Snow placed her tray down on the table and took a seat next to her friends. She greeted them casually and they greeted her back, but when her eyes spotted Casey she gave him an awkward look.

"Hi," Snow said faintly.

"Hi," Casey said back.

Snow turned her attention toward her tray again and picked up her spoon as she scooped the soup up to her mouth.

"This is getting awkward," Malloy spoke up and the eyes turned on him.

"What is?" Snow questioned.

"This." Malloy gestured one finger pointing at her and the other finger pointing at Casey that his arms made an X-Cross form, and then he switched rapidly between them.

Snow was uncertain what he meant by her and Casey, so Malloy continued, "We're all friends here now so we should start talking comfortably to each other. ALL of us."

Malloy then did a hair flip of his brown shaggy hair.

"Same, we should all just do something," Kyle agreed.

"Ah!" Malloy exclaimed with his index finger pointing up. "You know what we should all do?"

Casey seemed just as confused as Snow as they proceeded with blank stares.

"This Friday, we're going out to Karaoke and we're going to have fun," Malloy demanded.

"Wow, I haven't been to one for a long time," Kyle said, evidently pumped about the idea of it.

"That sounds fun." Snow nodded.

Casey said nothing but he wasn't opposed to it and just acknowledged the plan coming forward.

Snow sipped more of her warm soup. Karaoke with the guys and Casey? It didn't sound like a bad plan.

That friday came quicker than expected. Snow was happy that weekend came through because she'd love a few days off to recover herself. Currently, she was at her break time during the free period and her favorite place to go was at the school fountain.

She sat by the fountain on the seating of the concrete, watching as the water flowed out naturally.

The beautiful sight was the reason Snow came here often. It was as pleasant and astonishing to the eye, a place where it provided a sense of tranquility. This scenery helped her meditate quietly in her mind without perturbation.

By the sight and sound, she was secured.

Other students walked by her, but Snow didn't pay attention as her only focus was the pattern of the water free-flowing.

In the name of presence that she didn't think would come to her, there was Casey when she glanced nearby. He came closer until they were seeing each other clearly.

"Hi," Casey began.

Snow blinked subtly. "Hi."

This was at first for her that they were communicating without their friends around. They had never been seen without the others so it was something new for Snow and probably as well as for Casey.

He looked away for a second and dug his hand into his pants pocket.

Snow sucked inwardly on one of her cheeks; she didn't know what was happening. Ultimately, Casey talked. "What's up?"

Hearing a common saying like that, he had said, she provided a common comeback. "The sky." Her eyes glanced upwards.

He was not impressed plainly by the look on his face.

"Anyway," Casey said. "I just came by when I saw you."

"Okay." Snow gave a nod, following along with him.

"I just want to say... they're right. We should try to be more casual towards each other."

The confirmation was just what she needed, and how it'd be easier for her to not act unsettling around Casey.

"Yeah," Snow said and then added, "It's true, we're both feeling like strangers and we should become more familiar with one another. I didn't know what to say most of the time."

"It's fine. I guess I'm not really much of a talker," Casey admitted.

Snow couldn't argue with the point that Casey made, but she could've also tried being a little more open to him.

"So then?" Snow wondered.

"I'll see you tonight," Casey said before he ended the conversation and walked off.

Snow looked at the back of his figure and then turned over to the water where she faced her reflection. Tonight was when they — all of them — were going out for Karaoke.

She found it unbelievable how Casey just approached her. They were thinking about the same thing. 

❥

Snow was in the Karaoke room with Kyle, Malloy, and Casey when earlier one of the workers had ushered them inside. They had rented a room which they would use for two hours.

Since they just got here, they relaxed onto the enlarged Magenta leather sofa.

The whole room was engulfed by the colors going around. Dark Slate Blue and Medium Turquoise set a cooler tone which had a nice spectrum effect. Two of the LED lights on the ceiling were lime green. Huge, rectangular black transparent glass coffee table stood positioned in front of them. A flat-screen TV was hung up on the wall. Sound system and speakers were set up. The microphones were right near the sound system and held up by the Microphone stand.

She felt the air giving them the cool breeze.

"Finally." Kyle clapped. "We can start to get in the mood of things."

"Yeaaah," Malloy cheered.

Snow smiled at their enthusiasm, the kind of smile which exhibited her dimples.

"Let's all loosen up and crank it up!" Malloy exclaimed and stood up.

He walked over to grab the microphones and then held it out in front of them. "Who wants to start first?" he asked.

"I'll go." Kyle raised a hand, deciding to volunteer first.

"Pick a song," Malloy said, pointing to the playlist book on the table.

He put the microphones down carefully on the table first. Next, he picked up a menu next to the Playlist book and opened up as he observed through the different choices. "We should also get some snacks."

"I like that," Snow said. The food intrigued her.

Kyle was browsing through the songbook and Casey was still sitting in his seat.

Malloy sat down and said, "I'm thinking Mini Cheesesteaks, Pretzels, Fries, Chicken Wings, and we could get drinks too."

Snow looked over Malloy's shoulder and glanced at the menu. "Can we add Nachos as well?"

