Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Rylie's POV

I was in no particular mood to hang out with Olivia and Mason the next day or anyone else for that matter. Being around Olivia and Mason was even harder because it served as a constant reminder that my love life was nothing to write about.

So after breakfast, with nothing else to do, I pulled on my jacket, grabbed my headphones and phone and began walking in the direction of nowhere in particular.

I just wanted to get away from it all: Olivia, Mason, Asher and Blake... Basically, I just wanted to escape being Rylie for a day.

Eventually, I found myself in the city park. As winter had arrived and schools were also closed for the holidays, the park was littered with kids playing around; they were busy building snowmen, snow forts, making snow angels and engaging in snowball fights. In another corner of the park, a lake which had frozen over was now filled with people ice skating.

It wasn't easy but I was eventually able to find a spot far away from all the activity where I could be alone but still view everything that was going on. The headphones I had on blocked out all the external sounds as it blasted music through my ears.

A Christmas song started playing and without thinking, I found myself humming and then singing to it. Because my eyes were closed and I was lost in the song, I didn't realize that I'd begun to attract an audience. I only knew of this when the song ended and I opened my eyes.

My eyes widened and my heart rate doubled at the sight of so many people staring at me. Could I have been singing that badly? My face flushed red in embarrassment as I wondered how to escape this very awkward moment.

But imagine my surprise when everyone started clapping. Yeah, you heard me. They applauded me while cheering and asking for encores (a second performance). I was completely shocked. I had definitely not been expecting that.

The applause eventually died down and everyone returned to their various activities but some people still came forward to congratulate me. It also turned out that someone had filmed the whole thing and uploaded it online and to my absolute surprise, people actually liked it and it was kinda starting to trend.

Watching the video later on my phone, I could hardly believe that it was actually me singing like that. The person didn't sound like me or at least the way I thought I sounded.

While engrossed in watching this, I felt someone take their place beside me on the bench I was sitting on. I brought the headphones down to my neck and looked by my side only to find Asher seated beside me.

"Asher? What are you doing here?"

"It's a public park. I'm allowed to be here," he replied, still not meeting my glance.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just wasn't expecting to see you beside me. How are you doing?"

"I'm quite well. How's your day been going?"

A smile made its way to my lips as the events that just occurred flashed through my mind. "Oh, my day's been going good, I guess. So... what brought you to the park? You must have come here for a reason, right?"

"Yeah, I did. You," he answered simply, meeting my eyes. For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. His answer wasn't exactly surprising, it was just the way he said it that kinda threw me off. It was just like the old days, before we broke up- or didn't. Now that I thought of it, Asher and I never did actually break up, we just lost touch...

Oh crap, what am I thinking? Asher and I are over and that's that!

With this realisation, I broke our eye contact and shifted a little to put some space between us without making it too obvious.

"You know," I cleared my throat, "saying stuff like that makes it sound like you're stalking me. You're not, right?"

Asher chuckled. "Come on, Rylie. Do you really think that I have nothing better to do all day?"

"I don't know. You just always seem to be everywhere. It's kinda creepy."

"Rylie–" he started to explain but I cut him off before he could continue. "Relax Asher, I'm just joking. I'm sure you have plenty of stuff to do after being gone for so long. I was just pulling your leg."

"Good, that's a relief. The last thing I would want would be for you to think that I was stalking you. I'm only around you because I care about you and I want you to know that, okay?" He covered my hand with his and squeezed it just a little. I glanced down at the hand he held and back up at his smiling face. Without thinking, I smiled too and nodded. "I know, Asher. I care about you too."

His smile grew wider before he eventually let go of my hand.

"So what are you listening to?" he gestured to the headphones hanging around my neck.

"Oh, i-it's nothing. Just a silly song," I tried to dismiss it because I didn't want him to hear me sing.

"Well now I have to hear it." He grabbed the headphones from around my neck and placed it over his head, on his ears. The video of new singing had just started to play again.

As he listened silently to the song, I also waited silent, impatient and a bit nervous. It'd been different when people I didn't know had heard me singing but Asher was not one of them and his opinion mattered to me alot.

Eventually, the song came to an end and Asher slowly removed the headphones.

"Was that you singing?" he queried, turning to look at me. I bit my lip and nodded. "What'd you think about it? Was it okay?"

"Okay?! Was that okay?! It was frigging...awesome!!! Rylie, why did you never tell me that you could still sing?"

"I kinda stopped but took it back up this term. Was it that good?"

"It wasn't good, Rylie! Your voice sounded divine. I've never heard anything like it. You're amazing!"

"Wow! Thanks Asher," I grinned, unable to hide my happiness.

"This calls for a celebration. Coffee? My treat."

I paused on hearing his words. "Not like a date or anything, right?"

"It's not a date, Rylie. We're just two friends going out to get coffee. That's all."

"Well, I guess it's okay...but I'm paying for my coffee, okay?" I informed him.

"Fine by me," he raised his hands in surrender.

Then together, we got up from the bench and made our way to a nearby coffee shop.

***

Later that day, I was at home on the phone with Olivia who seemed pretty excited about the video of me that was trending.

"Oh Rylie, I always knew you had it in you," Olivia said over the phone.

"Had what in me?" I asked, a little amused st her reaction.

"The rockstar gene."

"The what gene?" I exclaimed.

"You know, the ability to become a rockstar. It was always clear that that was what you were meant to be, a famous singer. In fact, I can see it now. Sold out albums, concerts, thousands of people shouting your name, maybe even millions–"

"Okay okay. Calm down, Liv. It was just one video. It's not that big of a deal."

Just then, I heard a knock at the door after which my mom poked her head and announced that I had a visitor.

"Sorry Liv, but I've gotta go. Someone's here to see me."

"Ooh! Maybe it's a record label that wants to sign you or some of your fans or–" she rambled on.

"Bye Olivia!" I called out before hanging up. My bestie sure is crazy.

Putting Olivia at the back of my mind, I got out of bed and out of my room then down the stairs to the door. On opening the door, I was very much surprised at who I saw there.

"Blake? What are you–?" He brushed past me into the house, cutting me off. "What fucking gives Blake? What do you want?"

"There's no time, Rylie and I need your help."

I wanted to tell him that I wasn't interested but somehow, I found myself asking instead, "What is it?"

"How would you...like to be in a movie?"

"Wait what?!" I exclaimed. A movie? What the heck was he talking about?