Chapter 22
Red Adamson ~
"Why on earth did you do that Charlie?" I said with my eyebrows puckered expressing my annoyance. "You think that this is funny?" I added when I observed the smirk on his face that followed a chuckle.
"No! Of course not! This isn't at all funny. It is way beyond that. It's hilarious! About a minute ago, I gave my best friend the opportunity of a lifetime so she could utilize the voice of an angel she was born with by getting to sing side by side with Ryan McFlame and The Rotten Apples but what do I get instead of a kneeling appreciation or gratitude from her? A ridiculous question, I guess." Charlie said turning the smile on his face upside down.
Charlie has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He had the perfect brown hair that he always keeps spiked up. He was nowhere as handsome has Gar. His hazel brown eyes kept his hair and his eyes in unity. He has always proved worth my trust and is really fun to be with. He wasn't so muscular or tall but had a good physique.
"Hell yeah I would be grateful but you're missing the point here. My mom hasn't and won't tell me why but she forbids my singing. If you have an idea of how I will be able to sing with one of the most famous and greatest music bands in America without my mom finding out, I'll love to hear it because I don't have any." I said picking up my backpack.
"This isn't just about your mom and you know it. Yes, I agree that for some reason, your mom forbids you using those lips of yours to open up and allow musical notes fly out but we both know that maybe, with the right push, she would come around." "You, on the other hand... not so much." Charlie said picking up his backpack and he made his way for the class door.
"You think I can't do it? You think I'm sort of nervous and scared??" I asked Charlie walking up him with arched brows.
"Your words, not mine." That was all Charlie said before Gar invited himself into the conversation.
"I'll show you!" "You… You…"
"You'll show him what exactly?" Gar asked from behind me scaring the living daylights out of me.
"I… I… I… Nothing! I'll show him nothing." I said trying to conceal the truth from Gar.
"What's going on? Red, you know that you are a terrible liar and can be awful at pretending so please, DON'T! Charlie???" Gar said with folded arms.
"It's no biggie Gar. Red here, got herself nominated to be the lead female singer for tomorrow night's Halloween festivity by yours truly. But the thing is….."
"Her mom wouldn't let her sing and she is damn scared to do it even if she had the chance." Gar said interrupting Charlie. "Once you got to the punch line, I kind of figured the rest out myself knowing the person involved should I say, inside-out." Gar added giving me a stern look almost like he was angry at the same time happy for some reason towards me.
"What do you think?" Charlie asked as we three walked down the hallway.
"There are no two ways about it. Red is doing it! There's no way she is going to miss such an opportunity with the one and only, RYAN MCFLAME." Gar said with all confidence like he knew that I was definitely going for the offer no matter what.
"Says who?" I asked halting in my steps.
"Says me!" Gar answered with a possessive and commanding look fixed on me as he walked down the stairs leading to the parking lot of the school. "Are you going to keep standing there or what??" he asked as he turned to look at me with one of his dominating looks.
"That's my dad!" Charlie said as a nearby car made a horn as it drove into the parking lot. "Don't forget to do a rehearsal or something Red and Gar, could you take care of her mom??" he added walking backwardly to the direction of the car.
"I don't know whatever you two were doing before I came in but I want to make something clear. The fact that Charlie is your best friend or whatever, doesn't give either of you the right to… to…" Gar was trying to find the rest of his words to use before he finally spoke up. "Just be careful around him. A little bird told me that Charlie is way more than he seems so keep those eyes of yours peeled."
"That's not happening because I know who Charlie is and believe it or not, he's my best friend." I said.
Who does Gar think he is that he can order my social life around? I'm sick and tired of all these 'Be Careful' nonsense. I've known Charlie ever since fourth grade and till now I haven't found him guilty of anything constituting danger to me or anyone else. I know Gar has been more than a brother to me ever since his parents took my mom in when I was still little and for as long as I can remember, he has always been there for me but this time is going to be one of those times that I give him a piece of my mind.
"Don't play stubborn Red, all that I'm saying is that you should be extra careful with everyone you call a friend including Charlie."
"Okay I get it so can we talk more on a very pressing issue right now? Like, how we are going to convince my mom to allow me sing for the Halloween festivities." I asked trying to change the subject of discussion.
"What do you mean by 'we are'??" asked Gar. "No one is telling your mom anything. This is all about you and your talent and not her" he added.
When Gar said this, my mind just flashed and I was like 'just take a look at who says Charlie is a bad company.'
"You want me to go against my mom's wishes just for the sake of some dumb role?" I asked with all seriousness written all over my face.
"No! I didn't say that you should go against your mom. That's wrong. What I'm proposing is that she does not get to know about you going to sing." Gar said with a mischievous look in his eyes.
"Basically, that is the same thing!" I said right before his mom, Mrs. West came along in her car a few meters from where we were.
"Look! Your mom obviously doesn't understand your talent of music the way that I do so there is no possible future that she'll say 'yes' to it even after we end up seeking for her permission." "You are doing the role of the female singer. I know you want to," Gar said turning to me and backing his mom's car with tempting eyes.
"Of course I want to but…."
"No buts! You are doing it and that is all that matters." Gar said as he interrupted me placing both of his hands on my shoulders. "Now let's go!" he added walking up to me and taking me in his hands as he pulled me to the direction of his mom's car.
I stared deeply into his eyes wondering when he had power to decide what I will and will not do and I'll say nothing. Not that I didn't want to. I did but I couldn't make the words come out the way I wanted them to.
"You'll see I'm right."