8 Approaching SAT [4]

Before we even stepped foot in "Harmony Haven," we huddled up outside, tossing around greetings.

"Yo! You all ready to own that stage tonight?" Alex threw out, his confidence shining through.

"Absolutely, Alex! We're gonna light it up!" Amelia responded, her excitement spreading like wildfire.

I couldn't help but give Olivia a nod, giving props to her style.

"Olivia, you're looking on point tonight."

"Thanks, Max! You clean up pretty well too," Olivia replied, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

Alex and Amelia exchanged knowing glances, picking up on the buzz in the air.

Alex leaned in toward Amelia, speaking in a hushed tone.

"Amelia, how 'bout we hit 'em with a killer duet tonight?"

Amelia whispered back, a sly grin on her face. "Sounds dope"

"Yeah," I chimed in, "whatever, let's just go already..."

Amelia led the charge, approaching the bar. "Let's check in and see what room they've got for us," she suggested, navigating through the lively crowd.

We made our way to the bar, where a friendly bartender greeted us with a smile. "Hey there! Do you guys got a room reservation?"

Alex nodded, "Yeah, we absolutely do."

The bartender checked the reservation and handed us a keycard. "You're all set. Room 6 is yours. Enjoy!"

With keycard in hand, we went further into the venue, finding Room 6 with ease. The room was cozy and dimly lit, with comfy couches arranged in a semi-circle around the stage. A karaoke machine stood at the center, ready for action.

As we settled onto the plush couches, we brainstormed our first song choice. The possibilities were endless.

"What do you guys think?" Alex asked, glancing around at the group. "Should we kick things off with a classic or go for something more current?"

"How 'bout 'Angels' by Miley Cirus to start things off?", I suggested

Olivia's eyes lit up. "I love that song, Max. Mind if I take it solo?"

"Sure thing. Go for it, Olivia"

With Olivia taking the lead, we were all set to kick off the night.

As Olivia took center stage, I found myself in a total groove, completely drawn into her performance. Her voice had that irresistible charm, and every word hit me right in the heart.

"I know that our love is fading,

But I can't help the tears I'm shedding.

I brought you down with my mistakes,

Misery loves company, that's the breaks."

I couldn't help but sway to the rhythm. It was as if we were alone in the room, and the world beyond simply faded away.

"It's not your fault, you did your best,

But I couldn't meet your love's request.

Baby, angels like you deserve the best,

I hope someday you find your rest."

Olivia's performance was a masterpiece, and I felt something I hadn't expected.

When the final note hung in the air, I couldn't help but let my emotions out. I turned to Olivia with a wide grin and said, "That was seriously mind-blowing! Your voice is something else!"

Olivia beamed with confidence, nodding as she replied, "Thanks, Max, I've been practicing. It means a lot to me."

Then, with a mischievous smile, she turned to the group and asked, "Who's up next?"

"Me!"

"Me!"

Alex and Amelia shouted out simultaneously.

Without missing a beat, they headed to the stage, ready to rock the joint. The familiar intro of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen filled the air, and they began their performance, taking the stage by storm. It was clear that they were having an absolute blast.

Amidst the lively performance, Olivia scooted closer to me, our shoulders brushing as we both enjoyed the show. Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but flash a grin.

As they finished up their singing It was my turn to hit the stage.

I wasn't known for my singing prowess, but I grabbed the mic and chose a chill, slow song. As I sang, my voice may not have been pitch-perfect, but I would think that my genuine performance had a unique charm. Well, at least, I managed to make them laugh...

After everyone had their turn on stage, we decided to switch things up. We put on a chill rock playlist and settled into comfy couches to talk about our plans after high school.

I couldn't help but notice that Alex had some serious game, and it was plain to see that Amelia was head over heels for him. She leaned in closer, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on his arm as they chatted. Her eyes sparkled like fireworks as she hung on to his every word.

At that moment, Olivia hooked her arm through mine and asked, "So, Max, what's your game plan after the exams? Are you thinking about applying for some Unis?"

"Well, yesterday I took a practice SAT, and I managed to snag a cool 1560 points. So, I reckon most colleges would be down to have me."

Alex's jaw dropped, and he exclaimed, "Bro, I scored a 1480! How in the world are you pulling off a better score than me?"

Amelia leaned in, her movements deliberate and alluring. With a smooth hand, she laid it down on his lap, all graceful and enticing. As she leaned in closer, her lips almost touching his ear, her voice took on a seductive tone that seemed to be filled with desire.

"Don't sweat it," she purred,  doing a little dance on his earlobe, "he's a math wizard." Her words hung in the air, carrying a promise of something more, something intimate, as she encouraged him to drop the stress and focus on the present moment.

The dimly lit room seemed to close in around them, Olivia glanced in their direction before turning to me, looking deep into my eyes, "Do you think they might want some alone time?" She then gently took my hand, and we made our exit from the karaoke bar, leaving Amelia and Alex to enjoy their moment.

"Would you mind walking me to my apartment?"

"For sure. Ain't no better way to soak in a New York night than with good company."

As we wandered through the moonlit streets of New York City, the city lights painted a warm glow, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The distant hum of the city and every now and then, a street musician's serenade just added to the enchantment. 

On the way to her apartment, we delved into the archives of our high school days, swapping stories and reminiscing about events from the past.

Amidst the laughter and the recounting of those cherished moments, Olivia's small, soft hand found its way under my arm. The subtle touch sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel the heat of her body close to mine.

"Do you remember that road trip we all took to Roverby last summer?", Olivia brought it up, wearing this dreamy expression.

"Yeah, good times."

"You know, that trip was when I first started really noticing you."

"What do you mean? You had your eyes on me in the midst of all that craziness?", I exclaimed, caught off guard.

"Well, you had everyone in stitches with your jokes and funny stories around the campfire. I'd never met anyone who could make people laugh like you did."

I blushed a bit.

"Come on, it was just some silly jokes."

"No, seriously, it was amazing. I remember thinking, 'This guy is something else.'"

"Well, I'm glad I could bring some laughter to the trip."

"You definitely did. It's one of my favorite memories."

"But you know, Max, you've done a complete 180 in the past two days at school, and I can't help but wonder what's going on. You've become more serious - like you're really putting in some effort. It's got me curious..." - "It's here!" She said and stopped in her tracks

"Yea... These last couple of days have been a bit different for me. ", I said as our eyes met, and my heart raced. She looked at me meaningfully, her eyes bright as the street lights shined upon them.

"Go ahead, Max," She said.

I reached out and took her face in my hands feeling the soft skin of her cheeks. I pulled her forward, drawing her lips to mine, She came willingly, parting her lips. I kissed her softly, feeling her puffy lips meeting mine. I darted the tip of my tongue forward slowly, touching the inside of her lip...

"Hey," she said, her voice a mixture of seriousness and reluctance as she pulled away from my lips.

"You didn't like it?" I asked, a hint of concern in my voice.

She pondered for a moment, her eyes searching mine. "I did," she finally admitted, a soft smile playing on her lips.

We stood there, suspended in a moment of shared desire, before she broke the silence, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"So... Which University are you going to?" she inquired, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"MIT, if I can make it," I replied, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of the future.

"See you at MIT then," she said with a playful grin before turning and dashing towards the building that housed her apartment, leaving me with a lingering sense of promise and possibility.