Finally My Forever (4 page)

Chapter 4

I painted the art room, and later that afternoon, I moved to one of the bathrooms, which was being painted a light shade of blue. I ate a late lunch sometime in between the two projects. I met several new people and had a few good conversations throughout the day, but mostly I just stayed in my own little world where all I had to do was get paint from the bucket, to the roller, to the wall.

I saw Micah several more times during the day, but he was always in the middle of working or talking to someone else.

There really had been a lot of work done that day. There were 20 to 30 volunteers, and all of us worked continually. It was almost 6pm when I left, and the place looked entirely different than it did when I arrived that morning. I was maybe even a little bit proud to say I'd been a part of it.

Mrs. Bennett gave me a ride back to her house just before 6, and we barely made it there in time. I'd only been in their house for two or three minutes (barely long enough to inspect a few family pictures that were hanging on the wall) when Mike pulled up in the driveway. I was worried that if he came inside he would mention why I was there, so I thought it'd be best to meet him in the driveway.

"There's my stepdad," I said to Mrs. Bennett who was in the kitchen. Thomas and Micah, along with their dad were still at the Happy House finishing up a few last minute things, so she and I were the only ones there. "I'm gonna run out there and meet him so he doesn’t have to get out of the truck," I called. "Thanks for having me!"

I could hear her footsteps as she came my way. I was standing by her front door when she made it in there, and she reached out to hug me. "Thank you so much for your hard work today, sweetheart," she said. "It warms my heart that so many young people came out to help."

I smiled, but couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt at her words. "I had fun," I said, honestly.

She smiled sweetly. "I'm so glad. And I know Thomas really loved having you there."

I opened the door quickly for fear that Mike would come inside. I caught him just in time. He'd already gotten out of the truck and was headed toward the front door. "Hey, you got one of my shirts!" he said with a huge smile on his face as I approached.

"Yep," I said, looking down at it. I wanted to stay mad him, but it had been a pretty good day and I just couldn't.

"How was it," he asked backing out of the driveway.

"They're actually a really neat family," I said.

He looked over the console at me with a huge grin. I wasn't looking at him, but I could see him wearing the oversized smile out of the corner my eye. "I told you," he said. "I knew you'd see the beauty of doing something like that."

"It doesn't change the fact that I think it's unfair to be punished for what happened last night," I said, holding my ground.

"Well that's for your mom and I to decide, and we just want what's best for you."

I sat quietly for a minute or so, deciding whether not I should argue about what was best for me. "The Bennett's son is in a band and he's playing music tonight," I said instead. "They asked if I wanted to go."

Mike's head whipped around to look at me. "Really?" he asked, before looking back at the road.

"Yeah. It doesn't start till 9 o'clock, though. I'd probably be out till midnight or so."

Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but I figured I needed to ease him into it since I was punished. "You and mom took away my car and my phone. You didn't say anything about me having to stay home." Mike was quiet for long enough that I said, "They're a great family."

He sighed. "I'll have to talk to your mom, but I don't see why you can't go see some music tonight. Where's he playing, at a restaurant or something?"

"I've never been to the place, actually. It's called Ramone's." It was my best attempt at not having to lie while still concealing the truth. I figured my mom and Mike wouldn't do the research on what Ramone's actually was.

"Don't get your hopes up, but I'll talk to your mom about it when we get home.

I was already rejoicing on the inside.

"And I don't think either of us want you going anywhere with Gigi," he added.

"That's really unfair," I said, knowing she was my best bet at securing a fake ID. (Plus she loved The Miffs and would never forgive me if I went without her.) "Neither of us knew what was going on last night."

I looked at him and he shook his head in that parental way. "You can ask your mom, but don't be surprised she says no."

I did my best work that night, and ended up getting permission to go to the show. My mom wasn't happy about letting me go with Gigi, but somehow I made it happen. I think she and Mike were both pleasantly surprised with the fact that I came home in a good mood, so they were inclined to bend a little. They also let me use my phone for the evening in case we got in trouble and needed to call them.

