Page 14 of Sweet Music (Sugarville Grove #7)
BELLA
S eventeen years ago…
Seventeen-year-old Bella curled up in bed with her laptop.
Last night, she had been too down to even go online. But there was one person who always knew how to cheer her up.
She didn’t even know his real name, but he also didn’t know hers, and that was definitely for the best. Bella wasn’t the type of girl who boys fell in love with.
She was a plain Jane and a bit of a nerd.
Reading and music were her outlets from a life that was otherwise just burying herself in schoolwork.
She lived for the rare weekends when she got to see her cool older cousin, Harper, and talk for hours while listening to music.
Harper had told her about Riffs, a local online forum for indie music, telling her that she had to join right away when she was eighteen and allowed on the site.
Of course, the way she said it made it pretty clear that Harper would never be stopped by something as silly as an age restriction, but she knew Bella was a rule follower, always had been.
So no one was more surprised than Bella herself when, one lonely Saturday, Bella joined the forum, keeping her username a secret from everyone, including her cousin.
It was probably the bravest, most rebellious thing she had ever done, and she couldn’t even bring herself to regret it, because not only was it an amazing place to talk to other people about her passion for music, but she had also met her best friend in the world there.
She opened her laptop and clicked on the icon for Riffs Online: New England Indie Music Forum
Predictably, her message icon had an alert badge. She clicked on it right away without even checking her favorite pages.
Private message with Farmboy 7
Farmboy7:
did you listen to the new boathouse album?
Farmboy7:
hey you ok?
you didn’t message back last night
This was so typical of Farmboy—always worried about her, and never demanding. She let herself get lost in the messaging.
Sweet_Jane:
Sorry.
Bad day.
Farmboy7:
weren’t you seeing your dad yesterday?
Sweet_Jane:
I was supposed to, but he didn’t show.
Again.
Farmboy7:
that’s awful
it’s definitely his loss jane
It was a nice thing to say, but it was kind of hard not to take it personally when your own dad didn’t even want to see you. Or even care enough to cancel.
Sweet_Jane:
Oh well, what are you going to do?
Farmboy7:
want me to beat him up?
i wish i could be there with you
Sweet_Jane:
Thanks.
Farmboy7:
hey what’s brown and sticky?
come on, what’s brown and sticky?
Sweet_Jane:
I give up. What’s brown and sticky?
Farmboy7:
a stick
Sweet_Jane:
You’re an idiot.
Farmboy7:
i’m YOUR idiot
hey seriously what do you think of the new boathouse album?
Sweet_Jane:
Still not my thing, but better than their last one.
The drum track is epic.
I can see why you like them now
Farmboy7:
yeah the drums are amazing
Sweet_Jane:
Reminds me of the drums on the original Darlingtons album, but faster and more intense.
Farmboy7:
yeah that’s true or even the second darlingtons album
and you like the darlingtons
Sweet_Jane:
Definitely 3 the Darlingtons!
Farmboy7:
what do you love about them?
Sweet_Jane:
Those amazing guitar riffs, the old-timey folk covers they do…
Everything!
And their music is just FUN!
Farmboy7:
sure but who could trust your judgement? you like cash law and he’s basically a glorified elvis impersonator
Sweet_Jane:
First, there’s nothing wrong with The King!!!
And I would say cash is definitely developing his own sound lately.
Seems like a nice guy too.
Why do you hate him?
Farmboy7:
i don’t hate him
not really
but don’t you think rockabilly is over?
Sweet_Jane:
How can it be over if it still makes you want to dance?
Farmboy7:
i really do think i love you sweet jane
are you sure no real names?
Sweet_Jane:
Very sure.
G2G
Early day tomorrow!
She closed her laptop and just for fun, let herself imagine what it would be like to meet Farmboy in real life. Would he be dreamy? Would he have kind eyes?
She had a vague picture of him in her mind—strong and handsome with floppy brown hair.
When I’m actually eighteen, maybe we’ll meet in real life , she told herself.
But she knew she wouldn’t really want to meet him. Anyone as cool as Farmboy was guaranteed to be good-looking and popular. And he’d be disappointed as soon as he saw that his Sweet Jane was really just plain Bella Wood.
He’s my best friend , she reminded herself. That’s a lot more important than having a boyfriend.