Page 29 of The Roommates

The way Daria wrinkled her nose wasn’t encouraging. “I don’t know.”

“If this is about you not liking your singing voice or something, I know you can carry a tune, I heard you humming earlier. And it’s not like we’re musical masters.” Though we weren’t bad. Tanner and I were my favorite road trip car duo.

“I’m not worried about that,” Daria said. “I did competition choir in high school and college. Iamworried about making the two of you look bad.” She winked.

“As if.” I stared back in disbelief.

Tanner laughed. “That sounds like a challenge.”

“This isn’t a competition,” I reminded him.

“Everythingis a competition.” Tanner’s voice was light, but the words left an uncomfortable pebble in my gut.

“Besides,” Daria’s voice kept my brain from running away with the thought. “You’re not going to like any of my old lady music.”

I snorted a laugh. “You’re anything but an old lady.”

“You realize there’s only eight years between us,” Tanner added.

Daria twisted her mouth. “There are almost eight years between Alana and Harmony, and that’s a lifetime.”

“Yes. In fact, it’s more than Harmony’s lifetime.” I wasn’t big on debate or arguing, but she was wrong about this. “This is different.”

The way Daria looked at me, she wasn’t convinced. “Eight years is almost a third of your lifetime.”

“Whatever you’re trying to prove, it’s not working,” Tanner said. “Pick a song and we’ll match you word for word.”

I heard the challenge in Tanner’s voice—he really was turning this into a competition. Though if the prize was to convince Daria she wasn’t old and we weren’t kids, I was in. “When I Grow Upby Garbage.” I picked before she could come back with another disagreement.

“You’re going to sing that.” Daria radiated disbelief.

I nodded.

“Do you need lyrics?”

“Nope.” I extracted myself from the bed, reluctantly leaving the comfort of being between Daria and Tanner behind.

“Xerxes, playWhen I Grow Up, by Garbage,” Daria said to the home smart system. “Music only, no vocal tracks.”

NowI was feeling that spirit of competition.

Tanner whistled and clapped as the song started up.

I didn’t miss a beat, sliding into “Bah bah bah bah, bah bah bah bah,” as the first changeover happened. Years ago, I struggled with this—even singing for a single other person—but Tanner had been amazingly patient helping me get past the fear.

Now it was easy to headbang when the beat required it, and let myself move as I sang the familiar song. The frequent claps and whistles from both Tanners and Daria made it even better tonight.

When the song finished, I took a bow, to a standing applause. Ridiculous, but also fun.

“Incredible.” Daria’s skepticism seemed to have vanished.

“But that song? Quietly fucked up,” Tanner said.

I liked it regardless. “You’ve got better?”

“Xerxes, playSimply Irresistible.”

Daria laughed. “Xerxes, do not do that. Cancel.”

---