You'll Find a Way

Chapter Three

"Wait, we have to sing?" I gulped. "In front of everyone?" A few students snickered around me. I had slight stage fright. I was never able to see where I was going, so I was always scared that if I had to walk around, I'd fall off the staging area. You'd guess it'd be easier for me, since I can't see the audience, but every cough, breath and snicker is swirling through my mind. The energy is tense; radiating from the bodies of students around me. When I was little, I was never afraid of an audience. At age four I sang for a commercial, and as a baby I was in photoshoots. I guess when my vision dissapeared, so did my confidence. 

 Ms.Bradshaw replied, "Yes, is there a problem with that?" Her voice was stern, as if she was telling me I was going to sing no matter if I like or not. 

"Uh, no, no problem at all." I stammered. I felt Josh's hand on my thigh and I turned to look at him. Without any idea of what he looked like, I was just hoping he was hot.  The bell rang, dismissing us for the day. Retrieving my bag and tightening Rosie's leash, I listened to Ms.Bradshaw's last words.

"I expect you to have a song ready by Wednesday. I'll see you then." With that, the class quickly filed out of the classroom, me following everyone. 

Not sure where Rem was, I demanded, "Rosie, find Rem!" The golden retriever started to sniff the ground and walk forwards. Within five minutes, Rem's hand was in mine.

He spoke first. "Mom said she can't get us today, and dad works, so we'll be walking." I groaned, pushing open the front door and pulling Rem through it. "Oh, and I'm going to a friend's house. I can walk home with you first, if you'd like." He continued to say.

"No Rem, it's fine. Rosie knows the way home. Go, I'll see you later." Step by step, Rosie led me towards my house. About five minutes after I started walking, I heard my name being called. 

"Isabelle!" Josh called out. I forze and waited. The engine of a car cut off and moments later, Josh was talking to me. "Want a ride home?" I nodded, but told him I would need him to call my mom and tell her what was going on. I gave him her cell phone number, and he soon handed me his phone.

It rang twice before my mom's voice rang in my ear. "Hello, Alecia (Ah-lee-see-ah) Carter speaking."

"Hey mom, I was just calling to tell you that I'm getting a ride home from a friend of mine." Josh nudged me.

"Ask if you're allowed at my house for a little while." He whispered in my free ear. When I nodded, I turned my attention back to my mom's voice.

"Hey mom," I hesitated, taking a deep breath. "Could I go to his house?"

Josh's POV

"Hey mom," She hesitated slightly, taking a deep breath. "Could I go to his house?" A smile reached her lips as her mom replied. "Yes, I know..... I have Rosie with me.... Yes, mom. It's a boy." She chuckled slighlty into the phone. Her laugh was so light and playful, it brought a smile to my face. "His name's Josh...." I tuned back into what she was saying. "Yes, I will. I'll be home in time to take them, mom. Don't worry, Josh will drop me off before it gets to that point." What was she talking about? What did she have to take? Medication? "Mom, I got to go. I'll see you later. Love you too. Bye!" Just as she was starting to pull the phone from her ear, she groaned and listened a bit longer. "MOM, THAT'S JUST WRONG. I'M HANGING UP NOW, BYE!" She snapped the phone shut and held it out to me, who was chuckling at her little outburst.

Still laughing, I asked, "What'd your mom say?" 

"Just that I need to be home in time to take my pills, and to be careful." A blush heated her cheeks at the end and I laughed. I'm guessing that her mom didn't say to be careful in the same way as Isabelle said it, but I had a feeling Isabelle wouldn't tell me. She'd be too embarrassed. "Let's go." She mumbled. I dragged her towards the passenger seat and helped her in. Then, I ran around and took a seat in the driver's place. Revving the engine, we started down the road, the radio playing.

Taylor Swift's Eyes Open came on the radio, and just as I was about to switch it off, Isabelle began to sing along after the first introduction verse. "The tricky thing is yesterday we were just children, playing soldiers, just pretending, dreaming dreams with happy endings. In back yards, winning battles with our wooden swords, but now we've stepped into a cruel world, where everybody stands and keeps score." Her voice was soft and melodical, making me want to listen to it all day. She could reach the high notes with ease, and match perfect pitch with Taylor Swift's voice. "Keep your eyes open. Everybody's waiting for you to break down, everybody's watching to see the fallout. Even when your sleeping, sleeping, keep your eyes open." She sang the rest of the song, totally forgetting the fact I was in the car with her. When she finished, she continued to just sit there, listening to Rosie whine in the back seat.

"That was amazing." She jumped in surprise and fright. 

"Josh! Oh, I forgot you were there." She informed me shyly.

A grin took place on my lips. "You're an amazing singer. You should be my partner for the assignment." Confidence filled me to the brim. I was positive she would say yes.

"Of course, Josh. Why wouldn't I?" She laughed.

"I know, how could you resist all this?" I gestured to myself after pulling into the driveway.

A bark of laughter escaped Isabelle's soft pink lips. "Josh, I can't see if you're hot or not!" She giggled.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm hot as ever." 

A/N: The next chapter is going to be mainly at Josh's house, and that stuff. and yeah.. well, I'm not supposed to be posting today, it's off schedule, but WHO CARES? I'll post on Saturday if I have time.