not meant to be - TMF

i - spoken from the heart

Zander's POV

- 

"I can only imagine how it is to be with you 

From the first day I saw your face I knew this love was true"

My fingers glide across each key and chord with a gentle rhythm, a rhythm that's barely there. But I think it makes all the difference, Jake should be grateful I decided to help him. 

"But you're already taken, nothing i can do 

So I can only imagine, how it is to be with you" 

My part ends, and I look up, taking notice of the environment. Jake's singing a short song we wrote. I suspect it's for the only guest in the audience. I can't lie though, the passion behind his voice is so tangible, I could pluck it like the delicate flower it is and crush it to bits. 

"I can only imagine us both loving through the night 

I can only imagine us together side by side" 

Hailey asked for lyrics input, and I gave her these 2 lines. Frankly, I'm surprised she didn't tease me as much as she usually does. It may be a song for someone else, but I spoke from the heart. I doubt anyone would connect the dots anyway. 

"I can only imagine we're dancing in the moonlight 

I can only imagine, I can only imagine" 

The soundtrack fades as I bring my hands off the keyboard and wait for the compliments to be showered. 

"Absolutely wonderful Jake! Your voice is just as beautiful as I remember!" Daisy gushes in idolization. 

He seems to be slightly taken aback. "Oh, uh, t-thanks Daisy. I'm glad you're here- I mean- that you enjoyed!" 

She turns her attention to the rest of us. "You all must be so excited for the band competition! You're all so talented!" 

"Aw, thanks Daisy!" Hailey responds. 

"What can I say? It comes naturally to some of us." Speaking from the heart again. Or perhaps the part of the heart where my ego's found. 

Milly looks at me with pure astonishment. "Woah, I think I just saw your head grow even bigger just now!" 

"You're one to talk." I give her the same smirk she's now giving me. 

I don't acknowledge the rest of the conversation, but glance around at whoever's talking. I realize Luke hasn't said a word the entire time. He's usually too kind to not accept praise, and yet he's looking away from everyone. Were we really that bad? 

... I hope I did nothing wrong 

I hope he's alright. I'll have to ask him about it later. 

My awareness wanders back, and I realize Daisy's just left. Jake and Sean are apparently agreeing on something Hailey's said. They sound as if they're in a daze, and I give them a judging stare.

Milly, on the other hand, gives a chuckle. "I bet you're pleased, Jake; singing a love song in front of the girl you're head over heels in love with-"

I see Jake dash toward her through my peripheral vision. He clamps a hand over her big mouth and exclaims, "Argh, you traitor!" 

"You promised me you wouldn't say anything!" He mutters under his breath. I see what's going on. 

"Ohoho, is someone in love?" I joke. He looks at me with nothing but pure embarrassment and hatred. 

"A- No!" He retorts, focusing his attention to me instead of keeping Milly quiet. 

She takes this window of opportunity and shouts "Yes!" and Jake is defeated. 

Sean sounds genuinely surprised. "You're... in love with Daisy?" 

Jake, being the oh-so modest man he is, confesses, "I-I wouldn't say in love, but I have liked her for a long time now..."

By this time, I'm uninterested and walk towards the door of the music room just as I hear Milly announce, "Aw, you're blushing!" 

No one seems to notice my departure, which is perfectly fine with me. Before I leave the room, I take one last look at Luke, to see if this hearty conversation has lifted his spirits. His eyes and expression still remain blank. Those eyes, the ones that have me lost for words. 

I avert my gaze and walk out before he notices me staring at him, though I doubt I'd be able to break him free of his trance. 

Why did I leave so early? It wasn't because I was sick of listening to Jake ramble on about his crush. Not that I wasn't anyway. 

I unlock and open my locker rather slowly, I'm in no rush to get things done. Right inside the locker door is a picture of Hailey, Luke and I from not too long ago. 

Pictures don't talk back to you. They don't judge you for the way you look at them, or if you were to talk to them. I use pictures, mainly this one as of late, to imagine how a scenario or conversation would go. 

In this case, I've been using pictures of Luke to try to come up with the best way to tell him... to tell him something that I've been keeping from him for more than I should have. I can't tell him until I know what to say. Speaking from the heart is so hard sometimes. 

I slide the magnets off of the picture, carefully taking it off my locker and putting it in my pocket. 

Besides, Luke's my best friend. He won't hate me for what I want to say... 

right? 

- 

a/n as of july 2023: i originally posted this on march 20th, 2021. then i unpublished it, as well as the even more horrendous sequel. i'm reposting just the first part here to send my first fic out into the world once more, but caution! it doesn't reflect how i write now; this goes for all of my works actually. (what i am saying is that it isn't that great.)