2 STRINGS

Unexpected but Perfect

Sunday, November 4
Last night felt like a fever dream I wasn't ready to wake up from. But alas, reality waits for no one, not even a girl who just spent the evening with the guy of her dreams—literally. My body ached from the whirlwind of the talent show, the late-night celebration at the restaurant, and the quiet thrill of Xolo's presence. Yet, somehow, my mind kept replaying every detail.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the morning light filtering through my curtains. My phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from Melody.

Melody: "Girl, last night was INSANE. Also, Greg texted me this morning. 😏"

I groaned, not entirely sure whether I was annoyed or amused by her shameless crush on my brother. Rolling out of bed, I stretched, feeling the soreness in my muscles from yesterday's performance. My phone buzzed again.

Melody: "You better get up. We need to talk about Xolo. 👀"

She wasn't wrong. There was a lot to unpack, and it was clear she wasn't going to let me avoid it. I sighed, typing a quick response.

Me: "Be at my house in 30. Bring coffee."

After a quick shower, I threw on some sweats and a loose hoodie. My curls were still a bit wild from last night, so I pulled them into a low bun and let a few strands frame my face. By the time Melody arrived, coffee in hand, I was halfway through a piece of toast.

"Tell me everything," she said the moment she walked in, dropping onto the couch like she owned the place.

"There's nothing to tell," I said, playing coy.

"Bullshit," she shot back, handing me my coffee. "You spent half the night with him, and don't think I didn't notice Mason sulking in the corner every time he looked your way."

I choked on my sip of coffee. "Mason was not sulking."

"Oh, he absolutely was," Melody said, grinning. "But we'll get back to him. First, Xolo. What happened after I left?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to share. "We talked. A lot, actually. He's... easy to be around. Not what I expected."

"And?"

"And nothing. We took them to the restaurant, they met my family, and that was it."

"Uh-huh," Melody said, raising an eyebrow. "You're leaving out the part where he was basically undressing you with his eyes all night."

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks burned. "You're impossible."

"And you're deflecting," she said, leaning forward. "Come on, Jamie. You like him. Don't even try to deny it."

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's complicated. He's... him, and I'm just me. It's not like anything's ever going to happen."

Melody smirked. "You'd be surprised. Besides, you deserve someone who actually sees you for who you are. Not someone like Mason who let Jessica walk all over him."

"Why do you always bring up Mason?" I asked, exasperated.

"Because he's still hovering," she said. "And I'm not saying he's a bad guy, but he's had his chances. Xolo, though? He's different. You light up around him, Jamie. Don't let that go unnoticed."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of girl talk and laughter. Melody stayed for lunch, which Mom prepared in her usual over-the-top fashion. Greg made an appearance, much to Melody's delight, and the two of them exchanged flirtatious banter that had me rolling my eyes every five minutes.

Kooty, meanwhile, was glued to his tablet, occasionally chiming in with random dinosaur facts. "Did you know the T-Rex could crush bones with its teeth?"

"That's great, buddy," Greg said, ruffling his hair.

By late afternoon, I found myself sitting at my desk, staring at my open notebook. The events of the past few days swirled in my mind, and I felt the urge to write them down, to make sense of everything.

I wrote about the concert, the talent show, the way Xolo's laugh sounded like music itself. I wrote about the strange, almost electric connection I felt when he looked at me, like he saw something in me I didn't even see in myself.

And then there was Mason. I hadn't seen him much last night, but Melody's words stuck with me. Had he really been watching me? Was there still something there, or was I imagining it?

I didn't have answers, but writing it all out made me feel a little less tangled

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, my phone buzzed. A notification popped up on Instagram: Xolo Marquez followed you.

I blinked at the screen, a mixture of surprise and excitement washing over me. My fingers hovered for a second before I hit "follow back."

Almost instantly, a DM popped up.

Xolo: "Hey, didn't think I'd find you on here. 😏"

My heart skipped a beat. I quickly typed back:
Me: "Didn't think you'd go looking. 😉"

His response came just as fast.
Xolo: "Had to. I couldn't leave last night without a way to talk to you again."

The butterflies in my stomach were in full flight now. I wasn't sure how to respond without sounding completely smitten, so I went with the truth.
Me: "I'm glad you did. Last night was... unexpected but fun."

Xolo: "Unexpected in a good way, I hope?"

Me: "Definitely."

We chatted back and forth for the rest of the evening, the conversation flowing effortlessly. He told me more about life on the road, his love for music, and how much fun his bandmates had meeting my family. I told him about my music and how the talent show had been the first time I'd performed in front of a crowd that big.

Eventually, he asked,
Xolo: "So, when's the next show? I need to see you perform again."

Me: "Not sure yet. I kind of play it by ear."

Xolo: "Well, let me know. But in the meantime... are you free next weekend? I'm in town for a few days. Thought maybe you could show me around."

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding.
Me: "I'd like that. What kind of tour are you looking for? Food, music, or just the sights?"

Xolo: "All of the above. Surprise me."