6 Months Before The Apocalypse

Just do it, Lily. Just add your name to the list. Just do it. It's not that hard. You'll just have to sing a song in front of all of the people here in this arcade with everyone staring at you and possibly recording you and if you make any mistake it will be stuck in everyone's mind for the rest of their lives and you will be standing up there waiting for your knees to buckle as you collapse onto the floor turning into the damn worm that you are.

"Come on, Lily," I spoke under my breath, attempting to give myself a pep talk to be able to quickly just sign the damn thing.

"Yeah, come on Lily." Someone spoke from behind me with obvious annoyance in their tone. I turned around in shock and surprise to see a boy a bit taller than me with blonde hair, a grey baseball cap, and a light pink shirt. "Are you going to sign it or not?"

I panicked and stepped to the side and muttered out a quick "sorry." Realizing that he just stepped forward and no longer paid me any attention I quickly scurried off to a table in the back of this section.

Sure I wanted to spend my 17th birthday here. That's why I even chose this place. I wanted to come to this specific arcade because I knew of the music room with karaoke, with instruments, with amazing music and livelihood and fun. Everyone was always so happy here, yet I was sitting in the back just wishing I could be as confident as everyone else.

I wanted to spend it here, without friends, without family, just on my own to work up the courage to finally use the karaoke machine here. Finally, be able to sing some songs at the top of my lungs with a crowd of people I didn't know and to just be happy and carefree, but that wasn't easy for the wannabe singer who had stage fright.

I sat there and just watched the stage, so many going up there and singing their hearts out. I wish that could be me. It could never be me. How could my dream ever come true if I couldn't get myself to step onto a stage? I thought maybe it'd be easier because there was no one I knew there but instead I almost felt worse because if I were to majorly fuck up, no one would be there to comfort me and pick me back up.

It was hard to pay attention to any of the people who went up on stage because it just would remind me of how much of an embarrassment I was. How stupid I was to think I would have a fun time here, thinking I would somehow find the courage to do something I knew I would never be able to do. That was until that boy was called up for his turn on stage and sang his damned heart out. Weirdly enough it made me smile. Seeing that annoyed boy completely wash away the world just to sing at a karaoke arcade. What was even nicer was that he was an amazing singer.

After his turn was finished, he nonchalantly hopped off the stage and walked back to the line to sign up for another round of karaoke. It wasn't until we made eye contact that I noticed I was staring at him. Out of complete embarrassment I immediately snapped my head to look down at the table I sat out. In a complete panic with trying to figure out how to distract me to make me look less guilty, I took out my phone and scrolled through whatever apps or texts I had just to seem like I was doing something else when I didn't know what else to do.

I scrolled through random things on my phone for about a minute and let out a breath I didn't even notice I was holding in. I had assumed that whatever awkward encounter had happened had successfully passed. That was until I turned my head to look back towards the line and instead I saw the boy standing next to me.

I jumped, almost falling out of my chair. I was able to catch myself getting myself together pretty quickly but also fast enough to see him laughing at me. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I continuously apologized feeling nothing but heat rise up to my face and knowing that my entire body was occupied with fear. After the boy finished his laugh he pulled out the chair next to me and then took a seat.

"I can sign the sheet for you, you know." He spoke. I couldn't tell if he was being sincere or if he was mocking me. Or maybe both.

"Um," I stuttered, trying to look at him without fear but I mostly looked like a complete mess. It was even more embarrassing to me because he just seemed so calm and sure of himself. "No, no, it's okay." I awkwardly responded. "I don't want to."

"Then why were you standing at the signup sheet trying to pep talk yourself into signing it and then running away afterward?" He said, this time with an obvious mocking tone, completely conveying the disbelief he felt.

I didn't know how to respond. I just looked at him trying to figure out what to say. I couldn't find any words, I wasn't used to being directly confronted like this, especially by a stranger. "Why are you here if you didn't want to sing?" He added to his interrogation.

