“Oh, that’s a good strategy,” I remarked awkwardly. This was the most we’d spoken in years… The only time we’d spoken.
“Do you still take pictures?” he asked.
I felt my mouth hang open, a low humming noise coming out. “Not really, why?” I managed to say.
“We were hoping to get candid shots of people during Valentine’s week and I remembered you were good at that,” he explained.
“I was never good at it, I just liked doing it,” my smile felt out of place on my face. “Emphasis on like-D.”
“Oh, well, that’s too bad,” he looked down. “Well, I guess we could just settle for a photo booth.”
Chapter 2
“You’ll figure it out,” I comforted. We both stood there for a while just nodding. We looked like bobble heads. “Well,” I broke the silence, “I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah,” he was nodding again. I had already turned to walk away when he called, “Hey, Ruby.” I turned to face him. “Thanks.”
“For what?” I asked.
“For not asking about what happened with Melissa,” he said.
“Oh,” I looked down. “You’re welcome.” I briskly walked away.
You’re welcome? You’re welcome? Really? What a fantastic way to respond to a “thank you”. Gosh, was I stupid.
But the stupidity of that response was no match for the stupidity of what I was about to do next.
“Hey, Don,” I called and turned around. He turned around to face me. “What are you doing tonight?” I asked.
“Nothing. Why?” he seemed sad.
“Well…” I hesitated. “A friend and I are going to go karaoke tonight. We like to make fun of Valentine’s Day by singing popular love songs… Yeah, I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but…”
“No, no, I think I get it,” he smiled. “I think I’d really like that. You sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” I felt my smile growing. I couldn’t believe that, not only was I having an actual non-academic-related conversation with Don Vernal, I was going to get to hang out with him tonight! I put my arms behind my back and started pinching myself so I wouldn’t squeal. “Sometimes when you want to get over something, you just have to surround yourself with it so much you get sick of it, you know?” I said as if I was telling a joke.
He chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. That makes sense, I guess. So when and where?”
* * * * *
During homeroom, our teacher was talking about the Valentine’s Day fair. Angelo sat in front of me, and passed me a piece of notebook paper. On top it read:
You going?
My smile was euthanized when I realised I had ruined our tradition by inviting Don. I needed to tell him.
Yah I kinda need to tell you something…. I sorta kinda maybe invited someone else to go karaokeing with us
When I passed him back the note and saw his head tilt when he unfolded it. He passed it back to me.
Who?
I took in a deep breath. I knew he wasn’t going to like this.
Don Vernal
I reluctantly passed the paper back to him. He unfolded it and paused. I heard a light slam on his desk as he turned sharply to face me.
“Vernal?” he whisper-shouted. “Why?” I opened my mouth to say something but he whisper-shouted some more, “And how did that even happen? I thought you two don’t even talk? Don’t tell me you actually feel sorry for the guy because he just lost his girlfriend or something like that.”
“Well,” I whispered back, “you can’t exactly blame me for feeling sorry. I mean, the guy was posting flyers and they fell over.”
“Your point?” he raised an eyebrow.
“And then he was having some sort of trouble with photo services,” I tried to find the words.
“Your. Point?” Angelo was ticked off.
“And he thanks me for not asking about Melissa, which makes me think he must be feeling really-”
“Your point?” he interrupted.
“Well,” both Angelo and I turned to face our homeroom teacher standing right beside us, “aren’t we feeling in a chatty mood today?”
“We were just really excited about the Valentine’s fair,” I smiled awkwardly, obviously lying through my teeth.
“Well,” Ms. Iamb crossed her arms, “then maybe you two should join the committee. We’re meeting every day after school from four to five. I expect to see you both there today.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Angelo smiled and saluted. I smiled, showing my teeth. When Ms. Iamb went back to the front of the classroom, Angelo gave me two fingers, and I flicked at his nose. “This is all your fault,” he frowned.
“You were the one who decided not to stick with the notes,” I crossed my arms and laid back onto the chair.
