On The Floor (Second Story) (17 page)

“Okay, who is going to sing with me?” I ask. Everyone looks at each other. This is a room full of musicians, but nobody wants to sing?

“I’ll do it,” Jake says smiling at me. We pull the lyrics up on his phone and sit next to each other on the bench. I know most of the lyrics, but, you know, just in case.

I start playing the song and then begin to sing. This is my first time singing in front of a group in a while. I’ve always been told I have a beautiful voice. When I sing, I try to live the lyrics, put myself in the song. I think one of the most important things when you sing a song is the emotion you put behind it. You can have a beautiful voice, but the performance is nothing if you don’t feel the music.

I glance over at Jake during the first chorus and I can’t look away. He is staring at me. The emotion in his eyes is all encompassing. I am sucked into him. I’m no longer singing for the group. I’m singing for him. And when he starts his part, I am singing with him.

It’s obvious that he already knows the words to the song because he doesn’t glance at his phone once. I am so glad this song is easy for me to play, because I would be seriously messing it up if it was any harder.

I hope the emotion I see in his eyes isn’t part of the performance, because the emotion in my eyes is real. I feel like I can’t live without him. I want him to stay. For a long time.

When we start to sing together, we move towards each other. Still facing him, I look down and close my eyes. He touches his forehead to mine and continues to sing. As the song comes to an end, we pull back from each other and look into each other’s eyes again, finishing the song.

He takes a big breath and shakes his head, closing his eyes and cutting off the connection. I hope our freshmen didn’t pick up on that.

Who am I kidding? They totally saw something. Hopefully they just think we are really good performers, otherwise we’ve blown our secret.

Everyone starts clapping and I look at the group and smile. “Thank you everyone. Jackie, if you want me to get piano music to any of your favorite songs, let me know and I’ll bring it next week when I come.”

“Okay. Thanks, Rachel!” she says smiling.

“Any other questions?”

Chapter 12

“I knew they were fucking…”

"No way! They’re
together
together…”

“Unlikely! I’ve heard enough about Jake to know he fucks around. He doesn’t do together…”

“He’s just using her. She deserves better than that…”

“Maybe she’s using him. You know, a no strings type thing. He’s hot. I’d take what I could get…”

“My older sister is friends with one of the guys in his band. They are definitely exclusive. I’ve heard that he hasn’t been hooking up after his shows lately…”

“I hope I don’t ever have to hear them fucking. It’s like hearing your mom and dad. Yuck!”

“Do you think they’ll sing again at open mic on Friday? I think it would be hot! They were so into each other on Wednesday, I bet they can’t keep their hands off each other…”

“I think they’re in love…”

I swear that’s all I hear the freshmen on my floor talking about. My relationship. Word has spread about our intense performance at the center and that’s all they’ve been talking about the past two days. Every one of them has their own theory about what is going on between me and Jake. It would be annoying, if I wasn’t so wrapped up in him.

I want to clear up each of the rumors. I imagine myself calling a floor meeting and just answering each one.

Yes, we are sleeping together.

Yes, we are
together
together.

We are exclusive and he
did
stop sleeping with random girls after his shows. A while ago.

We will not be singing together at open mic tonight.

We definitely can’t keep our hands off each other.

And finally…

I think
I’m
 in love. Though it would be nice to know if I am alone in love, or if he is there with me, but I’m too chicken to bring it up.

We laugh together about everything they're are saying. He’s been telling me, “We know what we are to each other…” But the thing is I’m not really sure. I know we are together. But I don’t know if he is falling as hard as I am. I’d like to think so, but I don’t want to get my hopes up. All of this is new and I don’t want to push him.

It’s Friday and the first open mic night of the semester. There is a good group performing. The idea was so popular, that we opened it up to everyone on campus and we are expecting quite the turnout. Jake went to the venue ahead of time to make sure everything was set-up and to help with the sign-in of the performers. Last semester, I had to handle all of that. This semester, Jake offered to take over running the open mic nights as long as I hosted.

