Just as he dropped onto his bed, phone buzzing in his pocket, Nathaniel's mind was still reeling from the argument. He didn't have time for this—he didn't have time for any of it.
But as his thumb swiped across the screen, the message from Alex popped up, offering an invitation to karaoke.
"Karaoke tonight. You in?"
Nathaniel stared at the message for a long moment. He didn't want to go. Didn't want to pretend that everything was fine. But his dad's words were still hanging in his mind, and he couldn't keep holding onto the same damn anger.
Maybe I just need to get away from it for a while.
"Fine, I'll go. But don't expect me to sing."
Alex's reply came quickly.
"Haha, whatever. See you there!"
Nathaniel stood up, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. His phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Kurt—something nasty. But he didn't even bother opening it.
He had enough.
Without another word, he left his house, the door shutting behind him as he stepped out into the night.
The neon lights flickered overhead, buzzing faintly as Nathaniel stepped into the karaoke bar. He had barely let the door close behind him when the loud, cheerful noise of the bar hit him—laughter, music, and the faint echo of a microphone being passed around. The place was packed, with his classmates clustered at tables, drinks in hand, already midway through their night. It was the usual hangout spot for the students after a stressful day, but for Nathaniel, it felt off. The night should have been a way to unwind, but with everything weighing on him—the fight, his suspension, his father's words—he didn't feel like participating.
Maybe I should just leave, he thought briefly as he looked around, but before he could turn, he saw Alex waving from a corner booth.
"Yo, Nathaniel! Over here!" Alex's voice cut through the noise.
Nathaniel took a deep breath and walked over, trying to shake off the thoughts of the day. His friends were already a few drinks deep, the energy in the air high with the buzz of young adrenaline.
"Ah, look who showed up!" said Jamie, one of the girls in their friend group, a mischievous grin on her face. "You ready to embarrass yourself on stage yet?"
Nathaniel rolled his eyes and slid into the booth next to her. "Not gonna happen."
"You sure about that?" Alex chimed in, giving him a sly look. "Come on, it's karaoke. It's fun. Get out of your head for once."
Nathaniel shot him a deadpan look. "Fun? Is that what this is?"
Alex just laughed, unbothered, and handed him a drink. "You'll see."
The group was buzzing with anticipation as they looked over the karaoke list. Nathaniel wasn't even sure why he was here, but maybe Alex had a point. Maybe just letting loose for a little while would take the edge off. He hadn't had a real moment to relax in ages.
The next few minutes were filled with the group debating over what to sing. As the next person was called up to the mic, Jamie nudged Nathaniel. "If you don't get up there and sing, I'll have to make you."
Nathaniel smirked but didn't respond. He wasn't in the mood for any of it. No way am I singing in front of all these people. I can barely stand being here right now as it is.
Jamie, always the one to stir up trouble, shot a glance at Alex and winked. "Let's make it interesting. Truth or dare, Nathaniel. Karaoke edition. If you don't sing... we pick the truth. And you know we've got some juicy stuff to ask."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "This is how we're doing this now?" He hated truth or dare. He hated how everyone always expected him to participate, to follow the stupid rules. But he knew Jamie well enough to know she wouldn't let it slide.
"You're in, right?" Alex asked, leaning forward with an eager grin.
For a moment, Nathaniel felt a flare of frustration. I'm really about to do this...
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth, finally giving in. "But don't get any weird ideas."
The circle formed, the lights dimming as everyone settled into their seats. The karaoke music in the background continued, a mix of songs ranging from pop hits to old-school rock ballads. But the attention was now on Nathaniel and his friends. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks as the group looked at him expectantly.
The first round was easy. Alex had to sing some ridiculously cheesy pop song from the early 2000s, and he butchered every note. Laughter followed, and the group settled in for another round. But when it was Nathaniel's turn, the tension in the air thickened. Jamie grinned like a cat with a mouse in her sights.
"Alright, Nathaniel," she purred, tapping her fingers on the table. "Since you're so good at solving other people's problems with your fists, let's see if you're good at solving our karaoke dilemma. Your choice: truth or dare?"
