Broken Guitar Strings

Chapter 16

(LAY’S POV)

The first period bell just rang, and I look over at Allie. She and Chanyeol both seem to be upset about something between them. Also, everyone’s been talking about how Chanyeol kissed Savannah yesterday. What’s that all about?

At lunch, I ask her to come sit with me in the music room. She complied. I knew IU would understand.

I gently take her hand and we walk silently hand in hand to Mr. Morse’s room. He almost never spends his lunch at the school, but he trusts me enough to use his room whenever I would like. I push open the door. “You should sit there,” I suggest, pointing to a desk in the back row that’s next to a huge chair. She moves toward the back and takes a seat there. I take out the acoustic guitar under Mr. Morse’s huge teacher’s desk and grab a seat next to her. She is radiating curiosity and wonder. I play a chord. “So, I wrote this song a while ago, but I never played it in front of anyone except myself because I wanted this song to be dedicated to someone special. I never found that special someone until now.” Dang, I hope that didn’t sound too stupid. “Aw, Lay,” she says softly. I start playing and singing the song that I’ve waited for so long to sing to someone. As I play out my last note, I notice that Allie is completely still. “That was so beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”

I put my guitar down. “So you said you wanted to learn how to play guitar…?”

“Yes! I want to play guitar really badly. Maybe someday you can teach me and then we can form a duet haha.”

“I can teach you some basics right now, if you would like. If you don’t mind eating lunch during sixth period, that is.”

“Oh my gosh, could you? That would be so great. You are the sweetest person I have ever met.” No, you are. Allie is so wonderful. I don’t know what makes her so wonderful but she is. I get her a guitar, and we sit about two feet across from each other. I start by telling her how to apply the chords we’ve learned in class. “So...like this?” She plays. “Yeah, just like that,” I smile. By the time we wrap up, lunchtime is almost over. I look at the clock. “You have no idea what I would do to relive those forty-five minutes.” I say quietly. She stands up. “Hey, we’ll do this again tomorrow.” She lifts my chin.

I don’t know what happened next. All I know is that I felt something soft touch my lips and Allie was gone.

 

(CHANYEOL’S POV)

Savannah now believes that we’re soulmates or something. Ugh. How can I prove to Allie that I’m better than Lay? I just am. I’m more popular, more handsome, more outgoing, and not to mention wealthier. I love Lay and all, but when it comes to Allie, he should know where to stand. But how else can I compete with him to really show her?

Let me think. The only reason Allie likes Lay is because of their composition project. He can play guitar...and dance. Let’s start with guitar. I can play, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to play better than him.

I find Lay right before lunch. I put a hand on his shoulder. “Yo,” I say. He turns around with a worried look on his face. “Oh, h-hi,” he stammers. “Don’t be that way,” I give him a reassuring smile. “Okay,” he relaxes a bit. “Have you been talking to Allie lately?” I ask. He shrugs. “Not more than I usually would.” I think you’re lying, my friend. “Since you’re really good at the guitar, could I see what kind of guitar you have?” I ask. He looks up. “What kind of guitar?”

“Just a normal acoustic one.”

“Well, I have the Fender FA-100, which is a quality guitar if you’re looking to just play. I wanted the CD140 but that one costs way too much for me.” Pricing won’t be a problem for me at all.

“Okay, thanks so much, Lay.”

“Yeah. Well I’ll catch you la-”

“Wait, I have one more question.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Do you like Allie?”

“I...no.”

“Let me repeat the question one more time. Do you like Allie.”

“No-”

“That’s a lie.”

He frowns. “I don’t know what this has to do with you-”

“Lay, let me just make this clear. Allie is mine. You don’t understand. She was mine from the beginning.”

He looks down. “Okay.”