Chapter Four: Lark

The strings vibrated under his fingers beautifully. His eyes were closed,
he didnt need to look. The guitar was a part of him, the noise echoing
through his body. He was lost in the sound. He sang along, his voice
sweet and soft. He was the best singer in Cliffston County. Only a few
people knew about it, people Lark knew he could trust with his secret,
and all of them had encouraged him to show it to the world, stating
hed be famous in months. He ignored them, of course, and just kept
going.
His hand was clammy from holding the pick too long but he
didnt care. He blocked out the world. He was all by himself, just the
way he liked it.
He stopped, his voice disappearing, the guitar strings ringing out.
He took the pencil from his ear and scribbled in the notes quickly,
trying desperately not to forget anything.
He glanced at the clock. Three hours have past since school has
let out and he was still sitting in an old music room. Mr. Wise had let
him borrow it for the afternoon, promising no one would disturb him.
He packed up and strode out. He flipped his black bangs out of
his violet eyes and closed the door behind him.
It took him about twenty minutes to walk home. Lark enjoyed
this kind of weather, warm and quiet. He saw some kids playing
kickball in the fields and some adults sitting on their porch to read but
other than that, the neighborhood was deserted.
He turned the key and jiggled it. Old thing. He huffed and
swung the door open.
Gran! He called. Im home!
There was no answer.
He walked into the living room, where Gran was fast asleep on
the recliner, drooling from the side of her mouth. Her nose wheezed,
forming a loud snore. The TV was turned on to Downton Abbey, Grans
favorite show. He chuckled, clicking it off.
He shook her shoulder. Gran. Gran. He whispered.
Grans eyes shot open. May I have a spot of tea? She said,
before she was awake.
Lark laughed as Gran rubbed her eyes.
Afternoon, Gran. He said.
Hey, pumpkin. How was your first day of school? She asked,
touching his face.
Lark shrugged. It was school.
Nothing exciting? She asked.
Nope. He said, walking towards the pantry.
Looking at colleges yet? She said.
Lark sighed, feeling caught. Gran-

Dont you start that with me. I might be old, but Ill be fine. This
is about you, Lark, I need to make sure you have a bright future ahead
of you. Gran interrupted.
Lark snapped his mouth shut, hoping Gran had dropped the
thought.
Luckily, she had. She sat back. Lark knew she was trying to think
of something else to say.
Got your eye on someone? She said.
Huh? Lark said.
A girl, Lark. You got a girlfriend yet? She said suspiciously.
Gran! Lark warned.
Might explain why youre so spacey. She said, ignoring his
warning.
Gran! He said again.
Oh hush, it had to happen sooner or later. I mean heres a
seventeen-year-old boy that has never had a girl under his arm. Gran
said. Youre too handsome to be that boy.
Lark huffed as he plopped down on the couch across from Gran.
Alright, I get it. Grans being too nosy. She giggled.
Lark smiled and took a bite of his food.
Gran yawned and got out of her chair. Well, Im gonna go take a
nap. Ill call you when dinners ready. Spaghetti and Meatballs, youre
Grandaddys favorite. Hehe. She said.
Okay. Didnt you just take a nap? Lark said.
I need another one. She shrugged.
Lark rolled his eyes and dragged himself towards his bedroom.
He flopped down on his bed, gazing at the ceiling.
What he hadnt given Gran the satisfaction of knowing, is that he
did have his eye on a girl. He just didnt want to admit it to Gran, and
he definitely didnt want to admit to himself.
He had always been independent. He hated crowds. Every party
invitation would be denied. Every concert ticket would be returned,
even if it was music. Every county fair week would be ignored,
watching the ferris wheel spin from his window.
Independent. The word sounded so comforting in Larks mouth.
He didnt need anybody to help him, he didnt want anybody to help
him. So why did he want her?
He didnt know. Probably just hormones. Plus, theres not
anything he would ever do about it. He wouldnt go up to her to ask
her on a date or kiss her under the stars. He would want to, he
admitted, but he would never have the guts, never. Their relationship
would just have to be fantasized through Larks imagination, existing
purely in Larks head.
Thats just it though. She crowded his mind. Every time he would
finally stop thinking about her, BAM, she came back. She had even

made her way into one of his songs. The one he wrote today. And the
one yesterday. Alright, tons of them.
Lark grunted in frustration. He wanted this stupid, useless
schoolboy crush out for good. He wanted to talk about it with someone,
but he knew it was a long shot. He could always talk to Gran, but he
couldnt tell her the truth, she would never let it go. His gravestone
would read the words, He never had the guts to talk to her, haha.
He walked over to his laptop, taking a deep breath.
He logged on.
This wont work.
It wont.
Dont get your hopes up, Lark.
Dont.
He clicked on the button on the bottom of the screen. His eyes
were wide and his heart pounded.
Lark shut his eyes before hitting the call button.
It rung, but he was too frozen to stop it. His face showed in the
little right hand corner. He waited for the program to shut down on its
own, the call disconnected.
It didnt. Instead, it stopped ringing, a face showing up on his
screen.
The figure smiled with white teeth. It wore a clean uniform, the
background dark. It must be nighttime where they are.
Then he heard the voice that he hadnt in almost a year.
Hey, sport! It said, its wide smile growing wider.
Lark smiled. Hey, Dad.