Love Is Not My Forte

CHAPTER 1

Hi! This chapter is really short just because I want to see what people think of it so far. This is my first story, so any advice would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Nicole <3

       There she is. Sitting front row, her entire face twisted in pure enchantment. I almost lose track of the notes as I shift my attention from the song to her and back again. Soon, this will be over and I can go talk to her.

I finish the song and promptly stand up to bow. As I hold the posture for mere aesthetic purposes, I glance down briefly and catch a glimpse of her delighted face cheering me on. She manages to be the loudest one. Or maybe she’s the only one I care to hear.

As I walk backstage, I am greeted by a million congratulations and I reply with the modest thank you. But now is not the time for trivial achievements. All I can think of is getting out to her.

Finally, I shove through the double doors leading out from the backstage area to the main auditorium. Immediately I am embraced by a mass of brown curly hair that still carries the vague scent of shampoo.

“Brandon, you were amazing! I've never heard a piano sound so beautiful.” The words carry a different weight when they come from her. I try to contain my satisfaction, but I know it’s a futile attempt.

“Thanks,” I hesitate before speaking her name. I can’t bring myself to say the words that I really want to say, Callie, that means a lot to me. YOU mean a lot to me. My smile doesn’t have to be forced like it was with the others. It comes to me naturally. Looking down at her as she pulls away from me, I take in all that she is. The wild curls fuss around her face in their own mess as her eyes look up at me through her thick frames with that light she gets when she’s excited. Her complexion is far from clear, but the bumps and irritated skin are mere beauty marks to me. Her lack of make-up exemplifies her natural beauty. She’d kill me if I said that, though. That’s the weird thing about girls. They like to be told that they’re beautiful, but you can never offer them the full and proper explanation as to why they are. Suddenly, her curled lips flip over as she frowns at me with her brows twisted in her amusing quizzical look.

“What?” I ask her, hoping she doesn’t really want an explanation for the long pause that just occurred.

“You spaced out again. What were you thinking about this time? Another fictitious planet for your imaginary universe?” She’s mocking me, but I can only smile. Sarcasm and mockery from Callie is the highest form of affection. When it happens, I don’t know how anyone can be anything but honored by its presence.

“Was that an unintentional pun, Callie?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You said ‘spaced out’ and then mentioned my imaginary universe.”

She looks down, still with that quizzical expression, only now it morphs into one of thought as she goes over what she said. Then she quickly looks back up at me, amused. Her eyes clearly show that she’s trying to be annoyed with me, but her smile betrays her.

“Yes, that was unintentional. Not all of us are as corny as you, Brandon.”

“Ouch.” I pretend her words hurt me. But I know she doesn’t mean it whole-heartedly.

Still smiling, she rolls her eyes at me before turning to walk away. That’s my cue to follow her. But Callie’s a native New Yorker. She’s able to dart through the crowd with ease while I get stuck behind a group of friends taking their time. I let out an exasperated sigh as I watch Callie walk through the auditorium doors and disappear into the hallway up ahead.

When I emerge from the auditorium, I am greeted by a sea of noise and bodies. But there’s only one that I am desperate to find. I scan over the sea of people, looking for Callie. But my oblivious nature has betrayed me again because when I look down at the person in from of me, I find her.

“Wow. That’s a new record. It took you about a minute to realize I was right here.”

Flustered and slightly embarrassed, I try to come up with an excuse, grasping at any words generous enough to show themselves to me.

“I…uh…I got stuck behind some people. I figured I would…uh…I thought maybe you left already.”

“Why would I leave? I promised the group that we would join them for dinner safe and sound. WE. As in both of us.”

“As in you love me too much to leave me behind?”

“I never said that,” she laughs in response to my idiotic slip. One can only dream.