Chapter 62

              The rest of Thursday goes by smoothly enough, with the tension between Simon and Robby and between Zoey and Gina staying at a simmer. After school is over, Zoey and Simon walk back home and do homework at Zoey’s.

            “Neeko, c’mon,” Zoey says. “Off the table.”

            Zoey nudges her cat but Neeko’s stubborn, so Zoey picks her up and set her on the floor. Neeko grumbles as she sulks off to the dining room table.

            “Okay,” Simon says, “done here.”

            “Alright,” Zoey says excitedly. “So um, I was thinking. Maybe instead of wrestling training, we try dancing?”

            Simon starts to feel nervous.

            “Uh, I dunno,” he says. “Wouldn’t it kinda maybe sorta... Y’know what, I’m not even sure where I’m going with that. I’ll just flat out say I’m not a good dancer.”

            “Then that’s why we can practice,” Zoey says, smiling and gently touching his hand. “We can get the nerves out before Valentine’s Day.”

            “It’s not really the nerves,” he says as he follows Zoey. “It’s the muscles and the joints. They don’t move very well.”

            “What? But you’re doing all those wrestling moves and they’re pretty complicated.”

            “That’s not the same,” he says as they get to the back door. “Wrestling, even pro-wrestling, is aggressive and angry. Grapples and holds are forceful, but dancing has to be graceful and with rhythm.”

            “Then all the more reason to work on it,” Zoey says as they go down the stairs from the patio. “You just need to loosen up and go with it. Oh, hold on, I should get some music.”

            Zoey goes back inside through the back door underneath he patio, then returns with her mp3 and speakers.

            “Okay, let me see…” she says as she scrolls through her collection. “Oh, how about something from Daft Punk?”

            “Wow, you have Daft Punk songs? Nice.”

            “First, loosen up,” Zoey says. “Shake out your arms, your legs, maybe hop around a little.”

            “Right, right,” Simon says, doing the arm shaking.

            Zoey presses play and Daft Punk’s One More Time begins. With mp3 and speakers safely on one of the steps, she hurries over to join Simon on the grass. She’s already bobbing her head and subtly shifting her shoulders. She even walks with rhythm, a little heel-to-toe and raising of the knees, as she heads for Simon. She reaches out and takes his hands to get his arms and shoulders moving. He chuckles, but he still isn’t getting his feet moving.

            One more time!

            Zoey does more fancy foot work, bouncing on her toes and heels with the rhythm. She even does some heel-to-toe as she moves sideways. Simon does his best to at least scoot side to side to stay with her.

            One more time!

            One more time~, we're gonna celebrate~, yeah!

Oh yeah! Alright! Don't stop the dancin~!

One more time~, we're gonna celebrate~, yeah!

Oh yeah! Alright! Don't stop the dancin~!

Zoey really surprises Simon by letting go of one hand so she can twirl herself under his arm. She laughs and smiles as she takes both hands again and keeps up the heel-to-toe.

“You’re really good at this,” he says. “And clearly I’m not, just look at me.”

“No, you’re fine,” she says. “Just try bouncing and stepping, like me.”

One more time~, we're gonna celebrate~, yeah!

Oh yeah! Alright! Don't stop the dancin~!

One more time~, we're gonna celebrate~,

Oh yeah! One more time!

Simon tries, but his hopping feels stiff in the knee and just weird on his foot. He does get his shoulders going more, though, and Zoey nods and smiles excitedly.

One more time~, we're gonna celebrate~, yeah!

Oh yeah! Alright! Don't stop the dancin~!

One more time~, we're gonna celebrate~, yeah!

Oh yeah! Don't stop the dancin~!

One more time. Mmm~…

The music slows down, so the bouncing stops. The two still hold hands as they stand there. They sway ever so slightly while also catching their breath.

You know I'm just feelin'…

Celebration, toniiight~…

Simon blushes a bit as he looks Zoey deeply in the eyes, and she smiles and blushes a bit as she looks back. She grips his hands a little tighter as they gravitate a little closer.

Celebrate. Don't wait too late~…

Mmm~, no.

We don't stop-uh. You can't stop-uh.

Zoey takes another little step closer.

We're gonna celebrate, yeah.

One more time.

Zoey takes another step closer.

One more time!

One more time. A celebration…

You know we're gonna do it-a right-uh!

Tonight-uh! Hey~uh! Just feelin~!

Zoey smiles at Simon again and he smiles shyly as he can feel his ears burning and turning red.

