Wanting Winter(73)

“Well, obviously, he does.” I continue laughing.

“What were you two talking about?”

“He asked me to watch him practice sometime and invited me to a party.” Karen’s mouth hangs open.

“Colin Baxter asked you to a party? Holy shit, he likes you. He wouldn’t ask you to go if he didn’t like you.” She squeals.

“He was just being nice.”

“He likes you.” I feel my face blush.

“Come on, let’s practice and stop talking about Colin.”

“Yes, please. I can already feel my mind turning into mush,” Brady, our drummer, groans. Brady looks like a stereotypical nerd. Gel slicked brown hair, huge dark framed glasses, and a love for plaid shirts. But, damn, he can play. People are always in awe when they watch him.

“Sorry Bards.” Karen gets to her spot. I adjust my microphone that’s right in the center. I turn to make sure Karen is ready and she gives me a thumbs up. I look to my right to see Leo, our bassist, is also ready. Leo is more on the gothic side, with black eyeliner and black hair but he’s a fun guy.

I face forward and when Brady taps his sticks and starts to play, we all join in at the right moments. When it’s time for me to sing, I close my eyes and let the words come out of me. I don’t need to see what I’m doing. I’ve been playing the guitar since I could hold one.

We play the song three times until we are happy with it and have adjusted any keys we feel needed improving. We really do work well together as a team. Music is our life; we breathe, eat, and sleep music and if we want to make something of ourselves, we need to be perfect. The talent show is going to be a big step up.

We continue the same flow with a few of our original songs and some covers. We want the covers to sound more like us, to put our stamp on them. After a couple of hours, we all take a break and sit on the old couch that sits on the left side of the room.

“I always think we can’t get better, but, somehow, we do, if that’s even possible. We are going to blow everyone’s socks off at that talent show.” I look over at Karen and see she is on Facebook, updating our page. Not many people have liked our page yet, mostly close friends and family, but it’s a start.

“Okay, done.” Karen puts her phone away. “I think we rocked ass.” We chuckle at her. “So, what about this party? Are you going?” I groan.

“I don’t know.” That’s the truth. A part of me wants to go, that’s the part that really wants to see Colin again.

“I think you should.” Karen looks at me.

“I’ll think about it. I don’t really want to go on my own though and look like a weirdo sitting in the corner with no friends.” That’s also true; I would look so pathetic if I went on my own, not talking to anyone and eye stalking Colin. Yeah, not an impression I want to give off.

“We can go if you don’t think Colin would mind.” Karen shrugs. It is a party, and if he invited me, he wouldn’t mind me inviting my friends, he would understand I couldn’t go on my own.

“That would be great.” I smile and Karen squeals, making my ears pop. “We are going to a real house party, just like in the movies.” She shakes my arm in excitement.

“Please don’t be like this at the party.” I moan.

“Be like what?” She looks at me, confused.

“All high pitched and hyper.”

She scoffs “I can be cool.”

“Cool people don’t say they are cool,” Brady adds in and she sticks her tongue out at him. “So, is that invite open to all of us?”

“I don’t see why not.”

We chill for a little bit before everyone starts to grab their things and leave. I tidy up and close the garage door and decide to take a walk. With mom going on another date, there’s no need for me to be inside yet.

I put in my earphones, pressing play on my phone. The first song that hits my ears is Disturbed ‘The Sound of Silence’. I start walking with no destination in mind. I aimlessly wander, music playing. Thinking about everything.

Past, present, and future.

I’m still in my own head when I realize I’m at the lake. Looking out into the water, I decide to sit down on the clean-cut grass, my knees tucked into me. It's moments like this where I miss my dad.

He loved going for walks. Every weekend he would wake me up just so we could come here and watch the sunrise, staring in awe as the colors hit the sky. We would just sit there and watch, no words being said.

I hate that God took him away from me. Well, if there is a God. It’s a selfish thing to think, but I wished he took someone else, knowing I needed him. He gave me my most precious gift; music.

He bought me my first guitar, he took me to so many concerts, allowing me to listen to all kinds of music, making me appreciate that each type is just as special, just as moving, as the last. I want him to see me play. Even just once.

I sigh, closing my eyes. “I miss you, Daddy,” I whisper. My eyes are still closed when my body is suddenly being pinned down. When I open my eyes in shock, they connect with clear blue ones.

“Colin, are you trying to give me a heart attack?” My breathing comes in fast.

“I saw you sitting here and, what can I say? I couldn’t help myself.” He smirks at me.

“Are you just going to keep laying on top of me?” His eyes go dark at my words. It's then my body starts to come alive, Energy vibrating through as his body presses into mine.