My performance at Reality Squared went really well last night. I sang well, played well, and the audience really responded to my music. The feeling of taking something so personal and sharing with a bunch of people and having them like it is like no other high in the world. Not that I would know, of course. :)
I sat at my desk thinking about my performance and compiling a list of my biggest crowd pleasers for the next week when my stomach growled out loud. I looked at the clock and realized that it was noon. Not in the mood for making lunch, I grabbed my car keys and headed to the corner deli. I was sitting there eating as my thoughts went from my show to school to school projects to Taylor. I decided that I needed to do some thinking about Taylor. I'd been talking to my roommate about the project and immedeatly she had told me that I had a crush on Taylor. I asked her how she knew and the only thing she was that she could see it in my eyes. That got me to thinking. I was physically attracted to Taylor, but even more than that I was attracted to his personality. He was really talented, nice, caring, sweet, and smart, but there was something else I was looking for, and I didn't know what it was. Maybe I was afraid that a guy could have such an impact on me after such a short period of time. I'd only been with Taylor for three hours and on the phone for 10 minutes, and I was already thinking way too much about him. I needed to stop thinking about him. I had a long time until my guitar lesson at seven, so I decided to go home and take a nap. I'd work on any papers I had to write when I awoke, and then I'd continue on with my day. When I got into my dorm I noticed that I had a message. I pressed the play button and listened.
"Hey Andrea, it's me Taylor. I was calling about getting together on Sunday but I guess you're not there. I won't be home til late tonight, but I really need to find out what we're doing on Sunday so I can make the rest of my plans. The number at the studio is 555-8381, and if you can't get through, just keep trying. Um, I guess I'll talk to you when you get back in. Thanks, bye!"
I picked up my phone, took a deep breath, and dialed the studio. I was about to hang up when I heard someone pick up.
"Hello?"
"Hi, um, is Taylor there?" The voice on the other line grew suspicious.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"Yeah, this is Andrea. I'm working with him on a school project and I needed to get in touch with him." I said. I couldn't blame whoever it was on the other line. They probably thought I was some teenaged Taylor stalker.
"Oh, you're Andrea? This is Taylor's brother Isaac. He told me about you."
"Oh he did? All good, I hope," I said nervously.
"Oh yeah, it was all really good. Hey, here he is." I waited for Taylor to say something and I heard Isaac say "What? I didn't say anything!" and pass off the phone.
"Hello? Andrea?"
"Yeah, hey Taylor. What's up?"
"Wow, we JUST got in the studio. You must've gotten my message as soon as I left it." He said. He sounded a little breathless.
"Must have. Sorry I wasn't here when you called. I'd stepped out for lunch." I explained. Why was my heart beating at a million miles a minute?
"Hehe, yeah, I figured. I was thinking about Sunday, and I think we should start working on the project as soon as we can. I mean, I don't know how you songwrite, but sometimes a song for me just doesn't come out in three days, you know?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, I've been working on this one for about a year, and I'm still not done with it."
"Tell me about it. Oh hey, we're starting to work on stuff now so I should probably go. Sorry." I couldn't believe it, he actually wanted to stay on the phone with me!
"Oh..." I said, sounding more disappointed than I should've let on.
"But how about Sunday around noon I come pick you up and bring you to my house. My family usually takes off around the town on Sundays so we could get some work done in peace and quiet." The thought of being alone with Taylor in a house was too much for me to think about.
"Wow, that sounds...that just sounds great. We'll be able to get a lot done. Or at least I hope we will." I said. I hadn't realized how suggestive that sounded until I'd said it. "Oh, I didn't mean it in that way..." I started lamely. He was laughing on the other line.
"I know what you meant. It's ok. Is it ok if I pick you up at noon?" He asked. He sounded somewhat nervous.
"Yeah, but you really don't have to come pick me up." I said, even though I wanted him to.
"Yeah I do." I could tell he was smiling. I decided to keep it up.
"Oh yeah, why is that?" I asked smiling.
"Because I want to." He stated simply. I almost swallowed my tongue when he said that.
"Well, I'm not one to argue. But if you don't want to, you can call me again and tell me and then I can take myself." I said. Anything to get him to call me again.
"Or I could just call you anyway." Oh my, he was really turning on the charm. I took a deep breath before talking again.
"Why would you go and do that?" I asked, awaiting his answer.
"Becuase I enjoy talking to you. And it sure beats talking to my BROTHER IKE!" He yelled the last part and I could hear laughing in the backround. I wished he could talk forever, but I knew he had to get back to his music. I, of course, would not be the one to point that out.
"Oh, come on, you know you love him." I said, still grinning. What was it about this guy that could make me smile all the time? I didn't know.
"Well, he's not a pretty girl. Nothing beats a pretty girl." I couldn't believe he said that either. I heard a shriek from the phone and a lot of laughter and then a breathless voice came on the phone.
"If you (haha) know what's good for you...(haha) I'd get off the phone Andrea. Taylor said goodbye and that he can't WAIT to see you on Sunday (haha). I bet-" I heard the phone hit something and figured that it was dropped
"IKE! STOP TALKING TO HER!" I heard someone else yell. I was just sitting at my phone, amused.
"Andrea, are you still there?" I heard, recognizing Taylor's voice immedeatly.
"Yeah, you guys are an interesting group." I said laughing.
"Yeah, Ike's crazy. I'll pick you up at noon on Sunday, ok?"
"That's great. I'll see you then."
"Yeah, bye!" As the phone was hanging up I heard Taylor yell, "Your'e gonna die Ike!" and another fit of laughter. I set the phone in it's cradle and walked over to my little cubby that masquerades as a bed. I laid down and pulled the covers up to my chin. I knew something after hanging up with Taylor. I liked him. And it looked like he liked me too. Of course, getting my hopes up would be a bad idea, so I decided to not think about him until Sunday. And of course, I didn't manage that, but I did manage to concentrate on other things when necessary.