With an hour left until I have to be there, Jenna is coming down to my room to get ready with me. I haven’t seen much of her this week. Most of my free time has been spent with Jake. I’m sure both of us are in serious need of some girl time and talk.

I hear a knock at the door and before I can respond, Jenna is walking into my room with an armful of outfits, hair tools, and makeup. And she’s a raven-haired beauty. Her freshly dyed hair is cut shorter than it was the last time I saw her.

She broke up with Will. How did I miss this? I have been seriously slacking as a best friend. “Nice hair, Jen! What happened?” I ask her as she throws everything down on my bed.

“Oh, you know, caught him making out with his ex-girlfriend this morning. He told me that he knew I couldn’t commit like he eventually wanted and he didn’t want to waste his time anymore,” she says, her eyes darting down for a moment before she continues. “He’s an asshat! Whatever! If he can’t appreciate what he’s got, I’ll let someone else worship my body. And I’ll be worshipping someone else’s as well!” she finishes.

“Are you okay?” I ask her. She always acts so tough, but this had to have upset her.

“I’ll miss his tongue, but I can do better. Tonight I will fly solo and then tomorrow I am on the prowl. We’re going out with Jake’s bandmates right?”

“Yep!” I am really excited to hang out with him and his friends, even though it might be a little awkward with Nate.

“Nate going?” she asks me raising an eyebrow. It’s like she can read my mind.

“Yeah, but we ended on good terms, so I think it will be okay,” I say mostly sure that this will be the case.

“It’ll be fine. Jake is his best friend and Nate knows how happy you make him,” she smiles at me reassuringly. “Plus, Nate’s not a dick. Will on the other hand, he’s a dick.”

“He sure is. And an idiot. A foolish, idiot, dick,” I say. I can tell she really liked him.

“Damn right he was!” she says giving me a too confident smile.

“Plus, you look hot with the new ‘do. So, good riddance, Will!” I say making a rude gesture. This is the way Jenna deals with heartache. She wants to say fuck the world, even though she feels like the world is always fucking with her.

“Damn right I look hot! Now let’s get ready for tonight!” she says holding up her curling iron and makeup bag.

The hour flies by while Jenna and I curl and catch up. She is begging for the naughty details from my time with Jake, but I hold out. She’ll get one story a week, as promised. And she has to wait until Sunday lunch. I swear she wants to kill me.

Jimmy, the AM that works with Jenna, and his boyfriend, Dan meet us in the lobby of the dorm and we all head over the Rec Center together. We get to the venue and spot Jake sitting up at a table near the stage. He looks delicious in a blue t-shirt and jeans. Who would have thought a guy could look so good in a t-shirt?

He looks up and smiles as he sees me walking towards the table. Butterflies take flight inside my tummy as I return his smile. When we reach the table, I lean in for a hug, as does Jenna. Even though everyone knows something is going on, we don’t want to advertise it.

“You look beautiful,” Jake says quietly near my ear as he pulls out my chair. I’m dressed in skinny jeans and a light pink sheer top with a white tank top underneath. I had to veto the dress Jenna wanted me to wear, since I didn’t want everyone to be able to see my panties. It was short and tight, and definitely wasn’t the type of dress that you wear on stage. I did however wear the light pink heels she wanted me to wear. I think that sometimes Jenna thinks I am her personal dress-up doll.

“Thank you. You look okay,” I whisper back, smirking and shrugging my shoulder. The smile he gives me leaves me breathless. He obviously knows I think he looks more than okay. The things this man can tell me with a look.

“We’re going to get started in a minute. Here’s the list of the performers,” he says handing me a clipboard. “You can just go up and introduce them,” he says gesturing to the front. “Then, you can come sit back with us and watch the performance.”

“Ok,” I say smiling at him and getting comfortable in my seat. When I look back up at him, he’s smiling like he knows something I don’t. “What?” I ask him.

“Rachel,” he says pointing to the stage. Jack, the manager at the Rec Center, is standing on stage looking down at me. Waiting. “I think it’s time to start.”

