This Is Me

Friends?

We leave the gym as soon as possible. We just kind of settle under this tree that for some reason I really like, and talk. And let me tell you something, my friends can talk. I literally can't get Luke to shut up!

He's rambling on an on about broccoli, and I'm over here like, can I talk too?

"-And I used to call them trees because that's what they looked like, and-" Luke rambles, and I take that as my chance.
"Yeah! Me too, my mom would laugh at me, and I had no idea why," I cut him off, and Thalia sighs in relief.
"Oh my God, thank you! Luke we need to get you some duct tape," she whines, and Parker laughs.

"Let's talk about music," I suggest.
"Yeah, Aaron's a little singer isn't she?" Thalia wiggles her eyebrows and nudges me. I push her playfully.
"Shut up," I mutter.

She chuckles and Luke gasps dramatically.
"Yeah! Sing to us, Aaron, sing to usssssss!" Luke bounces up and down like an excited little kid. I glance at my other friends for help, but Thalia is smiling encouragingly and Parker is looking like he's expecting me to actually sing.

I sigh, and pull out my phone from my duffel bag. I have an app for karaoke. It plays the music and you can sing. I scroll through my long playlist, trying to find something.

"Seems like we all know 'U Remind Me', right?" I raise an eyebrow, knowing the answer, while the three people in front of me, nod eagerly. I turn up the volume, clear my throat, and take a deep breath before pressing play. I let the music take over my mind.

Next thing I know, I'm singing. I'm singing with no fear of what anybody else thinks.

All I hear is the music. All I smell is the force of the music, if that makes any sense. All I feel is the beat raging through every part of my body. All I taste is the lyrics rolling off my tongue. All I see is the people in front of me, and I'm singing for them. For them because they make me happy.

The song reaches the end, and I open my eyes. Hey, look at that. They were closed. Luke's mouth was hanging open, and Parker was grinning, even Thalia cracked a smile. I close Luke's mouth for him, and lean back so that I can sit on my butt again.

I lean against the tree and make random sounds that sound something like,'Smargedoobooblaghata.' I close my eyes again, and think about wether or not they liked my singing.

Oh. My. God.

What if they don't like it? Oh my God. They are going to reject me. Holy crap. My eyes fly open, and I see everyone smiling at me.
"What?" I ask, cringing as I wait for their reactions.

"Holy crap, Aaron! THAT WAS AWESOME?!" Luke yells. I flinch at his outburst.
"Why did you not sing to me?! Oh my God! That was like, freaking amazing!" Parker exclaims, and all I can do is laugh.
"I told you you had a great voice," Thalia smirks.

I scrunch my nose at her. She starts laughing, and let me tell you, her laughs are contagious. I make a 'pfft' sound before laughing, and soon we all sound like donkeys and pigs. Well, Parker snorts, and we all laugh harder. Then Luke hiccups, and I'm rolling on the grass, clutching my stomach.

"Guys...stop, I...can't...breathe," Thalia gasps. We all stop abruptly, and then laugh at that.
"You guys, are so freaking awesome, thanks," I say, grinning. Luke blinks.
"Thanks for what?" he asks, cocking his head.

I grin back.
"For being awesome, duh" I say in my 'duh' tone. Luke hugs me first. Thalia bites her lip, and then hugs me.
"I love you,"'she whispers,"and again, never say you're not good enough." She pulls back, and I nod. Parker tackles me onto the ground.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there, she's mine, sorry," Parker smirks down at me. I move my lips to the side, making my nose go to the side too, and look anywhere but him. What an awkward position...