The Playlist of Us

Song & Secrets

The first rule of senior year? Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.

College applications, AP exams, my sister’s wedding—those mattered.

Is a random stranger hijacking my Spotify playlist? Not important.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

Yet, the next morning, the first thing I did wasn’t check my email or review my AP Lit notes.

It was checking the playlist.

And sure enough—they had added another song.

I hesitated, a coffee mug hovering near my lips, as I read the title:

“Enemies” – Post Malone

I snorted. Oh, so are we playing this game now?

Fine. Game on.

I scrolled through my library, picking something equally petty. Something that said, I can play at this level too.

After a few seconds, I smirked and hit add.

“You’re So Vain” – Carly Simon

It took four minutes for a response to appear.

“Can’t Tell Me Nothing” – Kanye West

I nearly choked on my coffee. This was unexpectedly fun.

I still had no idea who I was messing with. Some random student? A teacher? A stranger?

But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to log out.

Because, for the first time in a long time, something felt unpredictable.

---

By the time I pulled into school, I was still thinking about the playlist.

Noa didn’t even give me time to sit before calling me out. “Okay, what’s up with you?”

I blinked at her. “What?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re weird today.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Liar.”

I hesitated, then busied myself pulling books from my bag. How was I supposed to explain that I had spent my morning exchanging passive-aggressive song choices with a total stranger?

So I changed the subject. “Lauren was talking about Jace yesterday.”

Noa groaned. “Do we have to talk about him?”

“Yes, because apparently, I have to see him this weekend.”

She winced. “The wedding stuff?”

I nodded. “The rehearsal dinner. The second dance practice. All of it.”

Noa made a face. “He’s probably still an arrogant ass.”

“Obviously.”

But that wasn’t what was bothering me.

What bothered me was that I hadn’t seen him in almost a year.

That in less than forty-eight hours, we’d be forced into the same room again.

That, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, he was still a part of my story.

---

By late afternoon, I officially regretted agreeing to this cake tasting.

I sat at a round table with Olivia, Ethan, and my mom, surrounded by trays of tiny cake samples.

“Chocolate ganache is classic,” Mom said.

Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Too predictable.”

“Lemon?” Ethan suggested.

I tuned them out, checking my phone under the table.

A new song has appeared on the playlist.

“Take a Hint” – Victoria Justice & Elizabeth Gillies

I nearly laughed out loud. Whoever this was, they had a sense of humor.

“What’s so funny?” Olivia’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I quickly locked my screen. “Nothing.”

She gave me a suspicious look, but thankfully, Ethan distracted her by shoving a forkful of cake in her mouth.

I exhaled, but my relief didn’t last.

Because then, Olivia smiled way too sweetly.

“Oh, by the way,” she said. “Jace is coming to the next dance practice.”

I went completely still.

“Great,” I muttered, stabbing a piece of cake. “Can’t wait.”

Olivia smirked. “You guys are dance partners, you know. You’ll have to get along.”

I scoffed. Not happening.

---

That night, I sat cross-legged on my bed, staring at my screen.

A new song has appeared.

Not teasing. Not cocky.

Something different.

“Little Talks” – Of Monsters and Men

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the screen.

This was… unexpected.

Not a song to taunt me. Not a song to brag about.

Something about it felt different. Like an unspoken question.

The lyrics hit harder than I wanted to admit.

You’re gone, gone, gone away. I watched you disappear

All that’s left is a ghost of you.

A lump formed in my throat.

I didn’t know this person. Didn’t know why they picked this song.

But for some reason, it felt like a message.

And that was dangerous.

Because whoever this was, they weren’t supposed to matter.

And yet…

I scrolled through my playlist, searching. Not for a comeback. Not for something snarky.

For something that answered them.

After a moment, I found it.

“Sweater Weather” – The Neighborhood

I hesitated for a split second. Then, without allowing myself to overthink, I added it.

And we waited.