Superstition {On hold}

Chapter 4

Chapter IV

Reece

“God, Beth—can I hold it?” Reece asked eagerly as Beth invited him into the garage—which was empty. The only things in it were a pair of large amplifiers, shelves with boxes and tool boxes on the wall and a few more boxes on the floor. “Sure, but that’s once I’ve shown you what I can play on this bad boy,” she said with a smug smile. She held it at arm’s length and looked at it judgingly. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she muttered thoughtfully. “The Axe Backbiter. This thing deserves a shrine...” And indeed it did, Reece thought. It’s smooth, black surface was as dark as ebony and really shiny, especially around its nicely curved two-forked bottom. Its neck was slender and long, with a nice set of tightly held silver strings, perfect for super fast, hardcore guitar playing. “Alright,” Beth said, slowly sliding her hand up and down the guitar’s neck. “I just...need to find the right scale and...”

 Reece chuckled. “You’ve had that guitar all summer—”

“—last two weeks, Reece,” Beth cut him off, correcting him as she still looked for the right scale. “I got this guitar on the last two weeks of summer. I haven’t had much time—and practise—to automatically know which scale to start on...I think this is the one.” Slowly but surely, Beth pressed her fingers against the strings on the neck and strummed once. The Axe Backbiter let out a loud, deep purr; Reece locked eyes with Beth and they both grinned at the same time. “Amazing, huh?” Beth glowed. Reece nodded excitedly. “’Kay, so the song goes like,”—she started strumming like it was no body’s business while doing a little bit of head-banging , like a rock star on stage. It was a sweet Gothic tune that Reece recalled was from the band, The Birthday Massacre. He couldn’t help but nod to the gothic melody while sing the lyrics to the song. Beth smiled all the way as she played clearly enjoying herself. Reece had to give it to her. She really was good despite the little time she had to practise. “You are a child of privilege~,” Reece sang at the top of his voice so that he could hear himself above the loud guitar.  

“Your reputation leads you~”

 “All trace of light will disappear!”

“You’re falling into season!”

“Their every word is insincere!”

“There is not time for reason~” Beth sang before she sang the chorus together with Reece; they were laughing, amused.  

“We lose control, of the moment. Another trend goes out of season. A new love. Forever.

Look the other way, you see through me~ a new trend: indifference.”

Their singing wasn’t exactly the best, and that’s what made the whole experience so amusing. Beth then played six fast hard strums; the start of Reece’s favourite part of the song—the solo. And then it hit. He couldn’t help but air guitar to the solo along with Beth as she played. They caught each other’s eyes laughed. “Beth, you’re amazing!” Reece exclaimed in between the booming cords. She smiled. Reece had never had so much fun. He guessed this is what it would’ve felt like being in an actual concert, although without a crowd, stage and a field big enough for moshing. So there was Beth, playing like a pro in her mini concert, and himself dancing and singing along with the music. They were both enjoying the moment. Reece wished Travers were here. He would’ve loved this. Never had he enjoyed himself so much.

She was getting towards the end of the song now, playing the last few verses of the chorus, and just like that, the song ended. Reece applauded and cheered. “Oh, God, Beth, I didn’t think you’d be this good. That was amazing!” Beth ran a hand through her dark hair and smiled. “Thanks...” She was proud of herself, Reece could tell. They fell silent for a moment; Reece, still awed by the whole experience, and Beth who had just began to pace quietly while gently plucking on the strings of her guitar. The silence was just beginning to become awkward when Beth suddenly sighed. “How bad is it?” she asked. That caught his attention. Reece looked up. “How bad is what?”