The way her hips sway, magic flowing through her veins, and I like it. I’m falling hard, one, two, three, she’s got me love drunk, easy to see she should be my girl. Yeah, she’s gonna be my girl.
I know River helps the lead singer, Jesse, write the lyrics and I can’t help but wonder if I could possibly be his muse. Is this song about me?
The crowd is relentless, cheering with fists in the air as the guys lead into the chorus again. I take a sip from my cherry-red mocktail, which is essentially fruit punch in a glass, and keep my eyes trained on River. Watching him do the thing he loves most is quickly becoming something I love to do.
The venue smells of sweat, onion rings, and patchouli—a weird combination—and I don’t even care. This is perfect.
When their set is done, River jumps off the stage and comes to find me. “So, what did you think?” he asks.
“I think you’re amazing, Riv,” I tell him, and he pulls me to his chest, his body warm against mine. “You were totally in your element up there.”
He looks down at me, smiling. “Was it worth missing out on studying for? I feel bad you skipped your study session with Hailee.” He pulls back from me but grasps my hand and leads me to a table in the corner. “By the way, when am I going to meet this best friend of yours?”
A warm feeling grows inside of me. I love that he wants to meet the people who mean the most to me. “Don’t feel bad. It was beyond worth it.”
He kisses my lips and I feel him smile against my mouth. “I think I really like you, Ava Keyes.”
I melt.
Track Five: Walking in Memphis
by Marc Cohn
RIVER
“Are you sure you want to hang out with my parents tonight?” We’ve been seeing each other for four weeks and we’re already going to do this. We must be out of our goddamn minds.
“Yes. I really want to meet this dad of yours that you talk about so much. He’s gotta be a pretty cool guy,” I tell her, laughing as her cheeks redden. I grab ahold of her hand and place her palm in mine.
“Do I really talk about my dad that much? Shit. I’m lame.” Ava shakes her head back and forth.
She leads me into her house, a small Tudor-style place nestled in Beverly, a neighborhood known for its bomb Irish pubs. My family never comes here, but I’ve been to this town multiple times with friends after shows. We never get carded, and the beer is cheap.
A boy pops out from behind the front door as we make our way in and I jump back, though I kind of love this kid already. “Hey, I’m Dillon. I have autism. Let’s get that out of the way right now. And, I could still kick your ass if you piss my sister off.”
“I believe you, Dillon. It’s really nice to meet you. I’m River.” Ava’s told me about her brother and how close they are. I feel like I already know him. “I don’t intend to piss your sister off, so I think we’ll be okay.” I glance at Ava as she playfully nudges her brother.
I researched a little about autism after Ava told me about her brother. I knew what it was, obviously, but I had no idea just how differently it can appear from person to person. I know so much more now, after falling down an educational website rabbit hole.
A tall, broad man rounds the corner into the entryway and I can only assume it’s Ava’s dad. “Hey, River. I’m Jeff. I don’t have autism, but I’ll have to side with Dillon if you piss my girl off.” He extends his hand to me and laughs, getting a kick out of himself. He’s exactly how I pictured him. He’s got an old ripped up band tee on and worn blue Levi’s. “Kidding.” He shrugs. “I’ve heard lots of great things about you.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, sir. I kinda sorta think your daughter is pretty cool.” Fuck. What? I think she’s pretty cool? “I mean…I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her.” I stumble over my words and hate myself for it.
“You think my daughter is kinda, sorta cool?” Jeff pats me on the back as we make our way into the kitchen. “I think she’s kinda sorta okay, too. I plan on keeping her, I guess. For now, anyway.”
He gives me a smirk and we sit down around the long, wooden kitchen table. Meatloaf is the centerpiece and I am practically salivating, it smells so good.
My palms are sweaty when Ava reaches under the table to take my hand in hers and squeezes. I’m slightly embarrassed at how nervous I am. She doesn’t seem to notice, but if she does, she doesn’t let on.
Mr. and Mrs. Keyes are playfully bickering about who sang Respect better, Otis or Aretha. This is a debate I can get behind. I wish my parents would argue about music instead of finances or who’s a better parent.
“So, River! My guy,” Jeff says, grinning. “Tell me all about your life.” He cuts into the meatloaf. “Aves says you’re leaving for California in August?”
I hate thinking about this. I love thinking about this, because I love my music and my band and I can’t wait to really hone my craft. But, leaving Ava after we’re just getting to know each other…that, I hate.
“Yes, Mr. Keyes. I’m going out there to study music after graduation. I’d really like to try to make it into a career. I know it’s kind of a lofty goal but, I really want it,” I tell him, hoping he isn’t silently judging me. I get enough criticism from my parents.
“That’s awesome. I’m not sure if you know this but we raised Ava on all the good shit. We’re a big music family here. What do your parents think about all of it? Are they sad to see you go?” He’s genuinely asking me this, and I want to laugh in his face but I can’t be rude. He doesn’t know any better.
“Well.” I shift nervously in my chair. “They don’t really get it. It’s not what they want, you know? They want me here, working for my dad’s business.”
We get a little deeper into my dad’s firm and why sometimes parents want their kids to live out their own dreams. It makes sense coming from Jeff, and I can at least understand why my parents are so hell-bent on me staying here.
“I’m going to tell you something, Riv,” he says, and I normally hate when anyone I don’t know well calls me that, but with Mr. Keyes, I don’t seem to mind. It’s like he sees me and likes me, and that’s a feeling I can get used to. “You aren’t always going to make the decisions your parents want you to, but it’s your life. You’ve only got one, and you have to do what makes you happy.”
I watch as his eyes trail to his wife. She glances up from taking a bite of her potatoes, and I see a look transfer between them that I don’t understand the meaning behind.
But he’s right. I only have one life. I can’t constantly worry about what everyone else wants. I just wish things were different. I wish Ava was graduating this year, too. I would whisk her away and we’d have the time of our lives together in the Golden State.
If only it were that easy.
Track Six: What it’s Like
by Everlast
AVA