Kiss Me Katie (Complete)

Chapter 7

Riley

"Okay, what's with the goofy grin?" Joel asked after we'd dropped the girls off and entered studio five. "I gather the deep and meaningful you and Katie were having ended well?"

"Yeah, we've agreed to be friends."

"Ookaay... and since when does the idea of being friends with a girl make you all goo-goo-eyed?"

Goo-goo-eyed? Seriously? Damnit, I was just happy. I liked being around Katie, she made me feel... real. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt like that around a girl. Wait... I'd never felt that way. "Give it a rest man. I just like the idea of being able to hang out with a girl without all the ballistic hormones getting in the way. You know?"

"Nope, can't say I do. Unlike you, I crave those ballistic hormones, 'specially if those feelings happen to be mutual."

I pulled my guitar strap over my shoulder and started tuning up. Joel's never-ending desire for meaningless hook-ups was a regular topic of conversation. Much to his disgust, Joel was the kind of guy girls only ever saw as a friend. When we'd first met as room-mates at the beginning of Year Ten, Joel had lived in hope that what he called my 'chick-magnetness' would rub off on him. It hadn't taken long for us to realise we both wanted what the other had. Apparently, we were both victims of "the grass is always greener" syndrome.

Okay, time to deflect the conversation away from me and Katie. "So what's the go with you and Annie? Any sparks?"

"Nah. She's cute, but I get the feeling she's way outta my league. I reckon she comes from money."

"What makes you think that? I don't get that impression about Katie, and I gather they grew up together."

Joel shrugged, picking up his sticks and settling onto the stool behind his drum kit. "Well, she's been classically trained for one, and that takes money. And she's kind of refined. Ya know?"

"So you're not interested?"

"Well, I didn't say that. I just don't think she'd be interested in me."

"I don't know. She seemed pretty devastated when you had a go at her last night. Besides, Katie said Annie's been working on the keyboard for the last year or so. I can't see some snooty concert pianist doing that... can you?"

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Still –"

"Look, I was thinking. Maybe we should ask the girls if they're interested in booking a studio after classes today. Who knows? Annie might surprise you."

"Yeah, that'd be cool. Do you reckon they'll go for it?"

Huh. A jam session in a studio with other musos? Something told me they'd jump at the opportunity.

Aaand... just like that, the goofy grin was back.

Damn, life was good.

Katie

Okay, I really needed to stop thinking about the goofy grin on Riley's face when I'd agreed to us being friends.

Friends Katie... nothing more.

I mean, the guy had made a point of saying there was no attraction between us. That was a good thing... right?

Yes, it was.

It meant there'd be no awkwardness about 'unrequited feelings'. Being friends was much better than being in a relationship. Friendships lasted... relationships didn't. Look at my friendship with Annie. We were still as close as we'd been in kindergarten. Yep, being friends was awesome.