Music's got me feeling the need…

Neeeed~! Yeeeaah~! C’mon! Alright!

We're gonna celebrate~!

One more time.

Celebrate and dance so free.

Music's got me feeling so free.

Celebrate and dance so free.

One more time

“Zoey, I…” Simon says, his voice trailing off as he hesitates.

“Y-Yeah?” she asks, anticipating something.

“Um…” he says as he looks down and to the side. “N-Nevermind…”

“Oh…” she says, a little disappointed.

Music's got me feeling so free.

We’re gonna celebrate!

Celebrate and dance so free.

One more time.

Music's got me feeling so free.

We’re gonna celebrate!

Celebrate and dance so free.

One more time.

The music picking back up distracts them from the awkward moment, and they both get back to a good mood with the bouncing and bobbing. The same verse repeats there more times, and the music comes back in, so it’s back to the heel-to-toe!

Music's got me feeling so free.

We’re gonna celebrate!

Celebrate and dance so free.

One more time.

Music's got me feeling so free.

We’re gonna celebrate!

Celebrate and dance so free.

One more time.

Music's got me feeling so free.

We’re gonna celebrate!

Celebrate and dance so free.

One more time.

Music's got me feeling so free.

We’re gonna celebrate!

The pause in lyrics makes Simon and Zoey pause, each on their right foot, and they chuckle as they look to each other.

“Here, I’ll let go and we can just freeform,” Zoey says.

“Uh, okay,” Simon says nervously.

One more time.

Simon does his best to keep going on his own but it’s not as easy as Zoey makes it look. He focuses more on shimmying shoulders.

“Nice!” she says as he does a spin.

The same verse repeats a few more times, then music fades out. The two slow to a stop, laughing a little while catching their breath.

“See?” she says. “You were good.”

“I was okay,” he says. “It was just you and me, and I still felt all clunky. I don’t think I could do that in public.”

“Well, we’ve still got a few days,” she says. “We can cram in some more dance practice.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s true.”

“Hold on, I can choose another song.”

Zoey leads Simon by the hand to the stairs. She picks up her mp3 player and sits down on a step while scrolling. Simon stands around awkwardly as he watches her. She then looks up at him and seems both confused and amused.

“It’s okay,” she says. “You can sit next to me.”

Simon steps onto the bottom step, braces himself with a hand and sits down beside her. She leans over to show him the screen.

“See any song you like?” she asks.

• Fall Out Boy – A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me
• Fall Out Boy – Dance, Dance
• Fall Out Boy – Sugar, We’re Going Down
• Gorillaz – DARE
• Gwen Stefani – Harajuku Girls
• Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
• Gwen Stefani – Rich Girl
• Jennifer Lopez – I Got U
• Jennifer Lopez – Waiting for Tonight
• Jennifer Lopez – Whatever You Wanna Do
• Jesse McCartney – Beautiful Soul
• Mariah Carey – We Belong Together
• Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
• Maroon 5 – This Love
• Natasha Bedingfield – These Words
• No Doubt – Don’t Speak
• No Doubt – It’s My Life
• No Doubt – Just a Girl
• No Doubt – Underneath It All
• The Black Eyed Peas – Where Is The Love?

            “Your parents let you put Hollaback Girl on your mp3?” he asks, eyes wide but brows furrowed in surprise.

            “No…” Zoey says with a sly smile creeping onto her face. “Don’t let them know I have it!”

            “Alright,” he chuckles. “What are your other Daft Punk songs?”

            “Oh, yeah, let me scroll up,” she says as she moves her finger around on the white circle.

• Daft Punk – Around the World
• Daft Punk - Digital Love
• Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
• Daft Punk - Something About Us
• Daft Punk – Technologic

“Nice,” he says. “Those are pretty good ones, too.”

“Here,” she says, “let’s listen to…”

Zoey goes to Around the World, and it starts with a funky, booming bass beat. Then there’s a techno beat and a boom-clap-boom-clap pattern.

“You got the seven minute edition?” Simon says with a chuckle.

“Yeah, why not?” Zoey says with her own little laugh.

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Simon looks to the sky and sees the sun breaking through the clouds. This late in the afternoon, the sun is slowly starting to set, so the light is a golden yellow. Simon leans back and has the banister shield him from the sun and Zoey does the same.

Around the world, around~ the world~

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Around the world, around~ the world~!

