I always thought I would be into tall, lanky, outgoing brunettes. One day that changed when I met him. He was blond, not the skinniest person in the world. I never thought we would never end up anywhere as close as we were now. He was taller than me, but not as tall as the straight boys in a sport elective.
I go to a performing arts school. There's tons of gay boys.
That's not important, but I had to throw that out there because this is no ordinary school where everyone has to hide in the dark, their passion for something kept a secret. That's one reason why I switched schools, and the reason why it's so special to me. I love where I go to school.
It's just a hassle to get up in the morning.
I get up every day at 5:30 to catch the train that comes at 7:11. About 100 kids take the train to school, I'm one of them. And so is he. And with my luck, he came from the same train station as me.
And even luckier, he lives just a town away from mine, not that far. Kids come from all over to go to my school. Some from the mountains, the desert. As long as you have talent, you're in.
Hell, he was talented.
It just gets luckier. He's in my conservatory. And he likes the same music as me. What's with all this fate?
*
I got out of the car. I could see my breath in every exhale. I was chilly. Dad walked beside me as he held my coffee. I looked to my right and saw him standing by the service booth, just in front of the train tracks. I smiled, knowing he'd be there today.
When the train arrived, I stole one last glance as I walked by to the front of the train, but he never noticed me. It was typical now. Sometimes I wouldn't even bother to look at him and from the corner of my eye, I could see his eyes following my every movement. Sometimes I hoped for something cliche to happen. Like he would sit next to me on the train even though in the mornings there are a ton of seats open.
I just want to be in his presence.
*
When I first met him, or actually properly talked to him, it was right before our first concert. We were backstage and director told us to collect some water bottles backstage. I offered to do some of the work. With my luck, so did he. A small group of us went backstage and looked for the water bottles, but none were there. Someone must have already picked them up.
So, we took advantage of our lonely time and just hung out and talked. We laughed, we talked about music, the whole group was getting into the conversation. Then, he picked up an acoustic guitar that was laying around, probably for the concert. He started playing "Amnesia" by 5 Seconds of Summer.
I squealed, covering my mouth to try to control my obsessiveness. He stopped playing and smiled at me, "You like them?"
"I-I kinda love them." I replied, hiding my red face.
"Why are you hiding?" he asked, his grin evident. That was something about him. He had the fullest grin. He never smirked. Always grinned. "They're pretty cool guys. You know Casey from Hey Violet?"
"I-yeah. I do."
"He used to go here. He was in this conservatory, performed on this stage. Lived in Irvine. We were best friends. Then he joined Hey Violet and all of the sudden, he's like... Famous now. We barley even talk anymore." He explained.
"Wow, that's amazing... It's so cool that you knew him." I mumbled, looking at him straight in the eye.
He smiled, then resumed playing the song. I silently sang along, making sure my voice wasn't heard. The others around us froze when one of the teachers came in. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Suzy told us to collect plastic bottles." one of the kids said.
"Where are they?" the teacher asked.
"Someone must've already picked them up."
"What are you guys doing, then? Get your butts up the stairs and get ready for the concert. People are waiting!"
He shooed us.
*
We sat in a circle backstage and played Cards Against Humanity. I was surprised the teachers let us, they just stared, rolled their eyes or scoffed every time something inappropriate popped. Before we were going to perform, there was only a remaining amount of bands left. He was there too. We made a small conversation circle.
"Wanna hear what I listened to in seventh grade?" my friend, Nicole asked.
"What?" I asked, a smile plastered onto my face.
She picked up her phone and typed something in. Suddenly, heavy guitars and drums boomed through her small phone, then a screaming voice. I started laughing, and the people in the circle did as well.
"I used to listen to screamo, too!" I exclaimed, bouncing up and down, "Let's see, Bring Me The Horizon, Sleeping With Sirens, Asking Alexandria, whoa."
"Oh, man I used to listen to them all the time." He laughed.
"Really?" my eyes widened and we both let out a small chuckle.
"Yeah, all the time."
"Speaking of all the time, do you listen to All Time Low?" I asked, smirking a little.
"Yeah, yeah, their new album is great!"
"Oh awesome. Look at my phone case." I pulled up my phone and showed him my case. He took it in his hands and studied, it a smile on his face. "That's so cool."
He handed it back to me and I smiled sheepishly.
The rest of the night was mellow.
* Next month *
"All right, we are giving the setlist for the next concert." Suzy, our director yelled out to the conservatory. A new set means a new band. "In the green band, we have Jade, Dalon, Levi, Kai, and ****."
I froze. Realizing that he was in my band. I was going to be watching him play guitar next to me in our band. For two months.
*
He stood next to me, laughing about something that the bassist said. He stole a few glances at me and I as well. How is a freshman going to end up with a junior?
Over time to time he would play some 5SOS or All Time Low songs and look over at me a few times. What did that mean? Or maybe he was just doing it for his own pleasure?
*
Every day I would get off the train and see him. He would be standing in front of the tracks waiting for the train to pass so he could cross to the parking lot behind the hidden coffee house. Some days he wouldn't be there.
That made me upset.
For some reason eveytime i see him he just lightens up my day.
I love having him at the same station as me.
I can start my day off with his face and end with it. It just reminds me that it's been a good day.
