Stranger Love (Discontinued)

15: Her Hidden Talent

"Hey, Jessica. Wanna hang out or something later?" I ask. She slams her locker shut and shrugs. "Sure, why not?" She replied. She didn't seem so enthusiastic about it. "Are you okay?" She nods hesitantly and gives a soft smile. "I'll get you at the diner at five. Don't be late," she pecked my cheek twice, before walking off. I felt my cheeks redden when Theo appeared on my left with quiet laughter. "She likes you, clearly. Unless humans kiss each other platonically." "You really think she likes me?" I ask. "Of course! You two are so close that I've heard others thinking you two are a thing and that's without seeing her kiss you you."

We walk slowly down the corridor as I hold my head low. "How would I even tell her that I might be feeling for her?" I ask. "Not sure. Just wait until you know it's real. You don't have to say it, you know." I nod slowly, understanding most of what she said. "She wants to meet up at the diner later so I won't be in until ten. You should maybe bring your girlfriend home. Watch a movie or something." She looks to me with a brow raised in confusion. "I have a girlfriend?" She asks.

"What? I'm joking around. You've been hanging out with Taylor and you've been sneaking off with her during the nights now." "Oh," she says quietly. "We aren't partners, though. We're just friends. She's straight too, which sucks in a way. Speaking of Taylor, I'm gonna head on and meet her now. See you later." I wave her off and look around with a sense of loneliness. I sigh and walk down the hallway a bit further and stop at an open door to hear Sasha talking with George.

"Dude, shut up!" Sasha laughed. "She'll find out eventually. You'll slip one day, I know you will. I don't think she'd reject you considering she talks with you a lot now," George replied. "Whatever. Right, four." I assume Sasha begins to strum after the forth bar and I immediately know the song. Koethe's See Me As I Am, one of his best songs. What shook me so suddenly was her voice. A voice that sounds just like my mom's - soft and angelic, full of mood and life. It sent goosebumps all over my arms and neck when George came in with the piano.

It ended with a soft tone and strum of the guitar, and after a quick moment of silence, they laugh quietly and compliment their own playing. I walk in, a small smile on my lips and wave timidly. "Hey, nice playing." I scared the shit out of them and the look on Sasha's face was hilarious. It was a confused baby stare like a cat would give. "Have you been standing out their this whole time?" She asks. "I only heard the song, luckily. Why?" I ask. "No reason," she replied. I shrug and sit with her then hesitantly slide my arm around her, hoping I'd get a funny reaction.

She just went red on the cheeks and looked to the guitar. "When did you two start talking?" I ask. "Last week. We got paired up for a project thing in art class." George moves to sit in front of us, a funny smile on his face. I nod slowly then look to Sasha again. "Nice voice you have. It's sweet." This only made her smile awkwardly in silence and redden even more. "Thanks," she stuttered. George quickly took a photo, earning a frightened look from Sasha. "Come on, delete that. Please." "Nope, that's a keeper. I'm gonna print that off and stick it to my photo wall," he laughed.

I'll admit, hearing her voice and guitar playing had me feeling a little light of air, weak. The same with Jess only this time it hit different. It was more powerful than Jessica's and worth a large audience. "I honestly never knew you could play. Should maybe listen to Daughter's music. Sounds like your style." She shrugged and started playing some random notes that moved rhythmically together and sounded good. "Need a lift home, by any chance?" I ask. She stops and looks to me, frozen for a moment. "Uh, sure," she stuttered.

After dropping Sasha off home, I head to the diner where I met Jessica sitting in a booth. She looked so beautiful with the sun settling on her cheeks and pink lips. Her hair was glowing under the sunlight, making her look like an angel. We sit here as some eightie's hits play on the juke box, eating up syrup covered waffles and talking about how badly I lost on our day at the arcade. "I don't know. Guess I just don't know how to play games," I say. "Sure. You're good with your hands but don't play games." She smirks and sips from her strawberry milkshake.

"Hey, did you know Sasha could play the guitar and sing?" I ask. "No. She doesn't even take music classes. Probably self taught." She looks to her phone then out the window with a soft smile. "What? What's the smile for?" I ask. "Oh, just... This kinda feels like a date. Could just be the fact that I'm... You know," she answers quietly. I felt my smile fade a little as I lean on my left arm. "It could be but I'd like to take it slow. Just a date, nothing more." She nods in agreement and looks around the diner. "Doesn't seem too busy." "That's because it's not the end of the day yet. Should see it around six. It gets real busy."

She sips from her milkshake, making sure her tongue got a good grip of the straw. It's like she's teasing me. "You'd look pretty cute in a waitress outfit," she says. I laugh lightly and shrug. "Maybe I'll get a job here just to satisfy your little dream," I reply before taking out my phone. Jack sent a text in the group, asking if we were all available for practice for our next gig. "Hey, I gotta go. Wanna meet again this weekend?" "If I'm available, yeah. I'm sitting here a bit longer. See you soon, Audie," she says with an infectious smile. I leave the diner and give the band a quick text then give Sasha a quick text to see if she was available.

Later this evening, I pull up to the band house, Theo and Sasha are with me. Jack had kindly allowed Sasha in to see if what I said about her is true. Sasha doesn't know yet but she'll be auditioning for a position that doesn't exist. It's more of a featuring. "Hope this practice is worth it," Theo says quietly. "Listen, I know you wanted to be with Taylor but this is just as important," I reply. "Wait, practice? Band practice? Is that why I'm here?" Sasha asks. "Yeah," I say. We head around back and into the shed where the others were. "Wait, what's she doing here?" Rosé asks, assuming she's talking about Sasha.

"According to Audrey, she can play guitar and sing like a pro," Jack says. "I can't sing," Sasha stuttered. "Don't lie to me, softie. You can help us bring Emos and punks together. Maybe goths, too." "I am not a softie," she retorted. "You are for me, though." I ruffle her light blue hair as she reddens with embarrassment and possible frustration. It was cute, I'll admit. "Ladies, ladies. Get a room after this, alright? We got shit to do," James says with a laugh. It made Sasha and I silent.

"Any song that you can sing and play?"  Jack asks to Sasha. "Well... If you wanna bring all of the anarchists together then... We can do something by Bring Me The Horizon or Evanescence," she suggests. "Bring me to life it is 'cause I don't know the other band. We're all set up. You can play piano, right?" Sasha nods reluctantly before Jack sits her at the small electric piano with a mic hanging in front of her. She was a bit nervy but I know she'll get over it. It's Sasha after all.