Zoey bobs her head as the beat continues and the lyrics repeat over and over. Simon notices, chuckles, and starts bobbing his head just like her. He then pretends to have headphones on by putting a hand over an ear, and he makes a bit of a face as he commits to the bobbing. Zoey giggles and pretends to have headphones now, too, and their head bobbing lines up. They get close to busting up laughing but somehow, they both hold it in.

An idea pops into Zoey’s head, and she sits up straight. Simon stops bobbing to pay attention as she stretches her arms out forward, and starts making waves with her arms. He nods and smiles softly, but inside, both of them feel it’s a bit more like her arms are just wiggling.

A cool breeze blows through and gives them the chills. The two share a laugh, then they’re both surprised by Zoey’s phone ringing.

Zoey stands up to get her phone out of her pocket. She looks at the caller ID then answers.

“Hey, Mom,” Zoey says.

“Hey,” Mrs. Mizaki says. “I was probably going to get dinner on the way home. What do you feel like?”

“Oh, uh,” Zoey says, “I dunno. Maybe just McDonald’s.”

“Okay,” Mrs. Mizaki says. “I should be home before Dad, too, there was traffic on his way home.”

“Okay,” Zoey says. “See you soon.”

The phone call ends, and Zoey puts her phone away.

“Well, I guess I should be heading home then,” Simon says.

“So soon?”

“Well, your mom’s on her way, right?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you have to go just yet.”

“I know but I should probably get home for whatever my mom has planned for dinner.”

“Oh, okay,” she says.

Zoey gathers up her mp3 player and speakers, and Simon leads the way back up the stairs. He opens the door for her to go inside first, and they return to the coffee table. Simon gathers up his things and Zoey walks him to the door.

“See you tomorrow,” she says.

“See you tomorrow,” he says as he exits.

Though the door is in the way, the two smile ear to ear. Simon heads home, Zoey gathers up her things, and both look forward to tomorrow.

 

Speaking of which… This Friday wasn’t like most. Normally, students are excited because after getting through Friday, they’d go into the weekend. But things started to sour at San Leandro High even before the 8 o’clock bell. That’s because there was leftover tension from Thursday afternoon, Spektrum Code Green VS “Hardwire” Craig Foster. From Zero Block classes like Wind Ensemble, to First Block classes like Ms. B’s World History, and even Second Block classes like Mr. Gugel’s Sophomore Science, the students look at each other with suspicion.

Various arguments between the students go a bit like this:

“You probably thought that was funny, huh? What Spektrum Green did to Hardwire.”

“Well, yeah, because Hardwire was being a jackass!”

“But Spektrum was the one hiding!”

“Spektrum wasn’t hiding, he was trying to let things go.”

“So then he really is a coward?”

“Only if Hardwire really is a punk who picks a fight!”

Ultimately, both sides would get to the same accusation, “You’re so stupid, siding with him!”

And in the end, Simon and Zoey can’t say anything at all. They both think back to how optimistic they were for today and feel foolish for ever thinking that way. They also find it hard to look at each other in the eye so they just focus on class work.

“This is why Spektrum should’ve been more careful,” Zoey mutters to Simon while tapping on a calculator.

“Maybe he was being careful,” Simon counter mutters, “but Hardwire was being that big of a…”

Simon trails off as he thinks of an insult that is appropriate and also won’t upset Zoey.

“He was being a dim bulb,” he says, reusing what he said as Code Green from the other day.

“Thank you for trying to be nice,” she says.

“You’re welcome,” he says quickly.

“And the answer to question 7,” Zoey starts.

“Is ‘false,’” Simon finishes. “The push from the kid is stronger than friction and inertia.”

“Right,” Zoey says as she shows him her calculator.

Showing him the calculator makes Simon look up at Zoey’s face. They lock eyes for the first time all day, and they start to laugh. No one else understands why, and Mr. Gugel even asks for them to calm down. Simon and Zoey apologize and focus on the assignment.

The rest of the school is still full of tension during lunchtime, but Simon and Zoey feel much better. Craig Foster stays away from school this time, so it’s really just everyone else arguing this out. Even Simon’s friends have arguments with those on “Team Hardwire” before joining Simon and Zoey at the usual spot.

“Sorry you guys are having to deal with this,” Simon says.

“Nah, it’s not your fault,” Bryan says. “It’s all of these other guys.”

“Yeah,” Julian says. “They just don’t understand you- Uh, The Spektrum.”

