Chapter 2 - Beat of the Music

I woke up that morning kind of early. Well, really early. The sky was light blue and the stars hasn’t disappeared yet. Looking at the clock, it was only five in the morning. I sighed and turned to the window to try go back to sleep... But I wasn’t able to. I just laid there listening to the low music that played on my laptop until it was time for me to get up.

When it finally turned seven I slowly sat up, still not feeling completely awake. I moved throw my room like a zombie. Picking out clothes and s**t to get for school. I didn’t really think about eating anything... To be honest, I didn’t think about anything. The stuff I needed, the clothes I was going to wear, I didn’t have to think about it. My brain finally started to function when I heard my name being called as I waited for the bus.

“Hayz!” It was Lizzabeth. I rolled my eyes and sighed. She ran over with a huge smile on her face. “You don’t have to take the bus. I can drive you.”

“Wouldn’t you dad be pissed if you’re over here?”

“Well, he would. But he’s not here so he won’t know. I’m sorry about last night and every other time. That southern preacher heart, ya know? He just doesn’t know that you’ll not all that bad. Like I do.” She smiled a bit brighter this time. Just like a child. I stood there and blinked, soon smiling back and walking up to her.

“It’s fine. Not a lot of parents like me anyways.” I chuckled and took a moment before asking her a question. “So... You still up for carpooling?” A slight blush rose to the face as she giggled. Lizzabeth looked back at her house and motioned me to go with her to her truck. I followed and waited for to unlocked the door to hop in the passenger seat. Sunroof back, windows down, she flew off down the road like a race track.

Music played on low as we road, chatting with one another. She soon as we reached the school I could see my friends sitting at the back of the school like always. It never really hit me as to what they would say if they’d saw me with some chick that I’ve said I couldn’t stand. But, at the same time, it didn’t bother me.

She parked her car and waited a moment before getting out. I tried to follow her into the doors but Alex just had to call me over. I sighed and asked if she would wait for me since we have the same first class. She agreed and I went over to Alex, Brett, and Joel.

“What you guys?” I asked with a sigh in my tone.

“We waited for you after detention, remember? Where were you?” Alex sounded sad that I forgot. I feel really f*****g bad now...

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to forget. I just got caught up with something. That’s all.”

“Something?” Brett got up and looked over to Lizzabeth. “You really could have just told us you ditched us to hand with her. I thought you hated her.”

“Excuse you! I honestly forgot. I had fallen asleep and missed the bus so she gave me a ride home since we live close. And I happened to not really want to ride a bus full of people so we carpooled. No need to be a b***h about it, guys.” I’m sure I’d raised at them. They are my best friends but I had a feeling Brett would say some s**t like that.

He sided and shook his head, walking away from me and into the school. “He’s just butthurt about yesterday that you didn’t show up to to chill with us. Don’t worry too much about it.” Joel laughed, following Brett into the school. I put my head down and sighed.

“Hayz... Brett will be okay.” Alex tilt my head up to hers. “You don’t have to worry but you should know that you shouldn’t play with Brett’s feelings like that.”

“Play? I wasn’t playing with anyone! I really did... Forget.”

“I know, but Brett feels like you left us for no reason. Come on. I’ll walk with you to class before heading off to mine.” I blinked and had a more sorry look on my face while staring down again. “Hayz?”

“I-I’m sorry, Alex. Since Lizzabeth and I have the same class, I wa going to walk with her.” She went silent but soon gave me another smile.

“It’s fine. Catch you at lunch then!” She waved and followed after the others. I didn’t move, I couldn’t move. I just stared at the ground before I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Lizzabeth. She looked worried and asked if I was fine. “Yeah. I just forgot something and I might have pissed Brett off.”

She gave me a little smile, “Everything will be alright. You have class with him soon, right? You guys can talk there.” Lizzabeth took my hand and led me inside. I just followed with the thought of hurting Brett and maybe the others as well. I didn’t mean to skip out on them. Honestly... I just forgot.

We walked into class and I went to seat at my desk near the window while Lizzabeth sat with her friends at the back. Class hasn’t started yet so I lay my head down and stare out the window like I always do, trying to drown out the sounds of everyone else in the room ‘til Ms. Klem walks in to start class.

