Chapter 7

Jared

Two weeks had gone past since the Neal and Kim incident and Kim had found a new apartment to live in. I felt much better with this new living arrangement.

"What's up dog?" Paul said running up from behind me. He ruffled my hair and I returned the favor by grabbing his wrist with enough force to break it…if he was normal.

"Seriously Paul," I sighed, "the slang "dog" was funny at first but now it's really old."

"Aw, come one Jared," he fake pouted, "Kim always laughs when I say it." I twitched a red inferno burning in the pit of my stomach.

"You talk to Kim? Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be if she found out?" I was shaking from head to toe.

"Cool it man, I wouldn't say anything to jeopardize you chances. Where is the little lady anyways?" Truthfully I didn't know where Kim was but she had such a unique smell I couldn't probably find her anywhere. I inhaled deeply and caught the sense of vanilla and coffee. She's down in the auditorium; I'll catch up with you later.

As I walked towards the auditorium I heard the sound music. Someone was playing piano inside. I didn't want them to stop on my account so using my, what I call 'silent mode', I crept through the door soundlessly. I was shocked when I found Kim playing the piano on the stage. Vaguely in the back of my mind I remember her telling me she could play but I never guessed she'd be this good.

"Hello stranger," I said from down in the pit.

"Oh, Jared," She said while flushing a bright crimson. "I didn't think anyone was in here."

"Don't worry it's only me. If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing in here?"

"Well I have a project to do in Musical Theatre class but since I don't have a keyboard on my own I was hoping I could use this one."

"Hmm," I looked down at the sheet music she had in her hands. "What song are you doing?"

"Well," she looked down nervously, "we had to pick songs out of a hat and I got this one." She said while handing me the sheet music.

Teenage Dream

Katy Perry

I'd heard the song before but I wanted to hear Kim play it.

"I don't know the song. Can you play it for me?"

"What? No, I couldn't possibly do that. I mean, I'm not that good." I highly doubted that. Her voice already sounded like music.

"Please," I said widening my eyes, doing my best impersonation of a puppy.

"Fine," she mumbled.

The piano started of lightly with the same notes repeating until…

"You think I'm pretty without any make up on. You think I'm funny, when I tell the punch line wrong. I know you get me, so I let my walls fall down, down." She had the most amazing voice. I wouldn't have believed it was human if I wasn't standing here right now.

"Before you met me I was alright but things were kind of heavy; you brought me to life. Now every February you'll be my valentine, valentine." Out of nowhere a second track kicked in with violins. I didn't know where it came from but it sounded amazing.

"Let's go all the way tonight. No regrets just love. We can dance until we die. You and I will be young forever. You make me feel like I'm living the teenage dream, the way you turn me on. I can't sleep. Let's run and away and don't ever look back don't ever look back.

Everything seemed to dim in the room as I focused on her shining face. I'd never seen her happy like this before. Kim was all about the music. Her fingers nimbly climbed the piano up and down at an amazing speed, as if she'd been playing her whole life. She suddenly stopped, her fingers creating a sour note.

"Ugh," she complained.

"What?" I really wanted her to continue on with the song.

"There's only one problem with this. I have to sing a duet piece." Du- what now?

"What's the problem with that? Don't like people stealing your spotlight?"

"No, this has nothing to do with being in the spotlight. I have to sing the duet with Tim…" Why was it whenever I discovered something about Kim that made me happy Tim had to be factored into the equation? I mean come on, the guy probably couldn't sing! I scoffed to hide my jealousy.

"Tim doesn't really look like or seem as if he'd be the Madonna type, if you know what I mean."

"Yah, I know," she agreed. "But that's what makes it so crazy. He can actually sing, he's wonderful, better than me."

"I highly doubt that."

"No, but he is. Tim has this amazing falsetto and when he sings everyone stops and listens. It's just that…I'm not sure I can sing it…with him. After what he did we haven't talked. It's so awkward between us! I want to talk to him and go back to being his friend. But I know he doesn't see me that way, he probably never will.

"Well you knew this would happen, didn't you?" I knew I probably wasn't cheering her up right now but I wasn't in a great mood.

"Yah I guess. You're right I should go talk to him!"

"What? I didn't say that!" She'd just forgive him after everything he'd done, like that?

"I know, but listening to you I've realized that sitting here won't get me anywhere." After a few seconds she turned a beautiful crimson color. "I wouldn't mind having some moral though." She turned her almond shaped eyes on me and it was impossible to say no.

"Okay then we'll find the little Madonna."