not tell him why. “Just because. Anyway, thank you.”
She looked at the list again. Was it possible? Why, she had Iron and Wine on her iPod. But “Jezebel”? Didn’t have that song. And she had never heard the Le Loup song before. She’d heard “I Shall Be Released,” the Joe Cocker version. Of course. But the Jeff Buckley cover? Come to think of it she had heard it. It was a long time ago during a party Yull had. Casey heard it from the other room and wondered who was singing it. She asked Yull the next day and he said Jeff Buckley, but on an obscure live recording.
She felt her cheeks go red.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Yes Ben. I do.”
35
Talent show performers waited their turn in the hall adjacent to the auditorium. When whispers or giggles erupted amongst them, Ms. Vernon got irritated and told them to hush.
As if Casey needed any more impetus to whisper to Ben.
“Why Jezebel?” she asked as soon as he sat down next to her. He shrugged. “I googled it, today after school,” she continued, “Jezebel was an ancient princess whose name’s nowadays synonymous with strong-willed women of ill repute.” She sat up straighter. “I have no problem with you calling me a Jezebel, for the record.”
Ms. Vernon marched over. “Shh.”
“What does the word Jezebel make you think of, Ms. V?” Casey asked.
“Casey I am only going to warn you once about talking.”
“Right.”
Ms. Vernon walked away.
“So maybe I was referencing the strong-willed part,” Ben whispered.
“But not the woman of ill-repute one?” She did not try to hide her disappointment.
He smiled. “I can throw you that bone.”
She briefly pumped a fist in the air. “Moving on. I’ll hold off on commenting about song number two and skip to song three.”
“Shh!” Ms. Vernon hissed.
Casey saluted her and lowered her voice a notch.
“What about it?” Ben whispered.
“I shall be released from what?”
“What makes you think the song title was meant to be taken so literally?”
“Because I know you. It was.”
He blushed. “You shall be released from trying.”
“Trying what?”
“Trying to know.”
“But what?” she asked.
“You’ll know what I mean.”
“But I want to know now.”
He rolled his eyes. “Knowing how you fit into it all.”
“You don’t think I know that already?”
“Actually I think you know that more than most people. But I think sometimes you’re not entirely comfortable with it so you get in people’s faces.” He paused. “Just an observation.”
She stared at him for a moment before speaking. “Back to song two.”
Ms. Vernon walked over again. “If you insist on keeping this up, I may be forced to remove you from the show.”
Casey shook her head. “Empty threats are beneath you, mademoiselle.”
Ms. Vernon walked away.
“Song two,” Casey began, “Le Loup, made me feel like I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to be in the middle of the night. Which, for the record, I was, the night we, you know…”
Ben’s face got redder.
“It was, if you don’t mind me saying, a rather romantic song,” she continued. He looked down. “And yet, you refer to me as ‘amiga’ on that there playlist. Care to comment on the dichotomy?”
“Do you care to comment on it?”
And of course, of course, Alex Deal chose that moment to saunter over.
“Hey,” he said. Ben scowled. Casey looked from Ben to him and then back to Ben again. “Did you like the songs?” Alex asked.
“What songs?” Ben asked.
“I made her a playlist.”
“You what?” Ben said.
“Made her a playlist. She asked me to.”
“You did?” Ben said.
She looked down. “I didn’t know you were going to ma--”
“Why, exactly, is this your business?” Alex asked.
“He’s in my band,” she said.
Ben looked away.
“Whatever,” Alex said. He glanced at the other end of the hall, where Peter was motioning for him to come over. “I better get back. But, uh, I’ll see you later?”
With his head still turned away, Ben shook it ever so slightly.
“Um,” she said. Alex raised an eyebrow. “Yeah,” she said flatly. He nodded and walked away. “Ben,” she hissed. But he would not look at her.
Ms. Vernon stomped over again. “Final warning, Casey. I mean it.” Samantha came over and told them that if anyone had to use the bathroom they better go since it was almost their turn to play. Casey sighed, stood, and went off.
When she exited the bathroom a few minutes later, Danny from Alex’s band was entering the guys’. “Break a leg out there.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh and hey I hope you liked those songs.”
She stopped. “Alex told you about the list?”
He smiled. “What he