If I Never Knew You Trilogy Bundle Read online

  "Miss Pratt, is there something bothering you?" Mrs. Wilson asked.

  "Uh, no Ma'am," I said with a feigned smile.

  After school on Thursday, I was sitting in the auditorium with Bridgette, Faith and Alice. Mrs. Wilson was sitting closer to the stage, while the girls were in the middle of the room. The songs I had finished for the musical were playing on my CD player, which was plugged into a mini speaker.

  "How many people have tried out already?" I asked.

  "Five," Alice said.

  "Anyone good?" I asked.

  "To star next to you? Don't think so," Faith said. In addition to writing the play, I was also the female lead. Faith couldn't act very well, but she was amazing with a sewing machine, so she was the costume designer. Most of the things she wore, she had made herself. Alice was the choreographer for the play. Bridgette was the only other person in our tight little circle who was actually in the play with me.

  "Mrs. Wilson?"

  All four of us followed the teacher's gaze toward the entrance. There was the principal, Mr. Barr, and behind him was...

  "Oh, Landon got in trouble," Faith said, sing song. I rolled my eyes and elbowed her.

  "I was wondering if you are still auditioning singers today. I realize that it is almost 4 p.m. and you will probably be winding down soon. Landon and I needed to chat, but I assured him that he could still come here if he gave me some important information," Mr. Barr announced with authority.

  "Will do. Thank you, Mr. Barr," Mrs. Wilson said, hard-pressed to hide her skepticism.

  Landon confidently walked down the aisle and jumped onto the stage. Without a word, he started singing. My jaw dropped almost instantly. Not only did he have an amazing voice, but he was singing one of my father's songs! It was nearly tear-inducing to watch him sway to his own silky-smooth voice.

  My dad had made an album once with his band, Horizon, but it wasn't some grand old thing. He recorded it in his spare time just before Noah was born. Dad never really had the chance to become famous because he was busy supporting my mom, grandmother and Uncle Andy, then he wanted to be a hands-on father to my brother and me. Instead of touring and performing, Dad decided to get into the business end of the music industry. Then, he quickly climbed the ladder thanks to some college courses he had taken, his father's financial assistance, his own perseverance and just plain luck. I had once asked him if it bothered him that he never became a "superstar". He replied that he wouldn't trade what he had for anything else in the world, even fame.

  Still, his album garnered somewhat of a cult following and I knew that Landon had been a fan for the longest time. However, I didn't think he would have the balls to get up on stage and audition for a play that I wrote by singing a song that my father created.

  "Well, Landon, that was magnificent!" Mrs. Wilson said in awe.

  "You can say that again," Bridgette added. "He almost sounded just like your father did back in the day."

  I glared at her and she understood to shut up. In the following ten minutes, I didn't pay any attention to his obscure monologue that the girls also found "just magnificent." Not to mention that Mrs. Wilson was praising him again and decided that she was going to make him the lead opposite me. Kill me now, I thought to myself.

  "Riley, come up here, please," Mrs. Wilson said. I turned off my CD player, and slowly walked up to the front as Landon jumped off the stage to join us. "I think you two should rehearse together starting next week."

  "I don't think..." I started.

  "Sure," Landon said, trying to sound as if he didn't care.

  Did he just agree to us getting together for something? Sure, a few years ago this wouldn't have seemed that weird, but now-I wasn't so sure.

  "Excellent," Mrs. Wilson replied. "I will let both of you know tomorrow when we will start rehearsing the entire production and when you two can work on your scenes together.

  I got home just before five, since this time Noah was able to get me after school-the ride was a quiet one. When we got home, Mom was there, but Dad was still at work. Mom usually worked from 8 to 5 at the restaurant she owned, but she had come home early that day. I usually saw Dad in the morning because he would leave about ten or twenty minutes before Noah and me. Mornings were crazy for our family, with everyone trying to get ready at the same time and no one seeming to have time to make breakfast.

  "Mom, my life is crap!" I whined as I made myself a snack.

  "Why is that?" Mom asked, looking up from the magazine she was reading.

