When we drifted

Chapter 1

                

      WHEN WE DRIFTED

When Lena suggested we go out to a karaoke bar to celebrate the end of midterms, I figured it would be the usual scene—bad lighting, sticky floors, and people belting out old pop songs. But when we got there, it was even more chaotic than I'd imagined. The place was packed, and the music was loud enough to shake the tables. I could barely hear myself think, which, maybe, was the point.

"Oh my gosh, Iris!" Lena squealed, tugging on my sleeve. "This place has everything! Let's go sign you up to sing."

I laughed, shaking my head, but before I could protest, she was already dragging me toward the sign-up sheet. "Come on, you're doing it. You haven't sung in forever, and you've got the voice for it!"

I let out a long sigh, feigning reluctance, but the truth was, a small part of me was excited. I hadn't sung in front of anyone in months. Without overthinking, I signed up for "That's So True." It was my go-to song lately, even though it felt a little personal for a bar full of strangers. But I knew the lyrics inside out, and besides, it wasn't like anyone here would pick up on the things that had made the song so meaningful to me.

A few songs later, I was called up. I climbed onto the small stage, the lights bright and a little blinding. I took a breath, scanning the crowd, letting the nerves settle before the music started.

As soon as I started singing, I let the lyrics guide me, my voice growing stronger with each line. "I could go and read your mind Think about your dumb face all the time Living in your glass house, I'm outside, uh Looking in her big blue eyes, Did it just to hurt me, make me cry?"

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew the song was about Brandon, the person I hadn't seen or talked to in over a year and a half. We'd been best friends, I used to like him and I used to think he liked me, but moving away for college had changed everything. We'd promised to keep in touch, and for a while, we had. Then texts turned to occasional replies, and soon even those dried up.

I was mid-chorus when I spotted him.

"Smiling through it all, yeah, that's my life! You're an idiot. Now I'm sure. Now I'm positive I should go and warn her. Ooh, ooh Bet you're thinking, "She's so cool," Kicking back on your couch, making eyes from across the room. Wait, I think I've been there too"

He was at a table in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by a group of people who looked about our age. He was smiling, a little distracted—until he looked up and saw me. His face went blank with surprise, and for a split second, it felt like time stopped. The lyrics stumbled out of me, but I caught myself, letting my eyes skim over him quickly, hoping he didn't see the recognition in my gaze.

"What'd she do to get you off? Taking down her hair like "Oh, my God" Taking off your shirt, I did that once or twice. uh No, I know and I'll fuck off, but I think I like her, she's so fun! Wait, I think I hate her, I'm not that evolved, I'm sorry! she's missing it Sad, sad boy Not my business, but I had to warn ya!"