Lyrical

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

How long is this ride going to be! I am already tired of standing in a stuffy train, again… This time it is really busy and for some reason there are no seats left. Jock found a seat and Jessie is sitting on his lap. Artie and I are left standing between an old and very tiny man who just keeps staring up at Artie and I.

As the train conductor calls out that they are almost at the next station, the old man says, “Nous sommes trѐs mignons.” (You are both very cute) He pushes himself out of the train with a huge smile on his face. I burst out laughing. “What? What did he say ?” Artie doesn’t know a lot of French. Everyone keeps giving me judging stares but I don’t care, I can’t stop laughing. Why would I fall for my best friend?

“Adelaine, I’m serious! What did he say?” His eyes stare at me with seriousness. “Nothing, he said nothing at all.” I stop laughing and try to pull a serious face. “Well why did you just burst out laughing then?” “I saw someone at the station with a weird… um… hat?” His face looks mad. Now I start laughing at his face.

“You are really mean… you know that right.” He looks away. “I know.” I say while I continue my laughter.

**

One station left, ONE STATION LEFT! We are almost there, finally!!! It feels like I have been waiting for this moment since I was born. The train finally got a little empty and my feet could finally rest. I can’t sit still and Jessie keeps looking up at me weirdly.

“Sit still Laine, I am trying to read my book.” Jessie says trying not to smile. “Sorry but I can’t, I just can’t. Do you know how long I’ve wanted to see my favourite band live? This is a once in a lifetime thing and I am spending it with you guys!!” “You are so sweet.” Jock says in his girly voice.

Ignoring him, I say, “But seriously, you guys didn’t have to do this for me. You didn’t have to all come so far just to cheer me up. And…” “Okay, that’s enough of your sympathy talk.” Artie stands up and sits on my lap, he squeezes me against the window. “Artie, what are you doing?” “A hand please, Jock?”

Jock gets up and puts his hand against my mouth. “Now that should shut her up.” Artie has a satisfying smile. Jessie is sitting in the chair, laughing like a maniac and all I’m trying to do is escape from the grip of the idiots.

“Now Laine, we shall give you a wise lesson and some ground rules. 1. No thinking about the jerk back in Holland. 2. No sympathy talk 3. No crying 4. No trying to kiss one of us…” Artie sounds too funny to be serious. Jessie shouts out a loud ‘Eww’ at rule number 4 and I make a disgusting look.

“Am I allowed to kiss Jess, though?” Jessie blushes and Jock smiles romantically at Jessie. They really are the cutest couple. They stare romantically at each other until Artie and I both decide to clear our throat to break the silence.

Now Jock continues, “5. No playing cards,” Artie looks down at Jock. “What? Why?” “Because it is lame and I don’t want people to think that we are a bunch of weirdos.” He removes his hand. “But we are a bunch of weirdos.” I state. Artie looks mad at Jock. “Hand?”

Jock places his hand back on my mouth. I lick his hand and he immediately removes his hand from my mouth with disgust. “Eww Laine, that’s just disgusting.” I smirk at him and try to push Artie off my lap but he stays seated pretending to not notice me. Jock wipes his hand off on his pants and leans in to Jessie’s shoulder across from us.

Jessie raises her hand, “6. No drinking.” Jock lifts his head. “What, but can we at least have like one beer?” Jock asks. Jock is 18 and since he turned 18, he always convinced everyone that he would drink beer every day for the rest of his life. I’ve never actually seen him drink beer, so that was all a lie. “Okay… but no more. We are here to accompany our lovely friend.” I smile at Jessie.

“7. No drugs or getting into any other sort of stupid business.” I add. I know none of them would do something like that but weird things happen at these festivals. “Pinky promise.” Jock adds, “After all we will have fun listening to music.”

“We need one last rule…” Artie replies. We all think. I add, “8. No arguing.” Everyone nods their heads. “Oooh 9. Have fun!” Jessie adds. “And one more, 10. No sitting on each other laps.”

I push Artie off my lap. Jessie and Jock laugh at Artie and Artie stands up with an annoyed face. As soon as he sits next to me, the train conductor announces that we are about to arrive at the next station. Excitement forms in my stomach because the fantastic journey will begin.