Page 111 of Pierce Me

Violin practice at eight

Barely time to sit down and freak out

Over my life

I give up, burst out

Through the doors

Teachers screaming at me, I run

And there you are

Waiting for me

In the woods

Miki kills it on the piano, making the keys drip sadness with the melody, but then it’s time for the first chorus. Jude starts, but by the second line, the notes are so high he’s already struggling. I take pity on him as he winces in my direction, and start singing along. The crowd has quieted down, everyone abandoning their work and forgetting their exhaustion. They sway with the music, mouthing the words.

Little bird

Little wounded bird

Let me take you

Lift you from the ground

I won’t hurt you

Any more than life has hurt me.

Gorgeous little wound

In the palm of my hand

I tremble, little bird

I fall to my knees

I’d die for you, little bird

I’ll protect you with my life

No one will touch you

No one will make you cry

Everyone is singing along‘No one will touch you, no one will make you cry.’

Some of them are crying too. Jude starts licking his low lip, the one with the ring on it—I’m wearing a matching ring on my own bottom lip, as the fans have noticed multiple times, and also written fanfiction about, whatever—which means he’s about to riff. I let him play whatever melody he wants on his guitar, keeping the time in my head. When it’s time for the second verse, he nods imperceptibly towards me, and I start again:

First time I saw you, little bird

Bleeding, crouched, scared

Tougher than fire

Ashes and coal

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