Deep Breaths (Garcello x Reader) [Slow Updates]

Part 13 - Karaoke Night Funkin' (4)

The song ends and Annie tosses her mic into the air, catching it with a spin of her wrist. Boyfriend smiles widely at his opponent as he beeps in triumph. Calvin whoops at the two's performance, clapping enthusiastically.

"Great job, you two!" he says. 

"Not bad!" Annie admits with a light chuckle, hand on her hip. "You're pretty quick to adapt to new songs, huh, BF?"

"Bep bo!" Boyfriend brags and grins. GF giggles delicately on top of her still speakers.

"Well, you up for one more round?" Annie suggests, and you recognize she almost has a challenging tone to her voice. Boyfriend seems to notice it as well.

With an equally determined stance, he replies in firm beeps. Before anyone can comment on it, the next song begins.

"Ah..." Garcello mumbles into his knuckles, "She's really getting into it. I wonder if she's gonna..."

He trails off and hides his expression behind his hand. You turn to look at him, confused. A heated duet of 'Tug of War' is sung in the background, and you can tell without looking that both singers are giving it their all.

"Hey," you speak softly, not wanting to interrupt the song. Garcello blinks and turns to you. "Is something wrong?"

"No, not really." His reply is barely more than vague. He shrugs, looking unsure. "I've just got a hunch. Nothing bad, just a suspicion."

"About what?" you press. 

"Eh..." Garcello hesitates. "I think Annie would rather tell you herself... don't wanna spoil her fun. Besides, if my hunch is right, you'll see what I mean."

"Well, isn't that perfectly mysterious," you snicker as your eyes fall sarcastically half-lidded. Just to add a bit of ironic dramatic flair, you pose your hand under your chin, the back of your hand supporting your jaw and fingers loose. You bet you look ridiculous, but hey, commitment to the bit!

You expect Garcello to simply laugh off your comment as he usually does, but then your breath catches in your throat for one moment as he bashfully shrugs and rubs the back of his neck. A rosy blush rolls across his cheeks, accompanying an awkward smile, and you feel a jolt in your stomach. 

Huh.

Okay... that was weird. You did that silly gesture to make him laugh, but he didn't. He seemed shy, if anything. Flustered even.

You purse your lips. You suppose that reaction wasn't so bad, either.

~~~

Annie and BF finish the song, both musicians looking just a bit winded from singing their hearts out. The dark-haired singer brushes back her hair and grits her teeth. Boyfriend grins tightly, almost smugly, and adjusts the cap on his head. Everyone in the room can sense the tension.

"Well, you two did amazing!" Hex says cheerfully, though there's a slight tilt to his voice that suggests he's trying to lighten the atmosphere. Even his screen's expression looks just a pixel too forced. "Do you think it's Garcello's turn now? Or maybe even (Y/N)'s?"

"Oh, I don't sing," you reply quickly, and Annie speaks soon after.

"And I think we should get just one more round." Her suggestion seems like a challenge to BF, who furrows his brows and squares his shoulders. Annie seems similarly competitive, though not quite, as an excited energy lingers around her beyond Boyfriend's determined one.

"Garcello, what about you?" Calvin cuts in. Beside him, Ashlyn leans to look at Garcello, curious.

"It's fine," he replies simply, a sincere smile gracing his features. "I'll sing after."