Critical Thinking

21

Farley had called me instead of my mother that night of Thanksgiving. We talked about the event that had happened before finally. It was like getting closure and he explained that it bothered him at first but maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have some friends supporting him. So I quickly agreed of course saying I and I'm sure the others wouldn't mind supporting him. Soon Christmas was growing nearer, winter break had began after stressful finals ended and so it was getting colder. But that didn't make me cancel on going to his invite that chilly night. And neither did it make the others. So we all went to Blue Ginger together to see Farley.

Clyde and Lily were the first there. I waved at them smiling and they waved back smiling. I heard the door open and turned my head to look. Vic and Cory both had came in. Cory shot Vic a glare and Vic huffed walking ahead of him to us. I waved at them and took a seat next to Clyde at the table him and Lily sat at. Vic sat next to me and Cory glanced at us before the empty space by Lily and sat there taking it up.

"So where's our little singer?" Lily asked smiling and I glanced around at the stage.

"No one seems to be up playing yet." Vic said looking away from the stage and I did the same.

"Maybe I can go ask when people will be singing?" Clyde volunteered.

"Or maybe he bailed." Cory said and waved over a guy to get him a drink.

"Cory!" Lily huffed and hit his arm. "That's rude."

"And I don't think he would bail." Clyde said and I nodded.

"Well he could have." Vic said.

"Ow, we agree." Cory said making a face and Lily giggled.

"Well I'll go ask." Clyde said glancing at Vic and I to get up which we did so he could get out.

"Maybe I should go look for Farley?" I suggested as Vic sat down.

"Well if you want." Vic said shrugging and I glanced at the others.

"Doesn't sound like a bad idea." Lily said smiling.

"Yeah, just don't get lost." Cory said and I nodded smiling.

"I'll be back." I said and walked away from the table to look. "Farley?" I called out softly looking around then saw from the corner of my eye something shift behind the curtains.

I went over there, careful to not bump into anyone and climbed up onto the stage. But light then turned on and shined on me. Eyes flew towards me and I gulped. The eyes stared at me, it felt like they were burning a hole in me. I blinked and that's when I realized no one was looking at me really. I let out a breath then pulled the curtain to go behind it. There stood Farley gripping onto his guitar.

"Um..hey." he said biting his lip.

"Why aren't you on stage?" I asked walking towards him.

"Last minute stage fright." he breathed out before looking at other guys and girls that was practicing or putting on makeup.

"You'll do great." I said and his eyes flew to me.

"I don't know. I'm not use to people I know here...watching me." he said taking a deep breath before letting it out.

"Well that's what makes this better." I said smiling and he relaxed his grip on his guitar.

"I guess so..." he mumbled.

"And you guessed right. I know you'll do amazing." I said glancing at the ground feeling a bit awkward now.

"Thanks." I heard him say and glanced up to see a slight smile before he walked past me, out on stage and a few others with instruments followed him.

I found another way out of there without going on the stage and bumped into Vic. "Woah there." Vic said grabbing my wrists gently to steady me.

"Sor-Sorry." I felt my face heat up while my heart flip flopped and he shot me a grin.

"It's okay, I went looking for you since you hadn't come back." he said as I heard music start to play.

"Sorry." I huffed with my cheeks getting slightly hotter.

"It's okay, someone is starting. Let's go back to the table." he said and I nodded then followed him as he lead the way back to the table.

We took our seats and I glanced up at the stage. Farley was playing his guitar and opened his mouth beginning to sing. I recognized the lyrics belonged to the song called This Is What You Came For. I hummed softly smiling as he sung playing his guitar. Vic whistled watching and Cory rolled his eyes as Lily laughed. I smiled at all them as Clyde hummed along with me to the song. Turns out Cory all ordered us drinks, ice tea to be exactly. Everyone but Vic was okay with it. Farley was done singing by the time I drank half of my ice tea. He walked over to us smiling nervously and Lily hugged him making him blink. Cory shrugged going over to hug him too and soon Clyde followed.

"Um.." I said blinking at the moment I would totally make awkward if I tried to join but Lily pulled me in making me giggle then my face heated up as I coverwd my mouth.

"Get in here Vic!" Lily huffed as he watched and groaned joining in.

"You did good by the way." Clyde mentioned pulling away from the hug.

"Yeah dude." Cory nodded pulling away also.

"Agree!" Lily piped in as we all began to pull away.

"Like last time." Vic chuckled and Farley grinned at them before glancing at me.

"Told you so." I said my cheeks heating up from the attention and stuffed my hands slightly in my pockets to have some movement to distract myself.

"Yeah." Farley grinned at me and my heart flip flopped.

Later on I was at home on looking out the window. I thought back on the ending of November on how my mom never called that night on Thanksgiving and how my dad and I were silent the way home then so on for the most part. He was possibly seeing that woman he met at Clyde's house. He started texting more often on his phone...well so have I. Bookie and I were growing closer and closer it seemed, yet he seemed so far away still. I mumbled to myself and rolled onto my stomach to get comfortable in bed. My phone was on the charger as I waited for Bookie to reply back. It was late though when I got back from Blue Ginger. I slowly closed my eyes as my body relaxed against the bed.

