Melody of the Heart

I clapped until my hands were blood red and stung from my efforts. Gripping the microphone, Brayden said, “To change things up a little bit, I wanted to do one of my favorite songs from Bush—Glycerine.”

Brayden pinched his eyes shut and strummed the opening chords of the song. He looked so sexy when he was deep in concentration, focusing on the music and the lyrics. I thought he was handsome walking around school in jeans and a T-shirt. The muscles he’d developed from playing football were not really hidden behind his shirts, but tonight they seem larger than life. But it seemed amplified by a thousand with the glow of the lights on him, his fingers working magic over the strings of the guitar, and his heart and soul being poured out as he expressed the lyrics.

He finished his performance to another round of applause and cheering. He ducked his head, but I could see the grin that spread across his cheeks. “Thank you again. You guys have been great,” he said.

Tom slid over to stand beside Brayden. “So what do you guys think? Should we give the fucker a chance?” Tom asked, to which the crowd roared their approval. I yelled until my throat burned. Tom grinned and turned to Brayden. “I guess you’re in.”

Brayden’s face broke into a beaming smile. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” He then turned to the crowd and held up his hand. “Thanks to you guys, too.”

As Brayden started to leave the stage, Tom grabbed him by the arm. “Where ya going, man? We still got a show to play.”

A red flush crept along Brayden’s cheeks. “Oh, yeah, sure, I’ll stay.” He then eased to the side to let Tom take back the lead singer role. I didn’t know if Brayden was prepared to play with them or not, but when they started up the next song, he fell right in.

“Wanna dance?” Mitch asked.

Since it was a fast-paced song, I didn’t think it could hurt. “Sure. But if you try to molest me once, I’m going to knee you in the balls.”

Mitch threw back his head and laughed. “I’ll be a good boy. I promise.”

True to his word, Mitch didn’t try to grind on me or do anything disrespectful. After two fast songs, it changed to a slow one. We just stood there staring at each other in the middle of the dance floor. “I can still be a good boy even though the song is slow.”

Reluctantly, I nodded. “Okay.” Tentatively, I reached out to wrap my arms around his neck. He pulled me close against him.

“So you think you’re going to like it here in Roswell?”

“Yeah, I think I am. I mean, everyone’s been so nice, it’s hard not to like it.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve lived here all my life.”

“You’re really not missing anything. Moving basically sucks.”

“But then you get a chance to meet new and interesting people. Especially guys.”

I laughed. “I guess so.”

When I glanced over Mitch’s shoulder, I noticed Brayden glaring at the two of us. Feeling uneasy about what I was doing, I tried to pull away. “Where are you going?”

“This isn’t right. I shouldn’t be dancing with you.”

Mitch tugged me back to him. “You’re not dating Brayden, so there’s no reason why you can’t dance with me.”

Thankfully, the song came to an end. “Thanks everyone. Give us a ten minute break, and we’ll be right back.”

The loud screech of a guitar came from the stage, and when I looked up again, Brayden had torn off his guitar and stormed off the stage. He made his way through the crowd to us. But then he started past me. “Brayden, where are you going?”

“Don’t talk to me right now,” he growled, as he brushed past me.

I didn’t even have time to ask what was wrong before he shoved Mitch hard against the wall. “Fuck you, man!” he shouted. He then stalked out of the room. Without a word to Mitch, I rushed after Brayden.

“Would you please wait!” I called after his hastily retreating form.

Brayden ignored me. He blew through the front door and stomped out onto the porch. I followed close on his heels. “Look, I’m sorry I danced with Mitch. If I had known it would bother you so much, I never, ever would have done it.”

He whirled around and pinned me with a glare. “You can’t possibly understand it. Mitch is never satisfied until he has exactly what I do. It’s been that way since we were kids. He knew how I felt about you, but he wasn’t going to be happy until he had you, too.”

“But I’m not his.”

“It didn’t look that way in there.”

My eyes widened at his accusation. “It was just a slow dance, Brayden. There’s nothing going on between Mitch and me, and there never will be. In case you forgot, I came here to be with you tonight. You and only you.”

He shook his head. “Yeah, and that was a mistake.”

I gasped. “How could you think that?”

The clouds that had filled the sky for most of the day opened up and a driving rain started coming down. Drops slapped angrily against the sidewalk. Brayden glanced off the porch before turning back to me with a forlorn expression. “I’m really sorry, Lily.”

When he started off the porch, I followed right behind him. The rain pelted down on me, stinging my cheeks. I grabbed Brayden’s shirt. “Don’t you dare walk away from me!”

Without looking back at me, Brayden said, “Trust me, it’s for the best. You’re too good for me—too beautiful.”

“That isn’t true.”

“I’ll always have to be fighting some guy for you.”

“Stop it. You don’t know me well enough to be saying that.”

“No, but I know me.”

I skidded to a stop. Glaring at his back, I shouted, “You know what you are? A fucking coward.” My hand flew to my mouth, but it was too late to stop the harsh words or cursing. When Brayden froze, I almost apologized. But then I thought about the emotional whiplash he had put me through, and anger once again boiled within me. “You think that just because your dream of football was taken away that you’ll never be who you once were. In case you missed it back there, you rocked that audition. People were riveted by your performance. But more than any of the strangers in the room, I was riveted. Just hearing you sing and play made me feel things and want things I never had before. But now you’re telling me I can’t have them simply because you’re afraid I don’t want you? Or that you can’t bear the thought of having to vie for my attention with other guys?” I stalked over to him. “Man up, Brayden. Stand up and fight for me right now, and you’ll never have to worry about me and another guy again. You’ll have me.”