^Asking Alexandria Not The American Average
I woke up in a vacant bed. It was the first time in a while that I slept in Michael's room. It was uncanny to see a half-empty room. I knew that just a week ago, Michael had been here and probably writing out the letter to Brett. I lay down in the bed wondering where Michael was now and how he and Rachel were.
I slept an hour here and there but couldn't quite stop thinking. Everything was just too stressful for me and I ended up at 8 am giving up and deciding to get a head start on the day.
I quickly threw on some foundation and blasted some Lady Gaga in my headphones as I started my project. Looking at the prompt again made me want to laugh.
"What's it like to be 17?"
"You are born into life to endure the early years of your life at home with your parents and at school before being thrust into the world on your own so that you can repeat the cycle. I am 17 and am right in between those two realities at such an early part of my life. Stress doesn't begin to cover exactly how it feels to be 17. The age 17, is that prime age that you decide whether your grades even matter, if you're going to college, and what you want to do with the rest of your life. Age 17 is that age you have to decide what you are going to be stuck doing the rest of your lives. Adults often call teenagers overdramatic people when in all reality, we are being thrown into realization that life is just a lineup for death and that we are never going to truly enjoy our existence. Yes, I might admit that was quite a drastic thing to say, but it's the truth. The meaning of life will never be revealed but in those later teen years, we are desperately seeking out the truth to remove this unfathomable weight from our shoulders. Consequently, we find life unfair for putting us in a place where all the eyes are on you and the next generation relies so heavily on you."
My phone buzzed and I sighed in relief to be distracted from this stupid essay. I knew I was writing this whole thing wrong, but I just needed a second to just pour my thoughts out. This method I had used for years rather than graphic organizers or web diagrams. After all, I was 17, I didn't need direction.
Trish- I'm at Hy-Vee from 7-2 today so it'd be nice if you'd drop by to save me from my boredom.
Now here was the real question, was I going to write this stupid paper or was I going to come to my friend's rescue?
30 minutes later, I had thrown on some black sweats and grey tank along with some light makeup that I could darken later for the party. I grabbed my phone and wallet before heading out the door, careful not to disturb Brett.
I was walking into the building around 10 and found her rather quickly due to the fact she was acting as cashier today. Her face instantly lit up once seeing me and she ushered me towards her.
"Has my hero came to save the day and take the shift over for me?" She tried.
"I actually just came to get some gum." I joked while I leaned over the register. "I'm assuming your boss isn't here?"
"She doesn't bother to come in Saturday mornings," Trish said wiggling her eyebrows. "No one comes in Saturday it seems. Kyla got her days switched to tomorrow so now I'm totally and utterly alone." I raised an eyebrow at Trish looking at the other people gathered in a circle at the front of the store talking and laughing. Trish just rolled her eyes, "They are all bitches."
I scoffed at her bluntness but didn't dwell on the topic. "Is Tyler taking a job?"
"No. He's taking his time to bond with his family again which is perfectly fine by me. He's working on an application here though." Trish's excitement seemed to radiate.
"That's fun."
"Speaking of fun, I asked that tall dark and handsome man if he wanted to go to a certain party with a mystery girl tonight."
"No! Trish!" I whined. Several heads turned as I said this. "I told you no!" My words came out quieter this time.
"You said you'd think about it so you either can ditch the guy to eat at the Cheesecake Factory by himself or you can meet him." Trish grinned knowing she had me forced into this blind date. It took everything I had to not just punch her.
"Why would you do this?!" I whined as I literally facepalmed.
"Because I know you need to dive into a relationship. You look miserable half the time."
"Wow. Thanks!" I huffed not removing my hand.
"You know what I mean! And all you have to do if it doesn't work is just leave him at the party. Hitch a ride with me if sparks don't fly." I just shook my head. "Look, he wants to meet at 5 that way you guys have some time to get to know each other. He's as blind as you going into this date so I think he won't get too but hurt if you decide to leave him which I doubt will happen."
