“Come home. Immediately.”

“Why, did something happen?”

“It’s been months! What on earth are you doing?”

“I’m saving money,” I say exasperatedly. “I’ll be home on Christmas.”

“Brielle,” my mom says, “I will pay your ticket. Just come home.”

“I’m sorry Mom, I can’t.” I’m not yet ready to tell you how a bluff I am. I can’t leave my job.

“Are you hiding something?” she asks in a serious voice. “Are you pregnant?”

I almost fell out of my chair. “Mom!” Me, pregnant? I’m not even involved with anyone.

“Don’t Mom me,” she says tersely. I can imagine her right now. Her hand is on her hips while she’s scowling in front of her. “Your father—“

“Did he call?” I ask quickly.

I can hear the resignation in her voice as she says, “He dropped by yesterday. He wanted to see you and your sister.”

“Can I see him on Christmas?” I don’t want to sound too eager, but it’s my father. It’s been years since I last saw him.

“I don’t know,” she says. “He left without saying anything.”

Disappointment creeps in my voice. “Okay Mom, I’ll see you soon.”

“You take care, young lady. You have a lot of explaining to do!”

“Bye!”

I plop down on my bed and stare at the ceiling.

My parents separated when I was in high school. My mom told me it only lasted that long because of me and my sister. Mom accused my dad of infidelity. She believed he didn't love her as much as he did his ex girlfriend.

That’s ridiculous.

Why marry my mom if he’s still in love with another woman?

I’m not angry with my dad because even though he lacks affection, I know that he loves us. Mom let him go. She said they’re only married in papers, there’s no point living in the same roof.

Mom told me they only get married because she became pregnant with me. Maybe if I was not born, mom would end up with a man who loves her.

During those times when their separation was new, I saw my mom crying while hugging my father’s things.

Back then, I asked myself why she let him go if she’s hurting.

I don’t want to hate my dad. Every time I look in the mirror, I see him in me. Mom said I’m a spitting image of my dad.

As years passed, he and my mom became friends. We don’t know where he lives. He doesn’t want to tell us. When he wants to see us, he just visits in the house.

Now it’s been two years since I last saw him.

It’s strange seeing your parents love each other and realizing none of it was real. I feel bad for my mom. I believe that everyone deserves someone who will make them happy, who will love them for real. The world is a lonely place without a companion.

If my parents didn’t get a happily ever after, I will.

I didn’t even notice that tears are streaming down my face if my phone didn’t ring.

I sit up and answer my phone. “Hello?”

“Hi, I’m online. Can we have a video call?”

It’s Seth.

Just thinking about his name brings a smile to my face.

“Hold on,” I say. “Do you miss me? We just saw each other a few nights ago."

He laughs. Yeah, sexy. I’m still not used to it.

“Can’t get enough of your face,” he says amusedly.

I don’t know if he’s kidding. It’s Seth though, so who knows?

“Are you free?” he asks.

“Yeah, just wait a sec. I’ll open my laptop.”

“Okay, see you!”

“Okay,” I say, ending the call.

Once I sign in, I receive a video request from Seth. I accept it. A few seconds later, I can see his face on the screen.

“What do you want to talk about?” I ask.

A frown crosses his face. “What, no ‘how are you?’?”

I smile. “How are you?”

“Grand.” He grins, showing his perfectly white teeth. He looks handsome with a gray shirt on.

“I know.”

I snap my mouth shut. Did I just talk aloud?

“What?”

“Nothing,” he says, “I was just reading my e-mails, and someone sent me a message saying I can be a model.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. I thought he heard me.

“What are you doing?” A voice asks.

To my surprise, a face looms over the screen. I automatically pull away. I can hear laughter from Seth’s side.

“She’s funny.”

“Mr. Lavigne?”

“Let’s get pass the formality,” he says, grinning. “Call me Andre.”

I didn’t know Seth is at their house. Because I’m not a student anymore, I forgot that they have days off for Thanksgiving.

“I just got here,” Seth says, as if reading my mind. “My dad is too interested with me so he’s checking what I’m doing every few minutes.” He rolls his eyes.

Andre ruffles his son’s hair.

Seth pushes his father away. “Stop! I’m not a kid anymore!”

“Yeah, right.” He snorts. “To me, you’re still my little boy.” Andre turns to me and says, “I miss carrying him on my back.”

“Dad, stop embarrassing me to my friend!” Seth covers his father’s face with his hand.