  "Landon auditioned for Freedom and did really well, so Mrs. Wilson assigned him the lead opposite me. I don't know how I feel about spending so much time with him after all that has happened," I revealed.

  "I don't see the problem so far," Mom said. "Landon's a nice guy and it's about time you two were friends again."

  "Mom, you so don't get it!" I cried. "We're not friends. We're being forced together. He's a jock and I'm the music nerd-we don't like each other. We haven't spoken to each other since Seventh Grade, when this whole stupid mess started."

  "What mess?" Mom asked.

  "Remember when I helped him get noticed by the girl he liked?" I asked. Mom nodded, but I wasn't sure she was even paying attention. "Well Lydia did notice him and because she was popular, Landon became popular, too. Obviously Landon enjoyed being in the "in" crowd, because he quit talking to me because I didn't fit into his new group-not that I wanted to, either.

  "I've heard it all before, Riley, and it's not a mess. You could be popular, too, you know," Mom said.

  "Ew, no," I said. "They are all so mean and rude! God, I hate them!"

  "Well then, I don't know what to say, honey," Mom admitted. "Do you miss him?"

  I thought about it for a second. "A bit. God, I can't believe he sang the song you wrote for Dad's band," I said.

  "He sang Should Have Loved You?" Mom asked. "No wonder he got the lead. Not many people can sing that song as well as your father." Mom was also very musically-inclined, just like Dad, but she also had chosen to put her family first. Then she bought the Wayside Restaurant. She had told Noah and me that the staff had helped her through so much that she felt an obligation to continue working with them.

  "Oh my God, you're missing the point!" I cried, frustrated at her blithe attitude.

  "I'm sorry, Riley," Mom said. "It's been a while since I've been in high school. Remember, I was only a couple years older than you when I was working double shifts at the Wayside Restaurant to help support Grandma and Uncle Andy.

  "Yeah, I know," I said. "Your life was difficult and mine is simple compared to it."

  "Your life isn't simple, Riley Anne," Mom countered, somewhat harshly. "You've been in the hospital so many times we've almost lost count." Yes, I did have some medical problems, actually quite a few of them. But I really didn't feel like talking about those at the time.

  "Okay, can we just go back to the current problem of having Landon Callahan in my play?" I asked.

  "No," Mom said firmly, "Because it's not a real problem. In fact, it's probably a blessing in disguise. Y'all were such good friends."

  "Fine," I nearly whispered. I gave up with a groan and banged my way up to my room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  AFTER I HAD moped in my room about ten minutes, there was a knock at the front door and I heard Mom call that she would get it. The door swung open as I held my ear against my bedroom door to see who it was. Then I heard her speaking with someone whose voice I unfortunately recognized all too well-Landon. What did he want and who did he think he was, coming over to my house when he was definitely not welcome?

  "Well, Landon, I think the last time you came over, you were only this tall," Mom laughed and I could imagine her holding her hand up to where she predicted twelve-year-old Landon's head would reach.

  "Yeah, well, it's been a while," Landon said.

  "Come in, come in. How have you and your family been?" Mom asked, letting him in.

  I couldn't believe
she would actually invite him into our house. I rushed down the stairs to find my mom sitting on the couch with Landon in the recliner across from her. His eyes and mine locked for a moment.

  "Could be better," Landon responded.

  "Ok-small talk's done-can I say something?" I butted in. "Landon, you have a lot of nerve coming over without being invited. What is this about, anyway?"

  "Riley Anne!" Mom bellowed.

  Landon looked somewhat sheepish, but recovered quickly enough to tell me that he and Mrs. Wilson had spoken together after his audition. She had agreed with him that practicing together with me after school would speed up the whole rehearsal process. Then, because he was Landon and Landon liked to stir the pot, he decided to take a chance and see if we could practice at my house.

  "Alright, Landon, you win," I acquiesced, realizing that he was right about practicing after school, considering the enormity of our speaking and singing parts in Freedom.

  "Great," Landon said. "Your room, then?"

