"Birds of a feather, we should stick together."
....

I can't stop thinking about what the hell he must mean by "I'm the reason you got into the music club." as I walk home with Sam and Emily.

Their indistinct chatter dies down suddenly as they notice how quiet I am.

"Star you okay?" Sam asks. "You've been in your head ever since we got out of school."

"Yeah, it's just...Kyle," I admit. I barely keep anything from my best friends. We barely keep anything from the other.

"What happened with him?" Emily asks, her forehead creasing as she turns to me.

"According to him, he's the reason why I made it to the music club and you didn't. Well...he didn't say that exactly, that's just what I...inferred."

"The cocky bastard..." Sam muses.

"Since he's popular and really good at music, he has a lot of privileges that no other student has when it comes to the club," Emily explains. "He's amongst the heads of the club. So during something as important as selecting students who seem fit for the club, he's apart of the people who has a say. And...I guess, he could've convinced them that you were great enough and you got in."

"But that doesn't mean she wasn't great up there," Sam says. "What he said was fucked. He makes it seem like you suck but he just let you in out of pity or something."

"Exactly," Emily agrees, folding her arms. "Even if he didn't exist on earth, you would've gotten into the club. I think your talent in music is pretty underrated Star."

"Thanks guys. But it's mostly my fault. I don't really showcase anything to anyone. I only just do it for myself. I don't really care if people know about my talent or anything." I shrug.

"We get that but still-"

"Omg, what if he did it just so he can spend more time with you?!" Emily suddenly cries and we have to stop walking.

My eyes widen at her theory. "That sneaky..."

"He just has to get you to notice him," Emily says scornfully. "He never backs down when a girl acts like she doesn't give a shit about him."

"Luckily, Star would be the first to break the news to him that he can't get everyone he wants."

I feel something in my chest like a vice clenching around my heart. I've begun to hate this guy a little.

"Well...he thinks he can just get his way every time doesn't he?" I ask, shaking my head unbelievably. "I guess I'll have to put him in his place then."

With that I end the discussion and march home. I never get involved with guys not to talk of guys like this. There's always a first for everything, I guess. Even for him. I'm going to be the first person who brings his huge ego down. I love a challenge.

***

The next day after school, I head straight for the music club. Half the reason for my punctuality is because I'm excited for the club and half is because I want to have a word with Mr Curly and Cute. No...that doesn't suit him anymore. I'll call him Mr Cocky and Crazy. I hope he never finds out I call him that though...because it sounds stupid as hell.

I push open the door to the music room and find it empty to my surprise. All the chairs are packed up and everywhere looks so tidy. Even my footsteps echo as I walk across the floor. Rays of sunlight stream out of the window at a corner of the room and I can see dust particles dancing in the air.

A noise from the side of the room grabs my attention. It's faint but I can always make out the sound of piano chords. I rush over but when I get to the door, I open it slowly. The sound becomes louder as I do and the music coming from the piano sounds so melodious. I think I know that piece but I can't remember the name.

I peer into the room and that clenching feeling around my heart comes back quickly as I recognise the mess of curly hair behind the piano instantly. He doesn't seem to have heard me, I think, and watch him for a few more seconds. He's really absorbed into the music he's playing. It's like he's not even in the room anymore. Just like me. Just like anyone who truly loves music. That thought makes me hate him a little bit less.

After some time, I get tired of listening to the music so I shut the door as I walk in. As I do, a loud noise comes from the piano as his hand slips on the keys. I chuckle at him as he turns to me with wide eyes.

The expression on his face doesn't last though. Because immediately he sees it's me, his face goes back to it's usually nonchalant expression with the smirk that is supposed to be charming.

"Looking for me?" he asks and raises his eyebrows, that irritating smile forming on his lips.

I roll my eyes and adjust my backpack on my shoulder.
"I came for the music club. But...no one's here."

"Yeah, no shit," he says and turns back to his piano.

"Yeah no shit," I say, trying to mimick him. "Well? Can you explain why's that?"

He turns back to me, his smile shifting back into a smirk. "Practice doesn't start till next week."

"Oh..."

"Yeah." He gets up suddenly and ruffles his curls. I wonder how he gets them to be so perfect.

"You would've known that if you weren't in such a hurry to leave. Cause for some reason you can't stay in the same room as me for more than an hour."

He walks up to a row of guitars resting on the wall at the end of the room and picks one up. I watch intently as he carefully zips the case open and takes the guitar out gingerly. There's something about the movement I find attractive. But I know it's just because guitars are my favourite instrument.

He walks over to his seat and places the guitar on his thigh. And that's when he looks up at me, his lazy smile still on his face.

"Surprised you're still here." He places his fingers on the strings and strums a G chord.

"Me too." That's when I realise myself and get up, thinking to myself how unfair it is that the guy I'm supposed to hate loves music this much. Watching him strum that chord felt so intriguing, I wanted to sit down at watch him play an entire song.

My hand is on the handle of the door when he calls out my name.

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

I pause for a moment, my hand still on the door handle. "What is it?"

"Why exactly do you not like me?"

I actually let out a laugh as I spin around.

"I'm not sure you want to know that," I say as I stroll back to him.

"No no it's fine. I just really want to know."

"Okay," I say, taking a seat opposite him, despite myself. "I actually just generally dislike human beings for no reason."

He laughs.

"But you, you're just so...cocky and I hate that in anyone basically." I notice his smirk falls a little but he still keeps it on. "There's really no need to be so arrogant. It's irritating." I know I'm blunt as hell.

He only nods and then looks back down at his guitar as his fingers find the strings again. But before he lowers it I notice the subtle look of hurt that flashes across his face.

"Why are you like that?" I have to ask. Not in a mean way, just in a curious way. "Why did you decide to be that way?"

He looks up at me, surprised. "Wow, you're bold."

I just shrug. "I'm just genuinely curious."

He's silent for a moment, just plucking the strings on his guitar for some time before he finally answers.

"I think...it's the only way I can feel in control." My brows perk up.

"It's the only way I can feel important I guess," he goes on quietly. For that short time, it's like I'm seeing a different person. Definitely not the same Kyle I was talking to ten seconds ago.

"You know you can still be important without being cocky right?" I ask seriously. Then a thought pops up into my head.

"Do you think your friends won't like you if you aren't like this?"

I wait and a few minutes have gone but he's not saying anything. He's not even playing the guitar anymore. He's just there, staring at the floor silently.

Maybe I said something wrong. Should I apologise? I think. But then I realise myself and I'm wondering what I'm even still doing here.

I leave the room feeling all weird that I had a conversation with him that wasn't about him trying to talk to me and me making my disdain for him very obvious. I didn't want to even know this boy past the cocky, popular, charming figure he was. But still...after that short conversation, I feared that since I'll be coming to this club often, I'll be seeing him more and we might have more interactions than I imagined. And if I'm being honest, there was a part of me that wants to see him again.

♬♬♬

Birds of a feather - Billie Eillish