19. you’re just a guy
NINETEEN
YOU’RE JUST A GUY
Halle
Waking up this morning felt so good. I’m still riding the high of Saturday’s show, of the whole event really. Is this how everyone else feels when they know that they’re doing what they’re meant to do? Every aspect of it—designing the merch, setting up the booth how I wanted, interacting with customers and selling Tryhard stuff, selling out and enjoying the show, everything was amazing. Even through my exhaustion, I felt so alive.
I got yet another note from Cade, saying that he was stoked about how well our booth did and that he’s excited for future things like that. Considering how well the university’s fundraiser went, I think there’ll be more opportunities like that in the future.
We’re back to business today. When I walked into Jubilee this morning, Jerry greeted me and talked to me about the success of Saturday. Is this what celebrities feel like right after they win an award? So much congratulating and excitement, and my ‘words of affirmation’ self is loving every second of it. It’s only encouraging me more, and I’m already thinking up new things for Tryhard.
After work, I head to the local screen printer to pick up another couple boxes of merch to put away in the garage tonight before the boys and I go on a mini tour this upcoming weekend. Didn’t get anything new, but after totally selling out of our whole stock of Tryhard merch on Saturday, I asked the screen print owner if I could pretty please get a rush job and possibly have three boxes worth of shirts and hoodies by today. We’ve built a really good relationship over the past year, so he said yes and didn’t even charge extra.
I pull up to the house and I see the garage door open, as per usual. Cade’s inside the garage, likely working out a melody or guitar riff before the rest of the guys get here. I walk around and open my trunk where I put the boxes. They’re heavier than they were when we first started.
To think that just a year ago we were only ordering thirty shirts every couple months, and now we’re buying a minimum of fifty every other week to keep up with the demand. It’s really cool what good music and good marketing can do. I can’t help but smile when I think about how far these guys have come.
I pick up the first box, and somehow quickly maneuver my way through the garage to the corner that we keep the merch in. I drop it on the floor before pushing it all the way against the wall. One down, two to go. I turn back toward my car and the view in front of me stops me in my tracks.
There’s a girl here. She’s sitting in my spot on the couch. I don’t know how I missed her when I walked in here, but it’s like I don’t exist. It’s like Cade doesn’t even know I’m here.
I do my best to wipe my expression clean, but I can’t help the loud exhale that comes out of my nose.
Cade finally looks up from his guitar and has the audacity to smile at me as I walk past him and out of the garage.
“Hey, Valentine,” he says as I strut past him, actively ignoring him.
Why is he calling me that in front of another girl he’s alone with? Why is he alone with another girl after what I thought was a really great date? Why was he sending me those notes and lyrics? Now that I think about it, I didn’t get a note today. My heart sinks at the realization, and I’m doing everything I can to not tear up. It wasn’t even anything serious anyway. We’ve been flirting on and off pretty much our whole lives, we’ve gone on less than a handful of dates. This relationship has never been and will never be more than that.
I get back to my car, and with some kind of superhuman strength, I pull up the second box and carry it up to the first no problem. And again with the third.
I look inside each box to make sure everything’s there, and then I stack them up against the wall in their spot. I add the counts to a note in my phone, I’ll put it in my big spreadsheet later.
I walk out without a word and to my front door. Fumbling around for my keys, I see a package on the ground at my feet. I open it up, make sure everything’s in there and that it looks just right.
I’m debating just chucking the package over the railing into the open garage but decide against it as I make my way back over to Cade and his mystery girl. Before I’ve made a decision, I’m back and have to face the music—that would be funny if I wasn’t feeling like this.
“Um, hi.” I’m looking down at the small package in my hands as I approach Cade. “I put in a rush order for some merch and was able to pick it up today, so that’s what the boxes are. Nothing new, just some of the fan favorite tees and hoodies.”
Concern covers his face. Is he worried that I’m not going to like his new girlfriend?
“Halle, are you okay?” Confusion laces his words.
I clear my throat before responding. “I’m fine.” I mentally shake off all my thoughts and stand up a little straighter. “I also thought I’d surprise you guys with something extra, they were supposed to be here before Saturday, but it was delayed.” I hand him the small package.
His brows knit together and he tilts his head, trying to figure out what’s going on as he opens the mysterious box. “Tryhard guitar picks? No way. Hal, this is so cool. When did you even get these?”
“I put the order in early last week. I was really hoping they’d be here in time for the show on Saturday. Would’ve been cool to have your own Tryhard branded pick to throw out to the crowd then.” Musician or not, everyone likes taking home a pick from a concert.
“This is the coolest thing ever. You are so good at this.” He says it like he’s never meant anything more. He reaches around and pulls me close to his chest.
I take in the scent of him and my heart flutters. I remember the girl sitting on the couch and that gives me enough strength to pull away and look over at her.
“Oh! Halle, we’ve got someone we want you to meet.” He sets the box down and starts to walk over to the girl.
“Um, actually,” I stammer, thinking up a quick excuse to leave. “I have to get out of here. I’ve got something going on tonight. Just came to drop the boxes off.” I start to back away, but I can’t be totally rude. “I’m Halle, I’m sure we’ll meet some other time, sorry.” I offer her a curt smile and head out.
I take my phone out of my pocket and pull up Mel’s contact, and press ‘call’. It rings and rings with no answer. I try again but still have no luck. I send Mel an ‘SOS’ text and pull up her location to see that she’s at the baseball field. Of course. I hear Cade’s footsteps behind me, so I pick up my pace and get into my car and drive away to the only person who might be able to help me.