Underneath the Peonies (Tom Hanson)

Chapter 4: The Way You Make Me Feel

Everyday is a mystery. I have some good days, and some bad days. If it's a bad day, I know that I just have to hang on until tomorrow. It's only a day away. I can hang on until then. But, today was a good day.

Just as we planned, Tom picked me up from my home and we drove downtown for dinner. As we were roaming around, hand in hand to find a place to eat, we stumbled across a terrible singer coming from one of the bars. We stopped and looked at the neon lit sign and saw that it was a karaoke bar, so of course I wanted to go in. Tom was a little hesitant, but seemed excited once we got to a little table with a bowl of peanuts.

Tom asked me what I wanted, and he went up to the bar to get our drinks. I asked him to get me a virgin mojito. I can't drink alcohol because it messes with my medication.

"Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest o' the world
I wanna be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls, they wanna have fun
Ho hoo girls just wanna have—"

The two women who were scream-singing this song had their drinks bouncing in her glasses, but they looked like they were having so much fun together. I loved seeing how happy people get from these little moments in life. Wild, carefree, and having the time of their life.

I like to live my life with no regrets and live fearlessly, but singing in front of a group of people is something I would never do. I'd die just from the embarrassment alone, but sitting and listening, is great entertainment.

Tom came back to the table and handed me my drink and sat back in his chair. We sat and listened, and once the lyrics were getting repetitive, he asked, "did I tell you that I won't be at Metro University anymore?"

I frowned. "No. Why?"

"Case is closed." He popped some peanuts into his mouth. "I won't find out where I'm going next until tomorrow, but I think it'll be Taft High because there are rumors of some drug dealing going on over there."

"What about Evergreen High?" I asked, vividly remembering the hilariously embarrassing story that Tom told me from yesterday.

He chuckled softly and said, "that was a false alarm."

"Oh, okay. Just be careful, okay?"

He smiled and said, "I will, don't worry."

"You know, Taft is pretty close to my place."

"It is?" He asked and took a sip of his beer.

"Yeah, and you're always welcome at my place if my lights are on."

"Lights on?" He asked and tilted his head slightly at me. God, he is so cute.

"Yeah. If my porch lights are on, it means I'm home. I always keep my lights on when I'm home," I told him.

He smiled at me and said, "thanks. I think I'll take you up on that."

When the song was nearly over and the karaoke singers were laughing at their entertainingly terrible performance, I leaned over to Tom and suggested, "you should go up there."

"Are you crazy?" He laughed.

"Do it. Don't be a chicken," I teased.

He thought for a moment before he said, "I will if you will."

I smiled and tried not to allow the song I was planning to show up on my face. I felt my eyebrow twitch up at my little devious plan as I said, "deal. But you have to go first."

He glared at me jokingly and held up his pinky. I grinned and hooked mine to his in a promise, and he downed the rest of his drink and signed up to sing next.