Roselle's Song

"What kind of gift?" Roselle asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Well, there's something I've been working on, and if I'm being honest, it's just a rough draft, but I can't show up empty-handed, can I?" James walked over to his table and grabbed a sheet of paper that was slightly crumpled. On it, there were words that were all over the place. Some were crossed out, others were crammed in. He walked back to her. "This is for you."

She could hardly make any sense of the words. The handwriting was completely unreadable. "What is it?"

"I wrote you a song."

She handed him back the sheet of paper. "I don't want to read the lyrics then. I want you to sing it for me."

He crossed his arms. "Oh, no. I don't typically sing in front of other people."

"I heard you sing that time in the bathroom. You were really good. Please?"

He gave a small smirk. "Well, if you insist, but only this once, alright?"

Roselle's heart leapt, and she tried to hide the smile on her face, but she couldn't. She was grinning like an idiot.

James sat on the bed and Roselle sat in a chair. He pulled out his phone and went to a piano app. "I should warn you that it's still a bit unrefined," he warned. He started playing the melody, and it was a gentle one. It was sweet, but at the same time, melancholic. He began singing.

"I've known the day we've met that I've met my match,

But I couldn't get attached,

Because I knew it wasn't my fate.

To everyone I am the king of everything,

But it all has never meant a thing,

Who I am was an irrelevant trait."

Roselle rested her cheek on her hand as she listened to him sing and play. Gosh, his voice was so smooth and buttery. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was overtaken by a feeling of excitement and thrill by just hearing him sing and play for her like this. He continued.

"You see the value in me for who I am and not my crown,

You've made me feel like a person for the first time, and now I've found,

That there's beauty in humility and being down to earth,

You've taught me what life's really worth.

You've opened my eyes more than I would care to admit or ever tell,

I hate and love the hold you have on me,

I've been stricken with your spell,

And I hope this melody finds you well,

Roselle."

He finished singing it and looked her in the eyes. "That's it. Not very structured or traditional, but it's still a work in progress."

"What do you call it?"

James looked up in thought for a moment then looked back at her. "Roselle's song." His eyes weren't digging deep into her soul as they usually were. At that moment, they were soft and tame. They were welcoming.

When Roselle inhaled, her breath was shaky and she was in utter chills. He really was an amazing singer, and after he just looked at her like that, it ignited a sense of warmth in her heart. Why? Why did James make her feel this way?

"I don't know what to say," she whispered. Her smile grew even wider. "Thank you." She looked away from him again. Gosh, that was so embarrassing. She couldn't think straight! What now?

Roselle's phone buzzed all of a sudden. It wasn't just one soft, small buzz either. It buzzed with absolute insanity.

"Hmm? What's going on with your phone?" asked James.

She checked the texts and rolled her eyes. "There's this club at my university that's making a 'high school style' Valentine's Day dance and they just sent out an alert that they're changing addresses suddenly." She narrowed her eyes at the messages. "Why are they texting me a hundred times? I already said I'm not going."

James looked at the texts. "That address isn't far from here. In fact, I believe it's down the block."

She raised a brow. "Are you saying you're interested in going or something?"

"Little rose, I've been dying to get out of this hospital, even if it were only for a short while. Besides, I've always wanted to know what it'd be like to go to a dance." His theatrical voice was back. Oh boy. "The vibrating sensation of the blasting beats, the sweetness of the cool, fruitful punch, the drama among peers, and the heat on the dancefloor when you sway in the rhythmic passion with your lover in a slow song."

"Uh . . . You've thought a lot about this, haven't you?"

He nodded. "To tell you the truth, when I was younger, going to a school dance was a dream of mine, but I was always homeschooled. It always looked so fun on TV. I would watch countless prom movies when I was a teenager just so I could imagine what it would be like." James dreamily looked up at the ceiling. "I've never usually envied peasants, but . . ." He sighed. "I'll admit that this was something I've always wanted."

"Deep down, you really wish you were normal, don't you?" Roselle asked.

"Sometimes I suppose." James smiled. "But don't you dare pity me, alright? I told you. I'm content with the kind of upbringing I've had. I grew up with everything anyone could have ever possibly wanted."

"But you've never felt normal. Even in your song, that's what you said. You said no one really saw the 'real you'."

"But you do, Roselle." He leaned in. "You've done more for me by treating me 'normal' than you could possibly ever know."

"James . . ."

"That being said, little rose, will you attend the Valentine's Day dance with me?"

"I guess so, but what if someone recognizes you?"

James grinned and grabbed a pair of sweatpants along with a t-shirt. "I've got it all under control. I want you to teach me how to blend in and be 'normal', even if it's just for tonight."