Hey folks!
Happy Monday (if there even is such a thing)! Hopefully if it's not a happy one, this can brighten things up a bit for you!
Fran betas, Jill, Ariel, and Pearly preread, and I love y'all to death. xxx
Somewhere along the way, I got lost in Isabella, my eyes trained on her while she sings so effortlessly, strumming her guitar to give the song a more personal twist. When the final few notes fade, the audience erupts in applause, of course.
She's a fucking star. The brightest in the sky. And her talents are way fucking wasted singing occasionally in this tiny bar.
"Well, what do we think?" She yells into the mic, waving her hand in my direction like she's Vanna White and I'm the new bonus puzzle.
The cheering transforms to booing, and my heart sinks. She put her decision in their hands, and they're turning on me.
"I know, he's not the best singer, but...he has balls, right? How many of you would get up here and sing badly to win over a girl or guy?"
They respond with hesitant cheers.
"Ladies, would you pass up a chance to find out just how big these balls are?"
Jesus Christ, she's actually making me blush. I haven't blushed since I lost my virginity to Lauren Sorenson my freshman year of high school.
But the ladies in the crowd cheer, interrupted by a smattering of laughter from the men.
"All right, thanks so much for your help tonight! Next up, we have Diego, who I assure you can sing much better than this fine fucker! I'll be back at the bar in ten to keep those drinks coming!"
While I'm giving an awkward little wave to the crowd, Isabella is grabbing my hand and pulling me away. Her hand in mine is small, but it's right somehow, and I try not to let myself spiral at this newfound information.
It has nothing to do with the case, so I do what I always do with unnecessary information. I discard it.
She leads, and I follow, still buzzing from the strange adrenaline that being on stage brought me. Don't get me wrong, it will never fucking happen again, but there's something to be said about the energy that performing next to her brought.
We're back in the office where she patched me up, and she releases my hand. I miss it immediately.
"I didn't want the whole bar watching when I tell you this," she starts.
Great, she's going to reject me after all that. And I won't stop pursuing her because I never give up on a mission. I'm gonna wind up in prison for stalking.
Fuck.
"I'm giving you one more chance. But I mean it, Edward, you ghost me again, and I'll make you a ghost. I know how to hide a body, and I have people that would be an alibi for me."
Morbid sense of humor or a true warning? My blood runs cold either way.
"Noted. I'd like to remain very un-dead, so you have nothing to worry about."
