran into the room, all out of breath. "Sorry I'm late!" She exclaimed.
Joe just laughed. "It's fine. But um, where's your guitar?"
Lily hit her forehead. "Shit. I'm such a retard."
Joe laughed at her again. "Yes, you are. Who comes to a guitar lesson without their guitar? But don't worry about it. Just sit down and I'll go get you one."
She sighed and sat down, embarrassed. Joe walked back into the room after not long, with a guitar in hand.
"Alright, so I know you don't want to learn how to play, and I don't really know how to teach you, but we're going to figure something out, okay?" Joe said, smiling slightly. "After all, your mom is paying me to teach you something."
"Sounds good. But just a question, how did you get this job, if you can't even teach?"
"I'm Joe Gray." He said simply with a joking grinned. Lily laughed and rolled her eyes.
Joe turned in his chair so they were now facing each other. "Well, I thought we could pick a song from like one of your favorite bands or something, and then we can figure out how to play it." Joe explained, smiling, clearly proud that he had come up with this idea. Lily thought it was cute.
"So, what's your favorite band?" He asked.
Lily didn't have to think about that. "The Distillers."
Joe's face lit up."I think I actually have one of their CDs here with me! This will be easier than I thought!"
She was shocked, "Joe Gray, lead singer of the Gray Brothers, listens to the Distillers?!" Lily said, astonished.
He just laughed. "What, did you think I sat around and listened to myself all day? Truthfully, that's not even really my type of music." Joe said with a slight smile.
"You're a puzzle to me." Lily muttered.
"What was that?" He asked, not missing a beat. Lily blushed.
"Oh nothing, sorry." She mumbled. As Joe was fishing for the CD from his guitar case, a familiar song went off.
"Ain't nobody dope as me I'm dressed so fresh so clean. Don't you think I'm so sexy I'm dressed so fresh so clean." So Fresh, So Clean by Outkast was coming from Joe's phone. Lily burst into a sudden fit of laughter. Joe looked up at her while quickly silencing his phone. He read the caller ID, rolled his eyes, and ignored the call.
"Are you making fun of my ringtone?" Joe asked, playfully upset.
Smiling, Lily answered, "Maybee."
"Well, what's yours?" He asked cockily.
"Vibrate." Lily answered quickly, pushing her phone further down into her pocket.
"No it's not." Joe said smirking.
Lily nodded. "Sure is. Always vibrate."
Joe pouted. "You know mine, why can't I know yours?" He said with a cute puppy face.
Lily put up her hands defensively. "I told you, vibrate." Lily thought this was over but all the sudden Joe stood up, wiggling his fingers at her.
"I guess I have no other choice..." He said in a dark, yet kidding, voice. He moved in and started tickling her sides.
"No....! So... ticklish-Joe!" Lilly choked out between laughs. "Okay! I surrender!" She shouted, throwing her hands up to show that she gave in. Joe leaned back and smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile back. "OKay... don't make fun of me... it's Love bug. Lily blushed, practically whispering, partly because of how close they still were.
Joe smiled, shaking his head, "You went through all that, just to hide that I was your ringtone?" He spoke slowly.
Lily shrugged, casting her stare down. She looked back up moments later, and he was still watching her intently. She just looked back for a minute. He seemed to be in deep thought.
After what seemed like forever, Joe broke the silent stare. "Right! The CD!" He said backing away, quickly going back to rummaging through his bag.
