"I'm glad your dad didn't suspect anything," Frazer said as I climbed into his car the next morning.

"Me too. Though we better not get as carried away next time to avoid such close calls," I replied as I buckled in.

"But I love getting carried away with you." He paused, making no move to put the car in gear as his eyes swirled with adoration for me.

All the while my heart pounded in my chest at his use of the word love. Will there be a day when he loves me? Will there be a day when we say that to each other?

Though before I let myself get lost down that thought spiral, I cleared my throat and said, "We better get going if we want to beat the roadwork traffic."

"Yes," he agreed. We were setting out ten minutes earlier than yesterday after discussing via text last night the nonsense that was yesterday's trip to school. With that, we reversed out of the driveway and headed onto the road.

To fill the silence, I switched on the radio, finding myself bopping my head along to Kian's Waiting.

Though as I mouthed the lyrics, Frazer joined in, singing without shame in front of me.

I found myself turning in my seat, staring at him in awe and wondering how I was so lucky to have him.

When the final line reverberated through the car, the presenter's voice then rejoiced, "Wow, that song is still so good all these years on. But also, it's a reminder to all our teens out there that there's one more week left to enter Unearthed High! If you..."

Her voice trailed out to my ears as I turned on Frazer, alarmed that the competition had slipped my mind over the past few weeks. "You've submitted, right?" I asked him.

His gaze remained on the road, knuckles turning slightly white as he gripped the steering while tighter. "Submitted what?"

"Frazer."

"Em." Though he was still refusing to meet my gaze.

"Do you not want to take part in the competition?"

He shrugged.

"I thought you enjoyed performing for the school in the end?"

"I did..."

"Then what's holding you back?"

"Well... I was only doing this all to impress you. And now I have you, so..."

My eyes narrowed. "So you have no desire to be a musician?"

He shrugged again.

And I groaned at his non-answers. "Fine. School finishes in like, ten more weeks. Twelve if you include holidays. What do you plan to do instead?"

"... I don't know."

"Well that's not practical."

"And becoming a musician is?"

He had me there. But, "It doesn't hurt to try."

"Sure. It doesn't. Though... what if I get shortlisted?"

"Then that's good!"

"No. I could not win. And that would be embarrassing."

"We can't win everything. And winning isn't essential. Getting your name out there is. The Kid Laroi didn't win and look at him! He's in the US now and has all sorts of famous friends and collaborations."

"I might just end up a one-hit-wonder. Then every job I have after will just throw that in my face. It will be something that forever haunts me."

"... I think you're just creating problems that don't exist to stop you from pursuing something that you might really enjoy."

"That's not true. I've pursued things I enjoy. I've got you."

It was hard to not get caught up in his flirting. Nonetheless, I persisted. "Do you like singing and writing songs?"

"I do."

"Was playing for a crowd that bad?"

"No... I got used to it."

"Then submit."

"How about I just upload my music to Unearthed instead of submitting to the competition?"

I went quiet as I mulled over his reluctance and planned a way to encourage him to take the risk. He was being his own biggest enemy here.

It was only when we reached the school that a strategy popped into my head.

"You say you were doing it all to impress me..."

"Yes. And to spend time with you."

I smirked as his additional information only further confirmed my pending plan. "Well, impress me further by submitting."

He rolled his eyes as he unbuckled, then leaned close to me, his dazzling green gaze dangerously close, his scent filling my nose, making me want to lean into him.

Yet I held out, as I needed to.

"But I already got the girl."

"Sure. You might have me... but what if I said I don't want to continue kissing a boy who has no ambition?"

"What does that mean?"

I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed my bag from the footwell. "Come next year, I will be going to university and studying. But what will you be doing? I'll be surrounded by others with ambition and you will... what? Still be at home? Doing nothing?"

"Em..." His gaze mulled with hurt as he retreated to his side.

