Dream Clouds

Too Free

I sat on the bean bag in the corner of the old room in the back of 'Sip and Split' (our favorite coffee place) and watched as Parker banged wildly at the drums and the bleach blonde Carter sang the words so quickly that it was probably hard for other people to tell exactly what he was saying, but I could tell. I wrote the lyrics to this song and I tapped my foot along with the beat. I smiled as my favorite part came.

"Dirt grasping on your hair, you said you'd meet me there but I know, oh oh oh, I know, you're free, too free to be with me."

My smile disappeared, even though I loved this song, that line I wrote really meant something to me. I looked down at my brothers army boots on my feet and squeezed my eyes shut, and pictured the last time I saw him. When he looked at my mom and told her he loved her, and walked out the door, waving and smiling with his dimples. The last time I saw him alive, was when he wore his all camouflage uniform, and his boots which I now wear everyday, and walked out of our house.

The song ended with Parker tapping lightly on the symbol and one last 'ooh' from Carson. I opened my eyes and smiled. They were both sweaty and looking proud as I clapped and whistled with the 3 other people in the small, echoing room.

"Ok, Parker c'mere." I heard Carson say. I watched as they talked for a minute on stage and then Carson said into the microphone, "Uh, is there a Trevor Sandoval wanting to audition for guitar?"

There was a bit of shuffling and things bumping from outside until a tall guy bounded inside and onto the stage, carrying an acoustic guitar in his left hand, and a couple sheets of music in his right. He and Carson talked for a minute until I suddenly recognized the boy as the beautiful jerk from the library with the crazy green eyes. I sat up straight and scooted the bean bag closer to the stage.

"Sorry I was late," Trevor said into the mike as he adjusted the guitar strap. "I had to walk from school and I couldn't get out early." The minute he said that he looked straight at me and raised is eyebrow in an accusing way. I made my best innocent look and leaned back in the bag.

Trevor started strumming his guitar and he sang the song 'Grade 8' by Ed Sheeran. I smiled at the corners of my mouth at his talent. He was AMAZING and to be honest, was a better singer than Carter. I looked over at Carter and saw his face was scrunched up and he was obvious he was jealous. Trevor finished and looked hopefully over at Carter and Parker.

"So..?" Trevor urged, twisting his guitar strap with his sweaty hand.

"I don't thin--" Carter started.

"You're in!" Parker interrupted, wildly clapping as he ran onto the stage and patted Trevor on the back. Trevor beamed with excitement. I stood up from the bean bag and stomped around the room trying to get my legs awake. I tried to NOT look like an ogre stomping around and walked over to Natalie.

"What do you think of Trevor?" I asked as Natalie slurped the last drops of her coffee.

"He's good."

"Good? As in 'WOW!!!' good, or 'meh' good?" I asked, relieved my leg was no longer pins and needles.

"...Just good Valentine." She said with a chuckle. I shrugged and smiled before realizing everyone was going out the back door because the sun was about to set. I scrambled out the door and ran through the cool air over to Parker, who was about to back up.

"Wait up!" I yelled as I quickly shoved the helmet on my head and jumped on the back of the bike.

"Oh, Trevor was wanting to drive you and I said you were cool with it. I thought you might I want to get to know him better!" Parker explained, taking the helmet off my head lightly and smiling brightly underneath his helmet.

I blushed and looked over at Trevor leaning against his car typing on his phone. I crunched up my nose and grumbled, "Do I have to?"

"Yes. You're gunna see him every Friday from now on so you might as well." He said, shooing me off of the bike. I pouted my lip and looked at Parker one last time as he drove back and out into the street. I walked over to Trevor's dented blue truck and crossed my arms.

"Hey." He said as he stuck his phone is his back pocket and hopped into the front seat. I went into the passenger seat and didn't bother to buckle the seatbelt. I scooted into the seat and looked out at the beautiful sunset. It reminded me of melting orange sherbet ice cream, the same kind that has sat in my freezer so long that it has freezer burn. I smiled.

"Whatcha smilin' about?" Trevor asked, backing the truck up and smirking at the same time.

"Nun'ya" I giggled.

Trevor pulled out of the parking lot and I leaned over and turned up the radio. We sat in silence for the rest of the ride, except for me saying stuff like "Now take a left." and "No you missed that turn!"

Finally after a 20 minute drive to get to my house which normally takes about 8 minutes, Trevor pulled up 3 houses away from mine.

"Um , my house is down there." I said, looking over at Trevor, his green eyes dulled by the night sky.

"I know." He said, shrugging his shoulders and looking at me. I furrowed my brow and complained. "You're purposely making me walk?"

Trevor shook his head 'yes' and then smirked. I crossed my arms and waited for him to say something. But he didn't. All that beautiful jerk did was lean in close to me, trying to kiss me! I didn't know what to do, because I barely knew this guy, so I put my hand on the door and in a panic tried to find the handle. I did and I tugged on it and stepped out of the car.

I stood there holding the door open with my hand until Trevor opened his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Trevor asked as his face flushed.

"I have to go... I um- I have a curfew." I lied, looking down at the concrete road an kicking an alone pebble. Trevor leaned back, put his hands on the leather wheel and looked down.

"K." was all he said. I realized that that meant he wanted me to shut the door and go, so I did.

Crap.