From Rags To Riches

Chapter 7

Monday came around and after having a few days of practice and getting to know each other better we were set for the auditions. Everyone had decided that since it was a teacher inservice day that we should meet up at 10 am at the library only a couple of minutes away from the City Hall.

I woke up Jake and started to get ready at 8. I took a shower and put on the clothes Andrea had lent me the day before since well, I have no cute clothes and we were the same size. She had given me a pair of washed out Hollister jeans, a floral t-shirt that says "Normal People Scare Me", and a pair of pink Chuck Taylor's.

After I was done changing I checked up on Jake. He was sitting on the couch tuning his guitar. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt, jeans and a pair of black and white Chucks. His light brown hair was intentionally messy, an art he had perfected in his eighteen years of life. I sat next to him as he started playing.

"You nervous? " I asked him.

"Truthfully? I think I might piss my pants onstage. That's how nervous I am. " he said, turning to face me.

"Well, don't. That'll ruin our chances of getting in. We've been practicing and we're good. The song is perfect and we have two others to help us. We can do this. C'mon, it's about ten and we should get going. " I stood up, and pulled Jake behind me.

We walked the ten-minute walk to the library, singing our song to each other as we ignored the butterflies in our stomachs. Or more like elephants stomping around in our stomach. Jake and I walked into the library and decided to sit smack dab in the center, right in plain sight for Andrea and Logan.

Sitting in the middle of the library, Jake started strumming, at least until the cranky old librarian hushed us. In which case Jake played even louder until the woman threatened to kick us out if we didn't "Allow others to read in silence". By then Jake stopped playing and said, "Fuck you" to her retreating form. The librarian heard and came marching towards us, a bookmark in one hand and a brand new Divergent book in the other, she was waving them around like they gave her magical librarian shushing powers.

"What'd you say to me mister? " she asked, pointing the bookmark at us angry.

"Oh you mean just right now? I said um... I love you, to... to this book," he picked up the book laying on the table infront of us.

"Oh really? Would you mind letting me see what book you have there? " she asked, an evil glint in her eyes.

Jake flipped the book over, took one look at it and whispered, "Damn it" before handing it to her. The librarian raised an eyebrow as she took in the cover.

"The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks? Really? How'd you well, decide to read it then? " she asked, her fingers wrapping around the book.

Andrea had come walking in carrying her guitar case, her blue eyes searching until they rested upon the embarrassment known as my brother. A smirk grew on her lips as she walked towards us and took in the situation.

Jake's eyes glanced at her before looking back at the old librarian, who was patiently waiting for an answer.

"My um... my, my girlfriend, she just walked in. She's a big Nicholas Sparks fan and she, she told me that he's a great author and that I should read one of his books, " he stammered looking at Andrea sheepishly.

Andrea's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. She stared at him a minute before responding.

"Oh sweetie don't be telling this nice woman those lies. Don't you remember? You're the one who told me to try Nicholas Sparks. You said and I quote, 'he is my favorite author.' So don't be ashamed of your romance book passion. Embrace it. Say it with me now, 'I love romance and I'm proud!" she said.