Love Song (3 page)

April 9
th

Diary,

I’ve got a new puppy, and her name is Song. LOL, no, I didn’t. But her name is song. That kind from Thursday? I’ve just agreed to walk her home. I know … Why? But the kid was getting beat up … You know how I am.

Anyway. Her name is Song and she can’t talk. LOL. I know. Anyway.

Jess tried to do a handstand today. Fell flat on her face. Priceless.

********

              “Walking her home from school? What are you now, a
babysitter
? How old is this kid, and where are her parents? If she’s being bullied in school, they should do something about it,” Jess nagged as the group congregated at their usual table for lunch.

Todd gave a nod of agreement, obviously not very understanding of the update either, while Greg admired the responsibility Marceline had taken on.

“Yeah. How did this even happen?” Todd chimed in. “I thought you said she was a bitch you when you helped her.”

“Well, the first time she kinda was. But that was probably because she was just embarrassed. I don’t think anyone’s helped her before with being bullied. She like,
cried
on me, yesterday.”

“You went back to the park?” Greg asked.

“Yeah … Well, I had to go back on Friday because those jocks I threw rocks at tried to catch me again, so I couldn’t go straight home. And she was there again. She actually gave me a thank you note.”

“A note?”

“Yeah … she can’t talk. It’s weird. But yeah, but then the girls that were bullying her showed up and she left. I went back yesterday because I was kind of worried.”

“You’re such a
saint
, Marc,” Jess said with a roll of her eyes.

“Well I was
right
,” Marceline argued. “They were beating her up again. So, I walked her home. I felt bad that I didn’t get there sooner. Probably because I wasn’t running.”

“And now you’re just going to keep walking her home?” Todd asked with a scoff.

“I mean, it’s just until the girl’s start leaving her alone. Geez, guys. Have a heart.”

“You need a smaller one. You can’t save everyone,” Todd argued.

Marceline frowned. She couldn’t believe the negativity that she was hearing for such a good cause. It was like her and Greg were the only ones with any sense.

Well, whatever. She wasn’t going to just abandon this girl because they thought she was being a little goodie two-shoes. So what if she was? Having been there, and knowing she was capable of doing something about her bullying, she felt an obligation to her.

And that’s what she was going to do.

Besides, walking her home wasn’t all that bad.

4

              “So, this kid,” Todd started to say to Marceline on their way to their shared math class. Marceline glanced up at Todd, who was almost a head taller. “You’re going to walk her home
every
day?”

Marceline gave a nod, centering her gaze once again as they approached the turn at the end of the hall. Todd’s lips flattened as he looked up, his hands pushing into his pockets.

“So, that’s just what you’re going to do every day now? You’re not going to like, hang out with us anymore?”

Marceline scoffed, looking up at him with an arched brow.

“Are you jealous?
That’s
hilarious.”

“Get over yourself. I’m asking because the school year is almost over.”

“Oh, right.” Marceline sighed looking forward again as they approached the end of the second hallway, now nearing the door to the class. “Well, I mean. It’s not going to take me forever to walk her home. She only lives maybe twenty-five minutes away from me.”

“Oh, okay. We should go to some amusement parks now that the weather is getting nicer.”

“That’d be sick. I’ve been dying to go to Disney World or something.”

“Calm down. No one has that kind of money.”

“A girl can dream, can’t she?”

Todd rolled his eyes as they entered the classroom, standing by the doorway to allow Marceline to go in first.

“It’s not like you have the money either. Unless your mom got some sort of raise.”

“Hey. I have a job, you know,” Marceline complained, sitting in her assumed seat in the back by the window. “And don’t take shots at my mom.”

“I wasn’t. I was just saying. And walking dogs doesn’t exactly pay for Disney World”

“Well don’t just say it.”

“Sheesh. Touchy,” Todd snipped, sitting in his seat across from her to her right.

“No. Just – she works entirely too hard to be taking shit.”

“I know, I know. She been home yet?”

“Coming tomorrow, I think.”

“Don’t forget to do the dishes.”

“Paper and plastic all the way.”

“Hah,” Todd scoffed, taking out his notebook. “Figures.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Responsibility isn’t your thing.”

“I – What! Are you serious? Making sure I don’t make a mess, and taking some kid home from school? You’ve got to be shi –“

Marceline was cut off by the clicking of the teacher’s ruler against her desk. She was giving the two of them a stern look, shutting both of them up before beginning the class.

