The girl was just a normal teenager. She had a few friends, siblings and plenty of time available, but nothing good to do with it. Her routine was to study, pick up her younger brother at school and then go to her best friend’s house, (Maddie), where they would just lie on kitanda until it was time for (Kayla) to leave. Nothing more, nothing less.
And in fact, she liked it a lot. She could not see herself surviving a life full of adventures, although a change in routine seemed like a good idea. She was kind of pleased with her life, though earlier that mwaka she didn’t seem so happy, since she had just moved to that city at the time.
(Kayla) thought she wouldn’t make Marafiki there. au that it would all turn into a nightmare in that place. And she was very surprised when she saw that she was wrong, especially after meeting (Maddie). She had basically everything she needed there, and thinking about it, she let out a smile.
(Kayla) woke up from her thoughts when she saw her brother going toward the car. The boy sat in the passenger seat, saying hello to his sister. He had a smile on his face, though he looked exhausted after class.
“Tired, huh?” she asked, which made the boy nod. “Wait till wewe get to high school.”
(Jack) sank on the car seat, letting out a groan, causing her to laugh. Suddenly a voice calling out his name was heard. A boy of her brother’s age was walking down the school ladder, stopping kwa the side of the car and gesturing for (Jack) to lower the window. Her brother leaned over to hear what the other was talking. (Maddie)’s friend discreetly looked at her as he alisema whatever he was saying in her brother’s ear.
“I’ll try.” (Jack) replied, causing the other to send him a desperate look, but then nod before waving at her and running back into the school.
“What was this all about?” she asked, starting to drive.
“Nothing.” he shrugged, but his expression inaonyesha that he was obviously hiding something.
(Kayla) nodded, turning on the radio so there would be some noise during the ride home. (Jack) occasionally glanced at her, turning mbele when he was caught. Until finally, when they were arriving at their destination, he turned to her.
“Are wewe going to do something tomorrow night?”
The girl smiled discreetly, feeling satisfied that he was going to tell her what that boy had told him.
“Nope.” she glanced at him. “Why?”
(Jack) seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing.
“That boy was Greg, we’re friends.” he paused for a second. “Well, we’re kind of friends, but whatever.”
“OK.” (Kayla) nodded. “Keep going.”
“I think wewe might know his brother, Rodrick.”
“Heffley?”
“Yep.”
Rodrick Heffley. Of course she knew Rodrick Heffley. They started to study together at the beginning of the year, and almost every time they saw each other he would told her a pick-up line. A horrible pick-up line, which she would just laugh of and walk away. They had been in it for almost a mwaka now, and she thought that after all this time he would have aliyopewa up. Wrong.
“What about Rodrick?” She asked, taking a little interest in the subject.
“Do wewe know he has a band?”
(Kayla) let out a mocking laugh. It was almost impossible not to know about Löded Diper. At least for her, since he often mentioned his band when he tried to impress her.
“Yes, I know.”
“It looks like there’s going to be some kind of karakana band competition tomorrow night and they’ll be there. So Rodrick told Greg to tell me to tell wewe to go see their performance.” (Jack) chuckled. "I think he blackmailed Greg.”
(Kayla) rolled her eyes, laughing a little herself until they reached their house. When (Jack) got out of the car he turned to her again.
“I think wewe should go.” he closed the door. “He’d be glad to see wewe there.”
He’d be glad to see wewe there.
Those words stuck in her head as she drove to her best friend’s house. And she kept thinking about it even after she had arrived, talking about it with the other girl.
“You’re not really thinking about going there, are you?” (Maddie) asked, throwing herself into her own bed.
“It’s just… I don’t know… Why not?” (Kayla) lay on her friend’s stomach, feeling her head being lifted and lowered while (Maddie) was breathing.
“I never thought he was your type. I thought wewe laughed at his pick-up lines for pity and not because wewe liked it.”
(Kayla) stopped for a sekunde to think about it. She had seen Rodrick hitting on other girls, they always looked at him with a face of disgust and went away. But when he was hit on her, she laughed. Was that the reason he had never stopped trying to conquer her? Because he thought she laughed because she liked his pick-up lines? Stopping to think, she liked it a little. She liked the attention she received from him. He was cute. And he was interested in her.
“Oh my God, I have a crush on Rodrick Heffley.”
(Maddie) started to laugh, making (Kayla)’s head shake. “You got into such a deep thought, I should have recorded.”
(Kayla) rolled her eyes, sitting up on the bed.
“I’ll go there tomorrow night.” she alisema decided. (Maddie) sat down lazily.
“Good luck.”
“You have nothing to do tomorrow, right? Good.” (Kayla) got out of bed, out the door, not waiting for her friend to get up to accompany her. “You are coming with me.”
And although (Maddie) complained and tried to change her friend’s mind, she ended up going along with (Kayla). When the sun began to set the inayofuata day, the two of them left in the car to find out where the contest would be. For a moment they thought they wouldn’t made it, since no one seemed to know where it was, not even (Jack). Until they saw a poster thrown in the mitaani, mtaa with the information. Dang lucky.
