"Let's go Friday night!" Tyler suggested with a grin plastered on his face. A grin that faded quickly as he realized something. "Oh right, I forgot that won't work for you man," he said to Nick.
"As far as I know it shouldn't work for you either," Nick stated with what sounded like a hard tone.
"Right, right, no worries man. I'll be there."
"Be there for what?" I asked, naturally curious. Maybe it was something related to all those rumors about them. From the little I've seen they certainly don't look like the criminal type; rebellious, egotistic, and arrogant, sure, but criminals? I don't think so. Still, why would a pervert and a guy with social issues have to be together on a Friday night? A two-man job? And what two-man jobs is there for teenagers during Friday nights?
"None of your business." Nick simply stated and I couldn't help to glare at him though he didn't even have the courtesy to look at me when he spoke. And just like that, whatever progress we had made towards each other vanished. I felt stupid to have had considered him a friend yesterday. But I knew one thing that happened almost every Friday night: parties. Parties full of drunken teenagers. And I watched enough shows to know what those parties had: drugs. And who could sell them those drugs? Two teenagers with a badass aura and reputation like Nick and Tyler had, strong enough to evoke natural respect from others.
Just like that all of the rumors made sense, and I didn't want to be mixed to that world. I had to get Micah and Noah away from them, from the danger that gravitated around that world. But what if I was wrong? I've been wrong before, with Micah.
We agreed on going after school, and I start concocting a plan to find out what they were hiding and make sure we were safe. I shared with Noah, my accomplice, my doubts, and my plan. He told me I was being paranoid, I told him everyone has secrets and only someone with a bad secret would care that much about hiding it. I knew what I was talking about.
And although Tyler was very open to us, and treated us like friends, Nick didn't. He always kept it to himself. Every time I thought he was letting at least one of his concrete walls down he pulled it back up immediately as if he had to protect something from us. And that was probably a secret, a dark secret, he only trusted Tyler to keep. Part of me wanted to respect that, as I knew what it was like, but the other part wanted to know. To make sure it wouldn't, he wouldn't hurt my friends.
You could spot the karaoke place miles away by the multiple huge neon lights dressing its walls. The interior was dark, with black painted walls absorbing the little day-light left penetrating the big windows. Tyler booked us a room and used his fake ID to order alcohol and snacks, though, by the looks of it, the guy at the counter couldn't care less about his age.
We sat in silence for a moment, everyone too uncomfortable to actually pick up a song and sing, or apparently even talk. Everyone except Tyler.
"This is why I bought us some drinks. You guys have to loosen up. Come on let's have fun!"
"Then why don't you start?" I challenged him. He gave me his patented smirk.
"Fair enough Angel." He winked at me, took the tablet to select a song, and moved to stand in front of us, in the little area that served as a stage.
He turned his back to us and raised his hand. "Hit it." Micah pressed start and an old familiar melody started playing. As soon as he sang the first words, I knew I was done. I have to admit he sang surprisingly well, but I was too focused on the show in front of me to notice whenever his voice went off-key. He exaggeratedly sang the first verse as if he was feeling every word of the song. Then, just before the chorus part he turned to face us and fell on his knees, his free hand stretched out to me.
"And through it allll, she offers me protection! A lot of love and affection, whether I'm right or wrong..." he sang as if he was pouring out his heart out, while he looked like he was going to damage his voice from screaming. I couldn't help but laugh, holding my stomach hoping my muscles would hurt less, tears streaming down my face while trying to breathe.
"When I come to call, she won't forsake me. I'm loving angels instead" he finished, sitting next to me, holding my hand as if he was proclaiming his love. He kissed the back of my hand and screamed, "THIS FOR YOU ANGEL!"
Still laughing I whipped the tears, nodding. Micah and Noah were losing themselves and I spotted Nick shaking his head with a full smile on his face. I guess Tyler was the official clown of the group.
"Well played, well played," I admitted. "You gave Mr. Robbie Williams a run for his money, but –" I got up and chose a song. It was my time to tease him.
From the look on his face, Tyler didn't know this song. Shania Twain was going to make a great job to bring him down his pedestal.
"Okay, so you're Brad Pitt, that don't impress me much. So, you got the looks, but have you got the touch? Don't get me wrong, yeah, I think you're alright, but that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night..." At this verse he nodded at me, a smile on his face, he raised his arms in defeat.
After I was done, Noah high-fived me and I smiled, happy that I won this battle. Micah went up next and ruined Panic! At the disco's "High hopes". I know it's his favorite band, but Micah couldn't sing to save his life. Noah was too shy to sing alone, even after the two beers he drank so he asked me to sing with him. We sang "Me!" by Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie (a song of course introduced to us by Micah). We went full musical theater with it, acting it out perfectly and dancing together. I guess the beers had at least a little bit of effect.
"You're next man," Tyler said, handing the microphone to Nick. He stared at it as if contemplating whether Tyler was joking. "Come on." Tyler waved the mic at him. He reluctantly grabbed it and let out a weary sigh before choosing a song. He didn't get up to the stage, instead he chose to stay put in his seat. The first beats started to play, and I recognized the song immediately: "Believer" by the Imagine Dragons. I loved that song. I really hoped his skill level was closer to Tyler's than Micah's.
My lips parted as he sang the first notes. His husky voice fitted each word perfectly, hitting each note as if he was made for it. It felt like the rest of the world faded as if he were the only one left. My heart followed the rhythm of the bass, I couldn't tear my eyes from him, feeling every word's meaning. There was something pulling me towards him. He could win over every girl he wanted singing like that.
At the end of the song he put the microphone back on the table, always looking down. It took a few seconds for him to raise his head, probably intimidated by the silence in the room. Everyone, except Tyler, was in a state of awe. I think no one expected him to sing that well. Maybe that was his secret. Maybe he was a famous singer in disguise and had a concert Friday. He might as well have been. When he looked up his eyes met mine first as I was sitting across of him. His cheeks were flushed red, but why was he embarrassed when he was so good.
Tyler put his arm around Nick's shoulders, pulling him closer so he could ruffle his hair strands. "See, it wasn't that hard man."
"Shut up." Nick pushed him back, an embarrassed smile adorned his face.
"You've completely ruined my confidence," Micah joked.
"Cause' you had confidence in your singing abilities to begin with?" I asked laughing.
New songs played and we kept singing, solo, duets are all together. The only one who didn't dare to sing again was Nick, for my ears dismay.
In the end, I had so much fun that I completely forgot about my plan to find out what Tyler and Nick were hiding. I guess it could wait a little longer, at least the time of one night.
Check the songs mentioned in the playlist below: