“Be brave, be brave,” I whispered to myself as I slowly made my way towards Kevin. I turned my head to look at Uvaldo who had a big grin on his face and his tops up. I smiled at his goofiness then look back at the older man.
“What type of music do you like?” Kevin asked when I reached him.
I blushed, “I like boy bands and country music.”
He nodded, “Boy bands, as in One Direction, The Beatles, Nsync, Backstreet Boy, Five Seconds of Summer, Twenty One Pilots, Linkin Park? There are so many of them.”
I enjoyed music from all the bands he just called. It would be too hard for me to choose a song, especially one that everyone knew. “Choose a song for me.” It was just a risk I had to task. Kevin is a cool enough man to choose a song that everyone would enjoy hearing, even with my bad voice.
He smiled, “I know the perfect song.” He turned to his MacBook then typed away. “Go on, time to show them who’s boss.” he handed me the microphone and pointed to the centre of the stage.
I kept my eyes on the microphone as I walked to the centre. When I reached the centre, I took a deep breath and kept my eyes down.
The music started to play then I couldn’t help but lifted my head and smile. It was a song, and I know and loved.
Everyone loves this song.
I lifted the mic to my mouth then started, ” You are my fire, The one desire, Believe when I say, I want it that way.” I looked at Valdo “But we are two worlds apart. Can’t reach to your heart. When you say that I want it that way.” I moved to the next part of the stage; this time, I let my eyes travel over the room. “Tell me why Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache. Tell me why, Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake, Tell me why I never want to hear you say, I want it that way.”
I sounded awful, but I felt great. I felt like I’m on top of the world. I felt high even though I even I haven’t drunk anything, the fact that I’m under-age was a significant contributor to that.
Nothing else mattered than me being in this beautiful decorated classroom with loving strangers who’ve treated me like family since day one, what am I saying? They’re the family I’ve always wanted.
I pointed around the room, “Tell me why!” I laughed, “Sing with me.” They obeyed my command and sang with me. I looked at everyone from the stage and smiled.
Zuria was standing and waving her hands like it was a concert. Hannah was rocking her shoulder and clapping her hands. Valdo was laughing uncontrollably; I couldn’t help but smile. When he smiled, his eyes shined, and his face looks a thousand times better.
No one was covering their eyes at my voice; they were all just enjoying themselves.
This is love.
This is family.
“‘Cause I want it that way.” I placed the mic to my chest and curtsey as I sang the last line of the song. I lifted my head and looked at, and they were all looking at me with smiles on their face while clapping. I know it wasn’t because of my voice but because no matter how bad you sound family supported each other. I placed the mic on the stool then made my way off the stage. I walked over to my table and sat down.
Valdo leaned over, “Okay, so you’re not the greatest singer, but you rocked the crowd with your “Sing with me” style. That was great. I don’t think I’ve laughed that much in a while.”
I returned his smile, “You’re most welcomed. ”
“And of course, you’re still going to lose.”
I shrugged, “We’ll see.”
“Disclosure, I was voted the worst singer in high school. You might want to get your ears checked tomorrow.” Valdo said, and with a smile, he continued, “With that said I’d begin my performance.”
He looked at me as he began, “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May. I guess you’d say. What can make me feel this way?” He lifted his hands and pointed at me. “My girl, my girl, my girl. Talkin’ ’bout my girl, my girl.”
I heard persons swooning, and I could feel the stares. I bent my head and blushed. I can’t believe he did that.
I heard some muttering, so I lifted my head, only to see that Valdo was no longer on the stage, but he was slowly making his way over to our table. I looked at him with wide eyes. “What are you doing?” I mouthed, but he continued singing. He was right. His voice was ten times worst than mine, but I wasn’t really paying it much attention at the moment. My main concern was him coming slower and slower to me with that mic and his swaying body.
He stopped right in front of me, “My girl, my girl, my girl. Talkin’ ’bout my girl, my girl.” He held out one of his hands to me, and I accepted without hesitation. He gently pulled me off the chairs and into his arms as he continues to sing. He sang a few more lines then the song changed abruptly.
I pulled away from him to look in his eyes, “I love this song.”