I was silent for a small bit again trying to figure out what to say. "I just wanted to watch-"

"Bullshit." He interrupted me this time. I stared back in shock, not expecting that kind of response from this boy. "What's your problem?" He continued. I know he didn't mean for that question to come out rudely, I know what he meant, but I still couldn't feel somewhat attacked by the question.

I sighed and gave in. "It's my birthday today and I wanted to get myself to finally use the karaoke machine but it turns out aging another year doesn't get rid of my stage fright," I spoke, rolling my eyes at my stupidity.

"Today's your birthday?" The boy perked up. I slowly nodded at his question. He then stood up and offered his hand. "You are now legally obligated to sing a song with me because we share a birthday."

I looked at his hand in front of me and then looked back at him. He just looked at me with confidence and I didn't understand how someone could be this way towards a stranger. "But,"

"Grab my hand," He ushered me, moving his fingers to gesture me to hold it. So, I listened and I grabbed his hand. I stood up and he led me over to the line for sign-ups. He let go of my hand and looked at me with a smile, offering his other hand for me to shake it. "Eugene." He introduced himself.

I took his hand and softly shook it and grinned. "Lilithana, but my friends call me Lily."

"How old are you today, Lily?" Eugene politely asked with anticipation.

"17-"

"Really?" His smile grew as he jumped in excitement. "Me too! Now you're even more legally obligated to sing with me!"

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear at his excitement, at this newfound friend I had made. "Okay." I nodded. "I'll sing with you." I went from trembling to pure excitement, never feeling this much adrenaline in my body then I did at that very moment. For once I felt no fear. I felt nothing but the need to go on that stage and sing as loud as I damned could.

When we stepped up to the signup sheet Eugene grabbed the pen and went to sign the "Duet" section on signed it with "Eugene and Lily". I couldn't help but feel insanely giddy seeing my name signed on that sheet, something I never had the guts to do before despite me wanting to for the past 2 years.

It wasn't much long after that our names got called and we were asked to pick a song. Eugene turned to me and asked, "What songs do you like?"

I could only think of my favorite artist but I had a feeling he'd just make fun of me or decline. I wasn't going to let that stop me though. I could at least suggest it. "Anything Taylor Swift?" I meant to state but instead, it slipped out more like a question. Eugene didn't respond immediately which worried me. "Do you not like Taylor Swift?"

"No," He scoffed. "Everyone loves Taylor Swift, I'm just waiting for you to tell me which song you want to sing by her." I don't know why that took me a bit by surprise but it also made me feel incredibly relieved. I told him the song I wanted to sing and he found the karaoke version of it. He helped me step onto the stage and grabbed me a microphone to use while he grabbed his own.

"Are you ready?" He asked me and looked at me with what I saw as genuine concern.

I wanted to nod immediately but before I could I turned myself to face the crowd. Everyone was staring at us. People were staring at me. I wanted to start panicking but before I even could the karaoke track for the song we chose began to play. I looked back to Eugene who just passed me a comforting smile that melted all of my fears away.

That was the first night I felt no fears and only confidence. I sang as loud as I could with as much passion as I could and I had never had that much fun on my birthday before. My body was almost shaking from the adrenaline and after we would finish a song I would beg him to sign us up for another round. I could tell he was having as much fun as I was. He didn't seem like the original annoyed and whiny boy I was first introduced to, but someone just wanting to have a good time getting lost in the music.

"You know Lily," Eugene looked at me as we waited in line for who knows what time as he tried to catch his breath after we had run off stage to the line. "You're a really good singer."

I blushed slightly as I was never complimented on my singing before. Then again, no one had ever heard me sing. "Thank you," I said through my heavy panting due to intense singing and running back and forth between the stage to the line. "You too."

I couldn't tell through the dim colorful lights that shined in that area but I felt like I could see Eugene's cheeks get a tint of pink. "Thank you." He thanked me as we continued to chat about what song we wanted to sing next before we added our names on the list again.

...

I didn't know how long we were singing before I checked my phone realizing it was no longer 3 pm but 9 pm. "Shit," I muttered under my breath.

Eugene looked at me with worry. "What?"