I opened my eyes to the sun shining bright in my face. I quickly shield my eyes with the cover by pulling it up grumbling. I peeked out to see it was snowing outside from my window. I glanced at my phone before grabbing it and turning it on to see many notifications for texts. Mom texted, the group chat texted a lot, and Bookie texted. My heart flip flopped and I smiled clicking on Farley's first.

BookerBooker: Merry Christmas Eve.

I blinked at his message. It just hit me that tomorrow would be Christmas. And I haven't done any shopping for dad or mom! Or my friends! I quickly text him back while getting out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I clicked on mom's text to see she had apologized for not calling me on Thanksgiving night and then another text said Merry Christmas Eve love, don't ignore my texts for so long. I guess either her message sent late or I just never got it...weird how technology works sometimes. I went on the group chat to see all my friends wishing each other and me a Merry Christmas Eve, well everyone but Cory I realized.

Me:

Merry Christmas Eve to you all too! Where's Cory?

Vic:

Probably asleep

Lily:

Maybe!

I turned off my phone and did my morning routine before heading to dad's room. I knocked on the door and waited for a come in but didn't hear a response. Cracking the door open slightly to pop my head in I saw dad was still sleeping. I smiled slightly and closed the door letting out a breath. Guess I'll be heading to the store myself, but I don't even have my license yet or even have a permit. I need to get one eventually.

I huffed heading downstairs. I got on my coat and hat then put on shoes, made sure I had my wallet to be all ready to go. As I opened the door I shivered at the breeze that hit my face, before grabbing dad's keys so I could lock the house and get back in. I closed the door and glanced at dad's car. Swallowing slightly and locked the door then walked past dad's car. I didn't think I was ready to drive yet. Especially on my own. I walked past dad's car clutching on dad's keys slightly.

Not trying to drive was the smart choice. But that meant walking to a*****e or mall that was far away. I could always catch a bus. Huffing as I walked I saw someone standing near a mailbox. I would have thought it was some mailman or woman but there was no blue uniform to be seen. Maybe they changed the uniform color. As I walked closer I realized it was Cory. I quirked an eyebrow deciding whether to shout or not. I didn't think Cory lived near.

"He-"

"Just put the damn letter in the mailbox." Cory muttered gripping a letter in his hands and I tilt my head.

"Cory?" I said and his head turned to face me with his eyes wide.

"What are you doing here?" Another voice asked and we both turned our heads to the source of the voice which belonged to Vic.

Cory gulped shoving the letter in his pocket of his hoodie. I glanced at him then back at Vic. Well wasn't this awkard, I should have kept walking. Vic was staring Cory down, not paying any mind to me. Good time to escape but I would still feel awkward trying to leave all of a sudden.

"I..uh.." Cory glanced at me and I blinked at him. "Wanted to see if you um remembered what day it was." Cory said standing up straight and Vic quirked an eyebrow as mines furrowed. "My birthday." he mumbled looking down and my eyes widen.

"Oh my gosh! Happy birthday." I said to him and he glanced up at me.

"Not your fault I didn't tell you. But I thought someone I did tell a long time ago would remember." he said looking at Vic who smiled nervously rubbing his neck.

"Um..Happy Birthday, Lily didn't tell me it was your birthday." Vic said walking over to us.

"Lily never told me hers so I didn't tell her mine." Cory said crossing his arms and I tried shrinking back from this conversation.

It didn't feel like this was right for me to be here while they discussed. I started to walk around as they talked but Cory grabbed my arm glaring. I gulped as I tried pulling away. I already felt bad enough but Cory didn't seem like he was going to let me escape. Vic soon pulled Cory away and I stumbled right onto my butt.

"You still haven't answered why your really here." Vic said huffing at Cory and I scrambled up making a run for it.

I ran fast gripping dad's keys in my hand. I made sure not to look back as I heard yelling. Those two never seemed to get along but I wonder what was that all about. I kind of wanted to talk to Cory about it but I don't think he would want to talk about it with me.

As I was running my way to the nearest place I could buy gifts I felt my phone vibrate and start to ring. I reached down in my pocket and pulled out my phone. Mom was flashing on the screen and I slipped the green button over to answer.

"Sorry I didn't call before. A lot has been going on...your grandfather has gotten very sick and work has been a pain." I heard mom say with a sigh on the other end making me frown.

"It's okay mom, I'm just glad to hear from you again." I said as I walked up to a row of stores and opened a door to one called Rockstars.

"Well how are you doing?" she asked as I walked inside the store looking around.

"Grea-" My sentence was cut off when I turned the corner bumping into another dropping my phone.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I heard a familiar voice say and I glanced down to see Clyde picking up my phone.