Chapter 15 #3
I was too taken aback to cringe or blush as the musician came to mind. “You got folklore by Taylor Swift?”
“Of course,” Cameron said as she was quick to gather her phone and look through her catalogue.
“Dreux said it was a good album,” I offered.
“Iconic,” Cameron agreed and then she eyed me suspiciously. “You’re not a fan?”
“I’ve never really given her music a chance,” I admitted.
Cameron looked to Vanity who was already facing her way. “She’s got so much to learn,” Cameron said with excitement in her eyes.
Vanity seemed to agree as she sized me up. “Have you ever heard of SZA?”
The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t put a face to it. “No.”
Gone was Cameron’s gloom as she sat up and squealed. “Oh, we have to introduce her to SZA next.”
Vanity narrowed her eyes. “Ctrl or SOS?”
Cameron thought it over as she tapped her chin. “I vote Ctrl.”
“I vote SOS,” said Vanity.
Cameron clicked and pressed Play on folklore. “We’ll let Saylor decide.”
Taylor was singing about the one and I couldn’t deny I liked the sound.
Cameron laid back and drank in the music and Vanity went over to her dresser and plucked up a bottle of nail polish before examining her nailbeds. The action caused me to look down at my own nails. I hadn’t painted mine since I was in middle school.
“What color do you want, Saylor?” Vanity asked as she looked back at me.
I felt the blush stain my cheeks as I again thought of him. “Pink.”
His favorite color was pink because of his mother’s battle with breast cancer. He wore a pink bracelet in her honor and I admired that.
Vanity and I settled down at the desk in Cameron’s room. She’d chosen a glittery bottle of royal blue for herself.
“How are you feeling about Ebram?” I asked, curious.
Vanity shrugged as she uncapped the base coat. “I’m half tempted to trash his car, but other than that, I’m great.” She tossed me a cheesy smile that made me laugh.
I coated my nails with the base coat and let them dry as I listened more to folklore. We were maybe four or five songs in and I hated how right Dreux was.
That didn’t stop me from texting him.
Me
Okay folklore is the shit
Dreux was fast to respond, not leaving me hanging. He sent a GIF of what looked like a cartoon alien smirking and nodding.
I rolled my eyes and hated myself for blushing and biting my lip.
Vanity was already using her nail polish and Cameron was lying back on her bed on her phone, singing along to the music.
I didn’t want to bug Dreux, but I was curious since we were on the topic of music. So, I double texted.
Me
Do you like SZA?
He wasn’t busy, because he was again quick to text back.
Dreux
Of course lol
Me
SOS or Ctrl?
Dreux
SOS, the deluxe is good, but the original is elite
Me
Fav song?
Dreux
Dreux
Good Days
I made a mental note to look out for the song whenever the girls put on SZA’s record.
My phone buzzed in my hand, another text from Dreux. And I couldn’t explain the bubbliness I felt at him continuing the conversation. At him wanting to talk more.
Dreux
So…there’s the school carnival next weekend
Me
I saw
Dreux
You going?
I honestly wasn’t the school function type. I’d always considered them dumb, but something about Dreux asking…
Me
Idk. You?
Dreux
Yea, I kinda go every year. It’s fun, you should come. I’ll drive
Something about being invited made me want to go.
“Are you guys going to the carnival next week?” I asked as I looked up from my text thread with Dreux. “Dreux just mentioned it.”
“I was, but I don’t know,” Cameron said as she sat up and pouted. “Bonham thinks it’ll be fun. He promised to be on his best behavior if I go.”
Vanity stopped painting her nails. “He asked you out?”
“Not like that,” Cameron was quick to say. “Just, like, as a thank you for helping him with tutoring.”
Vanity wasn’t buying it and I couldn’t blame her.
“We’re just friends,” Cameron insisted.
Vanity rolled her eyes. “And I’m just bored.” She turned to me, eyeing me suspiciously. “And Dreux asked you out?”
Now it was my turn to downplay things. “We’re just friends.”
Vanity pretended to scowl at me. “I had his attention first.”
“Yeah, well, you snooze you lose,” I shot back playfully.
Vanity’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. In another minute, we were both laughing and it felt like I’d just admitted something.
Knocking sounded at the door. Cameron’s mother, Tish, came in with a plate of cookies, the smell of chocolate chips filling the room and making me hungry.
“So, Saylor, are you staying in Meadow Grove?” Vanity asked between bites of a cookie.
“Yeah, I kinda like it here,” I admitted.
“Good,” Cameron said. “You’re not allowed to leave.”
“It’s settled,” Vanity teased, raising her mug of milk.
The topic of boys slipped away as we ate the cookies and Vanity and I painted our nails.
When folklore was over, Vanity put on SOS and I joined Cameron on her bed as I admired my pale pink nails.
I laid back and looked at the ceiling, soaking in SZA’s lyrics and melodies. She was singing about not wanting to snooze or miss a moment with the guy she was into and I felt myself smile. Oddly, knowing exactly how she felt.