"I need to get home, my mom is going to be back in 30 minutes and I'm not supposed to be here." I slightly panicked. "And the next bus doesn't come for another 15 minutes and even then it's about a 15 minute walk from here and then it's about another 15 minute ride home but who knows what traffic is like-"

Eugene grabbed my shoulders and forced me to face him, cutting off my rambling. He was about 2 inches taller than me, meaning he had to be around 5'6. "You're going to make it back and everything is going to be peachy."

My breathing was still heavy, even after his reassurance. "But how am I going to get to the bus stop in time? What if I miss the bus? Oh God, what if I miss the bus?" I continued, barely keeping myself together.

Eugene quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me with him until we ran out of the arcade.

"Eugene what are you-"

"Hop on," Eugene ordered me to do as he turned around and bent his knees slightly.

"What?"

"I said, hop on." Eugene repeated. Instead of continuing to argue I did as he said and hopped onto his back. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck as he moved his hands below my knees to keep me up. "Hold on tight or else I will drop you and I will not pick you up." Eugene stated which scared me a small bit.

"Eugene, oh my God don't," I tried to beg but before I could even finish the boy began to run. "Eugene!" I screamed. Although sure I felt some fear, but I still had too much adrenaline coarsing through my body that it ended with me giggling instead of more screams.

He continued to run as fast as he could as I continued to laugh and hold on to him as tight as I could. I could hear him chuckle a small bit every once in a while through my laughs and we were quickly able to make it to the bus stop just as the bus had arrived. He quickly put me down and ushered me to get onto the bus.

"Wait, Eugene," I tried to stop him from pushing me onto the bus.

"Hurry up!" He pushed me up the steps.

"Wait," I spoke in panic trying to get closer to Eugene. Instead I accidentally knocked off his hat, in which he quickly picked up from the floor and stuck it on my head. My face heated up and I would have enjoyed the moment more if it wasn't interrupted.

"I need to close the doors miss." The bus driver spoke from behind me, obvious disinterest in my current situation could be heard from his voice.

"Wait, I need to-" I turned around to face the bus drive when I notced him moving the lever to close the doors. "Wait, no!" I turned back around to the closed glass doors and saw Eugene there with a wide smile as he gave me a thumbs up. "Eugene!" I tried to speak loud enough for him to hear but before anything else could happen the bus began to move. All I saw was Eugene excitedly waving goodbye, seemingly happy that I made it to the bus on time.

"Aren't you supposed to wait for me to take my seat?" I turned around to see the bus driver with nothing but anger. I had my voice raised, something I almost rarely did.

The bus driver just shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I have a schedule, I can't wait for some annoying teenagers to finish a conversation."

I stared at him with anger but it soon turned to disappointment. I tried to run to the back of the bus as fast as I could to look through the back window to see if I could see Eugene again, but by the time I made it to that window Eugene was already gone. I sighed with nothing but sadness as I felt tears start to prick up to my waterline. Will I ever see you again? Was all I could think. I just had the best night of my life and I had no idea if I would ever be able to see the cause of that again. I sat back down and closed my eyes, leaning my head back on to the seat behind me. I went to place my hands over my face when they hit something on my head.

His cap.

I took off the cap just to look at it. A nice simple grey plain baseball cap. I smiled at the cap and quickly ran my hand over it just taking it in. I finally decided to place the cap back onto my head making sure it was snug and laid comfortably.

I was able to make it home in time before my mother showed up. I had about 5 minutes to spare before she showed up so I took that time to lay down in my room and let some tears silently fall down my cheeks. I wasn't going to let this taint my day, I was going to remember this day as the day I spent my 17th birthday with the most exciting person I ever met. I just didn't want it to end.

Every day after school and every weekend I went to that arcade in hopes to see him again. I would wait for hours at a time but I never saw him. After 2 weeks of doing so I decided to only visit a couple times a week, continuing to sit and wait another couple of hours. Still no sight of him. I stayed that way for almost 4 months and over the course of time the trips started slowing down. I was visiting about once a week, to once every other week, to none.

I never saw that boy again. And I never took off his cap.