I’m jealous. He has a good relationship with his dad.

“Okay, fine,” Andre says. His eyes crinkle as he smiles affectionately at his son. “I won’t ruin your time with Brielle.” He clears his throat and continues, “Make sure she’s not Kyle’s girlfriend before you make a move on her.”

I’m too stunned to respond. Seth stands up from his chair and pushes his father away. I can’t see them anymore but I can hear their voices. I can’t understand what they’re saying though.

Seth comes back a few minutes later. “Sorry about that,” he says. “I’m gonna go to my room. People in this house don’t know the meaning of privacy.”

The screen blurs as he walks. When he enters his room, he lies on the bed and puts the laptop on his lap. “My dad’s past time consists of ruining my chances,” he informs me.

I grin. “You’re cute!”

He blinks at me. “Cute?” he says bemusedly. “I’m far from cute. I’m handsome. Being called cute is a disgrace. Take it back.”

I grin. “I don’t want to.” Talking to Seth lifts up my surly mood. Now I can laugh with him. He’s so easy to talk to.

Seth leans closer to the screen and says, “Can you see this face?”

“Yes,” I reply, trying not to laugh.

“Do you want to see the muscles underneath this body?”

He’s on the verge of taking his shirt off, but I quickly tell him, “No! You don’t need to do that!”

I don’t want to see him naked. That would be embarrassing.

“What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” he asks after a while.

“I’m still not sure,” I say. I’m not going home. I’ll probably stay here on my own. “What about you?”

“We’ll celebrate on Aunt Sophia’s house,” he says, “A family gathering.”

“Is KY going to be there?” I wonder aloud.

“Not sure,” Seth says, “Haven’t asked him. Why do you keep on asking questions about my cousin? Are you interested in him?” he feigns hurt by putting his hand on his chest.

Shoot. I can’t give him a reason to be suspicious.

“I just want to know why he’s aloof,” I say.

He cocks his head to the side, and stares at me with a keen expression on his face.

I’m afraid he’ll see something, so I quickly say, “I have to go, the guys are calling me!” Another lie.

“Wait!” Seth sits up. “When can I see you?”

He wants to see me? I’m not even interesting. “What about before Christmas?”

“That’s a month away!”

I bite my lip. “I’m kind of busy with the band. They will have shows after Thanksgiving.”

He mutters something under his breath.

“I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”

“Nothing. I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Good bye Seth, I’ll see you soon!”

He signs out after that. I feel guilty for dodging him, but I have no choice. I can’t let him know that I like his cousin.

It’s good to be back home. The guys and I are settled on our daily routine. They have been resting since yesterday. They need their energy back after performing on different cities. They deserve a break.

For a winter season, it’s unusually hot. Because I can’t sleep even after tossing and turning on my bed, I decide to go downstairs and see what I can eat.

When I open the fridge, I find fruits inside. We still have a carton of milk. I get the cube ice, mango, milk, and put them on the table. I turn on the blender and mix all the ingredients after peeling the mango.

“Hey.”

My heart leaps in my throat. I whip around and see KY standing behind me. He’s not wearing a shirt. I try not to look below his chin.

Stop it, Brielle, I chastise myself. You don’t want to be scolded.

Why is he only wearing shorts? He knows that I also live in this house. And I’m a girl, and I like him, and—

I need to stop now.

“Hi,” I say.

“What are you doing?” KY asks, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Look who’s talking.

“I can’t sleep,” I admit, turning around and clicking the pause button of the blender to stir the ingredients. “I’m making a mango shake.”

I can hear his steps walking towards me. My breathing comes faster. I hate the way he makes me feel. We’re standing on the same ground, but because he’s near, it’s as if it’s shaking.

I’m shaking.

“Can I have a glass as well?”

His breath tickles the back of my neck.

“S-sure,” I stutter.

KY sits on one of the chairs.

When it’s done, I pour the mango shake on the two glasses I took from the cabinet.

I plan on drinking my shake in my room, but it seems rude if I’ll just leave him on his own. Besides, this is the first time I’m alone with him after the concert.

I sit on the chair across from him. And try not to stare at his face. At his body. 

The last time, KY looked at me without menace. Just remembering his expression that day, when we came back after the show, I feel relieved. I have a chance, no matter how small it is.

I wonder if KY is not self-conscious sitting in front of me. Well, he doesn’t know that I have a crush on him, so it doesn’t matter. Besides, there were times during their concert when he took his shirt off; when they played in an open ground.

