EXTRAORDINARY WAY

CHAPTER 16

The night was breezy and cold, but no snow yet. I exhaled warm breath and rubbed my hand together as I here the sirens of police cars across the block. New York city is such a noisy place. But to me the noise is what makes it whole cause I'm very much used to it, without the noise, I probably couldn't sleep at night. I heard foot steps trailing up behind me, I refused to look. But I have a clear guess to who it is.

"Katie, what do you want?" I guessed.

"Haha! Wrong!" She yelled before walking up beside me. "I'm not alone." She announced and then Mooneyham appeared on my left side with a brooding look on his face. We stared at each other before grinning widely. Katie kept the conversation going for the most part.

"I expected you getting a ride from your boyfriend or something, I didn't know you walk home." Katie stated and that made me laugh.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I shook my head. "And I don't use my car, personal reasons." I added.

"Why is that?" She asked, intrigued.

"What? The car or the bo-" She cut me off before I could finish.

"Why would I care about the car, Keys? Of course I'm asking about you being single." She clarified then she took a peak towards Zack. "I mean doesn't that surprise you Zack?" She asked him. I didn't look at him.

"That's funny, you said car keys." I said when he didn't answer.

"I still think you should date." She concluded. "Are there any guys you're into?" Ah, the million dollar question.

"What about you guys? Why are you walking home as well?" I asked, obviously trying to change the topic. The two of them grinned.

"Alright, I can take a hint." The taller brunette told me. After that, the topic moved to the band and music. The two of them had a deep discussion about a certain band, some group i never heard of. It surprised me how casual these two talk to each other. A bassist and a guitarist sharing facts and anecdotes about musicians and their instruments. I think out of everyone else, the two of them understand each other more because of their similarity in playing string instruments. Katie speaks of her bass in a manner that priests does during a mass. It was a very interesting quality of her. They kept talking like that until finally we reached Katie's curb.

"Well, I'm this way." She announced.

"Okay then." I said. She gave a sly smile before strutting away in the cold weather. I kept my gaze on her as I speak.

"She's something isn't she?"

"Yeah, very much." He added which made me look at him. "You seem to analyze every other person." He smiled before looking up to me. "So, have you finally figured me out yet?" He asked nonchalantly, but to me It felt like my answer would affect a lot of things. It took a couple of seconds for me to forge an answer.

I nodded.

He just kept staring. "And?"

"You. . . are very-" He bit his upper lip, something I never noticed he do. "-subtle." I concluded with a nod. Trying my best to not make it awkward.

He gave me a look and laugh. "What?" he asked, i sighed. "Wait, wait. What does that mean?" He ask when I took a step.

"Subtle as person. But when it came to music you are very passionate that it overrides your subtleness." I looked him in the eye. "Then you can be quite obvious about your feelings as well." I told him as I halted my step. The two of us were at the curb and Zack's house is straight up while I have to walk a few more blocks the other way.

"You think I'm subtle?" He mentioned before taking a step forward. And I am not gonna lie, my pulse quicken the moment I saw the way he looked at me. I told Ella that I don't feel anything for Zack. But my actions now are totally proving that wrong, right? No matter what, these gestures of him are clearly working and I can totally SEE IT NOW. He's making a move on me. Great Genius! You're only realizing it now? Brown orbs bore into mine as we look at each other. He was only an inch taller than me so I didn't have to look up. My eyes trailed his lashes, his nose and his slender yet full lower lip. "Avery, how about I show you how obvious I can be about my intentions." He whispered as I return my gaze to his brown eyes.

I can feel his breath brushing my face and it's intoxicating me for the moment. I couldn't move or speak which is a usual thing for me when it comes to guys.

"Keys? He breathed.

"Yeah?" I never heard myself speak like that. So husky and low.

"I like you. Is that alright?" He said, his lips curving up into that one corner mouth smile. He's clearly enjoying the moment, or me getting nervous.

"Sure, I guess." I absentmindedly said, stuttering.

He threw his head back and laughed, the boyish laugh I have ever seen him do. "I forgot that you suck at flirting." And that broke the awkwardness between us, I hit him in the shoulder.

"You are soo cruel!" I scolded at the now chuckling Zack. His hair brushes slightly over his eyes every time he looks down but bounces right to the side ones he looks up. He stopped laughing and then shoved his hands on his pocket with a cool shrug. "Do you know I use to think of you as a very composed and refined person? You're as crazy as any other rocker underneath." I told him.

"Does that disappoint you?" He asked, eyes glinting and with a grin. Shaking my head I start to walk backwards towards home.

"No. If one thing, it only makes you more cute." I admitted, walking farther from the smiling Zack Mooneyham who seemed to have locked my gaze with his. I could feel my cheeks heating up as his stare turned serene. Conveniently enough, a slow song was playing from the music store beside me which made the whole moment more surreal. I turn around with a deep breath and tried my best to calm down as I walk my remaining steps home. I walked through the porch, enter the foyer and leaned on the front door for a moment. One thing came up my mind and I ran up the stairs the instant I thought about it.

I wanted him to kiss me.

:) bet you didn't expect that, did you? now we all get a twist. When i was writing this, the song She Is The Sunlight by Trading Yesterday was playing In the background. That was the song Avery was hearing as well before she turns around From Zack to go home.

I feel butterflies all over, hope you did too.

Kate :]

REVIEW

I

I

I

I

I

V