Page 52 of Wrong For Me

Bodhi:Sister’s babysitter bailed at the last minute and she needs me to come over so she can get to work. Can you get a ride home with someone?

Me:Sure. No problem.

Itisa problem, though. I’m going to have to call a rideshare I can barely afford. But what else can I tell him? Bodhi’s family is really tight, the kind of people who always have each other’s back. Of course he’s going to help his sister out if she’s in a jam. Sister trumps loser friend who can’t afford a ride.

Sighing, I do a google search for bus routes. I’ll have to change lines a couple times, and walk several blocks, but it will get me home. Eventually.

“I can’t stand this,” Rose says suddenly, and I tear my eyes away from the computer screen to look at her. “It’s way too quiet in here.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Pretty sure you promised me quiet, princess.”

She scowls at the nickname. “I know, but that was before I realized that I didn’t have my headphones in my bag. I thought I’d be able to listen to my music while I worked without bugging you.”

I shrug. “I don’t mind music while I’m working.”

She raises an eyebrow, probably expecting me to argue. “Really?”

“So long as you don’t put something lame on. No pop bullshit.”

She looks offended. “I happen to have excellent taste in music. My uncles would disown me if I listened to pop bullshit.”

For once my hackles don’t go up at the mention of her family. Instead I find myself wondering what that would have been like, to grow up with these larger than life legends of rock and roll. We hadn’t talked about it that night in Lake Tahoe. She mentioned her family but the music stuff didn’t come up. Do her siblings play? Are any of her cousins planning on following in the Ransome brothers’ footsteps?

Rose must have opened a playlist or streaming service on her phone, because a few minutes later the soft sounds of instrumental music drift through the room. It takes me a minute to figure out what I’m hearing—it sounds almost like…Metallica? If Metallica traded in all their instruments for violins.

“What is this?” I ask.

When she looks up I’m treated to an eager, excited expression. “Vitamin String Quartet. Aren’t they amazing?”

I listen again, forehead scrunched up. “I don’t get it.”

“They’re an old group but I’ve been obsessed ever since I found this playlist. They do classical arrangements of rock songs.”

I stare at her, waiting for the part that’s supposed to explain why this is amazing. When it appears no further answer is coming, I cross my arms. “So that’s it? They just steal other people’s songs and turn them into something a grandma would like to listen to?”

Rose rolls her eyes. “Please don’t tell me you’re so immature that the appearance of a few classical instruments is going to send you running. If anything, these arrangements only prove how strong the original compositions are! If a song can be adapted to a different format and still maintain the power of the original melody and the emotional impact of the piece, that’s crazy impressive!”

I blink at her for a few long moments, trying to wrap my mind around that. Finally, a smirk breaks over my face. “Oh my God, Rose. You’re a music nerd.”

She laughs, the soft tinkling sound so familiar it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “Well, I’m a nerd about pretty much everything else, so of course I’d be a nerd about music, too.”

“So you’re a giant nerd,” I shoot back. “Good to know.”

“Big talk coming from the guy who has a dogeared copy ofUlysseson your desk.”

“Hey, that’s a great book!”

“Yeah, a great book fornerds.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “And what kind of books does the princess like?”

“Stop calling me that.”

I ignore her, rubbing my chin thoughtfully while I think it over. “Jane Austen.”

She rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised she doesn’t pull a muscle. “So just because I’m a girl I must read Austen?”

“No. But I can see you getting all worked up for that dreamy, romance thing.”