I can’t help myself watch him as he drinks. Does he like it?

He has a mustache from the mango shake. He looks so cute, and young, and different.

I drink to hide the smile on my face.

This feels like a movie, and I’m starting as the lead role.

Unlike many others, my heart doesn’t stop beating when he’s talking to me. Instead, it beats a thousand times per second even if we’re not saying anything to each other.

“Why are you staring?” KY asks, scowling at me.

I shake my head quickly. “I was not staring!”

“Yes you were.” He scoffs. “You’re still staring. I don’t mind though; I’m kind of used to it.”

My eyes widen at what he said. “You conceited. . .”

He laughs.

I’m surprised. He’s usually cold around me, and now, here he is, laughing. He looks blithe, like not a care in the world.

Because he’s like this, I have the confidence to start a conversation with him.

“How did you start your band?” I ask. It’s the first question that popped into my head.

“We started practicing in our garage,” KY says, surprising me once again by answering my question. “Nate, Zeke and I would do covers of our favourite bands. Zeke only borrowed the drum set back then.”

“What about Lance?” I ask. I try not to act like a lovesick person.

Be normal. He’s Kyle Yves. Right now, he’s an ordinary person. Don’t freak out.

“Lance joined a year later,” he says. “We were in high school. I still remember those times when no one went to our gigs.” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “When we performed in a bar, it felt like people wanted to throw as out because they didn’t know the songs we were playing.”

“Now people are lining up to see you. Your shows are sold out. Fans are screaming your name. They all know the lyrics to your songs.”

“Yeah,” he says, “but there was a time when we were just bunch of kids who didn’t like going to school. Our parents were not that supportive about our chosen career. They thought we would grow up and leave for College.”

“You didn’t, though.”

“I want to prove them wrong,” KY says, staring at the empty glass in front of him. “They still think that this is just a game for me. They haven’t accepted that this is what I wanted to do with my life.”

I didn’t expect that there will come a time when KY will open up to me. Maybe we’re starting to become friends.

 “Look at you now,” I say, gesturing at him. “You didn’t let the doubts of people stop you from pursuing your dreams.”

He smiles with his lips but his eyes don’t look happy. “As soon as we graduated, we focused on creating our own style of music. We bought our own instruments and recorded some songs,” he continues.

“Did you want to give up?”

KY shakes his head. “When it's your passion, the only choice you have is to continue what you're doing,” he says, staring straight ahead. “I have no reason to stop. It's my life now. Bands nowadays want to be famous, as if people will like you in a snap of a finger. We went through a lot of disappointments before we recorded our first album.”

“Now you have your own studio.”

Their difficulties make me love them even more. I’m grateful they didn’t give up, that they didn’t stop pursuing their dreams, that they didn’t quit sharing their gifts to the world.

“It’s true that everything starts out small,” I say thoughtfully. “At the proper time, you’ll get what you deserve.”

“Exactly. I never met anyone who made it big the first time.”

I smile as I remember what my mom always reminds me: You’ll reap what you sow.

“Where did Infinite Chase come from?” I ask curiously.

“We're all chasing different things in our lives,” KY says thoughtfully. “It doesn't end. When you achieve something, you'll get interested in another thing. It's like a cycle. Never stopping, it always has a follow-up. Infinite Chase, basically.”

“Have you ever thought of what you would like to do if you were not in a band?”

“I’m having fun with what I’m doing right now.”

“What does it feel like when random people take photos of you?” I ask. “Or record your every move during concerts?”

I’m so excited; a lot of questions are running in my head.

“Is this an interview?” KY asks amusedly.

I smile sheepishly. “I’m just curious.”

“You’re curious with a lot of things,” he says. “To answer your question though, at first it was awkward, I got used to it afterwards. Now I pretend those flashing lights are just lights, nothing else.”

“Mind set?”

He shrugs. “You can say that. I just hope they focus more on the performance rather than recording the whole show.”

“The awkward moment when you see your favourite band performing live, but you end up watching them on tiny screens.”

KY throws back his head as he laughs.

Here I am, enthralled, thinking that I want to freeze this moment forever.

*****

Funny, readers are shipping the characters. Some are saying Nrielle, while others are BriNa. What about KyElle, and BriTh? :D

What do you think about this chapter??? Be honest!

The song is Perfect by Colour Coding. I found the photo on deviantart.Like the Facebook page: Facebook.com/ilurvbooks

Thank you so much! =)