Page 9 of Behind the Bars

“I didn’t say youwere.”

“Oh.”

“People bully you forthat?”

Inodded.

“That’s a stupid reason to bully someone,” sheremarked.

“I’m sure they also bully me due to mylooks.”

“What’s wrong with yourlooks?”

I laughed. “Are you kidding me? Look atme.”

She tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. Her lips parted, and she spoke softly. “I am.” Her voice was like Princess Leia, and I liked that more than I wanted toadmit.

“Yeah, well, you’re nicer than other people. Since we’re in high school, they don’t need much reason to bully me, but I guess I give themplenty.”

“Assholes,” shemurmured.

“It doesn’t b-botherme.”

“It does botheryou.”

“You don’t know what bothersme.”

She smiledknowingly.

I smiled knowinglyback.

Man, it was hot. The palms of my hands were sweaty, and I couldn’t imagine what was happening in my armpits. She was pretty and talking to me in a non-bullying way. People as pretty as Jasmine never talked to people as awkward as me in a non-bullying way. I was really confused, and every person we passed seemed just as baffled as they saw the two of usspeaking.

I held my arms out a bit to air out mypits.

“You play the saxophone?” she asked, still walkingbackward.

“Yes?”

She smirked. “Is that aquestion?”

I broke my stare away from her and cleared my throat. “No. I mean, y-y—” I blinked my eyes shut and took a breath. “Yes, I play the saxophone. How did youknow?”

“I saw you performing on the corner of FrenchmenStreet.”

“Oh.”

“Do you perform down there alot?”

“I didn’t used to, but my Uncle TJ sa-said I should every Saturday. So, now I have to since he’s my musicinstructor.”

“Why does he make you dothat?”

“Because he said music shouldn’t live in a basement. It’s meant to be spread around to fix people’s scars or something. I hate doingit.”

“Well, you’re probably alone in that hatred.” She paused her steps and looked at me with the sincerest eyes. “You’re the best musician I’ve everheard.”

I didn’t have a clue what to say, so I just stood there staring at her like an insaneperson.

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