And I realised I needed to clarify the joke I was setting up before he really misconstrued where I was heading with these words. So I followed him into the driver's seat. "Though you're also ridiculously attractive... so maybe I wouldn't mind if you're just a bludger. At least you will always have time for me."

The corners of his lips turned up, and his hand reached to my cheek, fingers stroking over my skin and sending shivers down my spine.

"I'm going to cut off kisses until you submit the song," I breathed as if I were whispering sweet nothing before I retreated away from him.

"What?" he exclaimed, reaching for me.

Though I was already halfway out the door.

"Em," he whined as he locked the car, hurrying after me as I marched across the car park.

"Frazer," I replied.

"You can't cut off—"

"Oh, but I can."

"Isn't this a little... petty?"

"Isn't promising me you'll become this amazing musician just to win me over a little facetious?"

He paused for a moment and blinked. "I don't know what that means."

I halted in my steps, turning to face him. "It means it's absurd you've put all this effort into something just to win me over, realised it's something you enjoy, but are throwing it away just because you've achieved your original goal. Yes, you've got me. But in the process of us coming together, you've discovered something you're good at and enjoy and could really make something of. And you're throwing it away because... it wasn't part of the plan? Or because there may be setbacks? Because doing something you like is actually a little nerve-wracking? Honestly, it astounds me that those are your reasons, considering you're the guy who wrote a song and performed it in front of the school just to win a girl over... That sounds like one of the most nerve-wracking things."

"That's because all terrifying things are worth it when it comes to you. The thought of not having you is more scary than anything else in this world."

My face softened, but my resolve stayed steadfast. "And the thought of you placing all your happiness in me and our relationship scares me."

"... Do you already plan to break up one day?"

"That's not what I'm saying. But it's a lot of pressure to be the only thing that gets you out of bed today. However, if you had your music as well... The load would be shared. Moreover, I really want to see the guy I like chasing and achieving his dreams."

His lips pressed together as his eyes wandered my face for a few moments. Then, "Fine. I'll submit the song tonight."

"Yay!" I squealed in delight, then started walking again towards my first class.

"Hey!" he called after me, jogging to catch up. "Don't I get a kiss now?"

"Oh, most definitely not."

"Why not?" he remarked.

"Not until you've entered the competition."

"But I said I would."

"And your word on this matter hasn't proven reliable thus far. I'll give you all the kisses your heart desires after you've sent me the screenshot of your entry receipt."

He pouted. "You're cruel, Em."

"Cruel but calculated. I'll see you at lunch." And, to stoke the fire further, I blew him a kiss as I walked away, cackling as he called me cruel once more.

◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷

Frazer: Image sent at 4:32pm.

Me: Park? Sent at 4:37pm.

Frazer: You better be coming to the park. Sent at 4:38pm.

I smirked before slipping into some shoes and telling my dad that I was running to the shops to get sanitary products—in the hopes it would keep his questioning at bay.

The moment I had wedged out the door, I ran.

He was in the same place as yesterday, under the playhouse, sitting on the ground waiting for me.

When I entered, he grimaced. "Cruel," he said once more.

"How is rooting for your talents and dreams cruel?" I replied.

"Because you withheld kisses!"

"Oh, we had an audience all day anyway. As if we were going to kiss."

"I don't mind some PDA."

"How about I make it up to you?" I climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips as I wound my arms around his neck. "Now that you're on the path to success."

His brows shot up at my proximity and positioning, and I watched his adam's apple dip in desire. "I'm waiting," he whispered.

Though, in the end, he didn't wait for me. His hand clamped behind my head and yanked my face onto his, devouring me like a mad man deprived of his basic needs.

The park became a frequent meet up spot for the both of us over the coming weeks—our rendezvous unbeknownst to our parents... so we thought at the time.

It was magical stealing those few moments together, making out in our secluded space after the children went home for dinner and the street lights flickered on.

Eventually I even braved the PDA he so desired at school, not caring if his friends were watching, or if our peers saw us together... sometimes even the teachers.

All I could care about was him.

And then the shortlist notice arrived.

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