Daniel and I acted like the conversation with Jack never happened, and he even went as far as to keeping his friend out of the dorm until we were done with our trip into the city later tonight. I was now in an all-black outfit, my hair tied up in a bun and I stood outside of the blue room. I was with another art student, but she didn't talk much and her phone practically glued to her hands. Corbyn was at a different area, and also showing Christina around the place.
We had a few people come in and out of the room, almost all for the purpose of posting pictures online, and a few wanted the picture for their own needs.
"Hey cousin," Zach appeared, holding a candied apple in one hand. "Do I have to pay for a picture?"
"If you want to a picture with the polaroid," I gestured to the camera on the table in front of Miss My-Phone-Is-Everything. "But if you're using your own, then it's free." He nodded, handing me his phone and asking me to get his good side, earning a roll of my eyes as I snapped a few pictures, two of which I purposely moved my hand to blur it
"Why are you like this?" Zach asked exasperated with my behaviour, I only sent him a grin. He squinted his eyes at me suspiciously, "You're being giddy, you're rarely ever giddy—last time you were giddy was because your freshman crush had finally liked a picture of you."
"Do you really have to bring that up?" I asked in offence, "I admit that freshman year was not the best year for me when it came to crushes, but damn, you're holding that against me."
"You have a list of things to hold against me," he retorted. "Anyways, what are you doing later? Dad and I were planning on exploring."
"Can't," I responded immediately, arranging the polaroid examples on the table, "I'm going out with Da—" I caught myself, and slowly looked up to see Zach who was still squinting, and slowly, but surely, a wide grin appeared and a laugh of triumph escaped his lips.
"I knew it!" He claimed, lifting his arms up, "Yes!"
"Oh stop being so immature, we're going out as friends since he owes me," I explained, rolling my eyes, "is that all or are you going to stick around and continue to annoy me?"
"I wish I could, but I've got more things to do," he said, walking towards his dad that was already done the hall. Zach then stopped, looking at me with a smug grin, "Have fun on your date."
"It's not a date!"
—
I hadn't met Daniel the entire event because his activities were in the other side of campus. The day had felt quite bland without him around to make a fool out of himself. It was only until after everyone started going home did Daniel finally come to where I was.
"Hello stranger," he greeted, "Do you mind taking a pic? I'm trying to achieve a blue theme on my Instagram."
"Sure, Polaroid or phone?" I asked.
"Phone." He handed me his phone before we entered the place. "This really came out nice."
"Yeah I know, right? Okay smile or... Whatever." I snapped a few pictures of him before handing the phone to him. "They come out good?"
"More than good, hey, I can benefit from this friendship with how good your photography skills are," he compliments, "I'm on my way to a better Instagram feed."
"Okay, chill Seavey, if you're paying me then sure I'll do it," I jokingly responded. "Do you wanna leave now? The other students will be cleaning up the entire exhibit—mostly the students that didn't bother helping out."
"Okay good, we'll have to catch the bus then." The two of us walked an arm's length away from one another towards the bus stop, where we waited for a few minutes until one came by. We only sat for a few minutes until we stopped, paid and climbed out. We were in a more lit up part of town; stores lined the place and I was waiting for Daniel to lead the way.
We stopped in front of dimly lit place, but it seemed to have a crowd inside. "Is this the place?"
"According to Yelp, yeah it is," he nods before pushing the door open. "It apparently has the best double cheese with bacon burger."
"Oh wow." It was calming area; candles hung from the ceiling, the place warmer than the outside, but in a comforting way. Tables filled the place but created enough space for people to move around. There was a stage there, a guitar placed at the far back and a microphone stand in the center.
He and I found a seat in the back, close to the stage. The waiter came by, handing us the menus before sending a quick smile and walking away to attend to others. "Should we get the same thing?"
"Sure," I nodded, "Just get me a chocolate milkshake."
"You like chocolate?" I nodded, then asked, "You don't?"
"Nope," he shook his head, "but I'm not gonna argue on which flavor is superior... Even if vanilla is the best out there."
"I'd expect you to have some very complicated flavor, I didn't expect vanilla," I admit, my lips quirking up in a teasing smirk. "Like rocky road or chocolate mint."
"Actually, I do enjoy chocolate mint." I rolled my eyes. "I don't know why I don't like chocolate, maybe it's because I tasted dark chocolate or pure chocolate for the first time, and that ruined all for me."
"Dark chocolate's the best one, what are you talking about?" He and I began to argue over why it wasn't or why it was, even when we had ordered, once the waiter had left we still talked about it.
"Okay, okay, I'll try your chocolate milkshake to see if it'll change my view on the flavor," he said, gesturing for me to slide my drink and I did. He took a quick sip, tasting it before shaking his head. "Nope, no."
"Fine dude, you're missing out on the fun," I scoffed childishly, taking a sip from mine. The waiter then came back with our food, and I glanced at the stage, to Daniel and then to the waiter. "Is the stage for employees only?"
He shook his head, "No, anyone can perform, why are you thinking of performing?"
"Not me—" I looked over at Daniel who had his eyes wide "—but he's on a full scholarship for music at Laguna Coast."
"Oh good, I'll ask someone to help with turning the system on," he informed excitedly, "We haven't had anyone perform in weeks." He didn't hesitate to rush towards the back, and I could see through the window at the back that he was happy, how his arms flew around his head and the immediate reaction to his co-workers.
"Mason, what the hell?"
"It's not enough that Laguna knows about your talent, alright?" I told him honestly. "Just go up there and perform whatever you want." He nods stiffly, turning to the stage and spotted the guy fixing up the microphone.
"Good evening everyone, we have a special performance from a local college student here," the waiter from before introduced, "give him a warm welcome." Daniel stood up and walked to the stage, sending a warm smile to the audience before taking a chair and the guitar.
"Hey, my name's Daniel Seavey and this is La Vie En Rose by Louis Armstrong," he started off before positioning his fingers at the chords and began strumming. He had his eyes closed, letting himself go with the music. "Hold me close, and hold me fast. This magic spell you cast..."
As he sang, I watched in awe how he looked genuine while singing, pure and vulnerable. His talent deserved to be known to the world, and it sucks that he has to hide it in college for a few years, but it'll come together in the end for him.
He opened his eyes for a moment, glancing towards me as he sang, "And when you speak, angels sing from above... Everyday words seem to turn into love songs."
And in that moment, it became clear—I was forming feelings for this boy.
—🌹—
AYE WE REACHED 200 READS. holy crap tho like legit i can't homigod. I have no idea how, where and what happened with this story but you bet your asses that im fricking happy rigHT now.
btw, THESE GIRLS IS OUT AND-- im dead, an ACTUALLY BOP. CANT WAIT FOR THE MUSIC VIDEO (and ignore how i thought the video would come out first from the previous update, i apparently cant read).
and the song Daniel sang, he also covered it (if u dont stalk his old youtube channel, now you know) and it's the video above.. bless your day with it :)
ALSO happy Eid Al Adha to my muslim readers (if you're out there) and that's gonna be the reason why i wont be able to update from Friday til Monday, cuz celebrating and will be out a lot and away from internet :( but hey, you can reread the chapters and find the story boring and will event-- dont do that, ignore i suggested that
anyways ONCE AGAIN thank you for 200+ reads, and for being alive, bless you, love you, thank you :)x