Gigi had just turned 18, so she could use her own ID. She had an older sister named Ashley who was willing to let me use hers for the night since she was just hanging out with her boyfriend.

Gigi came over to my house at 8pm to finish getting ready and help me study Ashley's driver's license. "What's your sign?" she asked.

"What?"

"Your sign," she said. "Like Aries or whatever. It's a way they'll trick you to see if you're using a fake ID. You have to know Ashley's sign."

"I don't even know my own sign," I said. "I think I might be a Pieces."

"Well Ashley's not. You can't say you're a Pieces if they ask you that. They'll know it's not you."

"Well what is she?"

"I think she's a Sagittarius," she said.

I sighed. I was already nervous enough with seeing Micah again, much less using a fake ID and adding all this memorization to the mix. I almost called the whole thing off, but Gigi assured me everything would be all right.

We got dressed up for the occasion. I was a little bit of a tomboy, and my wardrobe reflected that, but Gigi help me put an outfit together, and I felt as confident as I could when we were done. I had on jeans with lots of holes and a tank top with a plaid button-up shirt over it. Gigi's outfit was a little more girly and revealing, and I made her put a shirt over it just till she got passed my parents. I also asked her to use her manners while we were talking to them, and she did a good job. She even apologized for everything that happened the night before. Mom and Mike were all smiles when we left.

We got to the bar at 10 till nine and there was a line. There was a guy at the door taking money and checking IDs. He had two sets of wristbands, pink ones for those under twenty-one, and green ones for those who were over. I only had $22 to my name, so I was surprised when we got close to the table and realized the cover charge was $15 a piece. I watched the people who went before me, feeling relieved that the guy didn't seem to be doing a thorough job of checking ID's, though.

That didn't stop me from being anxious. I was giddy with nervous anticipation the whole time we were standing in line. I had told Gigi all about Micah and how hot he was before we got there. She tried to bring it up again while we were waiting, but I told her to be quiet in case someone was standing there who knew him. I spotted a poster hanging on the wall that was promoting the event. The majority of it was a picture of The Miffs, but Sweet East was pictured at the bottom, and you could clearly see Micah standing front and center. I whispered to Gigi, and she checked it out. Her jaw hung open as she stared at the poster and then at me.

I giggled. "I told you," I said.

"The other guys in the band don't look bad either," she said. She wasn't whispering, and I glanced behind us again to make sure no one was paying attention.

We made it through the door with no hassle whatsoever. The guy seemed more interested in getting our $15 then he was at looking at our driver's license. He barely even glanced at it when I handed it to him, and I was sad I had taken all that time memorizing Ashley's stats.

"Come on, Ashley," Gigi said with a huge smile, after we paid. I rolled my eyes at her as we linked arms to make our way through the crowded bar to try to find a spot.

There were tables and chairs spread out all over the perimeter of the dance floor, but all of them were taken. A good bit of the dance floor was occupied with people standing around in groups. Gigi and I decided to get a soda from the bar so we'd have something to hold onto.

There was loud music playing, but it wasn't coming from the stage. The band's instruments were set up, but the stage was totally deserted. We got our sodas and found our way to a spot on the side of the dance floor. I figured we'd move out to the middle once the band came out, but for the time being, it felt good to be against the wall.

She and I made small talk, but all I could concentrate on was trying to locate Micah Bennett. I had no luck with that. After several minutes of looking around the place I gave up and figured he was in the back somewhere.

It was 9:15 when someone came out onto the stage. It was a guy dressed in all black. Several people in the crowd yelled out when he used his hand to tap the microphone a few times to see if it was working.

"How's everybody doing tonight?" he asked, and a whole round of cheers followed.

Everyone who had been standing around the perimeter of the dance floor began making their way toward the stage, and Gigi and I followed.

"You guys stoked to see The Miffs?" he yelled.