Nathaniel was tired of being pushed. He hated being forced into this shit, but he knew if he didn't play along, Jamie would never let him hear the end of it.
"Dare," he said, trying to sound confident, but internally he was bracing for whatever nonsense they'd come up with. I better not regret this.
Jamie's grin widened. She whispered something to Alex before turning back to Nathaniel.
"Alright. I dare you to get up there and sing. I don't care what song it is, but you have to sing it. Alone."
Nathaniel let out a groan. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I'm deadly serious," Jamie replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You've gotta do it, Blackwood. Or... you know the deal. Truth time."
A couple of the others nodded in agreement, the challenge clear in their eyes. Nathaniel felt cornered, like the walls were closing in on him. He didn't have a choice.
"Fine. But I'm picking the song," Nathaniel said, rising from the booth before anyone could protest.
As Nathaniel approached the karaoke stage, the mic seemed to loom larger with every step. The spotlight hit him, and for a moment, he could feel the burn of all eyes on him. The music from the background faded as he adjusted the mic in his hand.
This is a mistake.
He scanned the song list quickly, trying to pick something that wouldn't make him look like a complete idiot. And then he saw it: 'The Kill' by Thirty Seconds to Mars.
The dark, intense tone of the song matched how he was feeling tonight. Let's see if they can handle this.
He glanced back at his friends as the first notes began to play, their faces full of anticipation and snickers. Jamie was already laughing, but he was beyond caring. He took a deep breath and started to sing.
His voice was rough, but there was an edge to it, a rawness that made it clear this wasn't just about karaoke for him. It was about venting, letting out all the frustration that had been building up for days. The words seemed to spill out of him, his emotions raw and unrefined. The song's dark undertones mirrored his mood, and as he hit the higher notes, his mind wandered, consumed by everything that had happened.
'Why does everything feel like a fight?'
He was halfway through the chorus when he caught a glimpse of the people in the crowd. Most of them were laughing, but there was a small group that seemed genuinely impressed. Even Alex, who had been egging him on, had his eyebrows raised in mild surprise.
Nathaniel finished the song, the final note ringing out through the bar. For a second, there was silence, and then the room erupted into applause.
Nathaniel stood there, out of breath, his heart pounding in his chest. His nerves were on edge, but the small, victorious smirk tugged at his lips as he walked back to the booth.
"Okay, okay," Jamie said, wiping away a tear from laughing. "You actually didn't suck."
"Yeah, you surprised me," Alex added, grinning.
Nathaniel shrugged, feeling the weight of his usual annoyance dissolve slightly. "It wasn't for you guys, but whatever."
As he sat down, Jamie raised her glass. "To Nathaniel, who can actually sing when he's forced to."
Nathaniel rolled his eyes, but something in him felt lighter than it had all day. He wasn't happy about the situation, but maybe... maybe there was something to be said for just getting through it.
"Now," Jamie said, leaning forward, "Truth or dare, Nathaniel. You're up next again."
Nathaniel took a long drink, his eyes narrowing playfully. Oh, here we go again.
The karaoke session carried on in the background, but Nathaniel's mind was still buzzing. The weight of the suspension from school still hung over him, but there was a part of him that had found some strange satisfaction in his performance earlier. At least for a moment, he'd managed to step out of the chaos in his head and just be... normal.
As he sat in the booth, nursing his drink, he barely noticed when Keade slid into the seat next to him. The moment her presence registered, though, his heart skipped a beat. She had a way of quietly making her entrance, and despite the noisy atmosphere, she seemed to draw all of Nathaniel's attention. Her dark eyes glinted in the dim light, and the soft hum of the bar faded as she looked at him.
"Hey, Nathaniel," she said, her voice warm and inviting.
Nathaniel looked up, startled, but then quickly masked it with a grin. "Oh, hey, Keade. What's up?"
Keade smiled, leaning in slightly, her hair falling over her shoulder in a wave. There was something about her that drew him in—her calmness, her quiet presence, her mystery. She was different from the others.
