Damo found me at lunch. I was sitting alone, not knowing anyone. I saw a few people from my old school but it looked like they all had found friends to sit with. I saw Cameron sitting with a couple friends in plaid shirts. None of them were wearing the same glasses as him though. I also saw the attractive boy with dreads. He was in line for food.
He turned around, only to find all the tables were full, except for mine. He sighed, or maybe I made that up in my mind, and sat his tray on the table and sat across from me. It seemed neither of us wanted- or could- introduce ourselves.
Suddenly Damo sat down in his perpetually happy attitude. "Hi, Mars!" he said, handing me an apple. Samuel looked at him briefly, caught off-guard by the accent.
"Hi, Damo," I responded, taking a bite out of the red apple. It tasted almost too sweet. I cringed and sat it down.
"Hi, I'm Damian," Damian said, waving at the boy.
"Samuel," the boy responded, nodding and going back to his notebook.
Damo turned back to me, brightly smiling. "How's your first day so far? Mine's been fantastic!"
I smiled, it's hard not to when you're around Damo. "Fine," I said, "Yours?"
"So first off, Mr. Schue is hilarious. He thinks it's funny when I speak Spanish in my accent. I also have English with that beautiful girl who was at the desk. She's so smart… and those eyes… OH!" he exclaimed, jumping back to reality, "I also heard about this Glee Club."
I turned my head and glared at him and hurt my neck in the process. He said that last because he knew it'd be the first thing I'd want to hear. "Glee Club?" I said, grinning. I'd been in the Glee Club at our old school. I loved it so much. It was the only place I felt like I had really belonged.
"I talked to Mr. Schue and he said we could audition right after school in the auditorium," Damo said, "So I signed us up."
I smiled and punched Damo playfully in the arm, "That's why you're my best friend."
Samuel abruptly stood up and left. He seemed angry about something. For a moment I thought I saw his eyes linger on me and Damo but I was probably just imagining it.
"He's odd," Damo whispered.
"Don't be judgmental," I said, secretly agreeing with him.
"Sorry," he said, eating some spaghetti.
We went on eating, talking about our day so far.
I stood up. The metal chair squeaked a little. My hands shook as I handed the sheet music I had gotten from the library to he pianist.
He started it and I spoke into the cold microphone. "My name is Marissa Von Bleiken and I'll be singing Right Before My Eyes by Cage the Elephant.
"Timber shakes these trails they all derail
Phony, false and frail
An empty ocean lost our way with no direction home
Golden needles names we take in vein
Find it harder to remain
And nothings sacred still waiting on that explanation"
I squinted as the stage light hit me. I looked at the small audience. Mr. Schue, the brunette Damo had fallen for, a large but pretty girl with orange hair, a black boy with a forest green scarf on, Cameron, a short boy and, to my surprise, the boy with dreads. He was sitting at the end of the row, a seat apart from the girl with the orange hair. As I sang I couldn't help but look at him.
"Right before my eyes
I saw the whole world lose control
The whole world lost control
Before my eyes uh-huh
I fell through the floor
I couldn't take it anymore
I can't take this anymore
It breaks my mind uh-huh"
I frowned and searched for Damo. He smiled and nodded when I saw him. He was silently encouraging me.
"Hold your dirty hand over the flames
Getting pleasure from the pain
Softly screaming the pistol that you raise has spoken
Golden needles names we take in vein
Find it harder to remain
Well nothings sacred still waiting on that explanation"
He had already auditioned. He'd done his favorite, Puppy Love. He'd charmed everyone with it and was automatically accepted. I hoped the same happened to me.
"Right before my eyes
I saw the whole world lose control
The whole world lost control
Before my eyes uh-huh
I fell through the floor
I couldn't take it anymore
I can't take this anymore
It breaks my mind uh-huh
Everything I thought I knew fell to the side
Time went on and on I couldn't see past my on eyes
Past my eyes
Past my eyes
Past my eyes
Right before my eyes
I saw the whole world lose control
The whole world lost control
Before my eyes uh-huh
I fell through the floor
I couldn't take it anymore
I can't take this anymore
It breaks my mind uh-huh"
I finished and sighed, smiling nervously at Damo. I looked at Mr. Schue. "Good job Ms. Von Bleicken!" he said leading the applause. The brunette jumped up and clapped, flashing her brilliant teeth. She seemed sweet. "Alright, Marissa, we'll be meeting in the choir room after school tomorrow." I thanked him, smiling.
I was in. I inwardly cheered. I grabbed my green bag and raced down to meet Damo. I gave him a casual side hug and we left. I sat down in his bright red convertible and fastened my seat belt.
"So, this is cause for celebration," Damo said, raising his eyebrow.
"Tally's?" I asked smiling. Tally's was the dinner by our houses. It was where we went for any exciting, happy, or sad event.
"Oh yeah," he said, putting on his sun glasses. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes Damo acted too cool for himself. I snorted and turned on the radio. Damian and I belted out Last Friday Night until we got to Tally's.
I got out the car and walked in. Immediately my eyes met two blue ones that I had seen only minutes ago.