Signs // Ruel

~ five ~

Navi

I made my way back into the kitchen, feeling slightly uneasy due to the lack of food I had in my system, and the fact that I had just spoken to a boy that I have absolutely no chance with.

There's some food set out, and I reach for a slice of pizza that is of course in the middle of the gigantic island, and my 5'2 self still can't grab it even with boots on.

Someone walks near the other side of the island but I don't take notice until their hand easily extends and pulls the box to their side.

"Oh, you wanted some?" The boy, Ruel, questions, reaching for one of the few slices left.

I just stare at him, unsure whether he was playing a joke or genuinely hungry. So I bite my tongue

He grins and begins to walk over to me "I'm just messing with you, here." He hands me the pizza box.

"Thanks" I mutter

Why can't you just be normal and talk to him?

"Are you sure you don't want any? I'm not mean, I will share."

Ok not the best line but it's a start.

"Woah I didn't say you were," he looks at me with wide eyes and adds "you have it, it might make you grow a bit."

"Pretty sure that's not how it works, but..." At that moment a song plays on the speakers outside, and everyone starts cheering. Will calls me over to him and his friends.

"Can you hold this for a sec?" I turn to ask Ruel and he takes the box from my hands, and I walk over to where my name is being called.

"Does this sound familiar to you?" Will questions and I make a face at him. It seemed like a bit of a silly question, since I sat and helped him with the producing. It not a regular occurrence, but I have an interest in music and this one particular track he was really excited about.

"Um yeah" I say, as I pull my phone out from my pocket and find the raw backing track file titled 'NTBY ~ backing' Will had sent me and show it to him, and he laughs along with his friends.

"See I knew you had a bit of help! When you sent the track over to me I was like, Will's good but he isn't THAT good."

"Oh shut up Mr M-Phazes" Will says, throwing his hands up.

I just stand there, looking dumb. A regular occurrence of tonight.

I listen for a couple seconds and let the familiar soulful husky vocals wash over me. Will had also sent me the finished track once Mark, well M-Phazes, had made final touches to it.

"Well you did a very good job, Ruel loved it." Ralph nods to me.

What is going on?

"Oh so you were the mystery help that Will had." The pizza box is now in my hand, courtesy of Ruel slipping into the conversation.

"Yeah, I guess."

The song begins to come to an end and someone in the gardens shouts out "meh, I prefer the live performance," to which I see Ralph connecting a microphone to the speakers, and handing it to a very embarrassed looking Ruel.

Ralph gives him a little nudge and he clears his throat, the sound radiating throughout the entire garden catching everyones attention.

"Erm, hi, hello..." he looks around nervously but also with a smile on his face.

"Even though this party has nothing to do with me, I just want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you here for your support with my music, I honestly can't thank you enough. From my family, to my manager Nate, to Chelsea and of course M-phazes, thank you... but let's not forget the reason we're here. If I were making a toast, it would be to the big man Will, and his incredible new family! Let's hope they don't get scared off by us."

A round of applause fills the night air and I join in, still trying to process what happened.

Ruel's pov

I finish my very impromptu speech and take in the applause from everyone in the yard. My gaze settles on the girl, Navi. I really can't keep my eyes off of her, in a non weird way. She's so captivating, and I've noticed her personality shining through these past couple of hours.

I've been trying to play it cool  thinking she didnt know who I was, and it looks like I was right. She seems almost shocked at the speech I gave, and I can't help but smile at her. She smiles back at me then quickly turns around and makes her way over to a swinging bench in the far corner of the yard.

I hand the microphone back to my dad and decide to join her.

Navi's pov

That's crazy. I've been listening to Ruels music unknowingly for months now, and it's mad to have a face to the voice finally.

I decide to explore the garden a bit more, I want to take it all in. I find a little swing seat thing big enough for two, and look out over the body of water separating us from the twinkling city lights.

I finally grab a slice of pizza from the box and immediately feel so much better.

I didnt realise it was possible to be this hungry.

Just as I get in my feelings over food I feel the seat swing back, and my eyes shoot open from their rest.

"Hey, how's the pizza?" Ruel helps himself to a slice as he says it, and I reply through my mouthful.

"It was sent by the Gods", with my hand over my mouth. Ew I'm so gross.  He makes a face at me as he bites into it.

"I don't agree, this shits disgusting." He picks the remaining pineapple off the top and adds, "I should know better than to show off with pizza."

I laugh and ask "why would you need to show off?"

He turns to me and smirks, "oh, no reason."

"Cool story bro." I say, feeling slightly uncomfortable about our proximity. Why did I just call him bro. Fuck.

"Hahaha, thanks bro" ah thank God he's going along with it.

"So your music is alright" I say casually, "I mean I've only heard one song and that's the one I helped with. Pretty sure theres others too like theres one to do with being young and other one about being confused. Are they you too?"

I must sound so rude right now oh my God just shut up and finish your pizza

"No? Never done anything like that before" he says with a confused look.

Oh crap

"I'm joking! You looked so scared when I said that. Anyway, yeah Younger and Dazed and Confused are on my EP, which Will was great at helping with. Thanks for Not Thinkin Bout You by the way, theres something different about it but I love it so much. Must've been your influence ay?"

"Dude I barely helped. The final version is amazing though, I must admit. You have such a powerful voice, give yourself the praise."

Oh I'm being so bold right now. Theres just something about him - the way his eyes lock on mine when he's listening to me talk, like the stuff I'm saying is genuinely interesting. Eye contact is so important.

I lean back in the seat and he uses his foot to make it rock back and forth and then says softly,

"Thank you so much,  that was really sweet of you...and uhh, you look great by the way."

My heart is racing a mile a minute. I'm pretty sure I'm having a panic attack right now, or a heart attack, I can't think straight.

I abruptly jump off the seat and huff a quick "thanks" before speed walking back in the direction of the house.

Authors noteeeeee

Some words will be different depending on who's pov it is. Like with garden and yard. In England we say garden, or at least I do, and I'm pretty sure in Australia it's called a yard??? Correct me if I'm wrong tho xoxoxoxo