Force of Habit

Chapter 14

"So, what's your favorite painting you've ever seen?" I ask Sawyer, grabbing another chip from the basket. 

"I'm not sure really, I like it though when artists pour out their emotion into their work, it makes it more genuine."

"Yeah, I get that. It's the same with music, like if it's a sad song and you can hear the heartbreak in their voice it gets me addicted and I usually put it on repeat continuously until I force myself to stop so I don't keep sobbing. Or someone else rips it away from me so I stop bothering them with my pitiful whimpering. "

"Well hopefully that doesn't happen that often," he says, popping a chip into his mouth.

"Usually around once a month."

"Oh, you mean... that.. right sorry, uh yeah subject change!" Sawyer blushes and becomes very interested in the plastic table cloth.

"No! not that. But... oh okay, you choose the subject," I say, refusing to stop eating the chips and salsa from the Mexican restaurant we're in.

"Fine, uh... So how's that music dream going?" he asks.

"Well, it's still just a dream."

"Well, the sky's the limit, Liv. No, wait, the sky's too low of a target. How does the universe is the limit sound?" 

"Inspirational."

"Good inspirational or cheesy inspirational like the kind you'd put on a poster and hang up in a classroom."

"Cheesy definitely."

"Olivia Steven!" he shouts.

I reply by giving him a cheesy smile.

"Was it really as cheesy as that smile right there?" he asks. 

"Twice as much."

"Olivia Jonathan, I hate you."

"You love me."

"Nah, I don't know..." he says, trailing off.

"Yes you do. What would you do without me?"

"I'd probably still be stuck in a slide."

"True. True..."

"But seriously, you should really just go for it at any chance you get."

"Thanks, but I don't know..." 

"Liv, just don't be so degrading of yourself. I'm sure you're not nearly as terrible as you say. You could do this. Become a professional musician. Live the life you're dreaming of. Just keep working at it and you'll see how far you can get. Okay?"

"Not to ruin the moment, but I'm not going to say 'okay' back. This isn't The Fault In Our Stars, Sawyer Melissa."

"So we were having a moment?" he teases, taking another chip out of the basket and scooping it into the salsa.

"Hey, don't push it."

"Watch me."

"No, but seriously how does that sound?"

"About the music dream?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Well, actually, there's this guitar shop where I go to sometimes that is doing this talent show thingy. Anyway I was thinking about participating in it. What do you think?"

"Honestly?"

"Yeah, honestly."

"I can't think of a reason why you shouldn't. When is it?"

"Tomorrow."

"What are you planning on singing?"

"I don't know yet..."

"Well then what are we still doing here!? We need to figure out a song for you to sing," he says, leading me out of the booth, and paying for the food.

"Wait, what if it's a flop?" I ask, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.

"You can only get better, right? You keep trying and I'll be here to help when I can. I'm pretty musically challenged. Okay?"

"This isn't The Fault In Our Stars, Sawyer Jane."

————————

A/N:

hey guys, so this is an incredibly short update, but I don't want to make this super long. These chapters are actually probably going to be getting shorter, but if that means more consistent updates, that's a good thing ( I think).

-LN