Summer Love: Before the Spark

Chapter 7

Jesse was sitting on the school's rooftop, her hands resting casually on her lap.

She licked her chapped lips, her tongue slowly moving across her soft bottom lip.

She closed her eyes leaning back a little, enjoying the cool breeze that was blowing gently across her face.

"Hey Jesse."

Jesse opened her eyes and glanced up at Lukas.

"Hey Lukas," She said softly.

The cool breeze made both of their hair sway.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Well," He started, "Something happened."

"Mmm and what exactly happened," Jesse asked curiously, pulling her legs closer to her chest.

Lukas scratched the back of his neck and chuckled quietly. "My accompanist decided to bail on me. Guess I got a little too carried away with the tempo," He said, laughing a bit afterwards.

"And since I don't have an accompanist I want you to be my accompanist!" Lukas exclaimed eagerly.

Jesse choked on air, if that was even possible. She coughed violently and Lukas patted her back.

"Wh-What," She stammered.

"You OK Jesse?" He asked.

"L-Lukas I c-can't," Jesse stuttered, brushing off what he had just asked.

"Please," Lukas pleaded, folding both of his hands.

"Ugh don't g-go that route Lukas," Jesse stuttered.

"O...kay," Lukas said, in a tone that slightly bothered Jesse, "But please just keep it in mind."

Jesse nodded, her face tinted a faded scarlet.

The bell had rung and Lukas stood up, helped Jesse up and they both walked to class.

---

The next day, Jesse opened her spiral notebook and gasped in surprise.

She unintentionally leaned back, her chair nearly falling backwards.

Taped in her notebook was music sheets and Jesse just looked taken aback for a few long moments.

Jesse's doe eyes were wide and her eyebrows were raised in complete surprise.

"Psst.... You OK Jesse?" Olivia asked, leaning closer towards Jesse's desk.

Jesse nodded and quickly closed her notebook, "Just fine."

--

Jesse opened her PE locker, only to hastily jump back when a flood of music sheets came out.

"Seriously....," She muttered, sighing heavily and pinching the bridge of her nose. "How did they even get into my locker!?"

---

Jesse sighed in relief, slowly opening her room door and tossing her backpack into a corner of her room.

Jesse glanced up and felt her heart sink for a moment. "You have got to be kidding me," Jesse mumbled.

Did they seriously get James into this as well?

Jesse frowned, seeing music sheets scattered all over her room.

Jesse shook her head slowly, "Just why," She muttered, rubbing her arm as she groaned loudly afterwards.

----

"Do you think we went too far?" Lukas asked Reuben.

The public bus they were riding came to a stop.

"No don't worry she'll be fine," Reuben assured him.

"Yeah I agree," Olivia added, crossing her legs over the other.

"I still can't help but feel a little bit guilty though," Lukas said, gazing out the window.

"Don't be she won't be very upset over it trust me," Reuben said reassuringly.

"Yeah she won't," Olivia added, agreeing with Reuben.

"But we're forcing her though. Don't you think we should let her decide," Lukas said thoughtfully, making calm gestures with his hands.

Reuben glanced at his lap, "Just to hear her play the piano again would be great and all," Reuben sighed, "But that's not really why I'm doing this Lukas. If she really wants to quit I want it to be on her own accord."

Lukas nodded slowly, gazing at his reflection in the window.

"I never got the chance to hear her play, but she must've been amazing," Olivia said gently.

"Her performance was simply breathtaking," Lukas said faintly, a bright smile starting to form on his face as he recalled how wonderful she played.

"You just had to be there, but...," He trailed off, "I just can't let her quit like that."

He sighed, worry dancing in his glimmering azure eyes.

Silence came between them and the conversation quickly came to an end.

Reuben was fiddling with his backpack strap, weary eyes glued to it.

Olivia yawned, bringing her hand to cover her mouth. She was leaning against her heavy backpack, eyes dropping and falling occasionally.

Reuben cleared his throat and asked Lukas a question, "You heard her play before?"

Lukas nodded steadily and glanced up at the stars which reflected in his azure eyes.

"Yeah I did actually," Lukas admitted quietly.

The bus came to a stop and Lukas stood up.

"I'll see you both tommorow," Lukas said quickly, grabbing his backpack and swiftly swinging it over his shoulder.

"Yep," Reuben said, a small smile forming on his face.

"Yeah," Olivia mumbled drowsily, fiddling with her silky pigtail, "See ya."

With one last smile, Lukas headed off the bus and walked home.

---

What do you think of this chapter? Do you think Jesse will actually do it?

Do you think Lukas, Reuben, Olivia and possibly James did the right thing in order to convince her?

Anyways I'll see ya in the next chapter.