The Lorenzo School of Gifteds

Chapter three I Hanging Out

A few more hours pass and I find myself in Mel's car again with her driving me to her house since my parents are away for the weekend and Lexi and Lilly are going on a short vacation to the Standard World. Mel's speakers are blasting 'Hello' by Adele as she sings along. I had been thinking about how Connor was supposedly going to ask me out but gave into the beat and had began singing along. I'm hitting every note on pitch and Mel turns the radio down and soon enough it's just my voice and the soft lyrics playing in the background. My eyes are closed tight and my hand to my chest while I sing. Mel begins to do what she calls background singing and sings some more perfect pitches to go along with my tune.

I soon get caught up in the moment and our singing fills Mel's tiny car. When the songs over Mel cheers and punches me in the arm.

"Choir Queen!" She yells.

"Am not!" I yell back, "...Yet." She laughs and we drive back to her house with more songs blasting through the radio. Last year Ava had been crowned Choir Queen for Lorenzo High and had gone to competition. Lorenzo High took singing very seriously because of our principal. He was a singing disaster. He would walk down the halls before the lunch bell rang singing songs until someone joined and soon enough the whole building would be filled with singing. Lexi had never really liked singing nor was she very good at it so she always somehow ended up in the restroom when the singing fits broke out. Our group of girls had always enjoyed singing but when she came out and told us she couldn't sing we declared to never do the singing fits again. And we never do anymore. Unless we're without her.

We get out of Mel's car after she parks it in the driveway backwards. She says it easier to get out in the morning if she's late. We walk through her big house and pass the kitchen.

"Good afternoon Ms. Winters," Mel's mom calls after me.

"Good afternoon to you too Mrs. Rose," I reply with a plastered on smile.

Mel leans over to me and whispers, "We're too late." I agree. Mel's mom is a kind lady but can talk for hours. I lean back to her and whisper, "I've got this."

"Well my parents are out of town and I assume they've told you this already but I have not been feeling very well and I guess it's something contagious. My dad left with quite a runny nose," I frown. On cue Mrs. Rose quickly waddles over to the kitchen sink and washes her hands a few dozen times. While she's distracted Mel and I run up to Mel's bedroom. Like I had said before Mel's parents were not wealthy in our term of wealthy whatsoever. Just take one look at a Patroller's house ( like my dad's) and you'll see why.

"My goodness that was close," says Mel once we're in her bright room. We talk and do homework and eat some pizza Mel's mom had made before we hear the doorbell ring downstairs.

"I'll get it!" hollers Mel. We both run down the stairs on each other's heels then we reach the door and I stand on the left of the door as she opens it.

"Fitz!" She cries. I sigh and turn the corner and run straight into Connor's broad chest. I fall to the floor on my butt with a very high pitched squeal. He laughs and holds out a hand to help me up. I take it and he pulls me upward with such strength I'm sure I leave the ground. I fall forward a little and straight into Connor's arms. I nervously laugh and tumble out of his hold. We all laugh for a while on Mel's porch before we all head inside and up to Mel's bedroom.

"How'd you know I was here?" I ask Connor.

"Who said I came for you?" He replies. I blush and look away. He laughs and pulls my face back his way. The touch of him makes me shudder and he lets go. He smiles again and I gaze into his deep indigo eyes. He turns one white and I jump and squeal again.

"Stop it!" I yell. Mel laughs and rolls on the floor. After she's done she asks, "Who wants ice-cream? It's just down the block." We all nod and we agree that Mel and Fitz can go while Connor and I set up a movie. Fitz and Mel aren't dating or anything but they're like best friends.

After Mel leaves I find myself alone with Connor in Mel's room. I pick up my phone and turn on Pandora. Immediately my favorite song comes on. As we set up pillows and blankets I find myself humming the tune. Then I'm dancing to it soon enough. I'm swinging around while Connor's downstairs getting more pillows. I continue dancing and pull my hair out of a bun I had put it in earlier. I swing my head back and forth then look up to see Connor in the doorway. I freeze and give an awkward smile. He smiles and drops the pillows and runs over to me and starts dancing like a madman. I laugh and dance along.

I don't realize I'm singing out the words until he joins. We sing in harmony for the rest of the song till it's over. At the end of the song he flops down on a cloud of pillows. I follow suit right beside him. I laugh and nuzzle into his side. At the perfect moment Mel comes in and laughs at us on the floor.

"If you two wanted to be alone just say so," Mel shrugs. I jump up off of Connor and snort. He gets up too and gets out a movie. We all sit on Mel's King sized bed across from her T.V and watch. Mel is curled up next to her big green monkey while Fitz is propped up against the wall. By the end of the movie and I'm curled up against Connor. In the morning Fitz and Connor leave to get ready for the Summer Dance that starts in the evening.

"I can't even believe it's tonight," sighs Connor.

"Yeah," I agree, "See you there." We exchange byes and the guys leave.

"You wanna go pick out some dresses for tonight?" Mel asks. I nod and squeal.