Jim's friends were not hard to find. Matt waved eagerly from their usual table, his deep black skin standing out among the waves of white uniforms. Jim jogged over and shed his jacket. He draped it on the back of his chosen seat across from Matt. "Hey. Braxton in line?"
Matt nodded. "Yeah, I promised to hold our seats. You can go with me when they get back."
"Or I could go now and get my food before you."
"You wouldn't!"
"Nah." Jim drug over two extra chairs. "I invited Sy and 628 to join us as well."
Matt kicked his feet up on one of the extra chairs and leaned back in his. "I should invite Astrim to join us. He'd hate that."
Jim snickered. "Probably. I'm still uncertain why I eat with you."
"Because you think I'm cute and yo-" Matt's answer was drowned out by a much louder voice.
"Wha'd'ya mean you can't do it?" A grinning boy stood next to his cringing friend at the next table over. "Of course you can! It's so easy, as simple as a day that's...breezy!"
Matt winced. "Oh I can tell this one won't be good."
The boy slung an arm around the other kid and gestured across the room. "Just look at all these friendly faces, they've all been through the paces. It's such a simple action, you just need a little traction." He stepped back with a grin, slowly transitioning into song.
"You just have to put on a brave face,
Chin up, shoulders back, this is your race!
With the wind in your hair,
Just keep going you'll get there-"
Matt groaned. "He's worse at this than my little cousin. And she's four. You don't need to rhyme every other line."
Jim rolled his eyes. "Oh shush Matt. Not everyone is used to singing their emotions at the drop of a hat. You can't make fun of every newbie."
"Yes I can."
"You just have to give it a try,
Spread your wings so you can fly,
Look around there's nowhere to hide,
But I'm right here by your side,
Whatever it is that you wish,
I have no doubt you've got this.
Give it a go,
Your effort will show,
Don't tell yourself no,
Your heart is starting to glow,
Don't take it slow,
You just need to go!"
"This is getting worse." Matt, despite his protests, was watching the scene with a grin. "He keeps changing how he's singing. And we don't even know what it is we're singing about."
"We?"
"Well duh, there's a chorus, so obviously we have to join in. Speaking of, sing loud Jim." The boy winked, raising his voice to join the others that had picked up on the song's chorus.
"You just have to give it a try,
Spread your wings so you can fly.
Look around there's nowhere to hide,
But I'm right here by your side.
Whatever it is that you wish,
I have no doubt you've got this."
Encouraged, the boy leading the rounds leaped up on a table. He danced between his friends' plates and cups as he launched into his third verse. A careless step sent a bowl of fruit salad skittering onto the floor followed shortly by a buttered roll.
"All you got to do is believe in yourself,
Take a moment to change your stance,
Don't put your ambitions on a shelf,
Go out and give it a chance,"
"Oh, hey, he's learning."
"Shut up Matt." Jim was laughing. Even so he joined in for the last round of the chorus.
"You just have to give it a try,
Spread your wings so you can fly,
Look around there's nowhere to hide,
But I'm right here by your side,
Whatever it is that you wish,
I have no doubt that you've got this."
"That you've got this. Ooooh, yoou've got thisssss." The boy slid into a dramatic pose, his arms flung wide as he beamed at his friend.
The subject of his song was blushing hard, his cheeks deep green as he hid behind his hand best he could. "I'll go after dinner if you promise not to sing any more." Even so, he helped his friend down off the table so they could clean up before finishing their meal.
"Sounds like I missed something exciting."
"Sy!" Jim leaped to his feet and spun around. "I didn't think you'd be here so quickly!"
Sy shrugged. His cheeks went bright pink again. "I didn't have to do anything that took very long. You haven't gotten food yet?"
Jim shook his head. "Waiting on Braxton to get back so he can hold our seats. Where's 628?"
"I think he's in line already. I sent him a message though, he said he'd be here." Sy pulled out the chair beside Jim's and sat down. Sy's tablet dinged. With a couple of clicks, he had it opened to his messages.
Grandpa 19:23
Your grandmother said she would make macarons.
Sy 19:23
Thanks Grandpa, I love you
Tell Grandma I love her too! 3
Grandpa 19:25
Do you still prefer hydromeli to beer?
We both love you very much. We're very proud of you.
Sy tapped in 'Yes, thank you' and sent the message away.
Jim quickly looked away from his friend's messages as he realized they weren't meant for him to oversee. "Sorry Sy."
Sy shrugged, though the coloring in his cheeks spoke a slightly different message. "It's fine. We were just discussing drinks."
"Seems like you made a pretty good choice."
"It's always been my favorite. Grandpa makes it in a way that no one else can ever replicate. He promised to give me the recipe when I graduate. So, um, I think I see Braxton. We ready to get dinner? I'm starving!" Sy shot to his feet. As the cyborg settled into his seat, Jim, Matt, and Sy went to go find the proper meal line.
AN: Hey friends! So, first song! I hope you've been enjoying so far, and I hope you like the disney songs. There will be more the further we get into this, it took me a little while to build up my confidence in writing them. Feel free to leave your thoughts and any suggestions for improving, because believe me, I am not a lyricist, or even a poet.
Love you all, thanks for going on this journey with me!