Extra Credit by L.A. Watson & Felix Brooks

Author:L.A. Watson & Felix Brooks [Watson, L.A. & Brooks, Felix]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Men of Mapleside
Published: 2017-08-08T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Jared

I stared at the exams in front of me, but all the words and numbers ran together as I tried to keep my cool.

He didn't know any better, but that didn't matter right then.

I missed Bryce.

The sounds of his music floating through the cabin, the presence of Eli nearby, the way he'd looked at me when I'd told him...

It weighed on my heart like a stone.

How was I supposed to focus on grading exams when I was grieving like this?

Sure, it had been months. Several long months where I told myself if I just kept busy, kept moving, kept working, I wouldn't have to think about it.

Wouldn't have to feel.

But now, here in the silence of the mountains with Bryce's music filling the room around me, I was feeling entirely too much.

I rubbed my eyes, which were prickling with tears, and glanced over at Eli. He sat on a stool, engrossed in his work. I let myself stare for a few moments, watching the careful movements of the brush in his hand and the calm but concentrated expression on his face.

He reminded me of Bryce when he was working on a new song.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. Why did I even come here? I should have just canceled the trip and tried to get my money back. Being here without him...well, I might as well not be here at all.

It wasn't the same.

I took a deep breath through my nose and out through my mouth. What would Bryce have said if he were here? I smiled at the thought. He probably would have told me to go to the cabin anyway. To have fun. To relax, which he insisted I never did enough.

I always told him he 'relaxed' too much. I shouldn't have. Our lifestyles were just different. And now I'd never have the chance to tell him all the things I never could before.

I swiped the papers away and laid my head on the desk, feeling the cool wood against my face and digging my feet into the carpet on the floor. In this moment, I just needed to be present. I needed to be grounded. Then I could get back to the task at hand.

After lying there for God knows how long, I sat up again, wiping my eyes and looking over at Eli again. He hadn't moved, still entranced with his painting. It was coming along nicely, a riot of colors and waving lines that reminded me of something I couldn't quite place. I smiled as I looked at it. I guess it was kinda beautiful, in its own way.

The final track of Bryce’s CD played. My heart nearly stopped when I heard his voice come through the speakers, but then I remembered he always used the last track to speak to his listeners directly, to thank them for listening and supporting his work.

That was just the kind of guy he was.

"Hey there, Bryce here. Thanks for listening! I hope you enjoyed this album.

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