Chapter 15: A Siren's Voice

ZIGGY'S POV:

I'm not sure what's going on with everyone. We've given up for the day, having achieved nothing.

Rigby is back to being a jerk, no real surprise there. Creed is AWOL again. Jett is distracted and Nash keeps trying to sneak into the recording studio next door. Why? I don't know.

Ignoring the others, I hide behind the drum kit. With my sticks, I tap out a gentle four four beat as I allow my mind to wander. Nona's face fills my thoughts as I try to come up with a plan.

She must know I like her. I've not exactly tried to hide it. But I don't stand a chance while ever she likes Creed. I hit the kit harder with my sticks as I feel frustration seep into my bones.

Until yesterday, I had thought Creed was into Nona too. I hadn't thought I stood a chance; it was just inevitable that they'd get together eventually. But then yesterday Creed had ignored Nona and my interest had flared up once more. The emotions I'd been trying so hard to quash had come back fighting.

Sighing, I remind myself that even if Creed isn't interested in Nona, it doesn't change the fact that Nona likes Creed.

I'm not even on her radar. I'm not stupid. I know how she sees me. She looks at me and sees a cute little brother... someone who's hair she can ruffle and who's cheeks she can squeeze.

To Nona, I am about as far from being a man as Creed is to being a girl.

I don't notice when the others leave, I'm so preoccupied with my thoughts. It's only when it starts to go dark that I realise that I'm alone in the studio. The lads must have gone home without me, I realise irritably.

Stowing my sticks away in my backpack, I prepare to leave too. My hands pause over the bag's zip when the silence is broken by a voice that is both familiar yet new. I'm certain I've heard it before, but I can't place where.

Shoving the bag on my back, I exit the studio before preparing to enter the one next door. My hand is on the handle and I can hear that siren's voice coming from just inside when my phone rings.

The voice stops and I fear that I've disturbed her. Rushing to answer the phone, I don't even check the caller ID.

"Yeah?"

"Hurry up," Rigby says down the phone. "We're waiting in the lobby. Nash is hungry."

I hang up without replying and wait just a fraction longer than I should so as to see if she will start singing again. Instead I hear a shuffling and I panic. I don't want to be caught hovering like a weirdo outside her studio.

I dart down the hall, wishing that I could see her face at least once.

Creed is still missing when I reach the others and Rigby doesn't seem happy about it at all. As soon as he sees me, he takes off out the door, towards the car that's waiting for us. I join Nash and Jett as we follow after him.

Glancing back, I wonder if the girl from the studio is within view. I had been sure I'd heard her packing up. She's not there and I'm left feeling deflated. I'm so put out by missing my chance to see her face, I almost don't catch Nona and Crimson waving goodbye to me. The deflated feeling intensifies until I feel like my gut weighs a ton.

Nona will never like me the way I like her.

I've Been Waiting Lyrics

I've been writing these songs

About why I can't be with you

I've been thinking all about

You and me and everything we're not

This is a one sided love

But I've been waiting

I've been waiting for you

I've been holding on to

The idea that you might

Come back one day

You've been clear from the start

About not wanting to be with me

But why can't you just lie to me

Just once tell me, you miss me

I don't want to want you

But I don't know how to stop

Everyone else knows what I

Refuse to admit, refuse to see

Are you even listening to me?

Can't you just lie to me?

I've been waiting so patiently

Are you even listening to me?

Can't you see...?

I've been writing these songs

About why I can't be with you

But then you kiss me

And I'm pulled back into love

I can't be with you

But then you kiss me

I can't be with you