Strings

Chapter 9

"I'm just a little nervous is all... I'm meeting Ethan after a few months." Chris says nervously.

"You'll be fine. What time are you meeting?" I ask.

"At Lois shops at 4 and then we are heading to my place." He speaks.

"Do you want to meet up before that?" I ask. "I think I'm meeting Blake and Luna at Lois shops."

"Oh I'm busking this afternoon so yeah. You can sing with me again." He chuckles.

"I'll think about it." I say.

"Great! Hey I'm just about to head into History. I'll get your homework during the day." Chris says.

"Yeah sure thanks. I'll see you later." I smile.

"Yeah see you later." He hangs up.

I pretty much spent the whole day on my laptop staring at my unfinished working and wondering what would happen if I finished it.

It was finally 3 o'clock when I decided to walk to Lois shops seeing as it was a 5 minute walk. I changed into black vans, a light blue pair of jeans, a plain white t-shirt and a red flannel Chris lent me one time.

I reach there in no time to see Chris strumming his guitar with passion as groups of people stop and stare, mostly people from school and by people I meant girls with a rare boy in there. I smile as he sings Steal My Girl by One Direction.

"She belongs to me na na na na na na" He sings. He spots me and smiles as he finshes up. Once he strums the final chord some girls drop money into his case with a flirty smile or a wink. He tells the crowd he's taking a quick break and puts his guitar down. I approach him and he pulls me in for a hug.

"Hey Rosie!" He hugs me, his cologne drives me mad.

"Hi Chris!" I smile. I notice some girls roll their eyes. "You still nervous?"

"Yeah a little. I mean what if-"

"Chris no what if's. You can not let what if's control your life choices and feelings." I cut him off. I still let what if's control me and it's ruined me.

"You're right. How is it that you are always right?" He asks. How could one guy be so great?

"I have no clue." I smile.

"I think I'm gonna end it after one more song. Wanna join?" He smiles. I look at the small group that disbanded during Chris's break.

"Oh what the hell." I smile. "What should we sing?"

"Everything has changed." Chris says. I nod.

He begins strumming as I stand next to him with the microphone. We keep singing continuing to look at each other, the crowd looks with curiousity.

"Come back and tell me why. I'm feeling like I've missed you all this time, oh, oh, oh. And meet me there tonight. And let me know that it's not all in my mind." We sing together.

"I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now. I just wanna know you, know you, know you." I sing softly. I look at Chris, he smiles with admiration.

"All I know is we said, "Hello." And your eyes look like coming home All I know is a simple name. Everything has changed. All I know is you held the door. You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed." We sing to each other.

"All I know is we said, "Hello." So dust off your highest hopes. All I know is pouring rain and everything has changed. All I know is a new found grace. All my days I'll know your face. All I know since yesterday is everything has changed." We finish together. The crowd claps and puts money in Chris's case.

We pack up his stuff together as Scott and Luna join us. "My mum's car is here. I'm just gonna put this away." He says as he grabs his equipment.

Once he is out of hearing range Blake and Luna ask me so many questions.

"One at a time." I say.

"Did you actually kiss-"

"KISS?" Blake interupts.

"Shh... yes." I hush him.

"Wow was it good?" Blake smirks.

"Well yeah but oh gosh I think I blew it."

"No way. He adores you." Blake says. "And if he mistreats you he's dumb." Blake hugs me.

"Thanks Blake." I say. I pull away. All of a sudden a pair of familiar arms wrap around my waist protectively.

"Hey Chris." I smile softly.

"Ethan just texted me. He's here. I was wondering if you wanted to help film the video." Chris asks. I look to Blake and Luna, Luna nods rapidly and Blake smiles.

"Sure." I state. "I'll see you two on Sunday." I say as Chris leads me to a bench. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a boy with brown hair in a beanie approaching us.

"Chris!" He cheers.

"Ethan!" Chris smiles as they hug.

"Ethan this is my friend Rose. Rose this is Ethan. She's going to help film." Chris introduces us.

"Nice to meet you Rose. Sounds good!" Ethan grins. He was quite good looking. It seems that he's grown a lot since The Voice Kids. His jaw was way more defined and his hair was done different.

We end up walking to Chris's house, the two of them reminisce about The Voice Kids tour. I slip in a few sly comments causing them to laugh. We reach the house in no time and head straight to the backyard to see everything set up already.

"So what are you guys singing?" I ask.

"Little Things by One Direction." Ethan answers.

Chris gets his guitar and does a quick run through while I set up the camera. Once they finish they begin. I get a couple shots of them playing by the pool and joking around. Chris randomly grabbed a flower and handed it to me with a smile.

We finished by 5:30 and just relaxed as Chris started to edit it.

"So Ethan are you staying for long?" I ask.

"Just for the weekend. I'm probably gonna visit next week though since it's the end of the term next week." Ethan says. He leans back on Chris's bed. My phone begins playing the opening theme of Ed Sheeran's 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You'.

I answer to hear my mum's voice. "Where are you?" She asks.

"Chris's house. Why?" I ask.

"I was just worried is all. Do you want D-"

"No. He doesn't know. It's cool I'll-" I look at Chris who nods mouths 'pass me the phone'. I hand it to him as he speaks to my mum. Chris walks out the room and Ethan gives me a smirk.

"So are you and Chris together?" He asks.

"No umm... we're just friends." I speak quietly.

"Mhmmm..." He smirks.

"Seriously Ethan." I groan.

"Even if you are 'just friends' I bet you are going to be more than that soon." He says. "I mean how do you not see the way he looks at you? It's like you are the only thing he sees."

"Look-"

"Rosie I checked with your Mum and she's cool with you spending the night. Ethan you're staying right?" Ethan nods.

"Wait really?" I ask. Chris nods with a smile.

"I was thinking we set up a movie marathon in the lounge." Chris smiles. He goes to his cupboard and hands me some clothes.

"Alright I'm going to get changed in the bathroom." I smile. I walk out the room and think about what to do about the way I feel.

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ETHAN HAS JOINED!