He stuck his microphone out over the crowd to pick up our yells, but we didn't need it. Everyone clapped, screamed, and whistled so loudly it made me giggle and want to use my fingers to plug up my ears. Gigi and I looked at each other, laughing at all the ruckus.

"First we have a special treat for you guys! Straight out of Austin, Texas… let's hear it for Sweet East!"

The crowd erupted again, and he left the stage as Micah's four-piece band made their way out there. Micah found his place at the microphone and bent down to strap the guitar onto his shoulder. I started wiggling and jiggling from side to side with excitement. I didn't even realize I was pinching Gigi until she said, "Ouch!"

"I'm sorry," I said. "But isn't he the hottest thing you've ever seen?"

Gigi looked back at the stage and considered it seriously. She cocked her head to the side and really took a good look. "I think he is, actually," she said in all seriousness. That made me start giggling again.

With a pick in his hand, he grabbed the top of the microphone and adjusted it to his liking. He was smiling as he did it, and I could hear girls let out whoops and hollers randomly.

"I assume everybody's feeling good this fine Saturday night," he said, still smiling. Another round of cheers and whistles. "We're Sweet East, and this first song's called Way Down Low."

With that, he let go of the mic, and turned to nod at the band before making the first strum of the guitar.

I couldn't believe my ears. I instantly had a new favorite band. I loved the style of their music, and his voice. He had a perfect voice to match his perfect face. He was officially perfect. There was something about a guy who could sing, and singing was something Micah Bennett did well. He smiled as he performed, and he never ever missed a note. He moved around the stage, interacting with his band mates during the times he wasn't singing. I loved everything about his stage presence, and so did the rest of the crowd. Everyone's attention was focused on the stage as they danced and swayed to the music.

I don't know how many songs they played, maybe eight or so. I was too transfixed to count. I didn't want the set to end. I had absolutely no interest in seeing The Miffs. "Can you believe how good they were?" Gigi said, as they left the stage.

I shook my head, looking stunned, which cracked her up. "I had no idea what to expect," I said. "I can't believe they're opening for The Miffs in a place like this. They should be famous."

She shrugged and raised her eyebrows at me. "Maybe they will get famous," she said. "Then you can marry a rock star."

I was about to make a joke about being married to a famous guy when I saw something that turned my wonderful evening a terrible one. The members of Sweet East were exiting a door on the far side of the stage. I caught sight of them since no one else was standing over there. Micah was the first one out, and I smiled for a second thinking I'd finally have the chance to talk to him. But then, out of nowhere, a blonde girl ran up to him. I watched as she threw herself into his arms.

I had to swallow to keep my throat from closing up completely. I kept watching, hoping he would push her off like some sort of unwanted, pesky fan, but he didn't. He smiled and bent to kiss her. It wasn't just a quick peck on the lips; it was a real kiss—one that lasted long enough that the rest of his band walked around them, leaving him behind.

Chapter 5

I stared at Micah and the blonde for several long, horrible seconds before Gigi, who was standing next to me, realized what I was gawking at.

"Ohh," I heard her say from beside me. I could tell by the way she said it that she knew I'd be disappointed at the sight.

"Let's go," I said, feeling humiliated. I peeled my eyes off the happy couple and turned to face Gigi.

She was looking at me like I was out of my mind. "Did you say let's go?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

Her brow furrowed as she smirked at me. "We haven't even seen The Miffs… the band who we just paid 15 dollars to see."

"Not me," I said. I glanced around to make sure no one in the crowd was listening to me, and then I pointed in the direction of Micah and the blonde.

"I'm not gonna stay and watch that all night."

She let out a little laugh. "Then don't look at them," she said, as if that was obvious.

"You can't seriously think we're gonna stay," I said.

"You can't seriously think we're gonna leave," she replied. "We paid to see The Miffs."

"Gigi, please," I pleaded.

She stared at me trying to figure out how in the world I was so affected by a guy I had only met earlier that day. "Carly, I wish you could step outside yourself and see that this really isn't a big deal. It's not like he's going to come over here and laugh at you for coming. If you end up talking to him tonight we'll just act like we're here to see The Miffs, which we are!"