“I would have if you didn’t invite Vernal,” he crossed his arms.
“What’s your problem with him anyway? You don’t know him,” I shook my head, irritation growing.
“Neither do you, and that’s the point,” he turned to face me. “You’ve been obsessing over the guy for, what, two years? A guy you never even talked to up until whenever it was you decided to invite him to our anti-Valentine karaoke.”
“I am not obsessing,” I said defensively.
“Yeah?” he challenged, “Then explain why you invited him to anti-Valentine karaoke the moment you got the chance.”
“Angelo de Laurentiis and Ruby Balbacois,” Ms. Iamb scolded from the front. “Those had better be some very good ideas you have if you can’t stop talking about them.”
“Sorry, Ms. Iamb,”Angelo and I said in the rehearsed apologetic tone every student uses in moments like this.
“Since this is your first offense, I’ll let you off with a warning,” she smirked, as if she were so righteous in “forgiving” us.
“Thank you, Ms. Iamb,” Angelo and I said in the rehearsed thankful tone every student uses in moments like this, which, if you listened carefully, was the exact same tone used for apologies as well. Why couldn’t the teachers tell? Oh yeah, because they’re all too busy being self-righteous and acting as if they’re always right and know everything.
It turns out that Ms. Iamb was just being all talk, as usual. Angelo and I skipped out on the meeting and went straight to the karaoke place. When Don arrived at the small room we rented, he told us that Ms. Iamb didn’t inform them of any new committee members.
“So, who’s up first?” Don asked.
“Whoever wants to,” Angelo crossed his arms and laid back onto the couch.
“Um, I know,” I said hastily, trying to ease the tension. “The most ironic love song of all time. Love Song.” Angelo laughed, and then glared when Don said,
“I don’t get it. The one by Sara Bareilles?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “It’s ironic because-”
“Because it’s a song about how she’s not going to write a love song, but the song in itself is a love song,” Angelo explained in a condescending tone, as if Don was stupid for not getting it.
“Oh yeah,” Don chuckled awkwardly. “That’s pretty… If you think about it…Yeah.”
We continued this way for the next half hour – picking songs and explaining each song choice to Don. Angelo’s irritation grew with every song choice… for the next five songs. After that, it seemed to drop. All the same, both Don and I became less and less on edge as Angelo relaxed.
“Hey, Vernal,” Angelo called, “Ruby and I have been so rude – we’ve been hogging the mike this whole time. You should sing something.”
“Oh no,” he shook his head. “I don’t really sing.”
“Then why did you come with us to karaoke?” Angelo was obviously trying to undermine Don. “You know, where the whole point is to sing?”
“Well, I thought it would be fun,” Don shrugged. “I appreciate music. I play guitar more than I sing.”
“Well you can’t play an instrument and be tone deaf at the same time,” Angelo insisted, “so y
ou must be able to sing.”
“Angelo,” I interjected, “if Don doesn’t want to sing he doesn’t have to.”
“No, Ruby,” Don smiled, “it’s fine. You’re right. If we’re here for karaoke I might as well sing something. Just prepare for your ears to bleed. Or for it to start raining really hard.”
As Don flipped through the song book Angelo elbowed me and gave me a face that said “Can you believe it? This guy is a joke.” I gave him back a look that said “Be nice.”
“Okay,” both Angelo and I turned to face Don, “We’re supposed to be making fun of love songs, right?”
“That’s the whole point of anti-Valentine karaoke, so sure,” Angelo crossed his arms.
“Well, so how about…” he hesitated.
“Well?” Angelo challenged. “What did you choose?” He was obviously ready to undermine any choice Don made. It would be easy. As far as I could tell, Angelo could win any and every argument possible. He was that good… That’s why he was so annoying to be around sometimes; because with that powercame great arrogance.
“I didn’t really choose anything,” Don began. “I just have an idea.”
“Idea for what?” I asked.
