Broken Guitar Strings

Chapter 18

(ALLIE'S POV)

We are three days away from winter break! I'm so excited for Christmas. I'm planning on giving presents to my whole family as well as Chanyeol, Lay, IU, Baekhyun, and Chen. I've already started to holiday shop (even with no avail), and I'm actually in pretty light spirits today.

In fourth period, Chanyeol comes up to me and says, "Hey, go to Mr. Morse's room for lunch." And just leaves. Wasn't that rude. He was dressed nicer than usual today. Anyway, I've been going there every day until last week, when Lay said that he's working on something else and he can't do lessons this week. I'm super flexible when working with his schedule because frankly, he put his lunchtime into teaching me guitar and I need to pay him back somehow.

Lunch arrives, and I make my way down to the music hallway. I see Baekhyun and Chen standing outside the door with facial expressions attempting to be serious. (They suck at that.) "What's going on?" They didn't say anything, but only gestured to the door. I think they're playing the "quiet soldier game." I hear various guitar chords inside; a mix of different tunes. It must be Lay. But didn't he say that we weren't going to have lessons? Also, the beagles wouldn't be here without...Chanyeol.

I push open the door, and all the sounds come to a halt. In the front of the room, I see Lay sitting there with a guitar across his lap. He's dressed nicely today, as well. Then again, "casual formal" suits Lay's style. I look to the back of the room, and I see Chanyeol. He has another acoustic guitar in his arms. "Haha, I see you've joined the guitar party, Chanyeol."

He completely ignored me and looked over at Lay. "Should we start now?"

Lay nodded. He moves to the center of the room where there are two chairs across from each other. Chanyeol stays where he is. What's going on?

Lay gestures to the one chair that's facing his and says, "Sit down, Allie." This seems really serious. More serious than it should be. I slowly walk over to the chair and sit down. I try to read Chanyeol's face, but his face is displaying a blank expression. Lay looks like he's about to take the SAT. What even is this? "What's going on?" I ask. "Allie," Lay says softly. "I'm going to play a song for you. On the guitar." I nod. "And Chanyeol is too. We've worked hard for about a month to present each of our songs to you." Oh, no. No no no. "I-" Chanyeol suddenly cuts me off. "Just let it happen, Allie. Lay and I already talked." Shit.

Lay looks me hopefully in the eyes. I know he wants to tell me something that Chanyeol doesn't. Anyhow, he starts off by playing. As I'm listening, I notice that this piece is very different in the fact that it's supposed to be very complicated, and yet it sounds simplistic and graceful on the acoustic guitar. Once he is done, I give him a little round of applause. He gives me the sweetest smile as he gets out of his seat. I'm still dreading what will happen after.

Chanyeol moves with confidence into Lay's spot, and stares into my eyes with content. I can tell that he's a little bit nervous once his fingers touch the guitar strings because he is obviously not as good of a guitar player as Lay. And he knows that. He starts off a little bit shaky, but I immediately recognize the song "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. He's added a little bit of his own twist to it, but overall it was very impressive. I clap for him too. After he's done, he stands up and Lay stands next to him. Please don't. Please don't make me...

"Choose."

I look down. "Don't make me do this."

"We have to. There is no other way...without becoming violent, that is."

Lay. Choose Lay. I ponder over it momentarily. Chanyeol is the ideal option. If other people were here they would urge me to quickly choose Chanyeol. Everyone wants us to be together, and it is the best for the most people to be happy. But Lay...Lay. I love him, even more so than Chanyeol, I think. I don't want to either of them unhappy. I don't...I don't.

I stand up abruptly. Rushing out the door, I whimper a "my choice upsets the world," tears starting to come out of my eyes. Baekhyun yells, "Wait, come back!" But I don't stop. I run all the way downstairs into the main office. I am going home. I don't want to see either of them for the rest of the day. I don't want to see anyone.

(CHANYEOL'S POV)

I knew it would turn out like this. She's such an indecisive person. If she doesn't take charge of her emotions and her actions, then who will?! And how in the world is someone like her going to take over Adidas later on?!

I slam my guitar down on the desk. Lay silently sucks in a breath. Pfft. I can easily pay for three more.

My knuckles whiten. "This is ALL YOUR FAULT!" Why am I exploding? "WHY DO YOU THINK SHE SAID 'MY CHOICE UPSETS THE WORLD.' THAT MEANS THAT SHE LIKES YOU, DESPITE THE ODDS AGAINST YOU TWO. IT WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECT IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU."

"I-"

"DON'T." I grab his guitar and slam it on the ground. I hear a twang as multiple strings snap off completely. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Lay's face just drop. His figure slumps by a few measurable inches. On my way out of the door, I step over the mess. I didn't think I would lose, but I did.

Broken strings, a broken heart. And a broken heart means no more hope.