              Song stood against the wall beside the double doors of the entrance to the school. She had her square black canvas backpack in her hands, which sat against her lap. Her eyes glanced nervously from left to right as fewer and fewer students exited the building. Occasionally, she would look up at the group of girls that seemed to be waiting for her to begin her walk home.

Her school had let out about fifteen minutes ago, and Song was still patiently waiting for Marceline’s arrival. She had instructed her to wait in the front of the building, and that’s what she was doing. But she was growing more anxious with each passing minute.

What if she didn’t show up? Could she just have been making fun of her? The grip on her backpack’s handle grew a little tighter as her eyes winced.

But just as she was about to give up hope and accept her fate, she heard the suddenly frantic voices coming from the group of girls. She looked up to see them scattering, and Marceline swiftly approaching.

“Geez. They’re even waiting for you,” Marceline breathed, looking back at the retreating group.

They were glaring at her, and she flipped them the bird in return. Turning back to Song, she went on to apologize.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said with a slight laugh. “I kind of forgot where this school was for a second. I had to GPS it. You alright? Ready to go?”

A grateful smile tugged on Song’s lips as she nodded, hurrying down the steps to join Marceline as she turned around and started making her way off of the school grounds.

              After reaching the park’s halfway mark, Marceline remembered the other reason she was late.

“Oh,” she said, digging into her back pocket.

Song looked up and over at her, her eyes glancing around to said pocket curiously.

“Here, the other reason I was late. I was getting this from our library,” she said, pulling out a small notepad. In its spirals, contained a small pen. She handed it to Song, who merely stared at it.

“It’s a notepad. So you can like …
communicate
with me. Since, you know. I thought it might make this a little easier. Not that it’s hard now, or anything.”

Song’s brows rose in surprised appreciation, her eyes switching from Marceline’s face to the gift presented to her. But as she was about to take it, Marceline opened it.

“Oh, and here,” she said, taking the pen out of the pad’s spirals and clicking it. “I’ll write my number in it, too.”

She handed it towards Song once more, having placed the pen back inside the spiral. But now, Song was frowning. Although it was nice to have available contact information, she didn’t want to become a bother. She was very grateful that she was helping her, but she couldn’t help but also feel guilty that she was so helpless. Noticing the change in her expression, Marceline’s hand went a little limp in concern.

“What is it? You don’t want it?”

Song perked up, snatching the pad from Marceline’s hands and putting it into her shirt’s front pocket. She also didn’t want to seem ungrateful. Marceline laughed at the immediate adjusting to her attitude. She crossed her arms, returning her attention forward with a nod.

“Alright, then. So … Why do those girls keep bothering you, anyway? Did you do something to them?”

Song shook her head no, a frown etching its way onto her lips.

“So, what gives?”

There was a weak shrug in her shoulders, but she didn’t move to explain, or reach for the notepad to show signs that she wanted to. Marceline sighed. She wanted to know, but it wasn’t worth getting her upset over it. She should have known better, really. What other emotion could talking about her bullies bring? Marceline cringed, regretting the question.

“Sorry. Don’t worry about it. It looks like they’re scared of me, anyway.”

Another smile flashed across Song’s closed lips. She was right. And as much as she wasn’t a spiteful person, she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed watching them flee.  She nodded in agreement at the statement, making Marceline grin. She got the frown to go away.

She decided not to bring up if Song had mentioned anything to her parents or teachers or not. She didn’t want another awkward silence –
no pun intended.

So she just let the walk take over, enjoying the fact that Song was able to enjoy a walk home.

5

April 12
th

Diary,

Fucking pop quiz in Chem today. I’m pretty sure our groans could be heard from, like, Russia or something. I don’t think I did that badly, though. Maybe like a 70? Idk.

Jess is officially dating the jerk in gym class. Big surprise. And Greg is still whining about their break up. Poor guy.

Been a few days walking this kid home. She doesn’t really say much. Like, try to talk, anyway. She answers questions, but she doesn’t really like … do much else? Don’t know. But every time I suggest stopping walking her home she gets super nervous. I wonder how long those girls were bothering her …

Well, I guess it doesn’t matter if she talks or not. Not gonna let her be bullied when I’m right there. Fuck that.

April 15
th

            
 
Diary,

I think maybe she’s warming up to me? Maybe? She kind of laughs more. Only, it’s not really laughing. Lol. It’s like this weird noise scoff breathing thing. It’s so funny. She started today, and I laughed because she laughed and she laughed because I couldn’t stop and it was just a mess.

