A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 4

"You're a girl," the dark haired boy said.  I raised an eyebrow.

"Really?  I wasn't aware," I replied sarcastically.  "Thanks for letting me know."

"Can you play the keyboard?" the blonde haired boy asked.  

"Would I be here if I didn't?" I smirked.  He squinted at me, still contemplating my attitude.  "By the way, I'm Jordan.  Jordan Connelly."

"Bond.  James Bond," Ashton said in a deep voice.  The boys laughed and looked back at me.  

"I'm Calum," the dark haired boy replied.

"I'm Michael," the boy with the fringe added.

Finally, the other blonde boy spoke:  "I'm Luke."

"Nice to meet you," I said, sitting on the couch near the fold-up table they'd set up as a makeshift judges panel.  "So, why does it matter if I'm a girl?" I interrogated.

"Well, as you can see...we're a-" Michael started.

"Boy band?" I suggested.  They chuckled awkwardly.

"You could call it that, I guess," Ashton replied.

"Well, I'd hate to cramp your style.  I'll go," I said and stood up.

"No!" Calum and Ashton yelled.  I widened my eyes.  Apparently they needed me more than I thought.  I sat back down.

"So, do you guys want me to show you what I can do, or not?" I questioned.  This was starting to annoy me.

"Yes please," Luke answered in a determined voice.  I nodded.  I saw the keyboard that they had set up in front of their panel and turned it on.  

"Anything in particular I need to play?" I asked.  They shook their heads.  

"Nope.  Just play something that'll show us you can play the keyboard," Luke answered.  I shrugged in agreement.  I decided to play "Minute Waltz".  It showed off my talents pretty well.

My fingers flew across the keys quickly as I played the advanced song.  

The boys looked at me wide-eyed.  Was it too much?  Most likely.  Was I being a show off?  Probably.  Did I care?  Most definitely not.

"Wow.  That was fantastic, " Luke said, finally.  I nodded in thanks.  "But, it wasn't something we were looking for."

"I understand.  Would you like me to play something more modern?" I asked.  He nodded.

"Quick question," Calum piped in.

"Yes?" I responded.

"How did you learn to play like that?" he asked in awe.

"I've got fifteen years of piano lessons under my belt," I replied with a shrug, as though it were no big deal.

"Jesus," Michael whispered.  I walked back behind the keyboard.  I decided to play a favorite of mine:  "Fine By Me" by Andy Grammer.

"I'm pretty sure that you've made it," Ashton said after I finished playing.

"Really?" I questioned in surprise.  I'm going to be perfectly honest, I didn't think they'd want me.  

"Yeah, you're the best one we've had all day," Luke assured.  I couldn't keep the smile from creeping onto my face. 

"Also, I'm tired," Michael added while standing up and laying on the couch.

"I have a quick question," I said while raising my hand for dramatic effect.  "What is the name of your band?"

The boys looked at me as though I was crazy.  I just looked back at them with a confused look.

"5 Seconds of Summer," Luke replied.  I nodded in content.

"That's cool.  I like it," I said.  "You know, I was in a band."

"Really?" Calum said in surprise.  I nodded.

"Yep, four guys and me," I emphasized.

"What were you called?" Ashton asked.

"JC and the Boys," I chuckled.  Such a shitty name.  The boys laughed too.  

"You've got a nose piercing," Luke observed.  I chuckled.

"You're deductive reasoning skills are astounding," I joked.  He rolled his eyes.  

"You've got a lot of tattoos too," Michael added.  I looked at both of my arms and shrugged.  On my left one, I had a set of flowers outlined in white with some dark shading inside closer to my wrist.  The other arm had, "It doesn't get better, you just get better at handling it," on the outside of my forearm.

"I guess it depends on who you are.  And these aren't even all of them," I replied.

"How many do you have?" Luke asked.  I contemplated.  Then I decided to show them the ones on my feet and legs, which were just a random jumble of things: a mixtape, a candle, some ribbon.  I lifted up my shirt to show them one on my side when I heard them all gasp.

"Holy shit," Ashton muttered.  I looked over at them confused.  

"That one on your back is gnarly," Michael confirmed.  I smiled.  This one was one of my favorites.  In the manner that many guys take off their shirts, I pulled up the back of my shirt so you could see my back without revealing my front.  I had two gigantic angel wings the full length of my back.  I'm not going to say it was a drunken mistake.  It was more of an unconscious mistake that was courtesy of my meds.  I actually really like them, and I wouldn't have been ballsy enough to get them consciously.  I'm assuming that they were done looking so I pulled my shirt back down and turned around.

"I have one more to show you.  This one's my favorite," I said as I pulled my shirt down to show the one over my heart.  I got it after my mom died.  I had the Christmas card that had come two weeks early that year.  This was her message in her handwriting.  I thought it would be good to remember her by.  Rosemary has a similar one from the card that Mom sent her.

"What happened to your mom?" Calum finally asked.  I felt my face sag.

"She died in Afghanistan in a suicide bombing.  She was a military doctor," I replied feeling my heart drop.  The boys all mumbled apologies, and we just sat there for a little while.

"Hey, you know what?" Ashton finally chimed.  We all looked at him confused.

"I just now realized that you are American."