Here Comes the Sun

Chapter 5: A New Friend

Oakley's  POV

The bus ride home was quiet enough. Boring, but quiet. The bus stopped and it was time for me to get off the bus. Violet followed. Once out of the bus, I scratched the back of my head with a nervous smile. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." Violet just nodded and I headed home. Violet, heading towards the other direction.

Once home, I slipped my shoes off. I shut the door, locked it and headed towards the kitchen. I found a note on the fridge which read "I'll be home late, 20 dollars on the counter for food. - Love, mom." I  sighed. Since we moved here, Mom always came home late. I wanted to tell her what happened at school today, but I'd probably be asleep by the time she came home.  I needed some fresh air. I took the twenty dollars, my house keys, my guitar case with my guitar in it, an old box, a sign, markers and put the things that could fit in my bag. I grabbed my bag, held my guitar case, put on my sneakers and walked out of the house. I wasn't sure where I was going, but it was somewhere. I locked the door from the outside and headed towards the park. That'd be a good place. I wanted to be able to pay for my own things but just in case I didn't get any money I brought the twenty dollars along.

Once at the park, I found a suitable bench in the middle of the park, wrote with a black marker on the sign: "Tips :)", placed it in front of the box which was on the ground and took out my guitar. If you haven't caught on already, I was gonna be singing in the park for cash. But, the song I was singing was a duet. How would I sing a duet by myself? It just wouldn't sound natural. And just like that, someone approached me.
I looked up to see a boy around my age, maybe 14? He had a shy smile on his face and he fidgeted with his sweater sleeve. "Hi. Did you need something?" I asked. He looked startled, and stuttered "H-hello. I— well, you're Oakley, right?" He asked. I nodded. I felt like I knew him. "I- I'm in your gym and English class... I'm Quinn Lazarus. The only boy who has to run extra laps?" That's where I know him from! "Oh— yeah, I remember you. Did you need something?" I asked again. He seemed normal enough.. at least he wasn't smiling all the time. "Well, I um, just moved here a few days ago and I sorta need the money, so if it's okay with you, could I sing with you? And we could split whatever we earn?" He asked. Quinn wasn't from here? Hm. That could explain why he isn't happy all the time. "I moved here a few days ago too and sure. I actually have a song in mind that requires two people." Quinn's face lit  up. "O-oh! That's perfect!" He sat down next to me and ran his fingers through his cyan coloured hair.
He knew the song I wanted to sing so I began to play the song and we started to sing. He actually had a pretty nice voice. A crowd started to form, and I swear I saw Violet in the crowd. However, once she noticed I saw her, she ran away. Hm. Once the song was done, the crowd soon disappeared and I picked up the tip box. We could split this equally but I didn't really need the money. I pushed the box towards him. "Keep it all." Quinn looked shocked. "Wh-what? No, that wouldn't be f-fair." He stuttered. I smiled softly and just said "I have no use for the money. This was fun and I'm glad I got to do this with you. Take it all. Think of it as a present for the start of a new friendship."