Love on the Radio

Chapter 17 - Choices

Chapter 17 – Choices

“Sweetie, have you made up your mind?” Mom asked me when she walked beside me, putting her hand on my shoulder. We were at the electronic shop, and I was choosing between a purple and a grey radio. However, my thoughts were nowhere near the place, but travelling around, visiting Howard and the mystery guy, while Howard was the purple radio, the other guy grey. Would I choose what I know I like, or go with the unknown, ordinary on the outside, but may be more magical than my obvious choice.

“I’m having difficulties,” I sighed and looked at her. “I think I’m having a bad day.” She smiled at me, and I’m pretty sure she knew the feeling and could see right through me. She probably even knew the dilemma on my mind.

“That’s okay. You can come here some other day,” she said. “Now, let’s go. I’m hungry.” I agreed, my stomach was getting pretty angry with me. Mom said goodbye to her friend behind the counter and exited before me. I kept my eyes on the way, trying to figure something out, but confusing myself even more. I bumped into someone, mumbled ‘sorry’ and continued walking. I heard how Gloria – mom’s friend – told that I was acting weird today, and how the customer laughed gently.

“So, any special plans for Jenna’s birthday?” Mom asked when we got in the car. I shrugged my shoulders and leaned back, closing my eyes. Mom turned the radio up, so I let myself just be and enjoy the music. “When are you even celebrating it?” She couldn’t leave me alone, but I understood that she wanted to know what was going on. I was just tired and disappointed in myself for not sorting things out in my head, that’s why I was so grumpy.

“Probably this week, Friday or Saturday,” I answered and opened my eyes, I looked out the window, letting my eyes slip over the buildings. The sun was shining so nicely that day. I played everything that had happened at school in my head and smiled at the jokes that had been said. Howard had splashed paint on my red T-shirt. Mom had insisted on washing it, but I had said that it’s better that way. Oh, he had apologized numerous times for ‘ruining’ my shirt, as he had called it, but I had demanded him to shut up with a smile on my face. I loved that red tee, now.

“Did you hear that?” Mom suddenly burst out laughing. I startled, letting out a breath. I shook my head. “That man just told that this song is dedicated to Madison R. You’re Madison R. That’s weird.” So, she didn’t know about the admirer thing? Figures.

“Did he say something else? Anything?” I shifted in my seat, leaning toward the radio, so I could hear better.

“Let it go, let it go, it’s a life line. You say this world spins too slow, and we know this love has just been sold,” were the lyrics. I frowned, nervously biting my lip. I couldn’t understand what he was trying to tell me with this song. That all the magic had disappeared? That he didn’t like me anymore?

“No, should he have?” We pulled to our street, and soon, mom stopped the car.

I shook my head, “No, of course not. No…I was just wondering.”

“But the song was good,” she added. “The guy has a pretty great taste in music.”

He does, sometimes. I smiled at the thought.

It was the end of second period and I had stopped in front of my locker. Jenna hadn’t bothered to come, she was already waiting in chemistry, probably chatting with Joe. I opened the locker, surprised when a note fell on the floor. I shoved the books inside and bent down to pick it up. Who was it from? It had to be someone from the same school. Maybe it was from one of my friends…Maybe it was my own piece of paper that had slipped from one of the notebooks?