From the start

Chapter 3

"Scott, Avi!" Kirstie yells as she breaks into a run. Mitch runs after her and they both reach us about the same time. They both leap on Scott, squealing and I can't help the grin that spreads across my face from seeing them so happy. Mitch lets go first and walks over to give me a hug. "Hey, how's my favourite bass?"
"I thought I was your only bass" Mitch laughs and pulls away from the hug. A moment later Kirstie is in my arms with her head against my chest.
Her hair is tickling my neck and chin but I have absolutely no desire to move. She feels warm and soft and I'm trying so hard not to think about how tightly she's pressed her body to mine as she half whispers "Hey Avi."
"Hey you." She pulls away from me and smiles. I smile back, missing the feeling of her in my arms, "Anyone would think you've missed me Kirstie."
"Pft, never." She says wrinkling her nose.
"What's up guys?" We all turn round to see Kevin walking over. "Group hug." Scott shouts.

It's been great spending the last few days in Arlington with the rest of Pentatonix. I've been staying with Scott and Kevin has been staying with Mitch but the trio live pretty close to each other, so we've all been hanging out together the whole time. Arlington's an ok place but the best thing has been getting to know the others properly. Scott's a good leader and just all round lovely guy, always looking for ways to make people smile. Mitch is hilarious and knows a ridiculous amount of really cool music. Kevin and I have become really good friends, he's one of the coolest guys I've ever met. And Kirstie.

I knew she was pretty but I guess I didn't really remember how beautiful she was. I must have talked about her smile a hundred times and yet I definitely didn't manage to do it justice. Mostly though, I've just been noticing how much she loves to make people laugh and how sometimes she'll just sit silently and smile when we're all talking, as if she's happy to be a part of what's going on without needing to say anything. She hums or sings all of the time, even more than Mitch and Scott do, although it's a little quieter, like she wants to keep it to herself. She loves drawing and dancing and she told me how when she's at college she wears Scott's old T-shirts sometimes because it makes her miss home a little less.

I'm standing in Scott's backyard and I put my head in my hands, overwhelmed by the frustration of not being able to act on my feelings for her. "Are you okay?" Of course it's Kirstie who notices I'm missing and comes out to check on me. "You've been gone for a while and the others are playing some stupid game Mitch came up with so I thought I'd come and say hi." I look up and she's smiling at me concernedly. "Yeah I'm fine, just thinking." She sits down on the grass and pats the floor next to her. I sit down beside her, close enough that our arms are almost touching.