Invisible String

Chapter 6 -Humiliating

"If you could live anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?" I ask, genuinely curious about his answer.

We've been doing this for the past two hours, and I was having so much fun. After we went past the traditional questions of "what's your favorite color?" or "what's your favorite movie?" we started asking completely random questions.

As I settled into the easy rhythm of the moment, a grin spread across my face. Logan seemed to be feeling it too – finally letting his guard down around me. We bantered like old pals, and it felt damn good.

"London," he said after a moment of thought, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Heard it's really beautiful. What about you?"

In this crazy industry, genuine friendships were like gold dust. I could count my true buddies on one hand, and most of them were chilling out in sunny California. Sure, I loved L.A. for a quick visit, but Pittsburgh? That was my jam. It had my heart, my history, and my people. No way was I trading all that for the glitz and glam of the West Coast. Home was where the heart was, and mine was firmly rooted in the Steel City.

"Pittsburgh," I said without hesitation. "My heart belongs to Pittsburgh."

Logan tilted his head, curious. "Not L.A.? Isn't that where all the action is?"

I shook my head, a soft smile spreading across my face. "I love visiting L.A., sure. But Pittsburgh? It's home. It's where I grew up, where my family is, where my roots are. The West Coast is all glitz and glam, but Pittsburgh is real. It's... me."

He nodded thoughtfully, the understanding in his eyes making me feel a little lighter. 

"Are you the type of person who drinks coffee or tea in the mornings?"

"What kind of question is that?" I can't help but laugh.

"A very important one, I can't be friends with a tea lover," he makes a disgusted face, but I know it's just a joke, which makes my smile widen even more.

"Coffee, I need the caffeine to start the day," I affirm, my response pleases him as he nods to himself.

"Have you always known that music is what you wanted to pursue?" I ask, observing Logan with curiosity. That was a question Google wouldn't be able to answer, one that I would only know the answer to if I asked the guy in front of me.

"Since I was a kid," he replied, with a spark of passion in his eyes. "It's like breathing for me."

"Do you play any other instruments besides the guitar and piano?" I continue, although I knew it was his turn to ask me a question. Logan doesn't pay much attention to this and answers me anyways.

"I'm trying to learn to play the drums little by little, but it's a long and complex process."

"It requires a lot of coordination," I add.

"Have you ever Googled yourself?"

I almost choke on his question, a laugh escapes my lips.

He couldn't know that I Googled him... right?

Was he asking to see if he caught me in my words?

I shook off the idea before it could take root. He wasn't asking about anyone else; he just wanted to know if I'd been checking up on myself online. I had to chill out. My anxiety was spiraling out of control, and it was only getting worse by the day.

"Of course, I used to do it all the time after releasing my first song with the record label. But eventually, I learned to stop doing it. My advice to you is 'never google yourself, most of the things said there are lies.'"