Strings (A Reed Deming Fan Fiction)

11

Song: Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran

Kayleigh Pennel

My phone alarm blasted the tune of Six String Soldier by Joe Brooks. I groggily sat up and reached over to turn it off. It was 6:00am on the first day of school. I let out a long sigh and walked over to the bathroom. I jumped in the shower and started washing my hair. I kept singing Six String Soldier. That song was probably going to be stuck in my head all day now.

I started to wonder what my classmates' reactions would be when they saw me. I'd probably get comments from being on the X factor. Would they be happy for me? What if they made fun of me? I became a little nervous, but whatever reaction I'll get, Reed will get it too because he was on it with me.

I smiled at the thought of him. I remembered the touch of his soft lips on mine, the sensation of butterflies in my stomach, the tingling feeling they left on my lips. It was the most amazing first kiss I've ever had. Well, the only one at that, but I couldn't have chosen a better person to have had it with.

I got out of the shower, dried off my body, and wrapped my hair in a towel. I walked over to my closet and pulled out a white lacy tank-top and skinny jeans with a brown belt. I blow-dried my hair to finish drying it and straightened it. I did some light, natural makeup and put on some diamond earrings. I pulled on my favorite bracelet that had wooden beads and my grey toms. I grabbed my phone and pulled my backpack over my shoulder as I ran out the door. The school was within walking distance, so Reed and I always walked together.

I saw him leaning up against the tree in the middle of our houses, waiting for me. He was wearing a black T-shirt with his skinny jeans and his hair was covered in a grey beanie with his long, messy hair swept over his forehead. He looked really cute.

He grinned at me as I blushed and smiled back. He slipped his hand into mine and we began to walk. Clouds covered the sky and a soft breeze blew through my hair occasionally. We walked in comfortable silence. I watched my feet as I thought about yesterday. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I didn't know if this meant that we were dating or something, but we're definitely closer now.

Our hands lost contact as we walked through the gates to the school. I looked around at everyone. Most of them were familiar faces from previous years, but some were new faces. Mostly new sixth graders, probably. I rolled my eyes at the thought of them. No one likes the sixth graders. Since they're finally in middle school, they always think they're all that and they annoy everybody.

I saw some of the seventh graders. They were the annoying ones last year, but now they get that they annoy everyone so they just try not to talk to anyone that's not in their grade. Then I saw my class. The eighth grade. The top of the school. Everyone looks up to us.

I heard someone call Reed and I. We looked in the direction it came from. It was our friend April. "Kayleigh!! Reed!! I missed you guys!!!" she cheered as she threw her arms around us.

She had long, straight blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was always about the same height as me, but over the summer she must've grown because now she was almost the same height as Reed. She was wearing some white and pink floral-printed skinny jeans with a big, pink knit sweater and a floral headband. She always looked super cute.

"We missed you too!" I smiled as she pulled away from us. "You guys didn't freaking tell me that you were gonna be on the X factor!!" she exclaimed. Reed and I looked at each other and laughed. "Kayleigh, you didn't even tell me that you could sing!" she grinned. "She didn't tell a lot of people." Reed looked over at me. I blushed and smiled shyly. "Well you both did absolutely amazing and I-"

"Hey Reed!" the familiar high-pitched voice rang through my ears. It was Molly. She was the most popular girl in school, only because her parents were super rich. She had long, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She dressed in a pink, low cut V-neck, she was obviously trying to show off her boobs, and some jean shorts that were a little too short. She always dressed like she was trying to show off because she went after all of the boys. She dumped her last boyfriend. Nobody knows why, but they say she got sick of him after about a month.

She walked over to us and faced Reed. "I saw you on the X factor. You did amazing." she smirked her annoying, flirty smirk. Reed glanced at me and then back at her. "Uhm, I was on it too-"

"I didn't know you could sing like that." she carelessly glanced at me and cut me off, standing a little closer to Reed. She was too close for my liking. "Uh... Yeah." he awkwardly stuttered. "Well, you should text me." she said handing him a piece of paper that obviously had her number on it. She smirked at him and strutted away, leaving us glaring at her.

The bell rang and we began to walk to class. "You're not actually gonna call her, right?" I asked. "Of course not. I'm not just another toy in her little game." he scoffed.

* * * * *

The first week of school went by fairly well. It was busy, but nothing really exciting happened. Reed and I got a lot of comments about the X Factor, and by the time Friday came, I was ready to go to L.A. for the judges' houses.

I finished zipping up my suitcase, lugged it down the stairs and set it by the door. We were going to wake up at 3am and fly there, so we had to get ready the night before. There was a knock on the door.

I opened it up to reveal Reed. "Hey." I grinned and let him inside. He was wearing his pajamas and brought in his luggage. I told him he could bring his stuff over and that he could sleepover. "What do you wanna do? It's only 8." he questioned. "Wanna watch a movie?" I asked. He smiled and nodded and I led him into the living room and looked at the movies.

"Do you wanna watch a scary movie, a Disney movie, or a romantic movie?" I asked him. He smirked at the last choice and made a kissy face. I giggled and picked up 50 First Dates. I put it in the disc player and pressed play. I sat down next to Reed on the couch. He wrapped his arms around me and I nuzzled my head into his chest as the movie began to play.

It was a story of how a guy met a girl at a café. They had a lot of fun together and he asked her to meet him back there the next day , but when they met, she didn't remember him. He soon found out that she was in a car accident a while back and injured her head. Now, she only keeps her memory for 24 hours and looses it all when she wakes up. So he decided to make a video, telling her the story of how she looses her memory, and he showed it to her every morning when she woke up. They had troubles in their relationship, but they ended up getting married and having a daughter.

Tears were beginning to spill over my eyes as the movie ended. Reed heard me shaking and rubbed my back. "That was depressing." I sniffled. "But it was romantic." he smiled. "I liked it. It was cute."

I smiled back at him. He looked into my eyes and began to lean in. Our lips touched and moved in synch. Every kiss we shared was always amazing. I felt sparks every time. He always made me smile with how cute and romantic and sweet he was.

He pulled away to breathe. "This isn't official yet, but I just wanted to make sure... Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked. I grinned. "Of course." I whispered and met his lips again.

I heard a set of 'aww's come from the kitchen. I pulled away and stood up. "What are you guys doing?!" I yelled to both of our parents and brothers in the kitchen. "I knew you two were dating!!" my mom laughed. I looked at Reed as my face burned. His cheeks were bright red as he sank into the couch cushions.