'Frisco.

Chapter Sixteen.

The three of us eventually ended up muting the Disney marathon and instead chatted about everything and anything. I was still under quite a bit of shock finding out that two of the only people I really know here in San Fran are actually related.

Bonnie fell asleep part way through our discussion on music despite her huge talent for the piano.

"So do you play any instruments, Jonah?" I had asked.

He shrugged, "Drums... and sort of guitar. I'm in a small band that hasn't gotten any further than my buddy's garage. I'm not totally sure what's going on with that. None of the boys take it seriously."

I grimaced at the idea of an unenthusiastic team. Back in England, I would always end up doing 98% of the school projects and often only took minimal credit. At the time it really did suck but I guess it helped me to evolve into a more responsible and focused person.

"Want me to whip them into shape?" I teased with a wink. Despite the sarcasm laced within my comment, I was almost certain I'd be able to make people more determined to succeed.

"Actually... yes. We have a practice tomorrow if you'd like to come."

"Will Bonnie be there?" I asked, looking down at my peaceful, sleeping friend. It would be nice to see more than one familiar face.

"Most definitely," Jonah laughed, "she has a small thing going on with the bassist – Evan."

I gave an exaggerated look of shock to Jonah as if I couldn't believe someone so innocent could do such a thing. He simply nodded.

"So what kind of music do you play?" I spoke as I adjusted my legs out from under Bonnie's head and instead replaced my position with a pillow. I moved onto the floor, allowing her to stretch out and sleep better. Realising our increased distance, Jonah joins me in front of the sofa.

I got to know Jonah's band a lot better over the next few hours. I learnt that their band, BOHDI, who plays mostly Indie music, consists of 5 band members. Jonah on drums has been a friend of Ryan (who plays guitar) ever since they were little. Besides Jonah, Ryan is the most committed to the band. He's made huge investments into the group and treats it like his baby. The lead singer, Joel, and Matt on piano are brothers who are probably the least loyal to the band. They are consistently missing practices for auditions to other music groups. Lastly, Evan. He's the bassist and, like Jonah said before, he and Bonnie have been back and forth with the idea of getting together but both are too scared to even admit their feelings.

I agree to attend their band practice the following day and this causes Jonah to give me a white smile.

The night passes, Bonnie remains asleep and Jonah and I continue to get to know each other. I tell Jonah more about Hannah. I reminisce in the memory of the two of us going on holiday together when we were very young. We went to Italy and the two of us were inseparable from both each other and from the lake. Our parents would often orbit their day around the body of water just so we could continue swimming.

The most vivid memory I have of this perfect time was running up the pebbled shore to see both sets of parents sprawled on the ground laughing and joking. I remembered grabbing my dad's hand, trying with all my might to get him into the water with us. He looked back to my mother almost as if asking permission. She smirked and nodded, knowing fully well that he wont change out of his clothes before diving in. And she guessed right. He splashed Hannah as his body made contact with the water, causing her to let out a high-pitched squeal. Lucy approached the lake with her camera and, once again, caught another one of my favourite pictures.

I was seated on my dad's shoulders whilst Hannah and my father had a splash war. The image, perfectly timed, framed me with my head back in fits of laughter. The water from Hannah's tiny wave was hugely outdone by the totality of my dad's wall of water. They're both grinning and look like they have no other care in the world.

Throughout my entire story, Jonah sits with intense interest. He watches my face as I excitedly describe that time in my life. After the end of it, silence falls. It's a familiar and comfortable absence of sound.

Jonah breaks the silence by breathlessly stating, "Kate..."

His sentence is interrupted by the sound of Bonnie stirring. Whilst my gaze is averted to where my friend almost wakes, his remains on my face. When I turn back, he finishes his sentence with, "I should go."

I had a suspicion that this was not what he was initially going to say. Instead of protesting, I give a slight nod and stand to take him to the door. When Jonah also stands, I realise the proximity in which we were sitting. I end up needing to tilt my head back in order to see his eyes again. I smile when I see how much taller he is than me when standing this close. He doesn't return the smile; instead he stares deeply and intensely into my eyes. The room was absent from sound and suddenly felt a whole lot emptier. The only thing I could focus on in that moment was he and I. When I realised that his gaze wasn't going to ease, I looked down to my feet adorned in light blue sport socks. I stepped back, hoping that the fog in my mind would clear. It was all a little too much for me.

Jonah nodded and turned to leave. I followed, allowing a larger distance between us this time. He didn't turn back as he passed out my front door and down the driveway. Had I offended him? He couldn't have expected me to do anything with his goddamn sister in the room. I decided to not let it bother me tonight as I locked the door and went to lie down in the living room.

Before finally drifting off to sleep, I heard Bonnie whisper, "He likes you. "

"Doubt it..." I responded a little bit too bitterly. I softened the harshness by murmuring, "Good night Bonnie."

"Night, Kate."