Violet Eyes

Chapter 4

ROSE

“So how was your date?” January Miller, the student body president, asked me as everyone left from the midday events meeting. Her tone was laced with the sweetest of sugar, but she hated me and made it so obvious.

“Oh, it was wonderful, Jan! We had some great pizza and talked the night away,” I said in a tone matching hers to a tee.

I usually just hypnotised her so that she could get off my case, and also not give me too much work.

My eyes turned away from her and back at the invoice I had gotten for the new cheerleading outfits I ordered for the girls. I really wanted them to look good at the Summer Bash.

The Summer Bash is an event I organised. It’s a day stock-filled with festivities. We arranged that during the day there will be water slides, ice cream, drinks and some teachers manning a BBQ. Absolutely no classes and then towards the evening, everyone will get the chance to light and fly a lantern. The next night, which would be next Saturday night, is the dance, from 7pm till midnight. I even arranged that no parents or teachers would be allowed to attend.

My girls and I will open the event along with the mascot. We’re the Bridgeton Phoenixes, so his costume is basically a giant rainbow chicken.

Suddenly, Jan’s awfully manicured hand slams on my papers right in front of me.

“Helloooo! Earth to Rose!” she said, sounding very annoyed. Is it wrong I enjoyed the frustration in her voice and on her face? “I asked you if you arranged a live band yet, like you promised”

Shit! I forgot to do that.

Jan must have seen the look of exasperation on my face when she raised her eyebrows.

“You better get a live band by Friday or I’m calling the Bash off,” Jan’s hand slid off my desk, but she kept her eyes locked on me, “And it will be all your fault”

The words echoed throughout my head the whole day. How was I supposed to get a live band in three days’ time? I swear January only put that deadline there to spite me. She wants the Bash to fail because it wasn’t her idea. The promise of a live band was what locked all the glee, drama and band club kids to the festival, and they take up a reasonable number of attendees.

I could ask some of the girls in the squad if one of their college boyfriends had connections or was trying to start some kind of garage band.

The thought hit me like a ton of bricks, it made me stop in my tracks right in the middle of the hallway as I’d been walking.

I can ask Scarlet.

SCARLET

“There’s no way, Rose. You and your stupid little Bash can go to hell”

“Please Scarlet, I really can’t think of anyone to ask, all my musical connections are specifically coming to watch a show, they don’t want to perform. So, there’s really no one I can ask” She started pleading with her hands clasped in front of me.

I crossed my arms, this was a moment I was going to enjoy. We were standing outside of the main school building, Rose pulled me as I was on my way to go and chill behind the shed.

“So, I’m the only person who can help you eh?” I smirked.

She rolled her eyes then furrowed her brows, about to say something but I lifted my hand.

“Ah ah ah… Is that anyway to act towards the person you need something from?”

She sighed then plastered the most fake smile I had ever seen on her face, “Scarlet, my dearest sister, would you be so kind as to help me? Talk to your non-loser friends and ask if any of them would be willing to play at the Bash?”

My smirk turned into a grin, “Why don’t you ask them yourself? And what makes you think any of them can even play?”

“Okay, first of all, I know every kid in this school. I know that they pay the band club kids to hide their instruments in the music room and I can’t ask them myself because you AND I both know they won’t listen to the likes of me. Cause all of them are like you” she pointed an angry finger at me.

I scoffed at her trying to be all intimidating and mean, “That tone won’t help your case, Rose. You can forget about all of it,” I turned on my heel and started walking.

“I’ll pay you.”

Then stopped in my tracks, “How much?”

“50 bucks”

“Make it 100” I said without turning around.

“75”

“Alright… 75 bucks…” I said, turning around to see Rose’s happy face, “But then you gotta drive me to and from school from now on” and watch it turn sour, quicker than I had finished my sentence.

“Okay fine! Whatever the f**k you want” she pulled out her purse and handed me the money with a huff.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Barbie”

“Don’t mention it, Ken” she said through gritted teeth before walking away.

“You say that as if you’ll find one!” I called out to her as she walked away, laughing and counting the money before putting it in my pocket.

My stomach flipped at the realisation that I now actually had to go up and talk to the guys I sit with. I mean it’s not like I never did, but It’s not like I did it often either…

***

I walk up to the guys at the shed, only to see one guy sitting there. It was the blond guy that was always strumming his guitar.

My breath hitched in my throat. I barely ever really made eye contact with most of the people in this group. I felt my anxiety build and fill up my chest, constricting it. Why the hell can’t I just go up and talk to him?!

He suddenly looked up, straight at me.

“So, I guess it’s just the two of us here today then?” His voice was low and gruff.

I nodded and sat down, crossing my legs and laying against the wall.

“W-where do you think the others went?” My voice broke as I spoke in an almost too low tone.

“Went to go smoke something I think” he snickered as he turned his eyes back to his guitar, probably knowing something I don’t.

“So, uhm. You know the Summer Bash that’s coming up?” my voice trailed off, he was completely focused on his guitar, the song suddenly changing to a familiar tune.

Low fast chords changing, and melting together. Every now and then a burst of a different note. He really knew what he was doing there.

“Is… Is that ‘I Was Made For Loving You’?” I asked, sitting up.

He looked up at me, still strumming, and smiled a knowing smile.

I moved closer and watched him play. The way his eyes closed as his fingers did all the work, made it seem like it was magic. Like he was working magic with his guitar, letting all the familiar sounds flow from the grey wood of the acoustic guitar.

“You have to play at the Bash” I blurted out, without even realising what I had just said.

He stopped and looked at me, “What?” he looked startled.

“You have to play. You just… You have to, you’re so good” The words were coming out of my mouth like vomit now.

He ran his hand through his hair.

“I… I don’t know man…” he snickered, “You never talk to me and now suddenly you’re telling me what to do?”

I bushed bright red and started moving away from him. He had a point. Who was I to talk to him like that, who was I to even start talking to him. He’s on a whole different level.

“But I guess it’s not the worst thing in the world to do,” He took off the guitar and then leaned forward looking at me.

“I’ll do it as long as you’ll be there to watch me from the crowd”