"I'm definitely not going to talk to him tonight," I said, disappointment evident in my tone.

She cocked her head and stared into my eyes, searching for truth. "Did he lead you to believe he wanted to be with you tonight?"

I could tell she was being protective of me. I shook my head. "No," I insisted sadly. "I guess I was just hoping…" I trailed off, shaking my head. "It's stupid." I let out a defeated sigh and she put her hand on my arm.

"What's stupid is if you let this little hiccup ruin our night." She patted me on the arm and smiled, trying to get me to smile too. "Seriously, Carly, there are so many hot guys here tonight—just look around! Don't get all bummed out just because one of them's taken."

I wanted to tell her he was the only one I was interested in, and it was pointless for me to try to look at anyone else, but instead I faked a little smile. She was extremely excited to see The Miffs, and what sort of friend would I be if I didn't let her do that after she'd helped me find a way in.

"Atta girl," she said, capitalizing on my forced smile.

I lost Micah in the crowd, thank goodness. Gigi and I saw a few guys we recognized, and went over to talk to them before The Miffs took the stage. They had all graduated from our high school in the spring and were the artsy, theater types. Gigi and I didn't know them very well, but when you saw someone you even slightly recognized in a place like that, you tend to talk to them.

There were five of them in the group, and they had one of the highly sought after tables. It was a high-top table with three barstools. Everyone who didn't have a place to sit just sort of gathered around standing. They'd all seen The Miffs several other times, and we listened as they talked about their previous concert experiences. One of them knew one of the guys in the band, and he bragged about partying with them after one of their shows.

I really didn't care about all of their stories. I really didn't care about The Miffs at all. It was silly, but I honestly thought this night would end with me in Micah's arms—or with me talking to him and exchanging phone numbers. Either way, I did not expect the blonde, and that was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Heyyy, you made it," I heard from over my shoulder. My gut clinched instantly but I didn't turn around. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. "You're Carly right?" I knew it was Micah. I turned to face him with as much confidence as I could muster.

"Oh, hey!" I said seeming surprised.

Yep, just as I thought, he was standing there with the gorgeous blonde at his side—both of them smiling. I didn't know which one of them to look at. My gaze shifted nervously between the two.
Smile Carly, smile.
She was a size two beauty pageant type with big, perfectly styled hair that cascaded over her tiny shoulders. She had on a lot of exquisitely applied make up. She was a head-turner.
Just keep smiling.

They stood next to each other, and Micah had his arm casually draped around her waist. "Carly, this is my girlfriend Sophia." He looked down at Sophia the Perfect with a smile. "Carly came to help out at the Happy House today."

"Aw, I'm so sorry I missed that," she said. "I had some things to take care of in Austin today with my sorority."

Of course she did.

She glanced up at Micah. "Is this the one Thomas was talking about?"

Micah laughed and nodded. "My brother
loves
you," he said smiling at me. "He was talking about you all through dinner,"

"You must have made quite the impression," Sophia chimed in.

I smiled as sincerely as I could, but all I could think was that I had made the impression on the wrong brother. "I really liked Thomas," I said. "I had fun getting to know him today."

"Isn't he adorable?" Sophia said with a huge smile. Micah gave her a little squeeze, and she glanced up at him. They exchanged a brief smile and then, to my horror, a kiss.

I seriously wanted to run for the door. I couldn't look at her anymore after that. I decided to focus my attention on Micah for the remainder of the conversation, which I hoped would be short. The guy knew how to dress. That was one of the things that made him stand out. In a sea of guys who didn't know how to pick clothes that were stylish and fit them well, Micah looked like a fashion model who'd been dressed by a stylist. I followed the lines of his perfectly fitted jeans, trying not to make it obvious that I was completely infatuated.

"We liked your band," Gigi said from beside me. I forgot she was even there, but I was grateful for the distraction.

