Earning Her Own Name

Chapter 6

My heart stopped beating when I heard Danni’s guitar playing. It was amazing. The way she seemed to get lost in the song was amazing. I gave her a reassuring smile as the words came up. I started to sing with her. I had to force myself to continue and not just stop and sit there and stare at her. Her voice, it was perfection. She was so amazingly talented, so amazingly beautiful. I wanted her to stop hiding and being so nervous.

These thoughts raced through my head as we continued to sing the song. It all felt so right. Was I really falling for a girl I just met?

She played the last chord to the song and turned and just stared at me. Her blue eyes shone with intimidation and anticipation.

“I’m shaking.” She laughed. I took a deep breath and tried to find the words to speak.

“That was amazing. Why on Earth were you nervous?” I asked her, speaking the truth, but not giving away any of my emotions.

“Because I’m horrible!” She said and covered her face with her hands. I grabbed her wrist and moved her hand from her face and tilted her head so she was looking at me.

“Shut up. That was great. Your voice is beautiful and your guitar playing was flawless.”

“Stop. Your overreacting.”

“No, you’re under reacting.” I smiled. She laughed and rolled her eyes at me totally unaware of how completely serious I was being.

“Do you write your own songs?” I asked her. She had a real talent. She was hesitant, but nodded.

“Let me hear one.” I commanded. She shook her head at me.

“No. You’re lucky you heard me play. Let’s do something else now.” She shot me down and got up and walked to the other side of the room. I glared at her, wanting to hear her sing again, but I backed down, knowing not to push my luck.

“Fine. I’ll get you to play one another time.” I persisted. “So what are we doing now?” I asked as I followed her down the stairs.

“I don’t know. Let’s go for a walk.” she whispered. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Her gaze locked with mine for a moment and I felt a connection. She turned away before I could say anything stupid.

“Okay.” I answered quickly. She grabbed her keys off the counter quickly and walked to the front door.

“Where are we walking to?” I asked trying to start a conversation. She gave me a small smile.

“Someone asks a lot of questions.” She commented looking back down at her feet. I was willing her to look up at me, look at me with those eyes. I just saw her adjust her glasses and sigh.

“Well here’s another question, why do you have to kill your sister later?” I saw irritation and anger consume her face and her hands clenched and became fists. “Well?” I asked becoming concerned and impatient.

“She told some bimbo on her cheer squad who I liked.” She grunted barely audible. I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my chest. I gulped.

“Who do you like?” I asked her, sounding concerned, but surprisingly not as disappointed as I felt.

“The amazingly hot kid in my grade that everyone is obsessed with. The one that won’t notice me.” She sighed and sat down on a bench. I sat beside her. She looked upset.

“Why won’t he notice you?”

“Because I’m me. He has all of the cheerleaders after him, he doesn’t need some girl with no friends or social life or looks.” All of her insecurities seemed to flow out of her. She looked at me and let out a nervous laugh shaking her head.

“What am I kidding, you don’t care.” She said and started to fiddle with her hands.

“If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t ask. Listen, don’t get down on yourself. If you like him enough you should talk to him; do something to make him notice you.” Advice flowed out of my mouth as fast as her insecurities out of hers. She looked at me with a confused look, but once again redirected her attention to her feet.

“Like what. I’m a no body in that school.”

“You should sing. Play your guitar at like a school event.” She looked at me in shock.

“NO! I could barely play in front of you. I’m not that good!” She yelled and slapped my arm.

“Stop Danni, you’re great. I bet you he’ll really notice you if he hears you play.”

She looked like she was thinking. I could see the desire for his attention flash in her eyes as I’m sure she imagined how my plan would play out.

“Come on, doesn’t your school have like an open mic night thing?” I asked her.

She nodded slowly. “But I don’t know if I’d be able to. Especially sing my own song.”

“I’ll help you.”

“How?”

“Well first you’d have to play them for me, and then we can work on your confidence issue, so on and so forth, and then wallah! You play at an open mic night.” I explained. She smiled at me.

“Maybe.” She actually seemed desperate. I looked away. I was falling for her, but she already fell for someone else. Now the only thing I could do is be the friend she wanted me to be and help her be happy.

This is going to be interesting.