All I Can Do Is Shrug

Chapter 9: Who You Are

"Woah." I hear Derek say quietly. "I know I'm not the best singer. But my voice is still adjusting." I say blushing at the fact that my voice cracked at one of the low notes that I was supposed to hit.

Some people's voices crack when they hit high notes, mine cracks at lower notes.

Derek turns off all the lights and the mic and then walks to the stage. "Okay maybe you did but other than that, you hit all the notes and it sounded just like I had planned! Roseanne, you're the key!"

I blink at him, "Huh?" He laughs, "Sorry that sounded creepy, didn't it?" I nod at him, "Uh yeah it did. It sounded like you were gonna sacrifice me to some false god."

He laughs and scarily goes "Muahahahaha!" I yelp and jump cause I really didn't see it coming. "Derek that isn't funny!" I yell at him while pushing his shoulder. "Yeah it is cmon admit that it was a little funny." I cross my arms across my chest and I'm fighting the urge to smile. "Is that a smile I'm seeing from Little Miss Tough Chick?" Derek asks while softly hitting his fists playfully against my arms, urging me to smile.

"Okay so it was a little funny. But what do you mean by I'm the key?" I ask still a little skeptical that he used that word specifically. "I mean you can help us. With your voice and with us playing in the key you're used to singing in, we could win the contest!" Derek tells me practically jumping up and down with excitement.

"I didn't know you guys were in a contest. I thought you guys were just performing wherever." I say while getting off of the stage.

"Yeah I didn't really tell you about that. Nobody else besides the band knows about it. We didn't wanna tell anyone until we were sure that we've been accepted into the contest. And now that I've heard you sing, we might have a chance of winning first prize!"

I turn around to look at him and my eyebrows are furrowed, "I never agreed to join the band. I don't even know how you guys play. I don't know what type of band you guys are or what your guy's genre is."

"I'll tell you all of it! What if you watch one of our practices? We have one tonight at 6:30 at my house. I'll pick you up and I'll buy you food. How's that sound?" Derek asks me. I look at his face and I can see how desperate he is for me to consider joining. I sigh deeply and I reluctantly agree. " I was already invited to watch you guys practice next week anyways but I guess now I'm gonna consider coming and you are for sure buying me food afterwards."

He laughs a little and shakes his head. "I'm serious, Derek! I want a burger with a side of fries and a strawberry milkshake." I stare at him and point my finger at him.

"Haha okay fine. But we should start packing up. The bell's gonna ring in a second." As if the bell was waiting for him to say that, it rings. I look at him skeptically and he just shrugs and moves his fingers, "A magician never reveals his secrets." and he starts walking backwards. But then he trips on one of the chairs and falls into one.

I laugh and offer him a hand up. He takes it, gets up and points a finger at me, "You never saw that." I laugh and I raise my hands up in surrender and say, "Got it got it. Can't risk having your reputation tarnished am I right?"

He nods and smiles at me, "Oh for sure for sure." We start heading up towards the doors and he opens it for me. As we walk out of the building, we continue to talk about the band and how many times they meet up cause apparently Madison is from another city so it takes her an hour or two to get there depending on the traffic.

Derek says something funny and I start laughing but then I see Lauranna, the fake bitch and she's glaring at me. I turn to Derek and I ask him, "Hey do you know what Lauranna's problem is?" He looks up like he's scared, looks past me and then grabs my wrist and starts running.

"Derek slow down! My backpack is still open!" I yell at him but he doesn't seem to hear me. He runs behind another building and that's when he finally stops. I'm out of breath and he doesn't seem phased by the mile that he just put both of our bodies through.

"I... Don't... Why?" I ask him between breaths.

'Oh dear God help me. I think I'm dying.'

I fall onto the ground and lean my back against the wall. He looks down at me. "Oh shit sorry. Here let me give you a hand." He offers me a hand and I gladly accept it and pull myself up.

"So... why were we running?", I ask him when I finally regain some of my energy back. He sighs and looks down. He looks back up and says finally, "Roseanne, I'm gay."

I look at him with widened eyes. Wow... I did not expect that. "Really?" I ask him.

He doesn't look at me, "Yeah. And last year, she was my girlfriend. She kept trying to get physical but I wasn't out yet. I'm still not. Only the band knows and now you too. She kept trying to get into my pants and when I told her no, she lost it and kept telling me that I didn't love her. I didn't but I acted like I did so then no one would find out but I couldn't handle it anymore so I just broke up with her."

I nodded. I mean I get it... well not really but kinda. It's like hiding what makes you you. And if you show it, people can leave. It's a beautiful thing to know who you are but society makes you think that it's a terrible disgusting thing to be yourself.

"Derek... I accept you for you are. You are Derek. You are you. You come out to the world when YOU say it's time. No one else."

He nods, "Thank you. I'm not gonna lie I thought you were gonna end up hating me." I sigh and smile at him, "How can I hate one of the chillest guys I have come to know?" I say while ruffling his hair and putting him in a gentle headlock, "Cmon we gotta go to the Yearbook room. I forgot to get my camera and yearbook pass."
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Aww. Sorry if I made y'all ship Derek and Roseanne. I like them better as friends.

I truly believe that everyone deserves love and equality so please spread love and kindness.

This world is already so dark and we need to brighten it up.

Let me know what you think :)