Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

We all walk over to the hallway and discreetly as we can.

Time to explore this castle.

The long hallway has four doors down each side and one at the end which is Ceecee’s bedroom. That’s nine additional rooms! This is a small mansion.

The first two doors on either side are bedrooms. We don’t explore these because that would be rude. Though, I really want to.

We open the second door on the left hand side of the hallway and gasp when we enter it. It’s a small studio!

There is a baby grand piano in the middle of the room. That’s it. Nothing else.

I start bounding up and down and send a pleading look to Nat. She rolls her eyes but nods.

Yay!

We try to find the light switch but can’t so Mimi walks over to the curtains and pulls them open. We’re immediately bathed in moonlight.

Nat sits at the piano, links her fingers together and stretches them. She says, “I’m a little rusty. ” She looks to us and asks, “What am I playing?”

Lola immediately replies, ’Amazing grace’.

Nat smiles at her, “Great choice, hon. ”

And then we sing.

***

The girls disappeared a little while ago. I get up and shush the guys. There is faint piano music in the background.

We all glance around confused. I walk over to the hallway and hear the girls singing to the piano.

I wave the guys over and we make our way to the doorway. We stand just outside looking in. They are finishing up Amazing grace. No one has played that piano since my dad died. It was his and I’m happy to hear it being played. It brings back some really good memories of my father.

Nat remarks, “That was awesome. I haven’t played in a while so sorry if it was a little off. ”

Then we hear Mimi. “Can you do ‘Poker Face’?”

A confused Tina speaks, “Wait, I thought it was ‘Poke Her Face’. I thought it was a sexual innuendo. ”

Total goofball.

Lola chuckles, “Like when you thought in ‘Can’t Fight The Moonlight’ the words were ‘Pardon Me The Starlight, Starlight’?”

Mimi is in hysterics, “Or when you thought ‘Hooked On A Feeling’ was ‘Hooked On The Ceiling’?”

Tina is holding her gut from silently laughing so hard. She giggles, “Yeah, I hate when I’m singing a song and the artist gets the words wrong. ”

All the girls laugh at her. I’m glad she can laugh at herself.

A still chuckling Nat asks, “Any requests?”

The girls remain silent probably thinking of a choice. Then Tina speaks up. “Impossible. ”

I can see a frown form on Nat’s face. She slowly shakes her head no.

Tina touches her arm and softens her voice, “Please?”

Nat doesn’t look any happier but nods. “Which version? Shontelle or James Arthur?”