Bride by Design

C H A P T E R 5

ONE WITH A TALENT

Karyssa

"Don't sit there looking all glum when I managed to teach your screeching class of banshees how to sing like the sweet little cherubs their parents prayed they'd be."

Lauren stopped the ball that bounced out of play and kicked it back to the sweaty kid across the field. She had finished her hour and a half long lesson with our group and found me idling near outside the building.

"That face could be excused four days ago but after hearing them during rehearsal? You carrying the weight of the world or something? Smile."

And smile, I did.

The children would be competing next friday and we're grateful that we got them stage-ready. Despite her total inexperience and obvious dislike in dealing with kids, Lauren managed to succeed in her mission. Also, she might not want to admit it but she's warmed up to them a tad.

"Would you come see them perform?" I handed her a ticket which she accepted as if I just presented her with an unpinned grenade. "Won't you want to see them win?"

"I'm confident they will so there's no need to." Despite hesitating, she pocketed it and said, "I'll try though."

"You'll try? Well, that's something new."

I chuckled when she knew I saw through her and she just shrugged it off. We both knew that 'I'll try' meant an indefinite 'No'. She didn't want to tell it straight but was very adamant about not accepting the invitation; as she said, she's not good with little humans.

I made my way in to the main building with Lauren trailing behind me. Most of the students already left with their guardians so it was quiet and the hallway was traffic-free.

"They'll be thrilled to have you there, Lauren."

"I'll see if I could swing by." Again, she was committing to nothing and I didn't want to press. Changing the topic, she asked, "You not leaving yet?"

"I am. I just have to grab my stuff from the faculty room. You could go ahead. You must have another gig lined up."

"Not until eight. Let's go together." Waving the pay she received for her trouble, she grinned. "I'll buy you something to eat. Paying you forward for last time's buffet."

"Buffet is stretching it. A plate and unlimited tea barely counts." Rent was almost due. I couldn't take her offer and let her spend what Bianca and I paid; it was not much. Frankly, it seemed like we just robbed her of her time and talent. " You don't have to. Save it."

She lightly tapped my head with the envelope, "My money, my problem and if you're worried about rent, don't. I got it covered. I received my pay from my day job. I could even cover your half if you're short."

She earned that much?

"A day job?"

"The usual blue-collared jobs," she deflected. "I do what I can to make ends meet until I could actually sell my songs."

Not that I have any idea what she did in the mornings but I sure knew she worked the night like day. "Where do you get all that energy from?"

"Just motivated, I guess."

"Could you give me some from your infinite supply? Some days it takes a limb just to get up in the morning." Motivation left me long before I left and hasn't come back since. "What's the secret?"

"It's no secret. The fear of homelessness and starving to death don't motivate you?" Lauren paused and leaned beside the faculty's entrance. "Sometimes, it keeps me awake at night, I tell you."