Musically in Love

Chapter 7

McKinley's POV

I paced back and forth across my apartment. Tyler was going to be here any minute. Why was I so nervous? It was just a date.

There was a rapid knocking on the door and I jumped. I might have even squeaked. Actually, I think I definitely squeaked. Loudly. I really hope he didn't hear that.

I'm sure my face was bright red when I slowly pulled open the door. If my face wasn't already red, then it definitely was when I eyed the beautiful man standing on the other side of that door. Oh my god, he was seriously gorgeous.

"Hi," he said with a sexy husk to his voice. Kill me now. "Are you McKinley?"

I smirked. "Only if you're Tyler."

He smiled, showing off some perfectly white teeth. God, was there anything wrong with this guy? "That's me. It's nice to meet you. I really hope I didn't scare you when I knocked. I heard a-"

"No! No, of course not. That squeak you may have heard... that... that was nothing. A mouse. Not that there are mice in this building. I don't live with mice. I don't know why I said that."

"Oh... kay," he said. Great. He probably thought I was a complete weirdo now. "You ready to go?"

I nodded excitedly. Anything to get me out of this awkward situation that I may have just caused in my doorway. I grabbed my keys from the table next to the door and followed my date out into the hallway.

Tyler drove us to a nice little restaurant that wasn't too from my apartment. The drive there happened mostly in silence, which was a little weird, but the radio station he had playing was pretty decent, so it wasn't too bad.

Once we were seated at the table (under a reservation for Vallette, party of two), and our meals had been ordered, the conversation between us really began.

"So," Tyler started first. "I was told you go to the college here?"

I nodded. "Yup. I'm a senior this year - last year, finally! What about you? You attend the college too or...?"

"Nah. I, um, I actually never really went to college. It just wasn't for me. I just work at a mechanic's shop in town."

Okay. That wasn't what I was expecting, but I could handle that. "Cool. I work too, that's why I'm here for the summer instead of going home. I work at the Music Center."

"That's awesome. You sell, like, records and albums and that kind of shit?"

"Well... it's more of an instrument-type place. I kinda give lessons to kids who want to learn how to play an instrument."

His whole face lit up. "Shit. You play an instrument? That's freaking amazing! What do you play?"

I smiled. This was my chance to show off. Not that I wanted to show off, I swear. Just maybe a tiny bit of bragging? "So, I started on alto sax back in fifth grade. Then I moved up to tenor sax then bari sax. I can kinda play soprano sax - still learning that one. I also know clarinet and flute. My biggest... obsession, I guess, right now would be the guitar."

"Damn. That's impressive, really." Tyler played with his fork for a second. "I used to play the trumpet in middle school. I quit a month into it. I just couldn't do it."

I felt my heart sink. "Oh." What else was I supposed to say to that? That was the one thing I needed a boyfriend to be into and he wasn't. Ben was definitely getting an earful from me tonight. "I've never really tried brass instruments before. Like, I tried playing a mellophone once. Those mouth pieces are weird. I'm a gay guy. My lips have done some pretty amazing things in my time, but trying to figure out a brass mouth piece is not something I can do."

"Uh, yeah. I get that."

The waitress placed our plates in front of us and I couldn't have been more relieved. I can't believe I just said something like that - and on a first date too! Well, to be honest, this was going to be our only date. I only had to make it through the rest of dinner because Tyler and I just weren't going to work out. That fact was very obvious. I just hoped he realized that too so I wouldn't have to say it later. I didn't like confrontation.

"So how'd you get into music?" Tyler asked after a few minutes of silent eating. "It seems like it's a pretty big part of your life. I'm just curious how you got into it."

I laughed. "That's actually kinda funny." I put my fork down, getting ready to tell the story. "So my mom used to play the flute. She was the typical band kid throughout high school, but then stopped when school stopped, you know? Well, years later, when my sisters and I were old enough to join band, she told us we should because it was a lot of fun. My sisters had no problems joining. Me? I laughed in her face and didn't. That was fourth grade, with me being a bratty kid thinking band was for girls. I had to be the man of the house, even back then. I couldn't be doing a girly activity like band. But then at the end-of-year concert for my sisters, I realized what I was missing out on. I joined the following year. Never looked back."

"Damn. So it was just you, your sisters, and your mom growing up?"

I nodded. "We're triplets, fun fact. Never knew my dad." My eyes widened. "Maybe that's why I'm gay! I've grown up with too many women around to ever want to date one! It all makes sense now!"

"I don't think that's how it works..."

I scoffed. "I know that. It was a joke. I'm not an idiot." Everyone else I've said that joke to always laughed, not try to tell me I'm wrong. Who was this guy who couldn't even get a joke?

"I-I didn't say you were? I'm sorry, I guess I'm just nervous and missing things."

"You're nervous? Why?"

He sighed and looked down at his plate. "I really like you, McKinley. And you're actually kind of intimidating? Like, you're so talented and smart and attractive, and I'm not and I hope you can see past that, because I would love to go out with you again."

I didn't know what to say. I had literally just told myself that Tyler wasn't getting a second date. How do I tell him that after he just practically showered me with compliments?

"Oh. Uh, yeah. Of course." I stood up from the table, my heart beating frantically. "I'll be right back. I need the bathroom. Sorry."

As soon as I ran into the bathroom, I leaned over the sink and stared at my reflection. What was wrong with me? This was my first date in so long and he thought it was going well when I thought it was a complete train wreck. And then I told him I'd go out with him again. This is an AJ situation all over again, except I wasn't actually getting sex out of this.

I knew I should go back, but I couldn't bring myself to. I was going to have to spend the rest of the dinner talking with someone who wanted to get to know me, who wanted to have more dates with me. Someone who I had no more interest in. I couldn't face him again.

I took a deep breath as I decided what I was going to do. I've never done this before, but this situation seemed to call for it.

Without any more hesitation, I peaked out the bathroom door and across the decently crowded restaurant. I could see Tyler still at the table. His back was to me as he ate. Perfect.

I carefully left the bathroom and slowly - but not too slowly as to draw attention - I walked to the front door, keeping an eye on Tyler in case he suddenly decided to turn around. As soon as I made it out the door, I turned and ran all the way back to my apartment, not once looking back.