“Yes, Dory.”
I give him a nod, and we walk over to his mom. The Lucy woman they were talking about is up toperformand we sit around as she walks over to the piano.
Liam’s mom lets out a scoff, and when I turn to her, both she and Liam shake their head at something. Liam bites back a smile and looks over at me to explain. “She was talking shit about her all week and complaining about how she knew she was going to play something on the piano.”
He glances over at his mom, but when he realizes she isn’t listening, he goes on. “She thinks only people who know how to play well enough should use it.”
I bite back a laugh and we watch as Lucy starts. She plays beautifully but misses a few keys and Liam's mom sure does notice. “Amateur.” She mumbles to Liam and my eyes slightly widen at how mean she is.
“Tell me about it.” Liam rolls his eyes as he entertains her, and I have to bite my tongue not to laugh at them. When Lucy finishes, we applaud her, but Liam only sits there unamused, and his mom claps slowly, and it’s very dramatic.
“Aria,” Capri warns, and she only puts her hands up in mock surrender. “We are here to support our friends.”
“And I have been supporting myfriends.”
Capri gives her a warning look and I have no idea why she doesn’t like Lucy but I can’t take this seriously.
“Yeah, Capri. Lucy isn’t her friend. She doesn’t have to support her.” Liam keeps his voice low and with the poor lady being across the room with a hearing aid she doesn’t hear them but I still feel horrible.
“Liam.” I kick his foot, and he clearly fights back a smile.
“Why do you like making my job so hard?” Capri looks at Liam like she’s genuinely confused, and he only laughs at her. “Aria, it’s your turn.”
His mom rises proudly and walks over to the piano.
“What was that about?”
Liam shrugs before wrapping an arm around me. “My mom is kind of mean. It’s fun to join in on it.”
I elbow him, and he glances down at me.
“What? It’s not like we’re actually bullying these people for their lunch money or something.”
“You’re horrible.”
He tells me his mom is worse but I surprisingly don’t doubt it. I lean into him as we watch his mom play the piano, and I know I thought Lucy was good, but she really is an amateur with the way Aria plays. Her hands move so gracefully across the keys and she doesn’t even look at a music sheet as she plays.
The song grows more intense and it’s as if she is telling a story with how the tempo speeds. I feel myself growing anticipated as I watch her hands fly across the keys only for her to slow down again. I glance up at Liam and he’s watching his mom like it’s the first time he’s heard her play.
When the song finishes, we stand to applaud her, and she only sits there with a proud smile on her face. “So, who won tonight's talent show?” She voices, and Capri lets out a sigh from beside us.
“We’re all winners.”
Aria rolls her eyes before walking over to us, and Liam wastes no time as he leans over to her. “She’s just saying that to make everyone feel better. Clearly, you won.”
“That’s what I’m saying.” She rolls her eyes and I can’t stop myself from laughing at them. She ends up calling Capri over and I feel bad that she has to deal with these two for a living.
“I won’t tell anyone. Just tell me who really won.” Aria urges.
Capri watches her for a beat before glancing over at Liam and shaking her head. “You won, Aria. With your years of experience, that wasn’t even a question.”
She hums proudly before nodding to herself. “Liam, you should play a song.”
“No, thank you.” He counters, not even giving her suggestion a thought.
“You haven't practiced all week, Liam. How do you expect to be ready for the musical if you don’t practice?”
I’m not sure what she’s talking about, and I’m not sure if anyone else does, but we don’t question her.
