Chapter 14: Chapter 14
I eyed the night sky with admiration. It was so beautiful and breathtaking. The stars were so clear and the sky wasn't totally black. There was a hint of blue and violet in it. There were like colorful dusts gathering around the stars. It was amazing.
I walked towards the log they placed in front of the bonfire. While Chris, Ian and Gavin were looking for woods to burn, Keelan and Ren started the fire. Remi and Mila prepared the food while Ember and Jen put the marshmallows on the stick. While everyone was busy, I was here looking up at the stars. I'm quite guilty that I didn't help but I was mentally writing a song in my mind while staring at the stars. Before I knew it, I sang a song related to the view above.
So open your eyes and see
The way our horizons meet
And all of the lights will lead
Into the night with me
And I know these scars will bleed
But both of our hearts believe
All of these stars will guide us home~
I was caught in the song I was singing that I didn't notice Keelan was staring at me. I cleared my throat as I broke our eye contact. He too looked away.
I watched everyone who was now gathering at the bonfire. I was hoping no one heard me singing. I mean it was almost like a whisper but we'll never know. Well, he heard me.
Somehow everyone never ran out of stories to share as we surrounded the fire burning in the middle but I didn't know how we ended up telling ghost stories. Ember and Jenny were already so scared from the stories both Chris and Ian shared. It didn't even help when they told us that some ghost was living in the frat house and in the middle of the night, it throws things out of nowhere like vases, picture frames and coffee cups. The girls usually hang out at the frat house. Ember and Jen were screaming mad at the two boys to stop the story. They were hitting them nonstop.
Out of the three of us though, Remi was the scaredy cat. We often tease him when watching horror films. He would scream like a girl and run out. Mila and I would laugh our hearts out. But I'm sure he knew that the ghost story in the frat house isn't real. He stood from his spot beside me and walked towards his truck. I eyed Mila having the same thoughts as her. We both grinned mischievously.
A few minutes later, he returned. All the thoughts of having to prank him all gone when I saw the acoustic guitar he was holding.
"There's nothing like a good ol campfire song." He chirped.
"Thank god." Jenny breathed out. "I don't wanna hear anymore ghost stories." The guys laughed at her comment. I saw Ember with a relieved look.
Gavin took the guitar and volunteered to play it. He started with songs from when we were in high school. They were the kind of songs that would get stuck in your head and you remember fooling around when you were still teenagers. It wasn't a surprise though that every song he played, everyone knew. And then Gavin went to the oldies songs. Some time like the 90s and 80s. The guy knew music and I was really impressed.
"You play." Gavin handed the guitar to Ember.
"I don't know how to play that." She answered.
"Na-ah. Girls turn now."
Ember turned to Jenny. She refused. Jen turned to Mila. She shook her head. They turned to me. I can feel Mila and Remi staring at me. I subconsciously glanced at my other side. Keelan who was also seated beside me, stared at me.
I turned to them and shrugged. "Okay."
"Nice." Gavin commented as Chris reacted at the same time. "Alright!" They started passing the guitar to me.
"Can you do a Jason Mraz song?" Ember requested.
"Jason Mraz?" Ian asked incredulously.
"Yes. We've been playing upbeat songs. What about something about love?"
Ian rolled his eyes. "Girls."
"Hey." Jenny smacked his arm. "We girls have our own strength so you better watch it, Ryan."
"It's Ian." He corrected.
"Yeah, whatever, Brian." We burst out laughing except for Ian who was scowling at Jenny.
"So... come on, Kyree. Play some love songs." Ember grinned at me with excitement. Everyone was already looking at me patiently waiting for me to strum the guitar and start singing.
"As you wish, my lady."
---
Let's drive out to the desert at midnight~
My voice started out in falsetto. It was halfheartedly low like almost near a whisper. I was careful not to reveal my voice.
To dance in the dust of our headlights
And score some good seats for the sunrise~
I looked at each and every one with their eyes and ears on me.
And get dressed up in clothes we don't mind getting messed up
When no one will know how to get us
We don't need the map, we'll just drive, drive, drive~
As the song progresses, the louder I get. My real voice was slowly coming out. I tend to underestimate how I love singing and music so much.
I wanna get lost with you
And hide out, out under the light of the moon
I wanna get lost with you~
I now forgot where I was, who I was facing. Everyone was staring at me in awe. Their jaws were hanging open. They were stunned but I ignored it and continued on my singing. Somehow I managed to look at the guy beside me. He was staring. His eyes were glistening from the fire that lit in front of us.
I returned his stare as I continued the song. My real voice was already revealed.
And see what it's like to spend the whole night
With you, just you
You, just you~
I looked at the others again, putting emotion to the song. They were so serious and thoughtful that I wanted to stop and ask why.
We can head North over the oceans of turquoise
Where after a while there'll be no noise
Set for the sound of our heartbeats beating on
And we'll stand in the Canyon alone
Singing our favorite songs
And wait for the words to return in the echo, echo, echo, echo, echo~
I turned back to Keelan again. My eyes softly closed and open.
I wanna get lost with you
And hideout out under the light of the moon
I wanna get lost with you
And see what it's like to spend the whole night
With you, just you
With you, just you
With you, just you
With you, just you~
My eyes shifted to the sky, realizing that this song I sang fitted so well with what we're doing. Only we're in a group travelling but this song would suit so well with lovers having a road trip, stopping by at every beautiful place nature could offer.
'Cause I wanna get lost
Let's see what the night can do
Let's see what the night can do
Let's see what the night can do
I wanna get lost~
I looked at him again. I don't know why I kept on looking at him but somehow my eyes drifted to him. It's like the song, the music wanted me to look at him.
Let's see what the night can do
Let's see what our hearts wanna do
I wanna know what it's like to spend the whole night
With you, just you
With you, just you
With you, just you~
I hit the last note and turned my attention to everyone. They didn't hide the fact that they were shocked. Their jaws hanging open. I could feel the silence in the night and hear the insects singing. My best friends were grinning, already expecting this kind of reaction