First Choice (Sam Wilkinson/Nash Grier)

Chapter 40

"Jasmine, focus." Shawn lectured, swatting my hand away from the keyboard. "You were playing the wrong chord." he sighed, hitting the three keys rapidly for emphasis. "Sorry." I mumbled, replacing my fingers where his had been.

Shawn was my voice instructor, and every once in a while he'd teach me a little basic piano skills. Shawn was a year below me in school, a junior, but he was way ahead of me musically. I'd been coming to him since my parents split, my mom said I needed something to do and it wouldn't hurt to have more interaction with kids my age. Shawn lived a town over so we didn't go to the same school but I still saw him every other week for my lessons, so we'd grown quiet close.

Our lessons often turned into us just venting to one another about the people in our lives, him telling me about his girlfriend Lauren, and me telling him about Sam and more recently Nash; we always gave each other advice. I'd say he was the closest thing to a best friend that I had besides Sam, except we'd never really labeled our friendship as anything.

"What's up? Why are you so distracted?" he asked, nudging my shoulder while I sat beside him on the piano bench. "Is it Sam?" he asked, playing the beginning of Afire Love by Ed Sheeran lightly.

"No it's not Sam. I've got a date with Nash on Friday." I said reluctantly, knowing very well that Shawn would make a huge deal out of it. I was already nervous enough, I didn't need Shawn pestering me for details when Tasha and Aaliyah were already doing that enough. "Really? where are you guys going?" he asked, his eyes lighting up as his mind probably ran a million miles a minute.

"Would you relax! We aren't dating or anything, it's just one date. We're going to the movies." I said, laughing a little when he grinned at me mischievously.

"The movies, huh?" he wiggled his eyebrows and bumped my side with his elbow.

"Shut up!" I cried, I could practically feel the heat from my cheeks.

He burst into a fit of laughter, yelling out "You like him! You like him!"

He finally stopped after I playfully smacked his arm.

"Will you just teach me how to play the damn notes." I hissed when he wouldn't stop grinning at me.

"I'm sorry. It's just, my little Jasmine has got a date. Oh! maybe we could double!" he gasped, waving his arms around like he was insane.

This is why I didn't want to tell him.

"Oh my god, Shawn. It's one date. We aren't even going out yet and you're trying to arrange double dates?"

He chuckled, "I can't help it, you know I get excited over the dumbest things."

"Yeah, like those damn muffins you always keep in your pantry." I teased.

"Oh, that reminds me that I haven't had one today." he shot up, jogging over to the door.

"Want one?" he asked. I nodded, flipping the page of music and beginning to attempt the next measure of music while I waited for him to get back.

----------------------------------------------

Fast forward to Friday and I was a nervous wreck, as I sat on my bed, picking at my nails and waiting for Tasha and Aaliyah to get here. They had agreed, wait, they had decided that they would help me get ready. Tasha had gotten to my house first because Aaliyah had lax practice after school. Nash wasn't coming to get me till 6:30 so we had enough time. Tasha settled on curling my hair, which I'd made sure to wash and straighten the night ahead. Because my hair couldn't be curled starting from scratch due to the fact that I was mixed and had frizzier hair than most girls with straighter textures, I'd had to stay up late straightening it and wrapping it in preparation for today.