My Only Exception (gxg)

Part 15

"Stop it, you. I'll be right back, I'm going to grab the guitar from my brother's room."

Poppy left to grab the guitar and came back a moment later with it. She handed it to me carefully, along with a pick.

"Any song suggestions?" I asked her.

Poppy looked thoughtful and she then said, "Play the song you did at the open mic night. 'The Only Exception' by Paramore, right? I love that one."

"I'll gladly do that for you," I said, and started to play.

Once again, Poppy looked entranced as I sang to her, and this time I could actually sing to her. Not just notice her watching me in a crowd of people.

"You are the only exception."

"You are the only exception."

Maybe Poppy really is the only exception.

As I looked at her, I wondered if she was thinking the same thing.

When I finished, she clapped delightfully.

"Amazing," she said, "Can I make a few other song suggestions?"

"Of course. I'll look up the chords if I don't know how to play it."

Poppy looked thoughtful for a moment, and she then asked, "Can you do 'Yellow' by Coldplay? It's a favorite of mine."

I smiled at Poppy, "Absolutely."

I had played and sang that before multiple times.

Poppy's eyes lit up when I started strumming on the guitar and singing the lyrics.

"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you."

I couldn't help but smile as Poppy started to sing along with me after the first verse. She was definitely not the best singer in the world, but she didn't care. I could tell she was genuinely enjoying singing along with me, which made me, in turn, genuinely happy.

When we finished, Poppy smiled and clapped again, "That was awesome! You were awesome, Delilah. Me, not so much."

"You're more than welcome to sing with me anytime, Poptart."

"Can we do another?"

"We can do as many as you want. What song did you have in mind?"

"How about...Lights Down Low by MAX?"

"I haven't heard that song in forever. Let me pull up the chords and lyrics."

As Poppy sang along with me, I glanced at her, watching her in her element. She seemed more joyful and relaxed than I had seen her before.

Poppy suggested a few more songs, and after we finished "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar, she said to me, "Do you know what I just realized?"

"What?" I asked, turning to her.

"This is the first time we've hung out and not done something sexual."

Are you...suggesting we do something sexual?"

"No, actually. I'm really enjoying this, Delilah. I'm genuinely enjoying your company."

My mouth tugged up into a smile, "So am I."

"Can I tell you something else?"

I nodded, "Of course."

"I feel like I can be myself around you. I always feel the need to put on a front around people. Whether it be overly flirtatious, sexual, or even defensive. I don't feel that way with you, Delilah."

"Poppy, I...that means a lot to me. I feel the same way."

Poppy looked almost frightened for a moment, and she said, "I'm not trying to freak you out or anything. I just wanted to tell you how I feel."

Without even thinking about it, I put my hand on Poppy's.

"You're not freaking me out," I said to her, "I want you to tell me how you feel."

"I'm not used to being open like this. It's scary."

"I understand. Rejection is one of my biggest fears, and I don't usually admit that out loud."

Poppy cracked a smile, "We're both kind of fucked in the head, aren't we?"

I laughed, "We can be fucked in the head together."

Poppy chuckled and her expression turned more serious, "I won't reject you, Delilah."

I looked right at Poppy, wanting to believe her, "I really appreciate that."

I realized my hand was still on Poppy's as she squeezed it gently and smiled at me.

My breath hitched for a moment just by the smile that Poppy was giving me.

What is this woman doing to me?

And how the fuck am I ever going to explain this to anyone?