Soaring Keys

Chapter Twelve: Soaring Hot Dogs

Ross Kindsor

So today is Monday, September 5th and my birthday is on September 16. I'm turning 18, the golden age for a teenager. Well maybe 16 is because you could finally get a driver's license. Every year, I hold one of the biggest parties and everyone loves it. Last year, a whole bunch of older people I didn't know showed up at my house and brought drinks. You know, just tons and tons of beer. Nothing abnormal. But that's not what I plan to do this year... Actually, I don't know. I have two weeks to decide.

I was carrying my guitar case to lunch because it wouldn't fit inside my locker. I couldn't find Katherine anywhere and I needed to talk to her. She added some interesting lyrics online, which is great, but I think the lyrics are too lighthearted. If I'm going to write a song, it has to come from the heart. As soon as I walked into the cafeteria, several people walked up to me.

"Ross! Pal, when's the party?" This guy hooked his arm around my shoulder.

It's kind of sad, actually. People knew I was going to host a party on my birthday but they never knew when. "I'm not having a party this year, sorry." I swooped away from under his arm and left the cafeteria.

Not knowing where to go, I just exited through the nearest door which was the same door I went in through. I walked down the hall a bit and stopped at the auditorium doors. I might as well go inside. Mrs. Williams was at her desk typing away as usual.

"Hey Mrs. Williams, can I stay here until lunch is over?" The doors slammed shut behind me and she looked up.

"Yes, Mr. Kindsor. Just please be quiet so I can work." Her eyes flicked back to her computer.

I nodded and took a foldout chair from the back of the auditorium. While I unfolded the chair and set it down, my phone vibrated. It was Millie, she texted me. Ah the joys of having a clingy girlfriend. I sat down and scrolled through my notifications and saw that the document had been updated multiple times today. Not just today, just now! Apparently, Katherine had wrote during lunch. I quickly got online and read her new ideas.

-Time doesn't stop for anyone

-Clear as my heart

They weren't good ideas but they weren't bad either. You could add more depth to them. It's like any food, looks like food on the outside but there's always the recipe. A recipe has so many steps and ingredients and in the end, the outcome is great. I thought about what to add but just to make it a little easier to communicate, I wrote in bold:

YO I'M NOT HITTING ON YOU BUT I NEED YOUR NUMBER (obviously for future reference)

She wrote her number in bold and once I saved it, I erased the short conversation. To make sure I had the right number, I texted her. A second later, she replied so yep, it's her for sure. I think I want to be bold today. I texted Katherine back and asked if she wanted to come over for the project.

Me: You wanna come over?

Katherine: Um, why???

Me: For the project, what do you think lmao

Katherine: You're an 'L-M-A-O' guy, huh? Sure, why not?

Me: Great, I'll drive you. Meet me after school at the front ;)

The bell rang so Mrs. Williams spoke up. "Better get to class, hun. You don't wanna be late."

I grinned and left for class.

****

"Yo Katherine." I approached her. "You ready?"

She nodded, "Yup, let's go."