CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

Mark Conely

WHILE BEING CONSIDERED an ugly child — perhaps because of the deep — bottle glasses he wore to squint his eyes so that when he grew up he wouldn't be cross "eyed" over time, Josie became one of the prettiest girls in town, a cheerleader and the best — known person in the school, along with Anthony, her date at every party.

Nobody could understand why she insisted on hanging out with that loser Mark Conely.

But she knew why she hung out with him, and that was what mattered, what an extraordinary person he was to her, simple as that.

And as much as he tried to hide it, he had a very special affection for that strange boy from the first moment he saw him, he was sensitive, talented, a faithful friend...

Besides being an attractive person.

That's exactly how Josie felt about Mark, it wasn't just something physical, she connected with him in her soul and it wasn't just anyone who had that power, to know the other inside out.

Unlike Mark, Tony made her feel wanted from the outside in, it was an irresistible chemistry he felt, he just knew what he was doing to her.

— How do you manage to get girls to be attracted to you? — Mark asked one day.

— The problem is you think too much, Mark, if you want something, just go and get it.

— It's not that easy.

— It's easier than you think.

Suddenly, a girl passed by who took one more look at him and Tony nodded for him to act. Mark swallowed a dry saliva and Tony pushed him and he ended up kissing the girl without wanting to reciprocate, at that moment Josie appeared and he was embarrassed.

— Josie…that's not what you're thinking.

She smiled and said:

— I'm not thinking about anything.

He looked at the girl who was embarrassed.

— Sorry… that's not what you're thinking.

— Too bad it isn't.

And she left.

Tony put his arm around her shoulders and said irreverently.

— Now I'm sure you're a goner.

THE FIRST TIME I saw him, Josie was crying because of a fight between her parents, but contrary to what was expected of any boy, he sat next to her, smiled without caring about her pain and said:

— What kind of music do you like?

— If I were you, I wouldn't be near me...

— No answer — he said as he took the instrument out of its case and began to tune it without caring what she was thinking about it.

She huffed annoyed.

— Can't you just walk away? Don't be boring to my side, I can't stand people like that.

Mark looked at her and smiled again, almost reading her mind with that simple look.

He started to solo his favorite song.

Without realizing it, her tears began to fall even more, but this time the sensation was different, a refreshment that seemed to flood her soul, it was as if every note that sounded in her ears was tearing her from the inside out, ripping out all bad feelings.

That day, Josie had made a decision:

She would take her own life...

In her mind, the world would be a much better place without her presence.

Mark then told him:

— My mom says music can heal anything in the world, even if it's temporarily, take you to a place where you can dream without any worries. I personally agree with her, so if you want to travel a little with me and my music, maybe we'll be really good friends.

For the first time in that meeting, she smiled with joy.

— I think she's right, let's travel a little and forget our sad realities and dream of a better future, what do you think?

— Delayed!

MARK GROW UP with a silent, unhealthy crush on Josie. He dreamed of her almost every day, countless times he felt in his innermost depths that his first kiss would be her.

And it really was...

In addition to kissing Mark, Josie also kissed Anthony soon after — who, unlike Mark, was not ashamed to admit how he felt about her, and another, he had done that so many times with her and other girls that he didn't even care anymore.

— You need to let go, man — Tony said once, trying to influence his friend along the paths he was discovering.

— For what? I already have the friends I need, I do what I love, nothing else matters much to me anymore.

— Don't spoil it, bro, I know you must like girls... or...

— Nothing like that... I'm male...

— Wow! He is male...

Mark saw Josie bursting into laughter with her friends across the park across from the school.

— You have to prove it then, male stallion.

Tony whistled and two girls approached him.

— Hey girls, how are you?

— Okay, Tony... what's up?

— Me and my friend here want to know...

— We want a comma... don't get me in your rolls...

— Speaking back, preferably without being interrupted — he looked at Mark saying this clearly with his eyes — I want to know if you guys want to go out with me, since my friend, future biggest music star, Mark Conely, isn't there much. interested in girls.

— Of course... if you want to come too, we'll take good care of him, after all, I'll be able to say I went out with him when he's famous.

Mark ignored the lineup, he only had eyes for Josie, who at that moment was coming towards him.

Anthony got up and went out hugging the two girls.

— So said, Mark, we'll see you around, too bad I'll have to deal with them alone without my male friend.

Mark nodded.

— What did Tony do this time?

— He wanted me to go out with him and his two friends.

— And you didn't?

Mark felt deeply that reproach from his friend, but he didn't know why that refusal.

And I wouldn't even know...

— Leave it alone, go...

She sat beside him and hugged him.

— Something is happening?

You are happening in my life...

— No … I just don't want to lose focus on my studies. Is it too much to ask?

— You know, but it would be interesting to see him with someone who would be...

How about you...

— Maybe... — he said ending that conversation.

EVERYONE AT SCHOOL knew that Mark was a supporting player when he was with Anthony and Josie, after all, he didn't say anything at all, nobody ever talked to him, only the two of them were his friends at school, which never made any sense, as they were all part of it. from some tribe:

The intellectuals, the troublemakers, the athletes…

One of the only ones who never fit into anything at all was Mark, who made no effort to fit into anything at all.

Except being next to Josie...

When asked why he was like that, he would say:

— I'm just like that...

Anthony and Josie would have to change too, because they were her only friends and it would continue to be that way for as long as they wanted to.

MARK MEET ANTHONY shortly after he played for her.

— Thanks for the love, I'll never forget you.

— Apparently you've got yourself a strange little boyfriend, eh, Joss — Anthony said, getting very close.

— He is cute.

— I'm not cute.

— Wow! The fluff got mad.

— Don't mess around, man.

— Why? Will you do something? How about playing some cute music?

— Let him, Tony...

Anthony came close to him and held out his hand.

— My name is Anthony Melthow, but everyone calls me Tony. Mark shook his hand.

— Mark... Mark Conely.

— That's it, man... play one so I can dance with this doll.

Anthony pulled Josie into his arms looked at Mark saying:

— So, maestro? — Does this stick with string come out sound or is it just decoration?

Mark smiled and for the first time he had an audience he wasn't nervous about playing.