The Songs We Remember: A Young Adult Romance (The Songs in Our Hearts Book 2)

by Chantal Gadoury

  “There’s always the arcade,” I suggested.

  “How about I take you somewhere instead?” Micah said and passed back the piece of paper. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “Where?” I asked.

  “Just wait. You’ll see.” Micah remained quiet as he started the car engine and backed out of the parking space.

  MICAH DROVE ME THROUGH A Winter Wonderland. With the freshly laid snow, the scenery around us was breathtaking. He took a few back roads until we were in the middle of the woods, far away from Grand Lakes. As I looked down at my phone, I noticed we were completely out of the serviced area.

  “Can you tell me where we’re going now?” I tried again, leaning forward to quiet the sound of the stereo.

  “Nope,” he said with a smirk. “You’ll just have to wait. Five more minutes.”

  The trees on either side of the road were covered in white. If David were here, I would have asked him to take a picture for me. He was an amazing photographer, and had a way of making the most normal things look extraordinary. Everything was silent and still and magical. Micah made one more turn, going past a State Forest sign.

  “We’re going into the State Park?” I asked curiously.

  “We’re going to World’s End. It’s my favorite place.”

  “In the snow?”

  “What better time than in the snow?”

  Most visitors came to World’s End for hiking, swimming and cook-outs. There was a large creek with scattered boulders running across it. My family had come here plenty of times when I was a child, and I spent countless summers trying to walk over the rocks to the other side. This was not the right season to go splashing in the creek.

  “It’s a bit cold for swimming.”

  “Aw, man! I thought you’d be up for a Polar Plunge!” Micah retorted.

  “You wish,” I said.

  “I thought it might be a nice place to share…” Micah continued. “Before my mom left, she’d take me here in the summer. And the fall. And winter. Sometimes we’d play. Sometimes we’d just…be.” Micah made another turn, finally coming into a large, deserted parking lot. The snow was a bit deeper here from the lack of maintenance. He shut the engine off and sat for a moment. Silence filled the space between us. Bits of snow fell from the trees, giving the illusion that it was flurrying.

  “You should take a selfie in the snow with me,” he said, turning to smile at me.

  “You want to get out?”

  “I didn’t drive the whole way out here for nothing.” He laughed and opened his car door. “Come on, C. Live a little.” Before I could reply, Micah was already out of the car and walking to my side of the Grand Am. As I got out of the car, stepping into the almost-knee-deep snow, I did my best to keep my balance.

  “I didn’t dress for this,” I said. “We’re going to be all wet.”

  “It won’t be the first time one of us has been completely soaked while hanging out.”

  I recalled the day when he had come over to my house, drenched from the rain. That was the night Micah had slept over in my room, in my bed.

  Micah walked ahead, pushing himself toward the ridge of the creek bed. Snow flurries began to fall from the sky, drifting down around us. The clouds darkened as a soft, pink hue intensified on the horizon.

  “Come on, Charlie!” he called over his shoulder. The snow was deep and I was afraid of losing my shoes in it, but I pushed forward. I continued until I caught up with him at the creek. It was beautiful. There were patches of snow on some of the boulders while little streams of water rushed through the cracks of the icy surface.

  “Every time I come to this place, it’s like my soul has returned home. I feel so connected to everything when I’m here,” Micah said as he stared out over the creek. I let out a puff of air and the white swirls of my breath encircled me.

  “It is beautiful,” I said.

  “It is.”

  We stood there, admiring the ice-covered waters. Micah pulled his phone from his pocket and held me close against him, lifting the device in front of us. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered into my ear as he snapped the photo. I felt a tingle of electricity run down my spine.

  “In the summer, we should come back here.” I cleared my throat. “I haven’t been here in a long time.” Micah nodded.

  We stayed until the sun slipped behind the mountains, leaving us in the darkened woods.

  “We should get going.” Micah motioned for me to follow him. I knew, as I trailed behind him, I never wanted to forget this moment. Part of me never wanted this dream to end. Micah paused a few steps away from his car.

  “Come here,” he beckoned me. I lifted my shoes and pushed myself through the deep snow. The chill of winter slipped inside my coat, causing me to shiver just enough to lose my balance. Micah’s strong hands caught me before I fell face-first in the snow. He laughed as he tugged me close to him, his warm lips pressing a soft kiss against my forehead.

  “So clumsy,” he teased as I gripped his shoulder for balance.

  “Whatever,” I replied. Micah’s dark gaze looked over me as he slowly leaned forward to kiss me. His cold glove touched my cheek as his thumb brushed over my skin. It was the subtle hint of affection that melted my body instantly.

  “Better?” he asked against my lips. I couldn’t think—at least, not very well. I parted my lips, welcoming his attention. I wanted more. I wanted him. My fingers tightened on his coat as I pulled him in closely.

