A Walk Apart (Episode 4: All In)

Chapter Eight

Adam refilled the glass straw jar questioning the sanitation level of the plastic, green sticks. Literally and environmentally responsible wise. They were made out of recyclable material, which always seemed unappealing to him. He wasn't the most educated when it came to biodegradable straws, but instead of picturing clean, sterile plastic comprised of ingredients he never even knew had the potential to be plastic, he imagined drinking from a used straw with residue from its former life. Moral of the story: He abstained from the use of recyclable drinking utensils.

When Maddie arrived and hopped onto the stool in front of him, he concentrated harder on his tedious task, suddenly thankful for the distraction. "Hey, Mads. What can I get you?"

"You can start with an explanation." She tapped her phone. He didn't need to glance at it to know what he'd find. Or hear his voice streaming through the speakers.

He watched himself drift away in the hand of the girl he was pleading with, wishing the video never existed. Better yet, that someone would hack into his account and delete it from the universe. Nathan must have told her, and now she would let him down easy. Though there was nothing easy about being told your feelings are useless. "Maddie—"

"Why didn't you tell me you could sing?"

This question caught him off guard, and his speech of how he understood where the lines were drawn got snatched from beneath him. "I might have. If the subject came up. Though I am glad it did not." As he was with another subject they apparently weren't going to talk about.

Madison mercifully stopped the video. "This is a really good song. You should perform it tonight."

Adam returned to stuffing straws in the jar, making a game of it. See how many straws he can pile in until it became impossible to take one out. "I thought about it and have come to the conclusion that I will pass."

"Adam." Why did she have to say his name like that? She might as well have reached inside his chest and headlocked his heart into submission. "There is nothing to be afraid of. We all support each other here."

Give or take an angry boyfriend. "All is a little too inclusive."

"What does that mean?"

Tired of seeing straws, Adam forced himself to stop and twisted on the top. "It means Adam Stanley will not be making his debut tonight."

"You're making a mistake. Some opportunities only come around once." She knocked her phone on the counter, giving him a two-second window to change his mind. Seeing that he wouldn't, she gave up trying to convince him. "I hope you'll at least swing by. You practically live here anyway." She offered a twitch of a smile that barely disguised her disappointment.

As she walked away, Adam felt like he was letting her down, but how could he possibly put himself through that with her and Nathan sitting in the front row. It was best for him to release the canary from its cage and finally part ways with it for good. Even if it was his favorite song.

He had to disagree. Some opportunities never come around at all.

***

Is this the end for "Canary"? Stay tuned to find out!

-Love, Charly