Page 11 of Sing Your Heart Out

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t smoke. I don’t really do anything, actually.”

“Oh, shit.” She starts to put it out, but I’m quick to stop her.

“No, please. Do whatever you would normally do. I don’t have a relies or moral objection to a little pot. I just don’t like it.”

She looks at me for a long moment, then nods her head. “All right.”

She relaxes back in her seat, extending and crossing her legs. I look around at the brightly colored fabric on the walls, paisley and plaid patterns in every hue imaginable.

“So what do you think of everything so far?” Mellie asks. “The house, the people…”

“Oh!” I think for a second, biting my lower lip. “I think that guy Marco is like… untethered to reality, a little.”

Mellie chuckles. “You think? He told me that he’s planning on winning American Idol next year. I have so many questions about that, starting with the fact that he’s forty if he’s a day.”

I smile. “Yeah, he seems to like me for some reason. Which on anybody else would be a good thing. But I don’t want his attention at all.”

Mellie puts her joint out delicately, then puts it back in the tin. She scrunches up her face. “What about your white night? What’s his name? Skip?”

I blush a little, picking at a thread on my skirt. “Do you mean Smith?”

“Yeah. That one.”

“He’s a little intense,” I admit. “We were paired off yesterday and really meshed well. And then he told me he’s here to write songs on his own. Something about the Grammys?? I don’t know.” I exhale loudly. “He’s a jerk.”

Mellie throws an arm over her eyes. “Most men are worthless, in my opinion. Lucky for me, I’m gay as spades. I don’t have to deal with them for the most part.”

I giggle. “If I had the choice to date women, I would. Men are so…”

I punctuate my sentence with an inarticulate sound of rage. Mellie nods.

“Yep.”

I suck in a deep breath. “Can I tell you a secret?”

She drops her arm, looking at me. “Sure.”

“I just left a bad relationship behind in LA. And every time I think about taking a chance on myself, I can hear my ex in my head. He says that I’m too dumb. That I’m not strong enough to stand on my own two feet. That I’ll never make it in this competition.” I chew on my lower lip. “That’s why I’m here. I want to prove myself and make my mark. I’m not interested in anything else. Especially not Marco or Smith or any man.”

Mellie sits up, a smile curving her lips. “Well, I think we had better get to work. It’s hard to prove people wrong, but I believe in you.”

I flush. “Thanks, Mellie.”

She picks up her guitar, strumming a few notes. We work until we make a song.

Not a particularly awe inspiring one, but hey. Lightning doesn’t strike twice in a row I guess.

Later, I eat dinner with Mellie and a few other people. Smith comes in and helps himself to a plate of curry, then sits down beside me.

Mellie stares darts at him, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He just starts eating, looking at me between bites.

“How did your day go?” he asks.

My guts twist. Glancing at Mellie again, I purse my lips. “Good. I got to work with Mellie today. It was… productive. She’s very nice.”

He takes a bite of his curry, looking at me while he chews. “That sounds good.”

My cheeks warm, though I don’t know why. “Yup. Um… how was your day?”

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