“Really, I can’t tell.” he chuckled and replied sarcastically, “It’s not like you don’t sing it every day.”
“Thank you.” I looked in his eyes, and I knew.
I was falling in love for the first time.
He smiled, “You’re welcome.” He pulled me back into his arms while we slow dance to ‘You Are The Reason’ by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. It felt good being in his arms. I felt safe, loved and cherished.
“I feel like I’m in a Hallmark movie.”
“Hallmark movie?”
“Yeah. You know when the girl gets her happy ending. I feel like this is mine.” I took a deep breath and inhaled his scent. He smelt great, I had no words to describe the scent of the cologne he was wearing, but it made me want to hold him forever.
He pulled me away and looked down at me, “No, it’s just the beginning.”
I chuckled, breaking eye contact with him. That’s when I realised that everyone had started to slow dance as well. Hannah and Kevin were wrapped but in each other’s arms. Christina was dancing with Emily, and Zuria was dancing with Ashely.
I gave them a sad smile. I wish they could find their Prince Charming too.
I looked at Valdo, “I feel like I’m in a dream. Everything seems so perfect, and I just feel like I’m going to wake up and it’s going to end.”
Valdo cupped my cheeks in his hands and stared at me, “This, Us. It’s not going to end. Not unless you want it to.”
I shook my head, “I don’t.” I don’t want this happiness to end.
“Good.” bent his head and placed a small kiss on my lips. If anyone had doubts about our relationship after Valdo sang, “My girl” then they had none now because the kiss confirmed everything.
I blushed when we broke apart. I quickly rest my head back on his chest to avoid the smiles we were receiving from the onlookers.
Valdo chuckled, “You’re such a scary cat.”
“This scary cat was homeless a month ago.” And everyone here knew the story of how Valdo and I met. I didn’t want them to get the wrong idea.
“Time is an illusion. I liked you from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“I weighed a tonne.”
“Your weight wasn’t the first thing I noticed about you.” he professed.
“Really?’
“Yea. I saw your beautiful brown eyes. I saw the pain in it, and then that’s when I noticed your belly. You being pregnant didn’t the connection I felt towards you any different; in fact, it motivated me more. I wanted to heal those sad eyes. I wanted to see a smile on your face.”Well, you succeed. I’ve never felt so happy before. I feel like I’m going to burst.”
His chest vibrated as he chuckles, “You’re happy, but you’re not completely happy.”
I pulled away from him and looked in his eyes, “What do you mean?” Of course, I’m completely happy. I finally have the perfect family, perfect friends and a beyond perfect boyfriend. “You miss your mother. I see the way you look at my mom. You wish you had yours. As much as my mother loves you, she’s never gonna be yours. She’s never going to understand you as much as your own mother does.” he rubbed the back of his palms on my cheeks. “Don’t be angry at me, but there is something you should know.”
I frowned up at him, “Go ahead, tell me.”
“I hired a private investigator to look into your mom; She’s been looking for you. Ever since you left, she filed a missing person report for you the day after you left. She goes crazy whenever she hears that they find a female body. She misses you, Jakobia. I don’t know what happened that day between the two of you, but she regrets it. People make mistakes and say things they regret all the time; that doesn’t mean they don’t love you.” he paused, “I think you should go look for her.”
Valdo lifted his hands and wiped the tears there were running down my cheeks. “Don’t cry.”
“I miss her so much.” I sobbed.
“I know you do.”
“I’m scared.”
“Scared of what?” his voice was alert.
“What will people think?” Runaway Teen Returns With Baby would be the headline for the newspaper. My name would hit the hair salons real quick.
“You shouldn’t care what they think. You’re in a better than them anyway. You have a billionaire for a boyfriend.” He joked.
I laughed at his words and shook my head. “They’ll judge me, call me whore.”
“If they do that, then you hold your head high and ignore them. You’re not going for them; you’re going for your mother, she’s important.”
“Will you come with me?” I begged. I wouldn’t survive a minute without him by my side. “If you want me to.”
I nod. “I do. I don’t think I can face Alton and it’s judging citizens without you.”
“Then I’ll be right by your side.” he gave me the sweetest smile, but I wanted more.
“Holding my hands?”
“Holding your hands.”