mountains • david dobrik

vi

•

another bus ride and yet another encounter with david dobrik. but, this one was different. no bickering, no snarky comments, no eye-rolling - just conversation.

the old school bus started to move as david's dirty chucks shuffled down the bus's aisles, his calloused fingers brushing against each seat he passed, until he got to his regular spot: the back left corner, next to the girl with tawny hair, bea williams. he smiled at her fondly as he spotted her; she was completely immersed in whatever music was being blasted through her earphones.

that was one of the things he loved about her - her love for music. he liked the way she tapped her feet, without even knowing she was doing it, and the way she could look out of a bus window for hours,  as long as she had the right song to coincide with the moment.

a tap on bea's shoulder sent her out of her music-induced trance. this time the chosen soundtrack was a variety of billy joel's greatest hits. she looked up to see a smug-looking david dobrik, with his usual goofy grin on display. she patted the seat next to her, indicating that she wanted him to sit next to her. this surprised him, as she always protested each time he sat next to her on the bus. this also surprised her, as for the first time since she'd met him, she looked at david and didn't want to punch him in his smug face.

"how was the rest of your day?" he asked, looking out the window at the passing pine trees.

"um... it was ok" bea paused, a slight smile forming on her lips, "thanks to you."

david's cheeks instantaneously flushed a deep shade of red. he turned his head, hoping she didn't notice his reddened face -  he wasn't quite sure of what to reply to that comment. 

without saying another word, bea took one of her earphones out of her ear and gestured it towards dobrik. bea never gave people her earphones. not even her close friends. this was a significant notion and david knew it. he didn't want to fuck this up as he did with most things. dumbfounded, he took the earphone gingerly and placed it in his ear.

piano man began to play. jesus, david thought, this girl always manages to pick the perfect song for the circumstance. the lyrics seemed to be immaculately synchronised to the world around them; this song was the perfect sound to accompany the cold chicago forests that they were passing.

david looked down to see bea inadvertently tapping her foot, just as he expected her to be. he couldn't help but smile. everyone around him probably thought he looked insane, smiling widely in silence. but for once in his life, he didn't care what others thought. he wanted to revel in this moment forever - him sitting beside someone he was starting to form a slight crush on, listening to music, and feeling genuine happiness for once.

he looked across at the seat to the left of him. her slender hand was so close to his leg. the one thing he wanted more than anything else at this moment was to reach over and grab it. 

this was the moment where his rush of euphoria ended: the moment where he realised he was and would never be good enough for her. he sighed and looked away, wallowing in his self-doubt.

the music stopped.

"hey, are you all right?" bea asked, a look of concern showing with the furrowing of her eyebrows.

david hadn't realised, but his sadness was very evident on his face. he was the type of person, where you could tell exactly what he was thinking from his facial expressions. unfortunately for david, his easy-to-read face was completely unintentional and thus completely unchangeable.

david had been suddenly pulled out of his sad daze; he turned around, moving his unkempt, umber hair away from his eyes.

"uhm.. what? uh uh yeah, of course. w-why wouldn't i be?" he stumbled over his words unconvincingly.

bea let out a dismissive hum in response, "ok, whatever you say dude."

bea knew he was not ok and truthfully did care that he was upset, however, she was never good at comforting people. she felt guilty about this, as just a few hours ago, david was sitting across from her underneath the bleachers, listening to her vent about her problems. in fact, it tore her up inside that she didn't say anything more - that she didn't say i know you're not ok or placate a simple i'd be happy to listen. but the moment had officially passed.

she inhaled sharply, "since i've run out of billy joel songs..." she paused for dramatic effect, "would you like to pick the next song?"

david clutched his chest actorly, pretending to have won the most prestigious award, "woah i can't believe that this day has finally come. i'd be honoured." he exclaimed sardonically.

bea chuckled, "hurry up before you get your music privileges taken away."

"woah this is a lot of pressure", he paused, pondering the question of what song to choose.

he grabbed bea's phone to type in his chosen song title, and of course, bea protested. she was instinctively protective of her phone, her most private and precious item.

"stop it! i want the song to be a surprise," david whined, almost stroppily.

bea sighed, and reluctantly let him type the song into apple music's search bar. why does he have to be such a slow typer? she complained internally as she watched david clumsily type with his fat fingers.

soon enough the intro guitar sequence of 'everybody wants to rule the world' by 'tears for fears' began to play.

bea nodded in approval. 

jesus, bea thought, he has managed to pick the perfect song for this moment.

•

i hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though it was pretty short. my writing style is changing and developing as i write this book, so i hope it's satisfactory haha.

thanks for the votes and reads, guys!

words: 1025

much love :)