“They’d probably understand better if someone tried ruining their lives with their own secrets,” Alex says.

“It’s fine now,” Zoey insists. “We’re halfway through today, and then there’s the weekend, so people will cool off by Monday.”

But then Zoey arrives in the girls’ locker room for Third Block and PE to find both her and Cyndi’s lockers have been plastered with various colors of paint. Upon closer inspection, Zoey realizes it’s all red, yellow, green, black, and white paint; blue wasn’t needed since the lockers are already painted blue by default.

“Sorry we couldn’t get you girls fancy silver paint,” Gina says as her friends snicker behind her. “But it’s not our fault that The Spektrum is so bougie.”

Gina and her friends all smirk, waiting for Zoey or Cyndi to respond. Zoey clenches her jaw as well as a fist, but Cyndi simply opens her locker.

“Thanks,” Cyndi says flatly. “Just blue was getting boring anyway.”

Zoey is a little surprised at first, but she calms down and follows Cyndi’s lead. Even though their lockers are still wet with paint, Zoey and Cyndi start changing into their PE uniforms. Gina and her friends get more upset that Zoey and Cyndi aren’t getting upset, so they huff and puff and go back to their lockers.

While other students exit the locker room to join their classes, Zoey and Cyndi go to the restroom and do their best to scrub off the paint with soap and water.

“Thanks,” Zoey suddenly says.

“Uh, you’re welcome,” Cyndi says with some confusion, “but for what?”

“For having the cooler head,” Zoey says. “I was… I was so ready to just finally crack Gina in her stupid, obnoxious face, but-”

“That’s understandable,” Cyndi says.

“Yeah, but,” Zoey says as her hands stop scrubbing, “I shouldn’t feel that way. I shouldn’t want to hit someone just because they do stuff like this.”

Cyndi stays quiet as Zoey goes back to scrubbing, mostly because she’s thinking on what Zoey’s saying.

“Is this related to… what you and Simon have been arguing about?” Cyndi says.

“Huh? W-What arguing? What-”

“Before you freak out,” Cyndi says, “I have been overhearing you and Simon talking in the stairwell. Because… it’s a stairwell, and even muttering and whispering kinda echoes in there.”

“Oh,” Zoey says, feeling a bit foolish. “So, then you know he and I disagree on… other people who like to egg us on.”

“Yes,” Cyndi says. “And don’t worry, I’m really the only one listening. The fan club gets going pretty quickly these days, and me not being its leader anymore, I purposefully linger just in case Simon, o-or you, or both of you, want to talk about this stuff.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Zoey says with some realization. “We should be including you, since you know... what you know. And also, so you can be a tiebreaker.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Cyndi says with a nervous laugh. “I’m not going to be a tiebreaker. If Simon decides something and you decide something different, that’s just how it is. I’ll be an objective third party sharing her own opinion.”

“Fair enough,” Zoey says. “I’d offer a handshake, but there’s all the soap, and still some paint.”

“It’s alright,” Cyndi says with a chuckle. “We’ll keep it to a verbal agreement.”

The two smile and chuckle together, and then hurry because they realize they’ll be considered late for PE if they take any longer.

           

            After PE is over and Simon regroups with Zoey to head for Pre-Calc, Zoey tells Simon about the paint vandalizing, as well as the agreement to include Cyndi in their discussions.

            “That… might help,” he says.

            “She’s not gonna be a tiebreaker,” Zoey quickly adds.

            “Darn it,” he sighs.

            “Ha ha,” Zoey says sarcastically, with a small, genuine laugh at the end. “No, we’ll just be three people discussing something, and the decisions are still ultimately left up to us. You will do what you decide, I will do what I decide, agreeing or disagreeing just depends on the situation.”

            “So we’re agreeing to disagree on Craig,” Simon summarizes.

            “For now,” Zoey says with just a touch of reluctance, “yes.”

            “Good enough for me,” Simon says as they finally reach Mr. de la Roza’s room. “After you.”

            “Thank you,” Zoey says with a small smirk.

 

            After school lets out, Zoey and Simon regroup with Cyndi on their walk home.

            “Wait, you’ve already been over to his house?” Cyndi asks Zoey while also glancing past her at Simon.

            “It’s not that big a deal,” Simon says. “We just do homework and stuff.”

            “Well, we did trade cards that one time,” Zoey says.

            “Trade cards?” Cyndi asks, already assuming something she shouldn’t be.

            “Yeah,” Zoey says. “We both play Duel Monsters.”