"I've got a dare for you," she said, her voice low but playful. Her smile never wavered, and Nathaniel felt his heart beat a little faster.
"A dare?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. He was already starting to feel the pull of excitement—Keade had been on his mind for weeks, and here she was, speaking directly to him. 'This is it. She's giving me a chance.'
"Yeah," Keade said, her grin widening. "I dare you to do something... interesting."
Nathaniel felt a flutter of nerves. "Interesting?" he repeated, leaning slightly toward her. "What kind of interesting?"
Keade's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I want you to go to that old abandoned building at the edge of town. You know the one. The one everyone talks about, but no one goes near. I dare you to stay there for an hour and record everything on your phone. If you do that, then..." She paused, letting the words hang in the air for a moment.
"Then... I'll be yours."
The world seemed to pause for just a fraction of a second.
Nathaniel's heart raced, his mouth going dry. Did she just—?
His mind was suddenly consumed with the possibility. The dare itself seemed wild, but Keade was asking him to do it. She was challenging him, and it felt like a chance—a real one. He wasn't about to let this slip away.
Without missing a beat, Nathaniel grinned and gave her an eager nod. "You're on. I'll do it."
Keade's eyes widened just a fraction, as though she hadn't expected him to respond so quickly. But then her smile returned, wider than before. "I knew you'd take the dare."
She winked at him, then stood up, her movement graceful. "I'll meet you after school, Nathaniel. Don't chicken out."
Nathaniel didn't even have a second thought. He couldn't let her down now, not when he was so close to something he'd wanted for so long. The idea of spending time with her, proving himself to her—he couldn't resist.
He watched as Keade returned to the group, her dark hair swaying behind her with each step. A buzz of excitement ran through him. This is my chance. I can't screw this up.
The others at the table seemed to have noticed the exchange too. They were all watching him with amused smiles, but Nathaniel didn't care. He was beyond the point of caring about what anyone else thought. This was about Keade.
The rest of the karaoke session blurred by in a haze as Nathaniel's mind raced. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Sure, the abandoned building was talked about in hushed tones—rumors about it being haunted, about strange things happening there—but that didn't matter. None of it mattered. Keade had dared him. And that alone meant it was worth it.
I can do this. It's just an hour. An hour to prove myself.
Nathaniel's pulse quickened as the idea of finally being with Keade filled his mind. This is it. She'll be mine. The rest of the world faded away as he imagined the possibilities.
Alex, who had been sitting across from him, slapped him on the back. "So, you're really doing it, huh?" he asked, his voice full of laughter.
Nathaniel, caught in his thoughts, barely glanced at him but managed to chuckle. "Yeah. I'm doing it."
"Bold move," Alex continued, his grin wide. "But, hey, it'll be a good story, right?"
Nathaniel nodded, although he didn't feel like telling anyone else about it. This was something between him and Keade. He didn't need anyone else's opinion. The dare itself seemed harmless enough—just a quick trip to an old building. He wasn't afraid of the dark. He had never been one to be scared easily.
"Right," he said, his voice firm. "I'll meet her there. I won't let her down."
It didn't take long for the karaoke session to wind down, the music transitioning to quieter background noise as people began to leave. Nathaniel's mind was set on one thing and one thing only: meeting Keade.
He stood up, excusing himself from the group, his heart pounding with anticipation. "I'm heading out," he said briefly to Alex and the others. They didn't seem to notice the seriousness in his voice, too busy with their own conversations. Nathaniel didn't care.
The air outside was cool as he stepped out of the bar, the streetlights casting a faint glow on the pavement. His breath came in shallow bursts as excitement mixed with nerves. I'm really going to do this.
The old building was on the outskirts of town, far away from where people usually went. Most kids had heard the rumors about it—how strange things happened, how people who went there sometimes never came back. But Nathaniel wasn't going to let a few spooky stories stand in his way. He was about to prove something to Keade. He would do whatever it took to make her notice him.