"Okay, Steven, let's try it one more time before we record it," Mr. Evans said at the end of the piano setting up the camera.

 

After I came by for lunch, Mr. Evans and I worked very hard on the piece I wrote, and Mr. Evans was right. The song didn't need any more significant changes, just changing on some parts that sounded like it was repeating and dragging. So I started the piece and was beginning to feel comfortable about playing because this was a song that I was satisfied with. Once the song was finished, I jumped out of my skin because I heard clapping from behind me. I looked back and saw Tia and Mason standing behind me in the doorway.

 

"What the heck are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"Well, I was told you would be here working on your music for the competition. So I thought I would give you moral support," Tia said, walking over to me and giving me a nudge.

 

"Who told you that, Mason?" I asked, looking back at Mason.

 

"Actually, no, Mr. Evans told me because he caught me after first period asking me to help him submit your song to the competition's website. I met Tia outside. I just thought she knew because you told her," Evan said, walking over to Mr. Evan, still struggling with the camera.

 

"Yea, I am a little hurt that you didn't tell me," Tia said

 

"Well, I was going to tell you after. So who told you" I asked. Tia tilted her head at me, and then I heard the sound of someone running toward the music room. So I turned, and I was looking at Caleb standing in the doorway, breathing faster than usual in workout clothes.

 

"Di- Did I miss it?" Caleb asked.

 

"No, you came on time. Cutting it close, Post," Tia said.

 

"Sorry, I wasn't expecting coach to pull me to the side to talk to me about the game on Friday," Caleb said, walking into the room.

 

"Wait, Caleb told you?" I asked.

 

"Yeah, I can't believe that you told Caleb first instead of me," Tia said, pouting.

 

"Well, to be fair, I did ambush him trying to get him to have lunch with me," Caleb at, walking on the other side of me and rubbing the back of his neck.

 

"Fine, I forgive you this time, but you are walking on thin ice," Tia said.

 

"Me or Steven?" Caleb asked.

 

"I let you decide that," Tia said, turning away from us and walking over to Mason, giving him a small smile.

 

"Sorry," Caleb said, and I laughed at him. God, he is so cute, like a big dog.

 

"It is fine. She is always like this, but you didn't have to come," I said, and Caleb sat on the bench with me.

 

"Yea, I didn't have to. But I wanted to. Like I said, I want to see you win," Caleb said, giving me a nudge.

 

"T- thanks," I said, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.

 

"No problem Steven," Caleb said.

 

"Okay," Mr. Evans clapped, making us both jump. "Now that the camera is working, time to record. Mr. Post, unless you play the piano too, then I suggest that you stand on our side of the camera," Mr. Evans said.

 

"Yes, sir," Caleb nodded and leaned close to my ear. "You got this, Steven," Caleb said, and he got up and moved next to Tia.

 

"Okay, we are recording. You are good to go, Steven," Mason said.

 

I nodded and began to play, closing my eyes as I let the melody take me away. I smiled because I felt confident in the song and started to feel confident in myself. I began to believe that maybe I could win this competition. Once the song was over, I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the people on the other side of the piano, and I had a warm feeling in my chest.

 

"And that is it. Well done, Steven," Mr. Evans said, and everyone clapped at me. My smile became brighter, and Tia rushed over o me giving me a big and tight hug. That girl may be small, but she is strong.

 

"Oh Steven, that was amazing," Tia said, letting go of me, and I was finally able to breathe.

 

"Thanks, T," I said.

 

"Okay, now we have to submit the song to the competition, and then we wait for them to reply. So Mason, can you lend me a hand?" Mr. Evans said.

 

 

"Sure. Tia, do you want to come with me?" Mason asked, and Tia nodded.

 

"Wait, so what do we do after it is submitted?" I asked.

 

"Oh well, all you have to do is just wait," Mr. Evans said.

 

"Oh, okay then," I said.

 

 Just like that, I was alone. Well, not completely alone I was alone with Caleb. Wait, holy crap, I was alone with Caleb. The last time I was in this room with him, I thought he would kiss me. Okay, ill be fine. Just don't make it awkward. I turned, and Caleb was leaning against the piano, staring me down. My mouth went dry, and the words that were formed in my head were gone. Crap, so much for not making things weird.

 

"So," I said.

 

"So what are you going to do now?" Caleb asked.

 

"Um, normally I would play until I have to leave, but I don't know. Maybe ill see what the showtime is for this weekend and then listen to an audiobook," I said. Jeez, I don't know why I am telling him this.

 

"Showtimes?" Caleb asked.

 

"For the drive-in," I said, and Caleb pulled up a chair and sat on it backward.

 

"There is a drive in here?" Caleb asked.

 

"Well, not here, just a couple of towns over. They have showings every Saturday," I said.

 

"Oh, so what is the showing this week?" Caleb asked.

 

"Oh, um, I don't know. Hold on, let me check," I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the website to find the movie. "They are playing the Avengers figures," I said.

 

"Why do you say that?" Caleb said, resting his arms on the chair.

 

"Well, they played Captain America two weeks ago, and then they played Captain Marvel last week, so I think they are doing it in timeline order. Which is weird because wouldn't they play Iron Man like that is more actuated? I don't know what they are doing. They are skipping. I think," I stopped realizing I was going on my marvel rant. "Sorry, I really like marvel," I said.

 

"I see, but I don't mind. It is cool that you like something, Marvel," Caleb said.

 

"Yeah, I guess. What is your favorite marvel movie?" I asked, and Caleb bit his bottom lip.

 

"Uh, well, okay, this is awkward," Caleb said, and I arched my eyebrow.

 

"What it? Wait, do you like Thor The Dark World? Then we can't be friends," I said.

 

"Well, I don't have any favorites because I have never seen the movies," Caleb said, rubbing the back of his neck.

 

"Wait, I'm sorry, like when you haven't seen the movies like you mean," I started.

 

"Like I did see any of them," Caleb said.

 

"How?" I asked, leaning forward.

 

"Well, I never had the chance to see it," Caleb said.

 

"Okay, well, we have to fix that. So you have to go to the drive-in to see the movie," I said.

 

"Oh, uh, okay, what time?" Caleb asked.

 

"Well, the movie starts at 8, but you have to get there at least an hour before so you can get a good seat and be comfortable," I said.

 

"I see," Caleb said, and his phone went off. He pulled his phone out, looked at it, and frowned before turning it off and sliding it back into his pocket.

 

"Everything okay?" I asked.

 

"Yeah, my friends are wondering where I am but never mind that. What time am I picking you up Saturday?" Caleb asked.

 

"Wait, what," I said.

 

"Yeah, wait, did I misread something? I just thought that because you insisted that I see this movie, and I thought that you would be going with me," Caleb said.

 

"No, I was just taken back because you wanted to go with me," I said.

 

"What, Steven, who would I go with?" Caleb asked.

 

"I don't know, maybe your friends," I said, and Caleb sighed.

 

"No, I rather go with you," Caleb said.

 

"Oh, okay," I said.

 

"So I have to head to practice. How about I pick you up at six?" Caleb asked, getting up from the chair, putting the chair where he took it from, and looking back at me.

 

"Uh yeah, that seems fine," I said, and Caleb smiled.

 

"Great, it's a date. See ya, Steven," Caleb said, waving at me, which I returned, and he walked out of the room.

 

I sat there with my hand still in the air, and then it hit me. Wait, did he say that it was a date?