  “Micah,” I whispered. I could feel his mouth turn into a faint smile as he pressed another kiss onto mine. He was intoxicating. I couldn’t get enough of him. His hands cradled my cheeks as he pulled away. We were both breathless as we stared at each other.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  There, in the middle of the snow-covered state forest, Micah Jacobs told me that he loved me.

  “Y-you do?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear as he pressed a gentle kiss on my temple. I had been prepared for this. I had practiced in front of my mirror, for days on end, for this moment. But I had imagined myself being the one to say those words, not him.

  “I love you too,” I murmured softly.

  “I Think We’d Feel Good Together”

  Rob Thomas

  I WAS FLOATING ON CLOUD nine. Micah Jacobs had actually told me he loved me and I had said it back. I laid in bed, replaying the scene over and over. The snow, us kissing, and Micah saying the words. I had never experienced anything so romantic.

  I stared at my phone, deciding if I wanted to share my news with Jennifer or Rachel. After the youth group dinner, I was almost too afraid to tell Rachel anything. She might say Micah had clipped a bit of my pink paper heart. Although, even if she did, I really didn’t care.

  I decided to text Jennifer. At least she’d be thrilled by my news.

  CHARLIE: JENNIFER!

  JENNIFER: Hey Charlie!

  JENNIFER: What are you doing up this late?

  CHARLIE: I just had the best time with Micah today

  CHARLIE: It was his birthday!

  JENNIFER: Oh right! I remember you mentioning that.

  JENNIFER: How did it go?

  CHARLIE: Pretty well, I’d say. I made him do a photo scavenger hunt.

  JENNIFER: OMG! I wanna SEE these pictures!

  CHARLIE: haha okay!

  I sent her the picture of us in the snow. It was perfect.

  JENNIFER: OMG! OMG! OMG!

  CHARLIE: He told me that he loves me

  JENNIFER: whut. SHUT UP.

  JENNIFER: MICAH JACOBS SAID HE LOVES YOU!?!?

  JENNIFER: OMG!! WHAT DID YOU SAY BACK???

  CHARLIE: I SAID IT BACK!

  JENNIFER: OMG!!!!

  JENNIFER: CHARLIE!!!

  JENNIFER: Like… That’s SO SO GREAT!

  CHARLIE: I’m s
o happy.

  CHARLIE: I never thought I could be so happy

  JENNIFER: You deserve it. After everything, you totally do.

  CHARLIE: I’m sorry if you feel kinda left out

  JENNIFER: Pft. I don’t.

  JENNIFER: Don’t even worry about it. I’m good.

  CHARLIE: Promise?

  JENNIFER: Pinky Promise.

  I smiled as I stood up from the bed and plugged my phone into the charger. I felt better having told Jennifer. At least someone else knew.

  JENNIFER: See you at school tomorrow!

  CHARLIE: Night! <3

  I crawled back into bed, thinking back to the snowy woods and Micah’s soft whisper of, “I love you.”

  MICAH GRINNED AT ME WHEN he saw me on the bus. I lifted my hand and waved as I strolled to our shared seat.

  “Hey,” he murmured, bumping his shoulder against mine as I sat down.

  “Hey back,” I replied, placing my backpack on my lap.

  “Thanks for my birthday. I realized I never said thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I’m glad you liked it.”

  “I did.” He chuckled. “So, I made plans with Marshall after school. He invited me over to play some video games.”

  “Oh,” I replied. “Cool.”

  “Yeah. I figured I could use some guy time.”

  “Oh yeah. That makes sense. No problem.” It wasn’t like I had anything planned anyway.

  “Cool. So, you’re all right with it?”

  “I mean, why wouldn’t I be? You’re allowed to hang out with your friends.”

  “I just wanted to make sure.”

  “I’m super sure, Micah. I promise. Go have fun!”

  Micah seemed appeased by my answer. He reached for my hand and held it in his for the rest of the quiet bus ride to the high school.

  IT FELT ODD TO SIT by myself on the bus after school. It felt even odder to trail into my house alone. I hadn’t been on my own after school in a long time.

  Pulling my cellphone out of my pocket, I glanced at the time, knowing fully well that Micah wouldn’t be texting me for a while. He had mentioned they’d be busy with video games. I plopped my backpack on the floor and changed into a pair of comfy sweats. I slid into bed and snuggled under my heavy comforter. My toes wiggled between the sheets, enjoying the coolness as I opened my laptop to Netflix. There were a few series I wanted to get caught up on, and figured I’d take the opportunity to binge. I was about three episodes in when I felt my phone vibrate beside me. I lifted it to see who was texting me.

  MICAH: hey cutie ;)

  I paused the show and elevated myself up onto my elbow. I knitted my brows as I gazed over the text. Since when did Micah call me “cutie?” I quickly typed my response.

  CHARLIE: Hey! How’s Marshall’s house?

  MICAH: gooooood.

  MICAH: just hangin’ out

  Weird.

