25~ Everything is Red

Rule 19: It's okay to look the other way

I sighed, looking through the empty auditorium, which not less than an hour ago, was packed to the brim with people. Marley turned out to be okay, but she was anorexic... I knew something was up when I found laxatives in her bag.

I had changed out of my dress and into a green top and white skirt, the dress was itchy, and I find I can't think when I'm having material scratching against my skin.

"Is she going to be okay?" I whipped around to see Sebastian standing to the side of the stage, looking quite concerned. I nodded, it was sweet how he was thinking about Marley.

"Yeah, she'll be fine, she just needs to eat something." I replied.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"She was starving herself, and whatever she ate she threw back up." I explained, "It's sickening; girls feel the need to torture their bodies just to feel beautiful," He whistled as he walked over to me.

"Well, tell her I say I'm sorry, and I hope she gets better." he said.

"Thanks, I should be congratulating you, though. The Warblers won by the fault." I said, with a genuine smile.

"Yeah, if I still hated you I would rubbing it in your face. A national champion whose team lost after only one song, that has got to suck." he said.

"Like being nice?" I asked.

"Yeah... like being nice." he replied.

"Hey, can you do me a favor?" I asked him.

"Go ahead." he said.

"Can you please tell Plastic Surgery to lay off with the dirty looks? He was aiming them in my direction the entire night. I felt as though I had maybe hit his mother with a car or something." I asked. Sebastian chuckled and nodded.

"Well, can you blame him? I think you're the first person who's ever defied him." he said.

"Ugh, and I won't be the last. Trust me." I replied.

"I know. Good ol' Reese Lavek is going to show up again and cause mischief," he said.

"Uh -- look who's talking," I said.

"I'm not as bad as you," he replied.

"You'd like to think that," I said, "But in actuality, you were just in training for your moron-wings,"

"That's not nice." he replied.

"I try." I beamed back.

"Yeah... so -- when do you go back to the Big Apple?" he asked.

"Tomorrow. My train leaves at eight thirty." I replied.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll miss you around here. Life's more fun when you're around." he said.

"Really? I thought after the last time we saw each other you'd be counting down the seconds for me to head back." I replied.

"No, I was impressed. I should've seen it coming though; there's no messing with Reese Lavek, especially when it comes to revenge." he said. I just chuckled.

"Yeah... right" a comfortable silence filled the room, it was nice, he wasn't being a dummy and I wasn't being a bitch.

"Listen, while I was waiting for the results to be announced earlier, I thought about a song I thought you would like to sing." he said. I looked at him with a confused look.

"You want me to sing a song... with you?" I asked. He nodded.

"If you want to, it's not a duel it's just..."

"A friendly exchange of words between two people?" I asked.

"Yeah, that. One last song before you go." he replied.

"Alright then, whenever you're ready Smythe." I said.

"[Sebastian:]

Loving her is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street

Faster than the wind

Passionate as sin, ending so suddenly

[Reese:]

Loving him is like trying to change your mind

Once you're already flying through the free fall

Like the colors in autumn

So bright just before they lose it all

[Both:]

Losing him/her was blue like I'd never known

Missing him/her was dark grey all alone

Forgetting him/her was like trying to know somebody you've never met

[Sebastian:]

But loving her was red

[Reese:]

Loving him was red

Touching him is like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you

Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song

[Sebastian:]

Fighting with her was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there's no right answer

Regretting her was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong

[Both:]

Losing him/her was blue like I'd never known

Missing him/her was dark grey all alone

Forgetting him/her was like trying to know somebody you've never met

[Sebastian:]

But loving her was red

[Reese:]

Oh red burning red

[Sebastian:]

Remembering her comes in flashbacks and echoes

Tell myself its time now, gotta let go

[Reese:]

But moving on from him is impossible

When I still see it all in my head

Burning red.

Burning, it was red.

[Both:]

Losing him/her was blue like I'd never known

Missing him/her was dark grey all alone

Forgetting him/her was like trying to know somebody you've never met

[Sebastian:]

But loving her was red

[Reese:]

Yeah, yeah red

We're burning red

[Both:]

And that's why he's/she's spinning round in my head

Comes back to me burning red

Yeah yeah

Her/His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street "

What I've learned about Sebastian's voice is that it's incredible when it's full of power, but I prefer it his gentle monotone persona for songs like this.

"You have a really nice voice." I said, staring into his green eyes.

"Thanks." he grinned, "But I'm not as good as you,"

The air became still when his forehead pressed against mine, and he started leaning in. And strangely enough... I wanted to kiss him. But then...

"Sebastian!" we sprung apart when a sharp voice cut through the air. Hunter stood to the side of the stage with his hand shoved deep into his Dalton dress pants, and an emotionless look on his face, "You coming? We have to go." he said. Sebastian sighed and nodded.

"Uh -- yeah, give me a minute." he replied.

"No, now." Hunter said, that time looking at me. I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, this guy needs to get a life.

"Have a good time in New York Reese, safe trip and all." Sebastian said to me.

"Thanks, good luck at Regionals." I replied. He leaned down and kissed my cheek before walking passed Hunter. Hunter just stood there with his hands still shoved in his pockets and stern face stoned into his head.

"Can I help you? Don't you have some sort of dinky celebration to go to or something?" I asked him.

"Just saying my final goodbyes, Lavek. I hope I never see you again." he replied.

"Keep your act in order and you never will." I said and walked off in the other direction.

"I don't like you Reese, I hope you know that." he said. I stopped and turned back around to face him.

"That's funny, because I don't like you either, Plastic. And let me tell you something, every now and then, I will be coming home, and I will be able to stop in and check up on you... you just won't know it." those were my final words to him before I strutted off the stage and out the auditorium.