I removed my hand. "This is going to be so awkward. When were you planning to tell me?!"
"When you couldn't resist coming to see me."
"You have a huge ego."
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I stuck around for another 15 minutes before a customer came through and I took that as my cue to go. I ran through Arby's and got their chicken slider before I went home. Brett wasn't there and I breathed out a sigh of relief that I hadn't realized I had been holding. Truth was, I didn't know if we were going to be awkward around each other or if he was just going to pretend as nothing happened?
I ate quickly and decided that I might as we'll start getting ready for my mystery date. I applied a red liquid lipstick and added a little glitter along the crease of my eyes before coating my eyelashes in another layer of mascara. I looked up YouTube videos to bypass the time and decided to look for a hairstyle that would be cute enough for a date. Once finally satisfied with an attempt of a half up half down hairstyle with a braid down the side, I curled my hair into subtle beach waves.
After searching my closet up and down, I decided on some black skinny jeans with 4 buttons and a white v neck crop top. To finish the look, I threw on a light Denim jacket and my trusty white converse. I looked in the mirror and smirked to myself. I wasn't going to lie, I looked Gooood!
Trish arrived soon after that and gave me supposedly all the tips on how to woo him as I just begged her to tell me at least his name. Each time I asked his name, she just ignored my questions and continued to give me encouraging words. I felt like a guy being told how to get a girl in bed as Trish just continued throwing tips out and insisting how much I was going to like him. I wasn't so sure because I had one tall and handsome man on my mind and I knew I wasn't going on a date with him tonight.
Once I got there, Trish told me to go to say I was with meeting Mr. G and it was in the far right corner of the restaurant. With hesitance, I climbed out of the car and walked through the huge doors of the Cheesecake Factory and let the sweet and cozy ambiance greet me. A man with a huge smile welcomed me and I told him, "I'm supposed to meet a Mr.G?"
"Oh right this way madame!" He replied a little over eagerly.
Passing all the packed tables, I murmured, "Looks like you guys are having quite the busy night?"
"Mr. G and I are actually good friends so you don't have to worry at all about the service!" I would never say it out loud but the guy claiming to be Mr.G's friend looked like he was in his late 20's.
Oh god! She set me up with a man a decade older than me!
When we had finally made our ways through the tables I saw an all to familiar face that made me laugh inwardly.
Of course, she set me up on a date with him.
I wasn't going to lie, I didn't mind the person she set me up with. He hadn't yet looked up from his phone but when his dark brown eyes met mine he gave me a small smile which I returned.
He got up from the table. "Angelina?" His confusion slipped away as I shrugged. "Trish set the two of us up?"
"Looks like it!" I laughed as I enclosed Garret in a hug.
"Curse you, Trish!! You know I can't stand her" He called like he was threatening the heavens. I was honestly thinking the same thing and smiled despite the weirdness of us being set up! "Oh well. At least now I get two dates with the stunning Angelina!" He said referring to our plan to go to the movies on Friday.
"That's right!" I played. I should have seen it coming that she would hook me up with Garret but I hadn't known that he was looking for anyone. It would be a lie if I didn't say that I wasn't attracted to him! I felt a great wave of uncomfortable knowing that he probably thought I was desperate.
"Trish basically forced me into this if this helps anything."
Garret shot me a look of confusion. "Help with what?"
"The uhh- this? Isn't this just a little uncomfortable?" I said feeling like an idiot for apologizing.
"Oh. I am comfortable though." He gave a small grin and I kicked him under the table as I caught his innuendo. "Besides, this is a lot easier than meeting up with a complete stranger and diving straight into a date, right Chica?"
"I guess." I looked down at my menu to hopefully cover my now peeking through smile. After a minute, I decided what I wanted and folded my menu to see Garret still flipping through the book of choices that they had.
"What do you usually get?" I ask.
"I've never been here and this menu is just-"
"Intimidating." He looked up at me with a cute smile and I couldn't help but smile back.