  CHARLIE: That’s good! Have fun!

  MICAH: I have a question for u…

  I sucked in a breath as I sat up straighter. Was he drunk?

  CHARLIE: Oh! Okay…what is it?

  After a minute, Micah’s name appeared again on my phone screen.

  MICAH: whatcha wearnin ;)

  That felt really weird to me. Micah wouldn’t ask me a question like that. Did Marshall put him up to this?

  CHARLIE: …PJs?

  MICAH: u should show me

  MICAH: r they cute?

  My body tensed as I tried to quickly reply. I could hear Jennifer’s voice in my head repeating “Divert! Divert! Divert!”

  CHARLIE: You already know what they look like? Lol

  CHARLIE: Pretty sure you’ve seen me in them at least a dozen times.

  When Micah would stay to watch movies, I always changed into comfy clothes. It was a given, and it was never a big deal.

  MICAH: u should show me whats underneath ;)

  I stared at the screen, frozen.

  CHARLIE: ummmm… what?

  MICAH: what would u do if i told u im thinkin about u?

  CHARLIE: I think about you all the time...

  MICAH: oh u do?

  MICAH: what do u do when u think about me?

  Was this a joke? I scowled as I thought of how to reply to him. If this was Micah’s and Marshall’s idea of an entertaining night, I was not going to be the punchline.

  CHARLIE: Text you?

  MICAH: that’s all? really?

  MICAH: hmmmm….

  MICAH: if u could, would u have sex with me?

  This had to be Marshall. Micah would never ask me about sex.

  I had thought of sex with Micah, of course. I wondered what it would be like to non-stop kiss him in those moments when we found it hard to pull away. I used to sneak my mom’s romance novels into my room when she wasn’t paying attention and learned all the different ways men and women did the “do,” and then some. But this was real life. This wasn’t a book I could simply close, and hide underneath my bed.

  MICAH: if i came over to ur house rt now

  MICAH: would u let me touch u?

  MICAH: would u have sex with me? ;)

  Holy crap.

  I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t interested—I was. But I was scared. I had never openly shown my unclothed body to anyone. I couldn’t even remember the last time my mom saw me naked. I always locked myself in a bathroom stall to change in gym. I was far from having a picture-perfect body, and sharing a locker room with Samantha Walters was too intimidating. The idea of Micah Jacobs seeing me naked…was a whole other ball game.

  CHARLIE: Are you joking?

  CHARLIE: Because if you are, it isn’t funny.

  MICAH: what if i wasn’t?

  MICAH: what if i wanted to come over & get u naked?

  CHARLIE: MICAH! Are. You. Joking?

  MICAH: no. i want u

  MICAH: i think about u

  MICAH: i think about doin things to u babe

  MICAH: i think about everything ;)

  My fingers shook as I tried to reply to him. What could I say? I felt strange but exhilarated. I wanted him too.

  CHARLIE: I want you too, Micah.

  When he didn’t reply, I started to feel more nervous. My stomach was in knots. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Did I say the wrong thing? He had said he wanted me first, after all. I decided to tuck my phone away into the folds of my coverlet and tried to focus on the show on my laptop. I felt my phone vibrate again and I tentatively pulled it out to look at the screen.

  MICAH: Charlie?

  MICAH: i’m sorry, Charlie

  MICAH: Marshall stole my phone

  MICAH: ugh. I’m sorry. I’m gonna pound his face in.

  MICAH: i’m sorry

  MICAH: that wasn’t me

  As I read his texts, I began to feel sick. Sick to my stomach and mad. What the heck? Were he and Marshall playing some game with me? Was he just trying to get some sort of stupid boy-sex-craze answers out of me? Had Marshall really stolen his phone?

  I had so many questions, and yet, I was too upset, too disappointed, too disgusted with myself and his stupid friend to ask him. It was the first time I’d ever felt so humiliated by Micah and his friends.

  MICAH: u there?

  MICAH: i’m sorry Charlie

  I turned my phone off and shoved it away. I pulled the covers over my head and went back to my show, anything to avoid the sinking feeling of embarrassment.

  “Danke Schoen”

  Wayne Newton

  MY PARENTS HAD GONE OUT for a long, overdue and well-deserved dinner-and-movie date. Josh and I encouraged Mom and Dad to go out so many times, wanting them to have the opportunity to spend time with one another. We may or may not have also wanted the house to
ourselves.

  Most often, our parents would drag their feet, making excuses, claiming: “It’s been a long day,” or “I don’t know” and “maybe later.” This time, when Josh and I pushed our parents to leave, they finally said yes. After their departure, Josh decided to go out with Jackie O. So, I had the house to myself. With a bowl of popcorn, I planned to watch a few Hallmark holiday movies and ignore any text messages I received from Micah. I was still too embarrassed by what had happened. Marshall had pulled an intimate confession from me that I would have rather had with just Micah.