Jess keeps nagging at me about hanging out with her, even though she’s always around whats-his-name. So, that’s whatever. I don’t really care anyway, I like the walks home.

Anyway. Shit ton of math homework today. Mr. Elmon is out of his mind.

April 22
nd
 

Diary,

This kid isn’t as weird as I thought. I mean, sure, she can’t talk. But that’s about as weird as it gets with her. She’s even got a similar sense of humor as me. Sometimes the notepad makes it even funnier. She doesn’t actually use it that much, though. I’m getting pretty good at reading her facial expressions, and this whole charades thing she does. It’s kind of cute, in like a hyper puppy kind of way.

Anyway, it’s been like two weeks since I started walking her home. And I gotta say … I kind of like hanging out with her more than I do these losers I call friends. Like, I’m starting to look forward to our walks. Maybe I’ll bring her along with me to work. She doesn’t seem like she’s doing much else at home.

But yeah. Still weird, but cool kid.

April 29
th

            
 
Diary,

Third week. This girl is unnaturally good with dogs. Like, she was handling three, no problem. I was almost jealous. It took me a while to even be able to handle two. Maybe they know she can’t yell at them.

Anyway, my friends keep bugging me about her. I think they think I made her up or something. Lol. Well, she can be my imaginary friend over one of them any day. Besides. I think they’re just upset because I’m not paying for a lot of our hangouts anymore.

May 3
rd

            
 
Diary,

The girls seems to be coming around less. They’re hardly ever waiting for Song outside the school now. But I know they’re still lurking around. And I’m not about to fall into the trap of having Song walk home by herself and gets jumped. If I see those girls’ hands on her again I don’t know what I’d do. She’s like a little sister to me, now. Or puppy. Either way. No one messes with Song.

We ditched work for ice cream today. She started working with me. Said she likes it. Which is cool, cause now we can hang out some more. Friends are still bugging me, but whatever. It’s not like they’re making plans for
after
I walk her home. I told them I could hang out after, but no. So I’m not going to stress it.

May 6th

Diary,

I think Song had on makeup today? Think I saw her wearing eyeliner. It looked cute. I was probably weird today because I kept staring at it, haha. She got a little shy. It was cute though. Even though I don’t think she needs it.

Anyway, Greg got a new girlfriend. Said they got together like a week ago. Wants us to get together to meet her and everything. Good for him. She sounds pretty cool. Wants to start a band or something.

I wonder how they would act if they met Song.

Lol. That’ll probably never happen. Adversity

May 11
th
             

Diary,

This chick can play a mean ukulele. Like, crazy good. It kind of sucks that she can’t talk.  I wonder what her singing would be like. I really want to hear her voice lately. It’s probably beautiful.

Anyway, Ima see if she wants to do like a song together. I could sing and she could play. It’d be great. We could be our own band haha.

The Mute Vocals

We’ll be famous!

May 20
th

             
Diary,

Had a fucking weird-ass dream about Song last night. We were like … fucking. Or, well … Idk, whatever girls do with each other. But I was like … Into it. So weird. I was gonna tell Song about it to see what she’d say lol. But maybe not. Idk. Maybe.

May 23
rd

Diary,

I can’t stop thinking about that stupid dream … Every time I see Song now I’m kind of nervous, like she’s gonna read my mind or something. It’s stupid but I can’t help it. Im embarrassed, but … I wonder what she would do it she found out. She’d probably think I’m a weirdo and stop talking to me.

… That would really suck.

But what if she’d had a dream like that too? I kind of want tell her. Idk why I’m so nervous to, lol. Ugh, this is so weird. I’ll just tell her.

May 24
th

              Diary,

Chickened out. So it just clicked what the hell’s going on with me. I’m … going gay for this chick. Like, it dawned on me seeing one of the lesbo couples in school like holy fuck. That’s why I can’t stop thinking about that dream … I’ve had another since then, too. But were weren’t really doing anything. We were just like … cuddling. But I thought I was straight? I don’t even know. I’ve never been with a girl before. But … Idk, I could see myself being okay with Song for some reason.

Ugh … She’d probably stop talking to me if I told her that. She hasn’t really talked about guys that much but I doubt she’s into that. Hell, I wasn’t. I really want to tell her though … Gaahhh, I can’t decide if I should or not. Im kind of scared she’ll stop talking to me.

Ugh. This sucks.