"Yes." Malloy turned to Casey. "Do you like Nachos man?"

"I'm fine with Nachos," Casey said.

"Cool," Malloy said as he noticed a tablet and picked it up for which he could self-order.

Kyle put down the book and picked up the remote control, turning on the screen and the wide selection of songs were appearing. He went down the list until he found the song he wanted to play.

He clicked on it, leaving the remote on the table and standing up to walk closer to the screen.

The beat of R&B came up, and the lyrics on the screen popped up.

"Aye, Aye, Aye," Kyle singed in the microphone.

Snow bopped her head to the beat of That's What I Like.

Kyle's singing was energetic and orotund. His notes were as high as he tried to adjust for the song. He was good at striking in an upbeat and positive quality.

When he got to the chorus part, Snow and Malloy swayed their physiques side by side with their arms joining along as well. Casey looked like he didn't know what to do in a party but he periodically tapped his finger on his knee.

A couples minutes passed when the song was nearing the end. Kyle finished the last line of the song and then they all clapped for him.

"Good job Kyle," Snow said enthused.

"That was nice." Malloy gave a thumbs up.

"Thank you," Kyle said, turning around. He held a hand up and was gratified.

"Nice voice," Casey complimented him.

Kyle curved a grin on his lips and held a mic up towards the group. "Who's next?"

It was a take-turn activity for them. They all boasted, cheered, and even goofed off. The room was combustion with some melodious, high-pitched, off-key, and irregular singing. Everybody had different tone and voices which brought out the different varieties along with different music tastes each of them picked.

Continuing their karaoke session, Kyle and Malloy paired up for a duet.

"Let's see..." Kyle flipped through the playlist, scanning each song until he pointed at one. "How about Empire State of Mind?"

Malloy snapped his fingers. "I love it. Play that."

Right on cue, Kyle pressed play and the instrumental music blasted.

Malloy started off the song; his singing voice terrible like a creaky floorboard. He tried too hard on his pitches. His high notes were very off compared to Kyle who actually was close in getting the notes right. It was the best and worst combined, but they made it work just being themselves.

Kyle took his turn singing his parts. Watching the two of them, she loved how the two could just escape themselves into the music. They exchanged glances while their feet tapped for a beat and hips shaking.

It was a comical duo.

Casey glanced at Snow. Shortly, he scooted closer to her. "Their combination doesn't really click."

Snow eyed at Casey. "Yeah? It's not really heavenly."

Kyle and Malloy were at least entertaining, they had that going on.

"Oh. I should ask, are you having fun yet?" she asked.

"I like it so far," Casey said, wearing a neutral face.

Snow couldn't believe him. "Really?"

He watched her as she made a doubtful expression. "I mean it. There isn't anything I dislike."

"Okay good, I was starting to think maybe you're a rock," Snow said straight-out.

"I'm fond of rocks," Casey stated.

"Haha," Snow laughed that sound in a mechanically way.

Snow talked with Casey for a short bit about how they felt about Karaoke. Snow expressed that belting out your favorite songs was the fun part and for Casey, he wasn't a fan of singing.

Kyle and Malloy sang coincidingly for the last line of the song before their performance was done with. Snow clapped for them and Casey did too.

Kyle slipped in the seat between Snow and Casey and gave them both a glance. "Getting cozy, are we?"

Snow smiled a little nervously. "We're just talking."

"Yeah," Casey said.

"And now you two are singing," Malloy said, handing her the microphone.

"What?" Snow said as she saw Kyle handing Casey a microphone as well.

"Come on, just get up and sing together." Kyle grabbed each of their arms and made it so they all stood up simultaneously.

Snow and Casey freaked as they absently stared at each other.

"Go on." Kyle lightly pushed their backs forward.

Malloy went around and sat down at the sofa. "Don't be afraid guys," he said to them.

Snow picked up the playlist book and flipped open to it. Casey was as cumbersome as she was currently.

"Do you want to pick out a song or should I?"

"You can."

She looked for the easier songs that she could easily split the parts with Casey because he might not know which part to sing to. What Kyle and Malloy did was teamwork that they worked well on having enough lines without one getting more than the other. Snow had to find a song that it was easier for who comes what on the screen. After scanning for the chosen song, she might have thought this was the one.

"Let's sing to this." Snow showed Casey the song title on the list and he nodded faintly.

Laying the book of playlist down on the table, she quickly searched the song title on the screen with the remote. Immediately upon finding the song on the list, she started to play.

Just one click and the screen was loading. Snow set the remote aside and held the microphone in her hand tightly.

The screen visually popped out with the lyrics coming up to the screen and the opening music playing.

"Ah-ha, hey-hey," Snow and Casey sang concurrently.

Singing the intro required both of their voices to be active since the vocal warm-ups in the song were there. When the intro was over for them, this was the beginning where Snow had to start off the real verse of the lines. 

Her voice was soft as the sound of a violin. She wanted to sound as soulful since she wasn't confident in performing those notes. She had hoped her low melody of voice was better to not make the peculiar pitch of her voice detectable.