(Kayla) and (Maddie) arrived at the place, it was just a small outdoor wooden stage, but the place was crowded. Most of the people who were there were part of the bands, and the rest … Well, the rest should be Marafiki and family who were dragged there.
In the crowd, the girl found a familiar face. It wasn’t Rodrick, it was (Brady), one of her friends. When the boy seemed to recognize her, a smile also appeared on his face before moving toward her.
“Yo (Kayla), (Maddie).” he hugged them both. “What are wewe guys doing here?”
“We came to see (Kayla)’s boyfriend.” (Maddie) replied, taking a slap from her friend.
“What are wewe doing here?” (Kayla) asked.
“My cousin has a band, the drummer, ngoma got sick, I came to help.” he shrugged, looking directly at (Kayla). “I didn’t know wewe had a boyfriend.”
“It’s because I don’t.” the girl sent a deadly look to (Maddie), who just laughed. “Good luck then.”
“I’ll probably need it.” he glanced at the two girls with a smile on his face. “I’ll have to watch out for your little boyfriend’s band, right?”
And then he left, while (Kayla) felt her cheeks heat up, which made (B/F/N) start laughing loudly, which caught some people’s attention.
“He’s going to tease me for the rest of my life.” the girl threw her head back in frustration. “Thank you, (Maddie).”
“Aw, don’t be mad at me.” she replied, taking the girl’s hand and beginning to pull her closer to the stage. “Come on, let’s try to stay ahead.”
It was not that difficult to get to the front of the stage, since most people seemed to prefer to stay in the background. The two girls thought there should be some reason why no one was so close, so they stayed with the people in the front row at a salama distance.
With the beginning of the presentations, the only thing that (Kayla) could think about was how many karakana bands existed in that region. Some of them had cool songs, but some were just awful. (Brady)’s band (or, well, (Brady)’s cousin) came on stage, and she had to admit, they were awesome. She never knew (B/N) could play drums, not so well. And he seemed to be having so much fun doing it. (Maddie) let out a few discreet squeals every time (Brady) looked at them and winked.
“I guess I’m not the only one who has a boyfriend playing here today.” (Kayla) alisema with a laugh, this time taking a slap from (Maddie), who shook her head to the rhythm of the song with a smile on her face.
Shortly after (Brady)’s presentation, Rodrick came with his band. Coincidence au not, he was also the drummer, which made (Maddie) give her a sly look. He wore a shati with his band’s logo and eyeliner around his eyes. Rodrick, after setting everything up, began to stare into the audience, his eyes searching for someone. And then stopping when he saw (Kayla). He gave her a big smile, which made her smile back.
“You guys are adorable.” (Maddie) murmured in her ear.
(Kayla) just kept smiling, ignoring her friend. But the smile disappeared as they began to play their music. Well, the rhythm wasn’t so bad, it was… Well… Dancing? But the lyrics, dear God. The girl started to feel bad about the Heffley boy when she realized how much people had cheered and screamed during (Brady)’s performance, and how now people were quiet and none seemed to like the song.
So she started clapping her hands and shouting words of encouragement to the boys, especially Rodrick. He didn’t even seem to notice how people seemed to be hating their muziki because she was cheering for him, and that seemed to be a good thing.
With the motivation she was sending, he started to play even louder, which made her wince before continuing. (Maddie) also started clapping her hands, trying to keep her friend from embarrassing herself, which didn’t seem to be working since everyone looked at them like they were crazy.
At the end of the performance, the two applauded, with a few zaidi people who seemed to feel sorry for them. Rodrick, once again, seemed to notice none of it, since a big smile was on his face as he stepped off the stage.
“That was… Interesting.” (Maddie) nodded.
“Yes, of course.” (Kayla) chuckled.
Soon the presentations were over and the best band was announced. (Kayla) had no idea what their prize would be, but she seemed almost certain that Löded Diper wouldn’t win. And she was right. In the end, it seemed that (Brady)’s cousin’s band was really good, as they won. (Kayla) gave him thumbs up, as he celebrated. Then she looked around and noticed that Rodrick was staring at her. He seemed to be disappointed for not winning. For not having impressed her enough. She sighed and went to talk to him.
“Hey.” (Kayla) alisema approaching him. “You were very good up there.”
His frown was replaced kwa a smile. “You and your friend seemed to be having a good time.”
“Totally.” she nodded. “I would definitely call your band to… Well, whatever I had to call wewe guys.”
“We’ve played on some birthdays.” (Kayla) continued to smile, thinking to herself how it would have ended.
“Well…” the girl felt her stomach turn a little and her hands began to sweat. “You could tell me zaidi about it if we went out, maybe, someday.”
Rodrick looked at her suspiciously, trying to understand what that phrase would have meant. In the end, when he seemed to realize she had suggested a date, he just smirked.
“I always knew wewe liked me.” he nodded in approval, making her roll her eyes. He had noticed it before her, then.
“Yeah, maybe I do.” she chuckled and stood on tiptoe, giving a peck to the boy’s lips.
Rodrick’s eyes went wide, clearly inaonyesha he didn’t expect that to happen. (Kayla) gave him a sweet smile, turning her back and leaving to find (Maddie), leaving the wordless boy behind. He might have Lost the contest, but he had won the girl.