I tried to sit through class and write or draw in my notebook but it was so hard. I wanted to write just a little short story like I always do. Work on a story until the end of the school day, by that time I’ve had a mini story to be proud of. But this time... Nothing. Nothing but yesterday night.

The drive to the country, the concert, the music, the people, the drive from the country... And Lizzabeth. Damn it. She’s a nice chick and all but I’m not trying to be her friend. I don’t think I’m trying to be her friend. I breathed slowly and sat up in my chair, laying my notebook on the desk and started writing. I don’t even remember what I was writing about, just that know that I didn’t get any work done.

Later I met up with Alex and we walked to lunch together. I wanted to talk to Brett but he wasn’t in Chemistry class so I’m hoping he might be in lunch. You don’t need a master’s degree to know that a*****e is made at me for leaving them behind. We walked into the lunch room to sit at our normal table. Brett still wasn’t there.

“Hey Joel! Where’s Brett?” Alex asked as we sat down and he shrugged.

“He was in Trig and he seemed fine. Not sure where he is now.” I sighed and put my head down on the table. Alex rubbed my back, trying to tell me that he was fine. But I knew he was pissed at me.

“I told you don’t have to worry about it, Hayz. Brett will be fine. He can just emotional over nothing too many times. It’ll be okay.”

Picking my head by up, I gave Joel a cold stare. “No it won’t be okay. He’s so pissed off at me and I feel like I should say sorry but then again what for? Yeah, Lizzabeth asked to take me home, I missed the after school bus and could have rain that day. I’m not gonna pass that up! Plus, I really did forget that I was supposed to meet you guys so I went to Lizzabeth to a meetup in the countryside.” My heartbeat was racing. I felt like I was yelling, thank god I wasn’t.

Alex laughed and patted my head. “You don’t have to explain yourself to him. It’s not like you’re his or anything. Brett should just grow up sometimes.” She got out her laptop and went straight to Tumblr. “Here, calm yourself and have fun. Joel and I will finish our Jujun dual.”

“Jujun?”

“It’s Magic but with different roles.” Joel smiled and took out a board and cards. They really come to school with these things? I don’t even carry a bookbag.

The rest of the school day played out kind of well. Borning class, talking to friends, weird looks from Lizzabeth’s friends because I was hanging with her. They don’t like me very much. But I don’t like them very much so it works out. But I was worried. I didn’t see Brett anywhere for the rest of the day. It did make me sad, he might have skipped out on school. Damn it! What’s his f*****g problem?

I tried texting him the whole day but he never replied. Soon I kind of got my mind off it when Lizzabeth asked if I wanted to see shack her family bought out where the meetup was near. I was more than positive that I had nothing planned today, so I agreed and now I’m waiting out in her truck as she went to get her phone from the office. Might be a pretty princess but she could never stay off that phone.

She ran out the doors and up to the truck, opening the door and hopping in. “Sorry it took a little longer than I thought. There were a lot more phones in that box today.” She giggled. “You’ll love the place, it’s a bit small but it’s supposed to be an isolated shack near a lake and it has a bonfire. We’ve had it for years and my father just recently rebuild the place with his friends. It looks so much better now!”

“You’re really excited.” I asked, poking her cheek and laughing. She laughed with me and backed out the parking lot to drive off.

“Well, it’s a nice place and I wanna show it to you.” Lizzabeth smiled turned down the same road that lead to the county where we were last night. She kept on driving til she was she past GreenBear County. I’m more than sure she’s not even riding on roads anymore. Lizzabeth let down the windows a bit more and turned up her radio. More country music which I’ve grown to like all over again. After fourth grade I started listening to a lot more punk and alt that I forgot I used to love country music.

We drove for awhile that the sun was going to set and  I was about to fall asleep with my hair blowing on out the window until she shocked me a little. I opened my eyes and fixed my hair. “Hm? Are we there yet?”

She giggled, “Yep! It’s down this lake. You see that light blue house down there pass the threes?” I stap up a little and nodded like a child. “Hold on to your seat, this trail is bumpy.” Lizzabeth smiled and took a turn on the grass and gravel, heading to the house. She parked outside of it and turned the truck off before she got out to unlock the door. I followed but looked around and kind of got lost in the perfect landscape until she got my attention again.

I walked inside and fell in love with the place. It was both traditional southern and modern decor and it felt so well. “It’s like a dream house...”

