"So you are telling me that Caleb invited you to his party, and you don't want to go," Tia said, closing her locker. After playing my emotions out, Tia finally finished her last class, and we were getting ready to go to her gym for practice.

 

"You are missing the fact that he insisted that you came," I said, and Tia scoffed and headed toward the exit.

 

"Hun, I highly doubt that he would care if I came or not," Tia said, stepping outside the school.

 

"What does that mean?" I asked.

 

"Nothing. I mean that Caleb's parties are huge, and I doubt he would notice that I was there," Tia said, reaching over her shoulder, pulling her bag to the front, and grabbing her car keys.

 

"I mean, of course, he would notice that you weren't there 'cause he likes you," I said, and Tia let out a snicker as she unlocked her car.

 

"You are stupid. Caleb doesn't like me," She said, sliding into her car.

 

"Because when he was talking to you this morning, it seemed like you were the most important thing in the world," I said.

 

"Yeah, he talks to me so casually because I don't talk to him like he is some god; I talk to him like he is a normal person. Maybe you should try that," Tia said, pulling out of the parking lot.

 

"I would, but he is too perfect, and I will make a fool of myself," I said.

 

"You know nobody is perfect. Everyone has some flaws. Caleb just hid it well," Tia said.

 

"Well, I highly doubt that," I muttered.

 

"What, you think that people who look like that have it all together don't have flaws?" She scoffed.

 

"Well, I mean, you have it all together, and you don't let your flaws get to you," I said.

 

"Steven, I am a 5-foot black woman with a short fuse. I don't have time to let people judge me on my flaws because I am too busy worrying about winning an Olympic title," Tia said. I always admired that about Tia. She had goals, and she would not let anyone tell her otherwise. But, sometimes, I wish I had that same kind of confidence she had.

 

"Oh crap, I forgot to tell you. Guess what Mr. Evans asked me," I said.

 

"Does it have to do with anything about the music competition that is coming up?" Tia said, and I tilted my head.

 

"Wha-" I started

 

"I heard Mr. Evans and the principal talking about it. I was meeting with the vice principal about the incident with the big doufus," She interrupted, and I suddenly felt guilty.

 

"I'm sorry," I said, sinking into the seat.

 

"Don't be the idiot had it coming to him, and I didn't get into trouble. He just told me that if I am going to defend another student, don't mention that I was going to break his legs in a busy hallway," She shrugged.

 

"So, do you think that I should do it?" I asked

 

"Well yeah, why not? You are amazing, and what do you have to lose if you apply?" She said.

 

"Well, what about the fact that I have to perform what I write to judges? On top of that, I will be performing in front of an audience," I said.

 

"Why don't you take to a step at a time? Make the song now, and we'll worry about you performing later when it is a real problem," Tia said.

 

"What if I don't make it that far?" I asked, and Tia shrugged.

 

"Well, you won't know unless you submit your song," Tia said. God, I hate when she is right. For once, can the girl ever be wrong?

 

"Fine, but do you mind if we stopped at the music store because I need more music sheets and to pick up my violin?" I asked Tia, and she froze for a moment before relaxing.

 

"Sure," She squeaked out, turning onto main street.

 

The music store was another place I liked to hide whenever my mom drove me up a wall. Tia and I walked in, and there was a guy at the counter with his back facing us as he looked through boxes with his headphone on. I walked over to the counter with Tia directly behind me. The man was nodding his head, humming quite loudly before spinning, facing us, jumping letting out a string of curses.

 

"Well, hello to you too, Mason," I said, laughing. Mason slid his headphones off, and I could hear Fall Out Boy clearly with how loud it was playing.

 

"Dude, I thought you were coming tomorrow?" Mason asked, crossing his arms.

 

"Well, I had some time, and you said that my violin was ready, so I thought I could stop because you were off tomorrow," I said. Mason was the only person I could trust with my instruments because he treated them with such care. He knew what he was doing because he had been doing this for a long time—granted that he is a year older than me. I met Mason in my freshman year when I played my guitar in the music room, and my string broke. He happened to be there, fixed my string, and told me to go to the music store to replace the rest of my string free of charge because he worked there. From there, I came to this store for anything I needed, even to hang out.