  "Hold on one second, guys," Dad ordered from the foyer. I was so wrapped up in my anger at Landon that I didn't even notice Dad come in through the garage. "I know it was fine when you two were younger, but..."

  "Dad, he does have a girlfriend," I interrupted.

  "He's still a young man, Riley," Dad said.

  "Orion, just let them. They can keep the bedroom door open and I will be upstairs anyway," Mom said. Mom and Dad shared a hesitant glance before Dad sighed and nodded.

  Landon didn't skip a beat as he ran upstairs before me.

  "Hey!" I said, following him. He stopped in front of my bedroom. "How do you know that one's still mine?"

  Landon, the cheeky devil, just shrugged and smirked. I glared at him as he swung the door open and fell into my room. Thankfully I had cleaned it as soon as I got home, so there wasn't any personal stuff within his line of sight. I followed him in and plopped down in front of my computer, while he took up shop on the bed.

  As I booted up the computer, his phone rang and he answered it. I tried to focus on the computer screen and ignore his conversation. When I finally looked at him, he snapped his phone shut.

  "What?" Landon asked, noticing the look on my face.

  "You realize that the song you sang was the one my mother wrote for my father, right?" I asked.

  "Well, I knew it was one of your father's songs, but I didn't know that," Landon confessed. I rolled my eyes, and looked back at the computer. "Jeez Riley-Boo, lighten up, will you!"

  "Don't call me that!" I shouted.

  "Hey, don't make me out to be the bad guy here," Landon said. "If I remember correctly, you were the one who shunned me after I went out with Lydia."

  "First of all-no, you don't remember correctly," I reminded him. "And secondly, I didn't turn you into a jerk-you did that all on your own."

  "Yeah, well..." Landon said. He sighed and lay down; his body language denied any guilt on his part in turning into a jerk.

  "Whatever. This song is going to be in the play, "I said, turning back to the screen. "It's the basic idea of the play-the theme song, if you will." I clicked on the icon and the music started and I started to sing the theme of Freedom, the similarly-titled Freedom Rings.

  I turned in my chair to face Landon, as he propped himself up on his elbows to look at me. He sat up completely and I couldn't help blushing at the intensity of his look towards me. I reached the thrilling climax of the song and then we sat in silence for what felt like forever. If Landon was trying to feign being impressed, he was doing a damn good job at it.

  "So? What do you think?" I asked.

  "You wrote that?" Landon asked. I nodded. "And you wrote the music too?" I again nodded. "I knew you were good, but I didn't know you were that good!"

  "If that song represents the general image of the play, what do you think it's about?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

  "Well, freedom, I guess, since that is the title of the musical," Landon responded

  "Yes, that's true, because everyone should be able to find freedom from constraints in their own way. You're supposed to keep your mind open for new possibilities and ideas, and believe in your right to have free choice in your thinking. The play is basically about the same thing. You, ironically," I rolled my eyes, "play Harrison-the 'leader', if you will, of Franklin High School's popular crowd. But you become emotionally attached to a new girl, who is socially beneath you on Franklin's food chain."

  "Which is played by you, am I right?" Landon asked.

  "Yes," I said. "Well, anyway, your character can't tell my character, Yannie, how he feels..."

  "Why?" Landon asked.

  "It goes against the high school laws of nature," I said, shrugging. "Eat or be eaten-that sort of thing. So they begin having secret meetings so that Harrison can hide his shame."

  "Okay, then what?" Landon asked.

  "So the couple get caught by one of Harrison's friends and then Harrison makes up some excuse about just using Yannie which, obviously, hurts her. A lot of stuff happens, but in the end, thanks to a song I have yet to come up with, the two social groups come together and our characters get to live happily ever after, blah, blah, blah."

  "Sounds kind of corny," Landon commented.

  "Well, it's an homage to eighties high school movies. There is a fight scene, though," I said.

  "Oh, fight scenes are good. Between which characters?" Landon asked.

  "Your character and my boyfriend's character," I said.

  "Preston?" Landon asked, making a face.