Maybe this date wasn't going to be so bad...
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We had overall treated the date like another time hanging out, except without Brett. We had cleaned our plates and ordered a cheesecake to split which was heavenly! I, of course, insisted on splitting the meal because I did not want to get a free meal out of my friend. Besides, I made my money for a reason, to support myself!
I climbed into his blue jeep and we let the music blare between us as we continued down the road towards the party. I had an internal struggle whether or not to sing for only a couple seconds before Garret turned it back down to remind me that he's already heard my voice and that he loves it. It shocked me to see how well Garret seemed to know me and it made me feel bad that I didn't seem to be able to read him as he did me. Honestly, though, it was weird but I just shrugged and turned down the music even more. "How long have you been playing bass?"
He gave me a sideways glance, clearly upset on my topic change. Yet, he didn't say anything about it and answered, "4 years. I prefer the guitar a bit more but realized that no one ever plays bass but, it's important. The guitar is more of a chick magnet I guess and bass is a strong instrument that is sometimes overlooked. I took it up cause we needed a bassist basically." He explained and I laughed at this.
"Poor Garret." I cooed jokingly as I stroked his arm. "Has to be the bass for his band. What a tough life!"
"It's not good to distract the driver. You're gonna make me crash then you'll be the poor one here Chica!" I laughed but it got me to remove my hands from him, catching what I was doing.
Touching could easily be mistaken as flirting!
Did he think I was flirting with him?
"Do you do voice lessons?" It was a reasonable question in all honesty, even if I didn't like the topic of singing, Garret had no clue.
"Nope. I've never seen myself going far with-"
"That was just natural talent then?!" I could hear the surprise in his voice which made me chuckle the slightest.
"I don't see myself becoming a singer if that's what you're getting at! It's just a hobby." I said.
"Have you heard yourself! I know that you could make a living easily enough with your voice! It's perfect to the t and that's some untouched talent that you might need to tap into!" Something about the way Garret could make a usually stressful topic into something lighthearted and fun made me love him even more... As a friend of course.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to be in a band!"
He gave a small sigh and shook his head smiling. "Just wanted to remind you that you have the perfect voice for the band and hence, will always have a spot on the band."
The thought of being apart of the band less and less scared me. I mean, what would happen if we didn't go far? A little bonding time never hurt anyone! "Okay."
"Okay, what?"
"I'll think about it."
Seeming satisfied with my answer, he gave me a short smirk before turning up the cover Five Finger Death Punch did to Bad Company. What started as words under my breath turned into a full-on jamming session with Garret as we sang the song in pretty great harmony as well as the next one, and the next one! When the song Not The American Average came on, I saw Garret's hand shoot out and I just laughed. His hand shot out to skip it and I just went back behind him to turn it back on to shamelessly sing the song that essentially talked about banging a pretty whore. We were pulling into a parking space when the song ended and was followed by Bring me the Horizons, Follow you. I turned it down as Garret just stared at me.
"What?" I asked now realizing that I had just sung a whole song about sex while spazzing in my seat. But that was one of their songs that I just had to mosh to!
He started inching towards me and I was about to back away when he leaned into my ear. "Nothing you stupid freaking... WHORE" he whisper growled before I felt some teeth against my earlobe.
"Garrett!" I shrieked recoiling as he just let out a faint chuckle that made my cheeks burn. When I gathered the courage to whirl around and punch him, he was slamming the car door. On instinct, I whirled around to open my own door and run over to him at the front of the car where I struck him in the arm. It wasn't enough for a bruise but, I felt satisfied in my attempt and let him grab my hips and make me face him.
"Are you flirting with me, Chica?" This made me blush even more.
Were we flirting? Did I actually care at this point!?
I shook my head and while shaking my head. I saw just a couple of yards away, an all to familiar face, frozen and staring in my direction.
Hi Brett...
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
I'm just joking... Or am I?
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