beach//reece bibby

15.3.17

A lemon yellow card was placed delicately onto my lap, and I clasped it with both of my hands, looking up at Reece, the boy who had given it to me.

"Although we may not be 'friends'," he said, using air quotation marks, "I'd still like you to come," he smiled, sitting down next to me, his white vans dangling off the edge of the cliff.

The piece of paper flapped excitedly in the wind, and I could just read the words 'open mic night,' in bold with a photo of an empty microphone and spotlight shining upon it. The dates clarified that this event would be taking part in two weeks time, the beginning of April.

"thank you," I smiled to him, "so how's it judged?" I asked, Reece just threw his shoulders up.

"I haven't even written my name down on the entry form," he said, and I looked over at him. He stared admired the view and I looked deeply into his eyes and saw the waves he was looking at, and how they danced in his iris.

"why?" I asked, and he looked over at me with a smile.

"I didn't think anyone would turn up and cheer me on," he spoke and I sympathised and recognised the feelings that he held of uncertainty and trust.

"Oh Reece," I pouted back at him, and he laughed.

"It's at my school," he started, "so if you don't want to sit alone you could always bring a friend?" he spoke, but my head immediately dropped to the ground. What friends? "Or my parents," he quickly jutted in, but that too didn't make me feel the most at ease. "Or you don't have to come at all," he then spoke softly at the end.

"I'll see," I said in practically a whisper, but Reece heard. "What song were you thinking of performing?" I asked, his whole face beamed up.

"I've got a couple in mind, but you'll have to come and see," he laughed and I shook my head, he'd got me there.

"maybe I'll bring my brother along," I began to think, River is in to his music and I'm sure he'd come along for my benefit.

"Yeah do, I'll buy tickets for you both," he spoke but I didn't like the sureness about it. The what ifs came flooding into mind, what if Reece and I had a falling out? What if I wasn't even here? What if they were there?

"Cool," I gulped, trying to keep calm again about this situation. Like I was told by my therapist, "comfort is the enemy of progression," I needed to go, for both Reece and I. "Have you invited anyone else?" I asked him.

"Well, it's free to anyone who goes to Kingsley, so a few of my mates will be there, but otherwise you and my parents are the only outsiders," I smiled, the thought of Reece going out of his way and opening a door to show me into his life felt precious to me.

"thank you," I beamed, but he looked at me and shook his head.

"why?" he asked, his hand brushing the grass below.

"for inviting me, it's really sweet of you," I said and he smiled back.

"you're welcome, maybe some time I can come and see your work too, when it's hanging up in a museum or something," he enlightened and I laughed, my work wasn't worthy to be in a museum, they were just quick sketches of scenes that I thought were beautiful, and tried to depict that on a page.

"yeah just maybe," I laughed.