Snow glanced at Casey when he joined in with her for the chorus. His voice blended with hers very uniquely than she could've thought. Casey's voice was silvery and had a nice tone to listen to, but the dynamic energy was a little bit too much for him. At least Casey tried.  

At the beginning of the song, they both just sang their parts respectively and together. It was as if they didn't know how to connect with each other but just cross one another's path.

The part of the lyrics of the "I Know" part which was sung repeatedly, their eyes met. Halfway through the song, the music took her. Letting herself get loose through the grooves of the beat, she warmed up to the song in a more casual manner.

She flipped her hair back when they both attempted to sing the loudest in the part of "I Know What You Did Last Summer," but Snow prolonged on the part. Casey had taken the observation on her particularly more because she saw him slipped out a smile.

Snow swayed her hips a bit. She could hear Kyle and Malloy cheering on for her.

The remaining parts of the song were left and they had to finish.

Snow and Casey ended the finale with fast singing the last one and then stopped when the music ended quickly.

She turned and glanced behind her as the two were vivacious.

"That was great." Malloy nodded with an approved thumb up.

"Song's a smash," Kyle said while chomping on a piece of cheesesteak.

Snow hadn't realized their food came, but she must have been busy with the song with Casey to know that.

"I'm starving," Casey said.

He put down the microphone and sat to join. She did the same too and grabbed a cheesesteak for herself. One bite of it and she felt how delectable when the cheese melt in her mouth.

"Delicious," Snow said, munching.

Everybody was delighted with the food services. They thought that after all the singing session they had already done that they could get a break and just snack on. There were the glass drinks on the side that Snow only see just now when Kyle extended his reach to the drink. He gave one to Malloy and grabbed another for Casey.

He handed Snow one too and then for himself.

She tilted her head. "What drink is this?"

"Sparkling Apple Cider," Malloy answered. He took a small sip and then added, "Non-alcoholic, of course."

She wore a ridiculous smile and then took a shot, drinking her own glass.

"Ahh," they sighed out in asynchronous motion.

She liked how the fizz was produced in her drink and the taste it left on her, like a bubbly version of the regular apple juice.

Snow looked over at Casey to see how he was doing, and he looked contented. Perhaps them singing together was a little bit of a wall barrier for them, she could guess. When he caught her gaze, he just smiled slightly.

"This had gone better than expected," Malloy spoke, throwing his head back on the cushion. "We sang songs, letting ourselves out, and then we're all getting to know each other better, hmm?"

He gazed from Snow to Casey.

"What do you think?" She looked at him.

"This was one way of getting us here."

"It sure was," Malloy said.

Snow reached in for a Nacho with cheese on top and it made the sound crunch went loudly as she took a bite.

"We should karaoke more often." Kyle chortled.

"That, we should." Malloy seconded it.

"We could, but your singing voice is enough for one day," Kyle said, reaching for the pretzels on the bowl tray.

"Hey!" Malloy said defensively. "My singing isn't that bad, is it?"

He looked for Snow and Casey in hopes they would back him up on this, but sadly they didn't have the enthusiasm written on their face.

"Your voice isn't really that great," Snow wrestled to say.

"What? Is that true?" Malloy asked.

"Sorry." Casey shrugged. "I have to go with everyone else here."

Malloy looked defeated. "I thought my voice was better this time."

"Hey," Kyle said, placing an arm on his shoulder. "We still love you."

Snow nodded and agreed with him. "Yep," she assured him. 

"Thanks. Love you guys too. Now I'm full of energy." Malloy looked pumped. 

"The food's great, that's why," Kyle said and bit into his Pretzel.

"The cheesesteak is really good," Casey said. 

"My favorite is the Nachos," Snow pointed out. 

"Free food all paid by me," Malloy said conceitedly. 

"And we kindly are grateful. Thank you," Snow responded, giving him a glance.  

The four of them enjoyed their time as they chattered and feasted their meals. The interaction had gone along well between them as they were able to speak naturally and left no room for awkwardness.

Even Snow and Casey happened to talk more casually. To her wonderment, he was just regular being like the rest of them.

They sang more songs for the hour they had left of the time. Everyone was loosened up more and they went along with whatever the music had taken them. The mood of just college students trying to live their best lives as they could.

At the end of the night, Snow thought maybe Casey and she could get along.   

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Hello guys! The third chapter is posted up now. What do you guys think of it? Do you guys like it? Is it also funny that the day in this chapter is on a Friday and I post this chapter on a Friday. Funny coincidence. I really hope to have feedback or two. I really wanted to write out the rest of the chapters, but be patient as it's still pending. Also, if you recognize the songs, good for you! I thought it should be a fresher start of the story by sending these kids to have fun and you know, warming up easily. How else could they be familiar with each other? I had fun writing this out since they were having fun. Did you guys have fun? Ahahaha. The next chapter will be... interesting. I can say.

Also, I have been playing BTS World and it's so fun. Traveling back in time is an interesting concept, really. I love to know more about their past and how they were like before they debut.

Votes and Comments mean the world to me.

Let me know what you think!