Free Trailer Park Princess by Delia Steele, J. J. Williams

try to say, but he cuts me off.
    “Shut up, Rory! It was free, so please take it. Red bought a new one for the club and was going to toss this one. I asked if I could have it. He said OK. The end.”
    So I do what I know is right, and it just happens to be how I feel.   Clapping my hands together and squealing while doing something like the running man and moonwalk rolled into one with a twist of fist pump in it, I run straight at Rome, almost knocking him over. I leap into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck for the biggest hug I ever gave anyone. “Thank you so much, Rome! It’s just perfect!”
    Without another word, I drop down to the arm of the couch and touch a key. It is not a baby grand, but it is mine. I let my fingers do the talking.   Somehow, I end up playing a beat I know he will never recognize because it is one I wrote. I decide to add in a few words and check his reaction. I meant for Toby to hear it first, but maybe Rome could help me get it just right for him.
        “If I were you, I’d fall in love with a girl…like me… Because in just one look…I’d see… I’m the kind of girl that could love you in whole… I would love you with every…thing…that I…… am…..  I always shoot for the moon… even if I get distracted by the stars…. And if loving you was a mistake… I’d accept that and let my heart break!”
      I finish out the note and look up. OMG ! Rome has a tear in his eye.
    “Did you write that?”
    I nod my head with confidence because it was written straight from my heart. I wrote it one night when I was upset with Toby because he is planning to leave me. I know school is important, and he has to do it. I want him to. But when he leaves and I’m stuck here, I also know it’s going to hurt.
    “You not only play, but you write, and can also sing? Damn it!” He jumps up and scares me for all of two point two seconds. “You should do a duet with me at the bar! It would be epic! You can pick a song, and I will pay you half. It’s a win/win.” He is so excited. How can I tell him I only play for me? As an alternative, I opt to grin and let him think what he wants. He will never get Red to agree to it, never having heard me play. Without warning, trying to change the subject, I just bust out a classic nerd girl move… Star Wars   intro music! YEAH BUDDY!

Chapter Eight

     
     
    It’s Sunday morning, and my phone rings. I know it’s Toby. He calls on his way to church every Sunday. That is, unless his mom makes him ride with her; then, it’s just texting. I pick the keyboard up and, without thinking, start tapping away one key at a time. Don’t hate. I had to sleep with it in the bed with me. I love it.
    “Hey, babe, what’s up?” He says nothing. The line is quiet. I pull the phone away from my ear to check to make sure the call’s connected. “Toby, can you hear me?” I hear him breathing while I mindlessly tap out a tune that sounds kind of like Mario. “TOBYYYY?”
    Finally, I get a response. “Hey, Rory. I am…uh…almost at church. Just wanted to say love you and see if you wanted to catch lunch today. Mom’s got a meeting after church, so I’ll be free.”
    “I can’t, Toby. I mean, I want to. I miss you. But I took an extra shift today. It’s the lunch rush, and the tips are always great, so when she called, I couldn’t turn her down. Now, I kind of wish I had.”
    It takes him a bit to respond, and I know he’s upset. “Oh, OK, well, I guess I will pick you up at two, and maybe we can do a picnic or something? Mom’s gonna be all day, I’m sure. Hey, where are you?”
    It seems like an odd question until I realize I am banging away on my keyboard. The keyboard I just got. Great…
    “I am sitting in my bed, why?” I go for the dumb act.
    “Just curious. I hear a piano, and well, I am pretty sure you  don’t have one.”
    I cringe. This is going to turn into a whine fest; I already know. “Yeah, well, the bar Rome plays at was