  "What's wrong with Preston?" I asked.

  "Nothing," Landon said, holding up his hands, "If you don't have a problem dating him, that is."

  "Why do you care who I date?" I asked.

  "I don't, for fuck's sake!" Landon shouted. He threw his hands up, frustrated. "I thought this was about the damn play, not about our fucking social lives!"

  "Well then, don't bring up who I'm dating!" I yelled. Things started spinning out of control now and I put my hand on my head in frustration.

  "Oh, no, Riley-don't do this," Landon sighed. He was off the bed and next to me within seconds, his hands on my shoulders. I closed my eyes to stop the spinning. "Riley, c'mon." I groaned, but forced them open. "Look at me, okay? Just focus on me." Reluctantly, I did what he said. After a few deep breaths, everything stopped spinning and I sat back in my chair. "God, I forgot about that."

  "Lucky you," I muttered.

  "Sorry about getting you worked up like that," Landon apologized. I just nodded. He frowned and dipped his head to look into my eyes. "Did you eat at all today? Because that happened pretty easily."

  "Umm..." I said.

  "Don't even think about lying to me," Landon warned. "Last time that happened, you and Noah had been screaming at each other for at least five minutes-getting you a hell of a lot more worked up then this." I just glared at him. Landon went over to the doorway and bounded down the stairs.

  "May I get Riley something to eat, please? She's feeling a bit light-headed," Landon half-lied to my mom, who was in the kitchen.

  "Sure, how about chips or popcorn?" Mom asked.

  "Either," Landon said.

  A moment later he bounded back into my room, a bowl of chips in hand.

  "I am so getting you for this!" I said.

  "What?" Landon asked. "You look better with a little weight." I stared at him.

  "That could almost count as a compliment," I said.

  "Well, it was supposed to," Landon said. I shook my head and turned back to my computer. Landon took the huge bowl of chips and put them on the desk beside me. "Take a break and eat, already."

  "Bite me," I said.

  "I bet you'd like that," Landon shot back.

  I shook my head, grabbed a handful of chips and shoved them messily into my mouth to mock him. Then, alternating between snacking every few minutes and working on songs, we got to work. I played a few of the numbers for Landon and, surprisingly, he was able to help with a few tha
t his character was going to sing. We ended up not going over our lines, even though we should have, but we were productive nevertheless. Time pretty much flew by and next thing I knew, Dad was standing in the doorway.

  "It's after ten, you two," he said, donning a stern look.

  "Really?" I asked, looking at my clock. "Oh, it sure is."

  Landon nodded and left my room. I heard him saying his goodbyes to Mom and Noah before he left through the front door.

  "Well, you two looked pretty friendly again just now," Dad remarked.

  "We're barely tolerating each other!" I lied. Landon and I had actually become nicer to each other after my panic attack. There was no way he was going to stay that way tomorrow at school.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  I WAS RIGHT. I hated being right sometimes.

  I felt like spitting as I walked past Landon and his gang, who were all sitting around their cars. They all did random things, from sneering at me to cat calling. Landon, like usual, didn't do anything, but he did have an uncomfortable smile on his face, betraying any sense of guilt that he was doing nothing to stop them.

  "Whoa, baby, bring that over here," one of the guys, Carson, said. I rolled my eyes, pivoted on left foot and stood directly in front of him.

  "Is there something you want?" I asked, saucily.

  "Oh yeah," he said, reaching for my ass. My smile turned to a bored look and then I slapped him across the face, knocking him backwards into one of the girls.

  "Get it from one of your sluts then," I said casually, turning back around to glower while I was walked away.

  "Well, that's my girl." I looked up with a smile as I heard Preston's voice. He leaned down and kissed me softly, obviously trying to cheer me up from the ugly scene I had just walked away from.

  "So, how are things with you?" I asked.

  "Boring without you," Preston replied. Okay, so my boyfriend was corny, but he was still cute!

  "Hey lovebirds, there's such a thing as classes. They take place at about this time." I laughed as I turned to see Faith standing by us.