Chapter 7 #3
Finally he spoke. “You should come by after school one day. We can hang out and listen to some music. I can show you some of the beats I’m working on. If you’re interested?”
Lily didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to. When? Where do you live?”
Teddy looked relieved and laughed. “Anytime. Tomorrow? I’m on Cypress Street. Where do you live?”
Lily gave him her grandmother’s address, and a big grin spread across his face.
“That’s just a few streets over from me. An easy walk. You can ride home with me tomorrow, and then either you can walk home or I’ll drive you.”
“Sounds good.”
Kenzie raised her eyebrows the next day after lunch when Lily mentioned she was going over to Teddy’s house that afternoon.
“Are you into him? I wouldn’t have guessed he’d be your type.” She looked intrigued.
“Oh, it’s not like that at all. Teddy wants to show me some of the music he’s working on.”
“Hmmm. Okay. Teddy’s cool though.”
Lily wondered who Kenzie could picture her with. “So who would you think would be my type?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Luke maybe? He’s a nice guy, and he told me he thought you were pretty.”
Lily’s jaw dropped. “He did?” She didn’t think Luke had noticed her, let alone thought she was attractive. “I actually thought he was interested in you,” she admitted.
But Kenzie laughed at the idea. “Luke? He’s like a brother to me. I’ve known him since I was six. He used to tell me to get lost. We go way back.”
“So do you have your eye on anyone new yet?” Lily asked.
“No. Not really. I really do want to take a break from guys. Everyone will be at the dance. We’ll have a blast. You should get to know Luke. You never know where that might go.”
“I’ll think about it.” Lily wasn’t sure how she felt about the idea. It still seemed to her that Luke was interested in Kenzie. But maybe it was just the familiarity she’d noticed.
After music class, Lily followed Teddy to his car, an older-model white Volvo. “It was my grandmother’s. When she died a year ago, my mother thought it would be a good car for me. She said it has good safety reports.” He grinned. “I was just glad to get a car, period.”
“I’d be happy too. I don’t have a license yet. Haven’t even taken driving lessons.”
“You don’t really need to drive if you live in the city I guess?”
“No. The train goes everywhere, or there’s always a taxi or Uber.”
Lily slid into the passenger seat. Teddy drove out of the lot and, ten minutes later, into her neighborhood.
They passed her grandmother’s house and a minute later turned onto Teddy’s street.
He lived at the end of a cul-de-sac. There was no ocean view, but it wasn’t a far walk, and when Lily got out of the car, she could smell the salty air.
She followed Teddy into the house. His mother was in the kitchen, sitting at the island, typing away on a laptop. She had wavy brown hair twisted up with a pencil stuck through to keep it in place. She looked up and smiled when they walked in.
“Hi, honey.”
Teddy introduced them. “Mom, this is Lily. She’s new and lives around the corner. She’s in my music class, and we’re going to hang out for a while.”
His mother nodded. “Nice to meet you, Lily. Teddy, I picked up that popcorn you like. Why don’t you bring the bag with you? There are cold drinks in the fridge.”
“Thanks, will do.” Teddy grabbed the bag of popcorn and led the way to a big room over the garage.
It had a big-screen TV, an old leather couch that was faded in spots, and there were speakers and musical equipment in one corner.
There was also a refrigerator, microwave, and a sink.
“Do you want a water or soda?” he offered.
“Water, thanks.”
Teddy opened the fridge, grabbed two bottled waters, and handed one to her.
“Okay, are you ready to see where the music happens?” He grinned.
Lily nodded, and he flipped on his computer.
It had a huge monitor and roared to life, immediately opening to a screen full of instrument settings.
He clicked Play, and the many speakers filled the room with an intoxicating blend of blues and rock.
Lily closed her eyes and let the music sweep over her.
She liked the way it made her feel. When it stopped, she opened her eyes.
Teddy was watching her closely, waiting for feedback.
“It’s so good! You did that yourself?” She was impressed.
He nodded. “That’s what I’ve been working on most recently. I have loads of others too. Just the music though. I’m not good with the lyrics.”
He played her a dozen different beats that he was most excited about. Lily liked them all but felt drawn to the first one.
“Can you play that one again?”
His face lit up, and he played a few notes. “That one?”
Lily nodded. They both listened quietly as the music filled the room.
When it stopped, Teddy smiled. “I really like that one too. Any suggestions on lyrics?”
Lily opened her notebook, then read aloud.
“I saw him first and told you how I felt.
Told you how dreaming ’bout him made my heart melt.
You told me to go for it, that he’d be crazy not to like me too.
You knew how I felt. You knew how I felt…”
Teddy played the music again, and Lily sang the words softly. Teddy kept it going, pivoting slightly with another beat that built on what they already had. Lily smiled and added more words.
“Then I saw you with him and my hopes died.
I didn’t stand a chance, didn’t get to try.
You weren’t interested at all until I said that I was.
And you didn’t care, said maybe you’d always liked him too.
But that was a lie. And you knew how I felt…”
Her voice cracked as she sang the final words.
“So I lost him, but I lost you too.
And that hurt the most,
because I thought you were my best friend.
And you knew how I felt…”
Teddy tweaked the chords a few more times, and Lily sang the song again and again until Teddy’s mother knocked on the door and called out that dinner was just about ready. Hours had passed. Flown by.
“That was so much fun.” It was the best afternoon Lily could remember in a long time.
“It was awesome.” Teddy looked at her appreciatively. “You have a really good voice.” He paused a moment before adding, “Did that really happen? I mean was the song based on someone you knew?”
Lily nodded. “It’s still kind of raw. And part of the reason I moved here instead of finishing out the year in Manhattan.
I mean it was bad enough that I never even got a chance with the guy I had a crush on.
It was losing my best friend that was even worse.
I didn’t want to see them together or be around her at all. ”
“She doesn’t sound like a good friend,” Teddy agreed.
Lily grabbed her books and bag and headed for the door.
Teddy walked her out. “Do you have any more lyrics?” he asked casually.
Lily laughed. “Tons. A notebook full of ideas.”
“Cool. Well, anytime you want to do this again, let me know.”
Lily didn’t hesitate. “Is tomorrow too soon?”