Memory Lane

Chapter 13: Bathroom

(This chapter was inspired by Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill by Joe Iconis, as well as being the song performed here. Mentioned songs: Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya)

It was like the time ran by. Rehearsals. Practices. The days flew, the weeks soared and their practices only got more intense. Sometime after that day, Falcon had made a small attempt to get closer to everyone. Rex was working on the choreography, together with Rachel, who finally had her cast off. Jared was getting the hang of technological know-how with the group and Violet had fully engrossed herself in the group. Miguel, too, stuck around often, helping with harmonies and choreo. He was not too good with tech.

"You alright?" Jared asked, as Falcon called for a break and they broke to drink water. Rachel stared at him with a confused look, before downing half of the bottle. "You look like you could sweat yourself out in that."

"I'm not," Rachel said. Her sports hoodie was breathable and came in dark colours, he could see. He wondered why.

"Well, I'm just saying what I observe," Jared said, eyes fixed on the board, glancing up at Elly who had resigned a little to her fate and placed herself in a wheelchair. She was watching the practices faithfully, with Falcon never hesitating to lend her her deck of cards for practice.

She never lent her cards to anybody...

"Jared?" Violet asked, coming close. She was wearing a flannel, a white and black checkered flannel. He stared for a moment, not used to seeing Violet in a flannel. "Could you pass the water?"

"Oi, little rose, seriously, it's rude to stare," Rachel said, nudging Jared a little.

"Just looking," Jared said, picking up the proffered bottle next to him. "Here."

"Why were you staring?" Violet asked.

"I have never seen you in a flannel before," Jared admitted. "You look pretty."

Rachel's eyes narrowed the slightest bit. Violet had a bit of a surprised look, a bit of a smile. "Oh... uh... thanks."

Jared smiled back. "You're welcome."

Rachel just glanced between the two like they both grew two heads. "... what?"

Violet was about to say something back to Jared, but Falcon and Rex called her, along with Izzy, to break down a dance move since neither of them could quite get it earlier. He loved the moves, just needed a bit of touching up and...

His thoughts about the dance were shut up by Rachel giving him a lenny face over her water.

"What?" Jared asked.

"Are you flirting?"

"No, I was not- I was genuinely complimenting her!" Jared said with exasperation. "I don't even know the difference between flirting and talking."

"Still... not every time you approach someone to tell her that she looks pretty. Heck, I'm not sure if you've even said that to me or Falcon."

"Just a compliment, god! Stop goading me with these things!" Jared laughed, returning to the volume changers of the mics.

"Ooh... you like her in that way..." Rachel teased.

He could feel himself smile even though he willed himself not to fall for her childish antics. "Stop it, the performance is soon."

"You have a crush..." Rachel began to poke Jared's hand, which was resting at the top of the board drumming on the soundboard. "That is so cute!"

"I would hardly call that cute," Jared snarked back, keeping a wary eye on Violet lest she come back and Rachel start teasing both of them. She was still very preoccupied with Falcon and Rex, however, which made him relax a little. "I barely know her."