            “Oh,” Cyndi says, relieved her assumption was wrong. “Right, the card game from that anime. Duh.”

            “Anyway…” Simon says, suspecting what Cyndi was thinking. “Since we were over at Zoey’s yesterday, it’s only fair we spend this afternoon at my house. We’ll basically be doing dance practice.”

            “What? Dance practice?” Cyndi says. “Before Valentine’s Day?”

            “That’s exactly why, actually,” Zoey says. “Simon’s nervous about dancing in front of people, so I’m helping him loosen up.”

            “Oh…” Cyndi says. “That sounds… fun.”

            Zoey hears the sadness, regret and maybe even jealousy in Cyndi’s voice in saying that. Zoey then feels bad for not being more aware of how Cyndi’s and Simon’s past might make Valentine’s Day season very awkward for the three of them. And with Simon also aware of Cyndi’s feelings, since they mirror his own, Zoey feels stuck inside an awkward silence sandwich. It also doesn’t help that she’s the one walking in the middle…

            The trio stops at the intersection of Sybil and Bancroft, having to wait for the light to change and the crosswalk to show “walk” in the form of the walking stick figure man. But as they stand there waiting, the car directly to their left rolls the passenger window down.

            “Hey!” the passenger calls to them. “Hey!”

            Zoey and Cyndi don’t look but Simon glances over. And then he spots who’s in the car and is surprised when he recognizes them.

            “Wait, y-you’re…” he says, looking past the passenger to the driver. “Dan, right?”

            “Oh, good, he remembers you,” the passenger in the back says with a chuckle.

            “I-I remember you guys, too,” Simon says a bit sheepishly. “I just never got your names back then.”

            “Oh, that’s true,” the passenger in shotgun says. “I’m Levi.”

            “I’m Will,” the passenger in the back says as he leans forward to have his head between Levi and Dan.

            “So, I’d bring up how Craig and his ilk were making stuff rough for you,” Dan says as he looks past Simon at Zoey and Cyndi. “But uh, I’d say you’re doing pretty well…?”

            Simon realizes how it looks, him walking with two girls. He tries not to get an ego about it, but he can’t help but smirk and chuckle. At least, until he looks over his shoulder at both girls looking at him with flat expressions. He then clears his throat and looks back at the senior guys.

            “I-I’m only, uh, d-dating one,” he says. “And actually, uh, Zoey and I are going to the Valentine’s Day Dance.”

            “That would be me,” Zoey smiles as she raises her hand slightly.

            The seniors all give upward nods as they go, “Oh…!”

            He really IS doing pretty well, all three seniors think.

            “Well in that case,” Levi says, “maybe wave to Dan over here when you show up. He’ll be the DJ for the dance.”

            “Wow, really?” the three sophomores say.

            “Yeah,” Dan says, doing his best to be humble by shrugging and looking back at the road. “It’s not that big of a thing.”

            Dan’s friends laugh and Will even sits back again.

            “Well, alright, cool,” Simon says with a smile. “See you then, uh, hopefully.”

            The signal changes, Dan’s car pulls away and the sophomore trio starts walking with the “Walk” signal.

            “Of course you liked them thinking you were dating both of us or something,” Cyndi says with a low laugh.

            “I guess Simon’s still like other guys after all,” Zoey says with a sigh but also some sarcasm in her voice.

            Simon is caught between laughing at himself and frowning at them teasing him, so his mouth is weirdly angled to the side for a moment.

            “Cyndi’s not supposed to be a tiebreaker, but somehow I’ve ended up in a 2 versus 1 situation here,” he mutters, which makes the girls laugh first, and then he joins in.

            At the intersection of Bancroft and Maud, the trio splits and Cyndi continues straight on while Simon and Zoey turn right, saying their farewells for today.

            “Should I get my music?” Zoey asks. “Or do you want to use something of your own?”

            “Uh, I don’t have an mp3 player,” Simon reluctantly admits, “and I don’t have many CDs with music we can dance to. So yes, please, let’s go with what you have.”

            “Okay, then,” Zoey says, containing her chuckling.

            The two stop by Zoey’s house and both go up the stairs to the porch.

            “Well, y’know,” Simon says as Zoey unlocks the front door. “We’re here. We could just use your backyard for dance practice again.”

            “What? No, we’ve been taking turns,” she says as she opens the door. “You have to host this time, it’s only fair. But you can wait inside for a minute.”