 

"Imma get your violin, but you know the deal?" He said.

 

"Yeah, make sure it sounds right by playing you are song. I know," I said, and Mason smiled.

 

"Ight. Oh, and Tia, I can still see you," Mason said and headed toward the backroom. I tried to hold in my laughter when Tia moved out from behind me, playing with the end of her braids. Tia has the biggest crush on Mason; what Tia doesn't know is that Mason is crazy about her. They have been dancing around their feelings around each other, but they are afraid to take the first step. Mason returns with my violin case, places it on the counter, and slides it to me.

 

"Here you go, man. I hope you don't wear the strings out again," Mason said. I unlocked the case, looked at my black violin, picked her up, tucked it under my chin, started plucking some strings and smiled.

 

"Thanks, Mason," I said, and he handed me my bow.

 

"No problem, man, you know the deal," Mason said. So I took the bow and started playing the random notes, and I smirked and turned my playing of random notes into and romantic song. I glanced at Tia, and she began to fidget. I looked over to Mason, and the man was red.

 

"Okay, I think the violin sounds fine. We can stop now," Tia said, clapping loudly. I laughed, placed my violin back into my case, locked it close, and Mason cleared his throat.

 

"So, what is the plan for today?" Mason asked.

 

"Well, today is movie night," I said.

 

"Oh, right at Tia, right," I nodded. "So, are you going to the drive-in tomorrow?" Mason asked.

 

"Uh, I don't know. I might have something going on," I said.

 

"And what is that your music?" Mason said, crossing his arms.

 

"No, for your information, I was invited to a party," I said, huffing. So why does everyone think that I don't have a social life?

 

"You are going to a party. Who's party is it?" Mason asked.

 

"Caleb Post," I said, puffing my chest out.

 

"Is that so one of the popular guys invited you to his party," Mason said.

 

"Yes, he did," I said.

 

"Oh, so you are going now?" Tia said.

 

"Well, no, well," I said

 

"Wait, you weren't going to go," Mason interrupted.

 

"That is only because he is inviting me because he wants to go out with Tia!" I shouted, and I instantly covered my mouth, feeling instant regret. Mason stepped back and frowned, beginning to fiddle with the pencil on the counter.

 

"Uh, maybe you should go. I don't want you to avoid going out because of complications," Mason said, and I got the feeling he was not talking to me.

 

"W- well, I wasn't thinking about going," Tia said, biting her bottom and fighting with the ends of her braids.

 

"I have an idea," I blurted out, and the two jumped.

 

"Oh, and what do you have in mind?" Mason asked, crossing his arms.

 

"Why don't we all go together? I doubt Caleb would be mad that we brought another person. I highly doubt he would notice us there," I said.

 

"I don't know," Mason said

 

"Y- yeah, you should come! I- I mean, it would be fun if you came," Tia said, almost jumping onto the counter.

 

"Uh Y- yeah, sure," Mason said, his face lighting up.

 

"Okay, well, thank you, Mason, for replacing my strings, but Tia has practiced, and I don't want her to be late," I said, linking my arm with Tia and pulling her out of the shop.

 

"Oh, okay, text me later with the details about the party," Mason called out.

 

"Sure, later," I said, walking out the door and hearing mason say goodbye. Then, as we walked to Tia's car, I could hear her mutter something until she came to a complete stop.

 

"I can't believe I just said that," Tia said, clutching her head and releasing my arm.

 

"I mean, is it that bad," I asked.

 

"Yes, Steven, it is terrible. I humiliated myself, and why did you have to open your big mouth and say that? He thinks I am not interested," Tia shouted.

 

"But look on the bright side," I said.

 

"And what is the bright side?" Tia asked.

 

"Well, he likes you so much that if you ran into a wall, he would still like you," I said, and she punched me in the arm.

 

"Let's just go," she said, walking to her car.

 

Those two are hopeless, and I will make sure that they will become a couple, even if I lock them in a room until they admit their feelings for each other.