Trouble

Prologue

Rewind 2 Years Back*

I took a deep breath not letting the anxiety get to me. I always get so nervous before preforming, I am just glad that the nerves go away when I start singing. I kissed the delightful locket that my father had given to me before he past.

“Please give me luck papa,” I said below a whisper.

The locket my father gave to me was quite beautiful. It was round, on the outside it was decorated as a compass with gold being the background color and small diamonds along the edges. Inside the locket on the left side it reads Protecting My Beloveds, on the right it contains a photograph of my mother holding me when I was a baby and my father holding Deloris, she was around five I believe so. With one arm draped around my mother’s shoulders, my father had his other arm holding Deloris while staring directly at the camera, smiling. My mom was smiling down at me while my tiny hand was wrapped around my mother’s index finger; I too was smiling back up at her.

“Marilynn!” my mother called out for me.

“Coming” I shouted back at her. It’s time. I am going to sing. I have had so many gigs why am I still so bloody nervous?

I take another deep breath and just hope this performance is fairly enjoyed by the new married couple. What if they don’t like the song I picked out? Ugh I hate having second thoughts. What if I have second thoughts when I get married? Psht I probably will never get married. Guess I have nothing to worry about or do I? If I never get married than that means I will be alone for the rest of my life. Damn it I guess I do have something to worry about.

“Marilynn! Everyone is waiting!” my mother called rather harshly.

“Damn It, I already said I am coming!” Gosh she can be so annoying; lately she’s been getting on my goddamn nerves.

I open the curtain and step out only to see a couple hundred people staring at Mason and I. Clearly all the hormonal teenage girls are making googley eyes at my best friend, oh god. I stepped to the front of the stage to grab the microphone.

“Well, um I could make a long speech in all but I can tell people want me to get to it-“

The crowd chuckled; I didn’t say anything funny but okay.

‘So here is Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade”

Mason starts piano

“The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting. Could it be that we have been this way before, I know you don't think that I am trying, I know you're wearing thin down to the core” I sing my part of the lyrics and I can’t help but feel relieved.

Mason starts singing his line, I know his voice is way better but it doesn’t matter because we still get paid equally. “But hold your breath because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you.”

“Over Again.” I sang. Mason continued with his part, “Don't make me change my mind or I won't live to see another day, I swear it's true because a girl like you is impossible to find. You're impossible to find.”

It was my turn again. “This is not what I intended I always swore to you I'd never fall apart.” Then Mason went again, he mainly got the lead since he’s the better singer. “You always thought that I was stronger. I may have failed but I have loved you from the start.”

“Oh.” I hummed. Mason continued “But hold your breath.” Finally it was time that our voices come together. “Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you.”

“Over again.” Mason sang. Then I had to step in, “Don't make me change my mind.”

“Or I won't live to see another day, swear it's true.” We both sang conjoining our voices. I took a deep breath cause I was beginning to feel tired. “Because a girl like you is impossible to find” Mason sung by himself. It was time that we sing together again, “It's impossible, so breathe in so deep, breathe me in. I'm yours to keep and hold onto your words cause talk is cheap and remember me tonight, when you're asleep.”

“Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you, over again. Don't make me change my mind, or I won't live to see another day. I swear it's true because a girl like you is impossible to find.”

“Tonight will be the night that I will fall for you, over again. Don't make me change my mind or I won't live to see another day, I swear it's true. We harmonized our voices at the same then Mason sang his last part, “Because a girl like you is impossible to find” but I finished, “You're impossible to find.”

[SONG ENDS]

After the performance, I felt such a warm sensation. I looked at all the guests surrounding me, as I scanned the crowd I noticed a man probably a few years older than me. He seems almost six feet tall; has toned skin and curly brown hair. Homes Chapel is pretty small so how come I have never seen him before? I don’t have the best reputation in town but does he know anything about me? Who am I kidding? I do not even the know the guy, how the hell is he suppose to know me? I do have to admit he is pretty attractive.

I must have been keeping my eyes locked on him for a long time because Mason had to clear his throat and remove the microphone from my hand. “Sorry about Marilynn, would anyone like to take over and come upstage.” Mason offered through the mic.

“I would” A deep raspy voice said, coming from the back.

Everybody turned to see who volunteered; it was the guy with curly hair, the one that I was previously staring at. My eyes met with his, I felt such a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was fear combined with nerves. I have no idea why I am scared shitless but I am.

“Come up here then” Mason said grinning at the man. The man was clearly not taking a like to Mason. It almost seemed as he despised him, but why?

“Okay” he simply said smirking between Mason and I. He was so, so damn what’s the word? Oh yeah, Intimidating. He began to walk up here, but I swear he was taking his damn time. It is like he knew he was scaring me. As he was walking up here his eyes never left mine. I was just standing there, silent. I could not speak or move all I could do is just stare at him with fear in my eyes.

Does he hate me?

Wait. He can’t hate me he doesn’t even know me. After what seemed like years he finally got on stage. Mason gave him the mic; Curly gave me one last look before whispering something in Mason’s ear that I could not make out.

“Get off my stage, kid” he said to me then just glared at Mason. Mason and I just walked backstage instead of going down to the main floor.

“Whoa what was that about?” I asked very curious.

“I have no idea” Mason shrugged. “Anyways I have to come out and say something.”

“Okay…” I carefully eyed him. “I accepted the offer.” This meant he was leaving me and it was only a matter of time.

Notes