“Oh,” I say, smiling and standing up to get on stage with my clipboard. Jake picked the perfect table. The stairs are right next to us, so I’m able to get on and off stage without walking in front of anyone else. When I get up there, Jack hands me the microphone and shows me how to use the stand, then walks off stage.

“Hey! How is everybody doing tonight?” I say into the mic. I’m hoping my enthusiasm will get the crowd excited. Everyone cheers. I hear an extra loud cheer from the front and realize that is where most of the group from my floor are sitting. I smile at them and continue. “My name is Rachel, and I’ll be the host for the evening. This is the first open mic night of the semester and we’ll be doing them the first Friday of every month. Anyone is welcome to perform, as long as you sign up before hand and let us know what you’ll be performing. Anyways, let’s get this show on the road!” More cheers.

I look down at my clipboard and announce the first performer of the night. “First up, is Christy Lawrence. She’s a sophomore and majoring in musical performance. She’ll be playing
I Do
, by Colbie Caillat.” I look at her as she comes up on stage with her guitar. I grab the stool for her and put the microphone back on the stand.

She sits at the stool and adjusts the mic. “Hey everyone! Hope you like my version of the song.” Then she starts playing a slower version of the song. Her voice is beautiful, and she is definitely a performer.

When she finishes she thanks the audience and leaves the stage as I am walking up. I introduce the next performer and they come up. The rest of the night goes on like that. We hear performances of all different types of music, from a cover of
I Knew You Were Trouble
by Taylor Swift, to an acoustic version
Nothing Else Matters
by Metallica, and everything in between. And everyone is amazing. Although I guess I didn’t really expect anything less from an arts college full of music majors.

After the last performer finishes, I go on stage to end the show and remind them about the next open mic night. Just before I thank everyone for coming and say goodbye, I notice that Jake is standing on stage with his guitar, a big smile spread across his face.

I look over at him confused. He leans down and whispers into my ear, “We have one last performance.” He leans back, his smile getting bigger, if possible. “Did I forget to write this one on the list?” he says trying to look innocent.

Yeah right.

“I guess you did.” I say smiling back. I turn back to the mic and let the crowd know about our surprise performance. “It looks like we have one last surprise performance. This is Jacob Price, and he is lead vocal and guitar for Second Story, one of our local bands. He is also a senior here and he helped me put this event together. Let’s give him a hand!” I say looking back at him and smiling as the crowd cheers loudly.

A group of girls near the back yells, “We love you, Jake!” and I start laughing as I exit the stage and go back to my table with Jenna.

I look at Jake sitting on his stool on the stage. I would love for him to sing something romantic for me like he did at The Grove, but I don’t want to draw any more attention to our relationship. Although a performance like that might get rid of some of the negative rumors.

“Hey everyone! Thanks again for coming out! I wanted to perform something tonight and dedicate it to a friend of mine. This is for my partner in crime,” he says smiling and looking over at me.

I smile back and start to laugh, giving him a thumbs up. Nice reference, Jake. He starts to strum on his guitar, and it's not long before I realize it is an acoustic version of
What Makes You Beautiful
by One Direction. Of course he did. My smile gets bigger, as I fight back tears.

That’s right. I’m tearing up at a One Direction song. You try not tearing up while watching the guy you’re falling in love with sings a song for you in front of a group of people. No matter what song it is. He could sing
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
, and you’d be emotional.

He finishes the first verse of the song and goes into the bridge when I realize that there is a large group of people standing and swaying to the music. After he finishes the bridge, he stops playing and winks at me.

What?

Then out of nowhere, the actual version of the song picks up where he left off and everyone that is standing starts to perform a choreographed dance. The group is huge. Everyone from my floor, plus half of the rest of the crowd. Even Jenna, Jimmy, and Dan are in on it. All of them are dancing to the song.

They start to move. Some of them go on stage to join Jake, who has stashed his guitar and joined in on the dance. Some move onto the tables. Some are stationed around the perimeter of the room. It’s crazy!