Page 35 of Aftershock

“HA! You sure you don't want me to explain how to play the game again?”

I flared my nostrils while pursing my lips and said, “Why don't we play something else that doesn't involve you completely destroying me?”

“That might be hard. I’m good at everything,” she teased.

“I bet I can win at karaoke,” I said without even thinking about who I was talking to.

Lexi snorted at my statement. “Okay, first of all, you don't win at karaoke, and second, are you joking?”

Well, I can’t back down now.

“I've been known to carry a tune,” I shrugged nonchalantly.

“You know I'm an award-winning singer, right?” She reminded me. “Actually, you know what? You think you can ‘beat’ me at karaoke? Let's find out.”

My eyes widened at the thought of what I had just done. Lexi stood from the table and walked over to the lounge area while calling for a flight attendant. A short girl with blonde hair and dusty freckles appeared from behind the blue curtain up ahead. She wore black slacks and a black vest with a white collared shirt underneath. Loosely tied around her neck was a red scarf to accent the uniform. She flashed Lexi a polite smile while awaiting further instruction.

“Wait—”

“Ashley, can you please hook up the karaoke machine to the TV?”

“Sure, no problem,” Ashley complied as she began to connect wires and flip through broadcasting channels.

“Lexi,” I warned. She paid no mind to my hesitation and grabbed two microphones lying on the ground next to the karaoke machine. “I was just joking! Lexi, please,” I begged as I slowly stood up from the table with my arms held out in front of me. She responded by chucking a microphone in my direction as I scrambled to catch it, fumbling over my own two feet. I just narrowly avoided falling. “There's no way I—”

“You think you're a better singer? Prove it. Pick a song,” she demanded, cutting me off.

Ashley gave Lexi the remote, then turned toward me and smiled. “Good luck. You'll need it,” she snickered before turning around and making her way back over to the blue curtain.

I wish I could disappear behind that curtain right now.

“Oh, you're in for it now,” Andrew mumbled before putting his glasses on and burying his nose in a book.

Well, fuck.

Thrusting the remote into my stomach, Lexi smirked and said, “Here.”

I held the remote out and pointed it toward the TV as I scrolled through, looking for a safe option before deciding on Therefore I am by Billie Eilish.

Lexi tsked at me while shaking her head and snatching the remote back.

“Oh, no, that just won't do,” she concluded while scrolling through the list of songs herself. “Ah, here we go.”

Up Next – Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

“Oh, you’re enjoying this, aren't you?”

“Yes.”

Rolling my eyes at her, I put my hands on my hips. “Fine, I'll sing the song.”

“Damn right, you will.”

“Butttt you have to sing it with me.”

Lexi raised her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. “Okay, fine. You’ve got a deal.” Lexi stuck out her hand for me to shake.

I grasped her palm with my own as we stared into each other's eyes with underlying determination.

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