“Hmm,” Angelo joked, “I don’t think I know that song.” I slapped him hard on the arm.
“I was thinking that maybe we could start a band,” Don said.
“What?” Angelo and I asked.
“Well,” Don defended, “you guys can sing, and it’s obvious you guys like to sing. I like playing guitar but I don’t like singing. So maybe we could come together and jam. It could be fun.”
Angelo burst out laughing. “Can you believe this guy? Seriously, dude? You can’t be serious.”
“It was just a thought,” Don shrugged.
“I think it’s a good idea,” I smiled.
“Ruby!” Angelo threw his hands in the air. “You cannot be serious!”
“I really think it’s a good idea,” I nodded. “Right you have that box drum thing and an electronic keyboard?”
“What does the box drum thing and electronic keyboard have to do with anything?” Angelo raised an eyebrow, irritated.
“Well, you can play either one of those depending on the song, and Don can play guitar, and I can sing,” I explained. “It would be fun, and portable. We could take turns jamming at each other’s houses.”
“Portable?” Angelo repeated.
“Really?” I was exasperated. “That’s all you got from what I said? Portable?”
“I’m just confused as to how it being portable is a point for it?” Angelo clarified. “Are you planning on us performing in places? Flash mobbing and that crazy, stupid shit?”
“It could be fun,” I mused. “I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“Yeah,” Don agreed. “Besides, we don’t have to perform. We can just make music. It’s fun.”
“What about your Valentine’s fair committee?” Angelo reminded.
“We could start after Valentine’s,” Don suggested.
“Okay,” Angelo nodded emphatically. “That’s a good idea. Because, by then, you all will have probably forgotten about it and I will be happy.”
“Or…” Don rocked on his heels.
“Or what?” Angelo glared.
“We’re looking for a band to perform at the fair,” Don said.
“No. NO. No, no, no, NO!” Angelo protested.
“What’s the matter, Angelo?” I challenged. “Chicken?”
“Of course not,” Angelo crossed his arms.
“Prove it,” I grinned.
“Fine!” Angelo threw his hands up. “We’ll make a stupid band. Are you happy?”
** * * *
I managed to bully Angelo into letting us hold our first rehearsal at his house. Don officialised our performing at the Valentine’s fair, so there was no turning back now.
“So how long is the concert going to be?” I asked Don.
“Whoa, concert?” Angelo laughed. “Chillax Ruby. Don’t you think you’re getting way in over your head? Concert… Pffft. Ridiculous.”
“I’m being optimistic,” I pouted.
“How about we try and find out if we can actually sound good first?” Angelo suggested sarcastically.
“Do you guys always argue this much?” Don asked.
“Yes,” Angelo and I answered and then laughed.
“Anyway, they’re expecting an hour,” Don announced. “So that’s… about twenty songs?”
“Fifteen,” Angelo corrected.
“Twelve,” I challenged.
“Fifteen,” Angelo glared.
“So you don’t want a ten minute break in the middle?” I reminded.
“Fine, twelve,” Angelo rolled his eyes. He always got annoyed when I was able to make points he couldn’t exactly refute.
“How about the songs we sang while we were at karaoke?” Don suggested. “I know how to play all of those songs.”
“Sure, I guess,” I shrugged, “but that was only seven songs. We’d still need to pick about five.”
“Well, that should be easy,” Don said. “After all, those seven songs were chosen based on what was easy to make fun of. We could just pick five other standard love songs.”
“Standard?” Angelo asked, irritated, and I got irritated at how easily he was being irritated. “What’s ‘standard’?”
“Classics,” Don tried to explain, “like The Beatles.”
“You think people of our generation give a damn about The Beatles?” Angelo sneered.
“So you don’t like them?” Don asked.
“I love them, but-”
“So why not?” Don challenged. “You scared of people throwing things at you?”
“Of course not!” Angelo began to raise his voice. “We’re performing for the enjoyment of our classmates. So what’s the point of performing if we’re not going to perform something they want to hear?”
