Faults, Scars, and Guitar Strings

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Everyone was gathered around the karaoke machine and dancing as David walked around filming. Dylan and I walked in and saw all the fun that was going on. I couldn't help, but smile. They were all having a genuinely good time. They didn't have to hide and be afraid of anything, it was a beautiful sight. One of the girls got done singing and they started begging me to sing. I tried to back out, but they handed me the microphone and started picking a song. They hit play before telling me what it was, and it started playing. It was a song I had heard a couple times, but that was it. They didn't seem to have picked it by accident; I'm sure David has something to do with this. David was smiling at me like he had planned something and I stuck my tongue out at him.

"That's not very nice," he said, "Come on, sing."

I smiled at him and started singing the song. I enjoyed the beat and the lyrics in the song, but I had never sung before. I could not relate to lyrics either. I play guitar sometimes and even write poetry, but I never thought of myself as a singer before. Part of me wanted to hide in a corner hoping I'm not a terrible singer. I heard everyone clap when I was finished with big smiles and shocked looks on their faces. Singing and acting have always been David's thing; I can see why he loves it so much though. Although, as much as I love music, I'm not sure it's meant for me. At least not yet.

"Geez, my sister the singer!" David yelled.

"Shut up!" I laughed.

"He's not kidding," Maria said, "That was incredible!"

"Really?" I asked.

"Really! I had no idea you could sing!" she said.

I started laughing, "Me either."

I handed the microphone over and let someone else sing. Our hands were in the air dancing and everyone was having a great time as everybody took turns picking songs on the stereo. This is exactly what today is supposed to be; forgetting about everything that happened at school and having fun. It reminds me of all those afternoons I spent in the music room; except now I have people to share the moment with. I felt Dylan appear next to me and he was smiling at me.

"What?" I said.

"Have you always been a singer?" he laughed.

"Oh geez," I said rolling my eyes and laughing.

"I'm kidding," he said, "but seriously, that was good."

"Thank you," I said, "I had no idea I could sing. That's always been David's thing."

"Have you ever thought it could be your thing too?" Dylan asked.

"No," I said thinking about it, "I never have, but then again I've never thought much of myself at all."

"Forget about it, wanna dance?" he asked.

I started laughing, "Sure!"

He grabbed my hand and spun me around. Everyone else started getting partners and dancing to the music. As one song ended, someone else got on stage and sang another song. It was a huge party. I don't know what high school parties were like, but I definitely imagined it to be like this. I've never had so much fun in my life. We finally stopped at around one in the afternoon and David left to pick up the pizza. We all sat around in the living room talking.

"How do you plan on stopping the bullying?" one person asked.

"I plan on creating a video, obviously," I laughed, "but I want it concentrated on all of us. The principal is letting me borrow the security footage of the bullying."