            “Alright,” he sighs.

            They walk through the door and Simon sits on the couch while Zoey goes downstairs. She goes to her room, sets her things down and grabs her mp3 and speakers. She looks around and finds the little carrying case and puts them all inside. She rests the strap on her shoulder and walks back up the stairs.

            “Okay,” she says as she returns. “Let’s go.”

            Simon pushes himself up off the couch and picks his things back up. He gets the backpack back on his shoulders and slings the strap of his lunchbox back around his neck as Zoey opens the door back up. They walk outside, she locks the door again and the two go back down the outside stairs. Zoey starts to think Simon has a point about staying, but it’s too late, they’re outside again and she is sticking to what she said about taking turns.

            The two continue down Maud and turn right at Morgan. Now Simon unlocks the door and opens it, allowing Zoey to enter first.

            “Hey, Si,” his brothers say again, back on the PlayLocation 2.

            “Hey,” he says back.

            “Hi, guys,” Zoey says with a smile and a wave.

            “Hi, Zoey~,” both twins say as they look over and smile.

            Simon scowls at his brothers before going to his room and putting away his things. He then leads the way to the kitchen.

            “Here,” he says as he brings water bottles out of the fridge.

            “Oh, thank you,” she says as he hands her one.

            The two twist the caps and break the seals, then take a few big gulps before continuing to the back door and the backyard. Simon brings out some lawn chairs from the garage, dusts them off and sets them out. Zoey puts her water bottle down on one and sets up her mp3 player and speakers.

            “So, um,” Simon says nervously. “Maybe we try Around the World? We didn’t really finish the song last time, and-”

            “Nope,” Zoey says as she already chooses a song. “Today, you’re learning how to slow dance.”

            “I’m learning how to slow dance?” Simon says back.

            “Yes,” Zoey smirks as she walks over.

            “Is that Mariah Carey?” he says as he hears the soulful crooning.

“Yes,” Zoey says again. “Now c’mon.”

            She holds out her hands and waits, but he’s a bit nervous. He takes a quick breath, takes her right hand in his left and puts her left hand on his right shoulder. The part that makes him nervous is how close they have to be in order for him to place his right hand.

I didn't mean it when I said I didn't love you so.

I should have held on tight, I never should've let you go.

I didn’t know nothing, I was stupid, I was foolish,

I was lying to myself~!

            “Oh,” she says, a little surprised. “We don’t have to be this formal. This is for like, a waltz or something. I was thinking more like this.”

            She brings his hands around to be at her waist, then she sets her hands on his shoulders.

            “I knew that,” he says nervously. “But… I’m not sure we can be much closer than this.”

            Zoey knows what he means when it’s her chest that closes the gap.

            “It’s fine,” she says. “Let’s just… sway.”

            “Okay,” he says with a nod.

            The two listen to the song to get into the romantic mood.

I could not fathom that I would ever be without your love

Never imagined I'd be sitting here beside myself

Cuz I didn't know you, cuz I didn't know me

But I thought I knew everything.

I never felt~

The feeling that I'm feeling now,

Now that I don't hear your voice

Or have your touch and kiss your lips

Cuz I don't have a choice~.

Oh what I wouldn't give to have you lying by my side

Right here, cuz baaaby~

“Oh, wait,” Zoey says. “This is kind of a sadder, get-back-together song. Not really… us, y’know?”

“Not at all,” he says.

“I’ll change it,” she says as they both laugh a little.

The hands disengage and Zoey goes back to the lawn chair.

“Oh baby, baby, we belong together…!” Zoey sings along quietly.

Zoey scrolls through what else she has, and she isn’t sure what else makes for a good slow dance song.

“Oh, maybe this…?”

Bow Wow ft. Omarion – Let Me Hold You

Zoey presses play and goes back to Simon as it begins. She puts her hands on his shoulders and he puts his hands back around her waist as Bow Wow starts his “Uh, uh, uh.” Simon raises an eyebrow and smirks while Zoey stifles a giggle.

Omarion: Y’all know what this is.

Bow Wow: This what you need to do, girl.

Omarion: So, so, def!

Female: Let me hold you.

Zoey’s surprised, and a little excited, to see Simon’s eyes flicker deep blue, same as Cold Silver’s.

“I been watchin' you for a minute,” Simon raps along, his eyes maintaining that blue. “Come through here so sweet scented. Your life, girl, you need me in it. I'm determined to win it. I know what you need, I know what's wrong, I know how to make it tight. Everything'll be alright if ya-”

“Let, me, hold, you~,” Zoey sings on beat.