“The Beatles aren’t popular, but that doesn’t mean people won’t like their music. Their music is brilliant,” Don began to raise his voice as well.
“They’re not popular now because people don’t appreciate their type of music anymore. They want rap and techno and all those noisy things,” Angelo ‘s voice went about a few notes higher.
“So are you saying we should rap?” Don’s voice went up a few notes, too.
“Guys, stop,” I stood between them. “You guys just gave me an idea.”
“What?” Angelo asked.
“We could take rap songs and change them up,” I suggested. “That way, we can satisfy the general public and still perform good music.”
“Ruby, you do realize the fair is next Wednesday, right?” Don reminded.
“Yeah, Ruby, we don’t have time to make five arrangements,” Angelo agreed.
“Fine,” I crossed my arms. “Then how about each one of us picks one song, so that occupies three? And then the last two can be… Well, we can have the audience request.”
“Okay, then I want ‘It Will Rain’ by Bruno Mars,” Don announced.
“You’ll be singing it?” Angelo asked. Though, ‘to ask’ would imply that he was interested in an actual answer. But the way he said it, I don’t believe he was.
“I thought we agreed I’d be the singer?” I reminded harshly.
“Sorry,” Angelo said. “I want us to do ‘More Than Words’ and I’ll duet with you.”
“You’ll do it with her?” Don smiled wryly.
“Don’t start with me, Vernal,” Angelo warned.
“I like that song, and I think we’d do a great job of it,” I smiled. “As for me, I think I’ll choose… ‘Bubbly’ by ColbieCaillat.”
“Cute song,” Don remarked.
I blushed, “Thanks.”
“All right,” Angelo sat on his box drum thing. “So let’s start practicing.”
“Oh, wait,” Don mentioned, “there’s just one more thing.”
“What now?” Angelo complained.<
br />
“We need a name for the band,” Don said. Both Angelo and I burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?” Don asked.
“Angelo and I always joked,” I worked hard to contain my laughter as I explained, “that if we ever became a performing duo we’d call ourselves the ‘Ruby Angels’!” Angelo and I burst out laughing again.
“Why is that funny? I think it’s a cool name,” Don was confused.
“If by ‘cool’ you mean ‘egotistical’, then sure,” Angelo chuckled. “So does anyone have any ideas? Hurry. At this point I think I’m willing to accept any name for as long as we can start practicing.”
“How about ‘Leviathan’?” I joked.
Angelo laughed. “No. Not that.”
“Leviathan?The mythical sea creature?” Don cleared up.
“Also the title of a work by Thomas Hobbes, one of the great Western political thinkers,” I replied. “It’s one of my favourites.”
“I think it’s a pretty cool name,” Don smiled.
I blushed again, “Thanks.”
“Okay, okay,” Angelo interjected. “So we’re going with ‘Leviathan’. Everybody happy? Now let’s start practicing. One Direction. ‘What Makes You Beautiful’.Go five, six, seven, eight.”
I knew Angelo was trying to catch Don off-guard, but Don’s timing was perfect. He started right on cue, and was actually pretty good. Angelo kept the beat, and I sang. It was perfect right up until the chorus.
“The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,” already had me trying to stifle a laugh. But by the next line, “The way you smile at the ground,” I was overwhelmed with laughter. Angelo was laughing, too.
“Why are you guys laughing?” Don chuckled. Laughter is contagious.
“Because!” I laughed. “Who the hell smiles at the ground!?” I demonstrated by widening my eyes and giving a big toothy smile while looking down at the ground. Don was laughing, too. “See? It’s ridiculous!”
“Okay,” Don suggested, “so maybe it’s not such a good idea for us to do the songs you guys like to make fun of…”
“You think?” Angelo laughed.
“Alright, seven songs,” Don rolled his eyes and chuckled.
* * * * *
As I was having lunch with Angelo, scolding him for being mean to Don during our first rehearsal, Don sat down with us.
To meet You Again Page 2
