Page 14 of Rocked: The Price of Dreams

“Thanks. You are too.”

As we stared at each other, my heart didn’t race or beat quicker, but it melded with his. We understood each other. Respected each other. Craved the same things. We shared the same dreams and passion for music.

I held my arms wide. “You want that hug now?”

“Yeah...that would be nice.”

Chapter 5

The three of us had become inseparable, in and out of school. By Thanksgiving, I’d learned several cover songs on the electric guitar. My piano skills had improved. I was singing more. I still wasn’t confident with my voice but was getting better. I couldn’t get enough of music. I wanted to spend every second of the day learning and playing.

One Thursday afternoon after school, we sat on the floor in Kyle’s basement. I was on my acoustic guitar, Kyle was on his bass, and Hunter fooled around on the electric rhythm.

We weren’t singing anything; we were just playing whatever came into our heads. Plucking strings. Stumming chords. Nailing notes. The electric vibe in the air hummed through my veins and drummed deep inside my chest. It was new. Different. Exciting. Then...our melodies mixed and morphed together.

Holy shit! My heart thudded against my ribs as I kept in time with the guys. I glanced at Kyle. My skin tingled from my head down to my toes. He caught his bottom lip between his teeth as if he were trying to contain his smile. His bassline hit the center of my sternum. I turned to Hunter. He bobbed his head. An oh-fuck-yeah grin curled across his mouth.

Did they feel that charge in the air? That...magic?

Hunter ripped out an incredible spine-tingling riff, raw and racy. The amp vibrated and jumped.

The breath shot from my lungs. “Wait? What the fuck was that?”

Hunter shrugged. “I don’t know. It just came to me.”

“Play it again. Don’t stop.”

My gaze homed in on Hunter’s fingers as he repeated the progression. Within seconds, Kyle changed his strums to align with Hunter’s tune.

“Holy crap.” My mind spun with dizziness. I closed my eyes. I could see the music. Feel the rhythm. Visualize the notes. “Again. This time, slower.”

My pulse throbbed with each beat. Sucking in a deep breath, I let the music take over. Move me. Claim me. Own me. Oh, wow! Words formed, fluttering into my mind. Furrowing my brow, I mumbled and whispered the lyrics. They became crystal clear and tumbled from my lips:

Saw you standing in the hall one day,

You stole my breath, didn’t know what to say.

I felt the air draw us closer,

Being near you makes my heart beat faster.

Was finding you meant to be?

Would you like to take a chance on me?

Wanna see what we can be?

Wanna see...wanna see...what we can be?

Because...

You’ve got me all wound up.

Can’t think clearly when you’re standing near me.

You’ve got me all wound up.

Can’t see anything but you before me.

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