I tend to get angry at characters like Ashley too. Although in her defence, I can say that she doesn't think Naomi actually likes Soda in that way. She's sorta unintelligent.
"Ashley! Over here!" I waved my hand wildly, begging to God she'd see me. If I had to spend one more second alone with Jon, I'd go crazy and strangle him. It wasn't as though I was happy that Ashley was here with Sodapop and I was here with Jon, but I just wanted the company. I had gotten used to the fact, after I finished playing Solitary Man over and over and over and over...
"Hi!" Ashley smiled, andI knew she was having a blast. And the movie didn't even start yet. She looked really pretty, probably because she had curled her hair. It looked really good on her.
"You curled your hair!" I pretended to act surprised, although really I wasn't, "Now who has a poodle in their head?"
"You still have way more hair than me!"
"At least Naomi's doesn't have rabies," Soda joked, dodging Ashley's slap. I don't know if she meant to swing that hard, but if she had hit him, it would have lefta hand mark on his arm.
"Let's just go find seats before this whole place fills up," I suggested, letting Soda and Jon go ahead of Ashley and I.
"What?" she whispered, and I could tell I was mildly annoying her.
"I've only been taking music from Shirley for a few weeks," Jon was saying loudly, "But I've really been studying it for longer..."
"Help me," I mouthed, nodding my head towards Jon.
"I'll try," she replied.
I tried to follow the movie. I really did. But it was hard when Ash and Soda were laughing and whispering about something I didn't know. I nudged Ashley gently, and nodded towards Jon's hand. It seemed to inch about a centimeter closer to mine every thirty seconds or so.
"Hey, Jon," Ashley said, standing up, "You want to come with me to get a refill?" She shook her empty Coke, "I didn't catch the last part of the story you were telling, and I'd love to hear it."
"Sure," Jon jumped up, his eyes gleaming, "There was this really bad piano with a really flat key on it that should have been natural, but when the organist started to play it..." I watched as they disappeared.
"Your date is crazy." Soda said, as soon as they were gone.
"Your date is my best friend." I smiled sweetly.
"It's not my fault," he looked around, and lowered his voice, "She won't stop hanging around me!"
I laughed, and bit my lip.
"She's really nice and all," He continued, "But I keep thinking about how she called you a whore and broke your guitar-"
"It's not broken, it just has a tiny dent in it," I insisted, "And we've sorted everything out."
"There's something you aren't telling me."
"What?"
"First thing you're saying you like this Jon guy, but now it seems like you hate him."
"I do hate him, now. He was...alot different...when I first met him."
"Can you answer a question for me?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Why is Ashley making you pretend to want to go out with Jon?"
I felt like I'd swallowed something icy cold.
"She's not making me do anything-"
"I can tell she is, Naomi, anyone could tell that she is."
"You're just being self-confident."
"Maybe I am," he said, laughing, "But I'm not giving up that easily."
I smiled slightly, and chuckled with my mouth closed. I wasn't about to show it, but that made my day.
January 6th 1968
"Naomi, have you ever felt like crying about your Grampy but didn't?"
"Yeah...loads of times."
"Please, I need you to work with me here. Try it one more time."
I sighed and stood up straight.
"I wish that I could cry,
But I'd never stop even if I could,"
I wish I could shed tears over you,
No one understands,
They all think I should,"
"Come on, this isn't what we discussed," Shirley shook her head, and looked me straight in the eye, "I need you to co operate, or we'll never get through this."
"Did you ever think maybe it's a sensitive subject for me?" I blurted out, before I could stop myself.
"There are plenty enough sensitive subjects, Naomi," Shirley said, her voice softening, "But I really think that if you can touch base with this song, you'll have a winner. And you might shed a few tears, but you'll feel better after. Ready to try again?"
I nodded meekly and shook my head to get the curls out of my eyes.
"I wish that I could cry,
But I'd never stop even if I could,"
I wish I could shed tears over you,
No one understands,
They all think I should,"
Beautiful," Shirley called over the piano, "Keep going!"
"Because now you've gone and left me,
Left me all alone,
Nobody understands the way you do,
I know that now,
You're finally home,
But now you've gone and left me,
Left me without you,
What good are angels,
White and pure,
if there's nothing they can do?"
"That was excellent," Shirley's eyes gleamed through her thick rimmed glasses, "It's a real-"
"I thought it was great, too."I cringed as I heard the voice. It was Jon.
"Hi, Jon." I managed, smiling.
"What would you like, Mr. Harris?"
"I just came to give back the application forms," He said, looking directly at me, a cocky grin plastered on his face.I felt bad for the guy. He wasn't half bad looking, and he was pretty nice. But he wasn't the type of guy I'd ever consider going out with, and somehow, I seemed to be the type of girl he would consider going out with. That made me shudder to think of it.
"That reminds me," Shirley said, "I was talking with representatives from LAPA. They're going to look out for the two of you. That means feeling." She nodded to me, "And class, not sass, " She nodded to Jon, "If you can keep that straight, you're on your way to London."
Just the thought sent shivers of excitement down my spine. I could be in London at this timein two months.
"Sooo...do you still like him? I mean, in that way?"
"Yeah, but I think he's mad at me."
I breathed in silently. Ashley and Soda had a huge argument, and, according to Ashley, she started it, and it wasn't even about anything.
"Have you heard from Hannah yet?"
"No, have you?"
"No, I thought she would have called by now. Maybe there's been a problem with phone lines or something."
"She's been gone since September. Do you think somethings wrong?"
"I don't know. How hard would it be to find someone's phone number in Oklahoma City?"
"I don't know. Listen, I have to go now. Can I call you later or something?"
"Yeah, sure...wait, no, we're going to my grandmothers. I'll talk to you at school tomorrow."
"Bye."
"Bye." I hung up the phone and slumped against the wall. I wasn't going to my grandmothers,I was sitting home all night. But right now I just didn't feel like talking to Ashley...she was the origin of my misery.