“And introduce you to my world, introduce you to the better side of life that you ain't been seein', girl. I'mma show you where it's at, and I'mma show you how to get it. All you got do is be wit' it and-”

“Let, me, hold, you~,” Zoey sings again.

“Down, like a real man's supposed to. I never would've approached you if I ain't have intentions on doin' good. See, dude you wit' is so fooled. To me, girl, you're so cool. And all I'm askin' you to do is-”

“Let, me, hold, you~!”

“Down, like a best friend, like two homies in a gang. When you cry, I wanna feel your pain. No secrets, no games. All excitement, nothin' plain, to keep you happy that's my aim. And all you gotta do, girl, is-”

“Let, me, hold, you~!”

“In my arms, in my mind, all the time, I wanna,” Simon says, voice straining a little, “keep you right, by my side, 'til I die, I wanna, hold you down and make sure everythin' is right wit' you~, you can never go wrong if you-”

“Let, me, hold, you~,” they both sing together.

“A little harder when it’s actually singing,” Simon says as he motions to his throat.

“No, you were doing good,” Zoey says.

“Yeah, okay,” he says with some sarcasm, the blue eyes flickering golden yellow, like for Code Green.

“Don’t be like that,” Zoey says with a bit of a smirk. “Plus, guess what?”

“What?” he says, eyes returning to their normal dark brown.

“We’ve been swaying pretty nicely.”

Simon realizes this for himself, but that does throw the rhythm off a little.

“Sorry,” he says as they stop.

“No, it’s okay,” Zoey says. “We made good progress.”

Their hands disengage again as Zoey goes to her mp3 player. She stops the song and sits on the lawn chair while scrolling around her playlist. Simon sits on the other lawn chair and sips some water.

“Wow, I really need to look into some slower songs,” she says. “Romantic or not, a lot of these are higher energy.”

“We could go back to Daft Punk, Around the World,” Simon says.

“Maybe,” she says. “Even if it is just those three words over and over.”

“That kinda makes it easier, actually,” he says. “It loops over and over like that so we can just relax and sway.”

“Hmm…”

Zoey scrolls up and gets to where Daft Punk is in the list.

“Oh, oops,” she says. “I accidentally tapped Digital Love instead.”

“That’s still a good song,” Simon shrugs. “That’s the part in the movie where the space hero-”

“Wait,” Zoey interrupts. “Movie?”

“Yeah,” he says. “Interstella 5555. Wait. No, yeah, it’s four fives, because of the four members of the band. Again, in the movie, because Daft Punk is two guys in robot helmets.”

“I didn’t know there was a whole movie to it,” Zoey says. “That’s so cool! I kinda wanna see it now.”

“Well, I have no idea where to find it,” he says. “I’ve never actually watched it myself. Though actually, if you watch the music videos in order, that’s about the same.”

“Ooo~! Do you know the order?”

“Uh… Well, I know One More Time is first. And I know you’ve got some of the other songs on your player already, like Something About Us, and Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. All the same album, too.”

“Really? Which one?”

“Discovery, from 2001. They’re not in the same order as the movie’s soundtrack, but they’re all there.”

“Wow…!”

Ooo~! I don’t know~ what to do~!

About this dream and you~.

I wish this dream comes true.

Ooo~! I don’t know~ what to do~!

About this dream and you~.

We’ll make this dream comes truuuue...

The funky dance beat makes the two smile and bob their heads as they recline back on the lawn chairs. Then Simon chuckles quite a bit.

“What’s so funny?” Zoey asks.

“We’re on lawn chairs in the middle of February,” he says. “And it’s actually pretty gloomy today. Just strikes me as funny in like an odd way.”

“Oh.”

Then Zoey thinks about it for herself as someone watching them.

“Yeah, this is kinda odd, huh?” she says with her own little laugh.

The two share the laugh, then get back into the music.

“Why donchu play the game~?” Zoey sings along, followed by Simon air guitaring along with the guitar in the song.

“Why donchu play the gaaaame~?” Zoey sings again.

Simon again air guitars, really getting into it with scrunched face and fast moving fingers that are in no way accurate to a real guitar. Zoey laughs but so does Simon, both enjoying him cutting loose for a moment.

“That last note holds out for awhile, huh?” he says as he holds his left hand still.

“Yeah,” she giggles.