“My mother’s dream house, really. She came up with all of this and help my father put it together. She says she wants to live back here one day, but for now it’s just a vacation home.” She explained while walking to the double doors that lead to the back of the house. “But hey, this is what I really wanted to show you.” Lizzabeth walked out and motioned me to follow. I came outside to see an wide opened lake, two boats, more field, a dining area, and Lizzabeth sitting near the bonfire. I walked over to sit with her.

“It’s really nice out here. And you father build it all?”

“With help.” She smiled, “I texted him by the way. I told him I went out the shack for a bit and I might be home really late.”

I blinked, “You’re able to get away with that? I should text my mom something too. Maybe; I’m staying with a friend tonight and I’ll be back early.”

Lizzabeth nodded and soon leaned her head on my shoulder as she looked out into the lake. I tried my best but I could tell I was started to blush. Before she sat back up and turned back to me I was able to get calm again. “Yo! It’ll be cool to stay here tonight! We have some food that my father stocks in the freezer I can make. Steak’s easy for me and fast on the grill. How about it?”

She looked so hyped to make some steak. I laughed and agreed to having grilled steak. Lizzabeth jumped up and head back into the house. “This girl, I’ll tell ya...” I mumbled, chuckling to myself. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t deny that she’s cute and all but I’m not trying to fall for her. Not to be rude but I already have my ideal-girl and she’s not it. Yet I can’t really say no to her. I sighed to myself and looked down. There was a radio beside the logs so I turned to on. The sounds of Jerrod Niemann started filling my head.

“How you want your steak, Hayz?” She asked, bringing out a dishing tray with the steaks, species, what-nots. “You better say well done.” Lizzabeth smirked while looking back at me. I gave her a grin and stood to talk over.

“What if said... Under cook?”

“You’re crazy as f**k and ‘bout to leave this shack.” She laughed while preparing the grill and the steaks. I laughed with her and watched like she as my mom or something. I asked if she needed help but she insisted that I just relax and that she’s got it all. Not having to work? Not gonna argue with that.

I sat down at the picnic table just watching as she cook. Everyone song that came on I can hear her singing along with it. Cute little voice she has. I’m kind of jealous. In the middle of her cooking she lit up the bonfire and turned the music up. “All done! We should eat by the fire. But, I wanna change first. It’s a little warm to be wearing longs sleeves and s**t.” Lizzabeth smiled and sat our plates on the table and ran inside, going up the stairs.

Not long after she came back out in a white Keith Urban shirt, shorts, and a pink thin jacket. She grabbed her plate came to sit with me. Again, I tried to high my blush. She looked perfect in that outfit! I might not be into her but GOD DAMN IT THOUGH! I held myself together as she joked and laughed with each other, listening to the music that I just getting to know and she knew every word too.

It was cool hearing her sing to be honest. And to be completely honest, I’ve been finding her less and less annoying. If she showed this side of her from the start we would have friends at the beginning!

We talked for awhile while we finished eating. Tyler Farr and Justin Moore played on the radio and everything felt so calm and peaceful. Different from back home, really. “Oh hey... Fireflies.” Lizzabeth’s voice became very child-like as she jumped up. “We should catch them! You ever went out and catch Fireflies before?”

“I grew up in the city, I’m surprised I know what they even are.” She laughed and took my hand, standing me up. “I don’t know, hon. I’m not all for catching bugs.”

“Aww, come on! It’s fun! I used to do it all the time with my cousins when I was little. You just catch him gently and let them go. Like you would a butterfly.” I looked at her with a puzzled look. “Just come on.” She laughed and ran over to a darker part of the field, I followed and watched as she showed me the Fireflies she caught before releasing them. I sighed and decided to just join in with her.

Soon after we were running around laughing and dancing around like idiots to her Brett Eldredge CD. We weren’t even chasing down Fireflies anymore. Lizzabeth jumped in the lake still clothed and motioned me to come in. By this time I was just lost in the music and wind to even give anything a second thought. I jumped in with her, hearing her laugh as water splashed on her.

That whole night was me not being me. I felt different from the depressed weird girl that I’ve been for years. And I liked it. I had a little bit too much fun that night.

Author's Note

Listen to Brett Eldredge's Beat Of The Music while reading this.