Micah smiled and extended a hand to shake hers. "Thanks," he said. "Are you one of Carly's friends?"

"Yep, I'm Gigi," she said, shaking his hand. "I was planning on dragging Carly out to see The Miffs tonight, but it was cool that she ran into you today. It worked out that we could come a little early and support Thomas' brother."

"Good, I'm glad you guys made it out," he said. He glanced at the guys sitting at the table, and Gigi proceeded to introduce all of them as if we were good friends and had been there with them the whole time. I was so thankful for her intervention during the whole exchange that I wanted to just reach right out and hug her. She basically took over and made it seem like Micah was not the main objective of me being there, which was entirely untrue.

Micah and his girlfriend were only at our table for a few minutes, but it seemed like a lifetime since all I could do was think about how I'd never have him. The Miffs took the stage not long after they left, and I focused my attention on other things.

Zeke Ramirez happened to be that other thing.

He was one of the guys sitting at our table. I hadn't even noticed him in that way before Micah and his girlfriend came over, but I was so agitated afterwards that Zeke just kept getting cuter and cuter as the night went on. He had dark hair and eyes and wore dark clothes that fit his whole look. He had that dangerous vibe going on, and with the way I was feeling reckless, he was just what the doctor ordered. We didn't hang with the same crowd in high school, so I'd never really gotten to know him. I figured there was no time like the present to give it a shot, even if it didn't amount to anything in the long run.

Gigi was busy listening to the band and talking to Chase, one of the other guys at the table, so I stood next to Zeke. We talked about going to school at Warren and some of our favorite and least favorite teachers there. He had a fairly solemn demeanor, but several times during our conversation, he cracked a smile. It made his face handsome, and it made me feel good—like I'd earned it since he didn't offer them freely.

"What are your plans for the fall?" I asked.

"I think I'll take a semester or two off, but I want to study theatre. I'll probably go to San Antonio College to start."

"That's cool," I said.

He shrugged. "It's not Juilliard."

"Well, it's a start—like you said."

He gave me an almost imperceptible smile. "What about you?"

"I still have another year at Warren," I said.

"And after that?"

I smiled shyly. "It's pretty dorky compared to theatre."

"Accounting?" he asked with another hint of a smile.

"Close. Just as dorky."

"Science?"

A smile spread across my face. "Yeah. I'm not a genius or anything, but it's the only subject I really like."

"So you're gonna be a scientist?"

"No. I don't know." I shrugged. "I don't really have a plan yet. All I know is that it's my favorite subject. I might end up being a teacher or something. I'm hoping they'll help me figure that out once I go to college."

He reached up to the side of my face and tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ear. "None of us have it all figured out," he said.

It felt good to have him pay attention to me. Maybe the spark wasn't as significant as it had been with Micah, but Zeke was nice, he seemed to like me, and best of all, he didn't come with a blonde.

"See? I told you we should stay," Gigi said on our way home. "Aren't you glad we didn't leave?"

"You might have been right," I admitted. I was in the middle of texting my mom to let her know the show was over and we were on our way home.

"Who are you texting, Zeke?" she asked.

"No. I'm texting my mom."

"I saw you two exchange numbers," she said, taking her eyes off the road to glance at me.

"He's nice. We'll probably try to hang out sometime." I poked her arm. "I saw you talking to Chase."

She giggled. "He's cute isn't he? It's cool that they're friends. We can all go out together."

I smiled and agreed with her, but I couldn’t quite get the sting of disappointment to go away.

"You'll get over that singer," she said, sensing my withdrawal. "Give yourself two dates with Zeke, and you'll forget that other guy ever existed."

She had to be right. There were plenty of famous musicians and actors in the world whom I would love to go out with, and I didn't care whether or not they had girlfriends. I wasn't the type of girl to spend my life pining away on someone I'd never have. I knew it was just a waste of time. All I had to do was put Micah Bennett in the same category as those other guys—the untouchables. The sooner I came to terms with that, the better.