All I Can Do Is Shrug

Chapter 11: Truth Is...

After a 5 of rehearsals and lying to my mother about where I was, we finally got a break.

"Ugh I'm so exhausted." Blake says as we sit on the couch that's in the Derek's garage aka our rehearsal space. "Me too. I just wanna go somewhere where I don't have to use my vocal chords. My throat is so sore..." and before I could finish my sentence Caiden decides to cut in and say, "That's what she said!" and he explodes with laughter.

Jeremy shakes his head, "Women are not made for your sexual use, Caiden. You should learn to respect them. If it wasn't for women, we wouldn't have been born so next time you make a joke about sex make sure it's to make fun of us men. We don't deserve women."

Caiden rolls his eyes, "It was just a joke, Jer. No need to start a whole protest as well." We all laugh and Jeremy rolls his eyes. "So where do you guys wanna go?" I ask everyone but they all shrug. I sigh and get up. "Let's go get Subway and hang out at a park."

Everyone looks at each other as if asking each other if that was a good idea and then they start getting up. "But shouldn't we practice some more today guys? I don't think we've practiced enough!" Derek shouts. "Derek, it takes Rose and Caiden two days to learn a song, it took Madison and I a day and a half to learn the chords, it took Blake an hour and it took you a while to learn how to play the song on the drums and you got so frustrated when you missed something. You're letting this contest thing get to your head. Sure the audition is next Friday but we've been practicing non stop. Let's just have some fun for a bit." Jeremy says as he puts on his jacket and swings his arm around Blake's shoulders.

Derek sighs and finally agrees to go out with us. I get into Jeremys car with Blake while Derek gets into his car with Madison and Caiden. A few minutes later, I look up and I realize that Blake and Jeremy are both jamming out a little too hard to the song 'The Way' by Mac Miller and Ariana Grande.

I raise an eyebrow and then I yell over the song, "Hey Jeremy!" Jeremy looks at me and then turns down the volume of the stereo. He and Blake laugh as he does and he asks, "What's up?" "How old are you?" He takes a left, "I just turned seventeen. Why?"

My eyes widen, "You're barely seventeen? I thought you were eighteen." He laughs. "Yeah well I'm a junior not a senior. I'm just in Advanced Placement classes. Everyone assumes I'm a senior and that's also one of the reasons why so many senior girls hit on me. They think I'm legal." he jokes.

"But you're not dating anyone?" I ask him. "I'll answer your question when you put your seat belt on, young lady." I laugh and I do as he says, "Okay 'Dad' but for real are you dating anyone?"

Tension fills the car and all you can hear is the radio playing softly. "Well um I don't know. Uh I guess I am?" Jeremy asks. I look at Blake and her hair is covering her face but I can tell she's blushing. "You guys are dating huh?" I ask. Blake looks up super fast and Jeremy starts coughing.

I chuckle and ask, "And I'm assuming no one knows?" They both look at each other and we pull into the Subway parking lot. Blake turns around, "Look Rosie, I like you a lot and we are trusting you not to tell anyone. We really like each other but Derek has this big rule of dating inside the band. Also, not to mention that Caiden would totally kill me and Jeremy if he found out. Well more like he'd kill Jeremy. So can you promise not to tell anyone? Please?"

I look at her and smile. I think they more than like each other. "Of course I'll keep your secret. It makes a lot of sense that you guys are dating. You guys look good together." She smiles back and Jeremy sighs in relief. We see Derek's car pull in next to us and I whisper in Blake's ear, "I'm a lot better at keeping secrets than you might think."

She looks back and I nod. She whispers right back, "And I think I know one of yours." And we see Caiden hop out of the passenger seat of Dereks car and she looks at me and winks.