1995

How About A Band - Chapter Four

Luke's POV

I, Luke Patterson have officially made it through a whole week of school, I may have dozed off in a couple classes and got a couple reminders not to talk while the teachers were talking, but I haven't gone to the principal's office once. That's better than anything I've done before. I don't know why Reggie and I were so worked up about high school in the first place, the boys and I have come up with this collective agreement that it's just like middle school but with older kids. I honestly thought it was going to be more exciting, but nothing really happened. I made a few friends here and there but none of them compare to Bobby and Reggie, but there is one thing, the thing I can't stop thinking about. What Jessica said about my lyrics on the first day of school. I have a guitar. If I wanted to start playing music I could, but with an acoustic guitar? That's not really what I'm going for. I want something big, something that will get me in front of sold out crowds, I want a band.

When school was finally let out on Friday, Reggie, Bobby and I all met up outside the front doors. We wanted to do something to celebrate getting through our first week of high school but none of us were super wealthy. On our way to Bobby's house I spotted a hot dog joint outside an old club, "boys, what do you guys think about street dogs?" I nudged over to the cart.

"As long as it's cheap I'm down" Reggie said with his classic Reggie smirk. We walked over and each grabbed our hotdogs. Yes they didn't smell great but who cares? We each gave our money to the guy at the front, his name tag read "Sam". Before we walked away from the cart we each started shoving the food in our faces. Saying that they were probably the cheapest food in Hollywood they were actually pretty good.

The whole walk back to Bobby's I was thinking about my lyrics. If I wanted to, I could maybe start music. I doubt I ever would though. Even if I did, what would the boys think? When we finally got back to Bobby's house we all headed straight to the garage. Bobby opened up the big double doors and Reggie and I stepped in, I walked over and threw myself on the couch that I've come to claim as my own. Reggie sat on the chair next to me while Bobby came over and shoved me aside so he could have room to sit on the couch with me. We all sat in silence for a couple seconds until Reggie decided to break it. "I like high school, I may not have all my classes with you guys but it's okay. Bands great and I think I'm going to ask my mom for a bass guitar." Reggie mumbled that last part, I think he was hoping we didn't hear him but we did. Reggie's puppy dog smile came across his face and Bobby and I shared a quick glance.

"That's really cool dude, you know you could start a band of your own with bass guitar. Just get a guitarist and a drummer and boom you're a rocker" Bobby recommended. That's it, what if I start a band with Reggie? If he gets that bass guitar, we could actually start something. But what about Bobby? I couldn't just leave him out of this.

Reggie thought about for a minute "that would be cool, but I don't know any guitarists OR drummers. How am I supposed to just up and find one?"

"What if you don't need to find one, what if you already know one.." Bobby gave off a slight smirk.

I quickly turned my head. I know for sure I hadn't mentioned learning guitar this summer how did he find out? "Wait Bobby how did you know I play?" I said a bit louder than I meant too.

"I didn't. I was actually talking about myself. I learned when I was younger but I bet I could still do it... Wait Luke you play?" Bobby and Reggie both paused looking at me. I couldn't lie now. What would be the point?

"Yeah, I taught myself this summer." I spoke shyly. I don't know why I was still so scared to admit I played the guitar when Bobby did too.

"Dang, that's three fourths of the band right there." Bobby looked at the two of us, "Reggie I think you might have yourself a band." Bobby lifted up both his hands so he could give both me and Reggie a high five. A band with my two best friends, Honestly that's all I've ever wanted in life.

Reggie's POV

I decided to leave Bobby's at around 6:00. I know I could have stayed longer if I wanted to but I don't like to miss dinner. Most of the time I'm the one making it because my parents are caught up in work or something. Even if they do make dinner I don't like leaving my younger siblings alone at the house. If I'm being honest it's not the most healthy environment, saying all my parents do is scream at each other about the stupidest stuff. When I got home I stopped on the porch, the sound of my parents fighting poured into the street. I don't know how no one else has heard it, they aren't quiet. As soon as I walked into the house I threw my bass down and ran upstairs to find Jacob and Sarah. I hate leaving them alone when my parents are like this, they're 10 and 6, they shouldn't have to grow up like this. Once I found them I immediately sat next to Jacob who was watching Sarah play with her dolls. "I'm sorry I wasn't here," I said wrapping my arms around him, "I know it's hard listening to them like this."

He turned to me and shook his head "It's okay, I'm glad you went out with your friends. You do so much for us you deserve a break." He looked down at his lap for a moment as we both sat in silence "I tried keeping Sarah distracted like you do, I didn't want her to start crying, that would just lead to more fighting."

I smiled at him "You did great!" I said trying to cheer him up. Seeing your 10 year old brother taking care of your little sister while your parents fight is a lot but I had to keep happy. "How about I go make us some PB and J's then we can go on a walk, just to get some air, you know?" I gave him a little nudge.

"Deal." He said, finally giving me a smile. "Can we go see Luke?" Luke was like another older brother to them, and to Luke they were like younger siblings.

"Sure thing lil' dude." I let out a little giggle. I ran down the stairs hoping my parents wouldn't see me go into the kitchen. I didn't want to start something with them, they were clearly already on edge and I knew if I said something wrong it would end badly. I snuck into the kitchen and grabbed the bread and the peanut butter from the pantry, then the jam from the fridge. For a moment I thought about bringing it up stairs just in case they do come in here, but I didn't want to make a mess in someone's room. Before I could even think about what I was doing I dropped the knife I was using to spread the jam. The silver banged against the hard tile and made a hard clash noise. I knew it was just a matter of time before-

"WHAT WAS THAT?" my dad yelled from the other room quickly coming in here with a stern look on his face. He was clearly not having it today.

"I'm- I'm- I'm sorry- i just, well I was just making dinner and I dropped it. I'm sorry." I paused and looked down at my feet. I didn't want him to see my face while he yelled at me cause I knew I would start crying.

"You trying to break our house boy? Stand up straight and look at me! Get your shit together!" I looked up at him trying my best to keep it together. I knew he would just get mad at the sight of me crying. I tried to run up the stairs but he grabbed my arm, it wasn't just a quick tug it was a full on hand to the arm, and it hurt. "Don't go crying like a little baby, I didn't raise no wimp."

Before I even left the room I heard them return to their fighting. This time it was about me. I tried walking slowly up the stairs but I just went faster and faster. I wanted to go into Sarah's room with her and Jacob but I felt the tears running down my face. I had to pull myself together. I went into the bathroom and started rinsing off my face. I turned once I heard a knock on the door, it was quickly followed by Sarah's quiet voice "Reggie? Are you okay?" I opened the door to see her big smile and Jacob standing behind her.

"Ya I'm fine buttercup" I said quickly putting a smile on my face trying to keep composure. "I remembered I had some snacks in my room. We can just have those for dinner." I grabbed Sarah's hand and led her and Jacob into my room. As they sat down on my bed I reached into the drawer of my desk and pulled out the snacks for the littles. No they weren't the healthiest things but they shouldn't go without eating. They each grabbed their choice of snack and got comfortable in my bed. "How about you guys just sleep in here tonight, I can make a little bed for me on the floor and we can have a sleepover." Sarah and Jacob's face filled with a big smile as they both nodded in agreement. I'm glad they wanted to, after tonight I didn't want to be alone. 

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 I really woke up and chose violence, I'm so sorry. Reggie deserves better. I imagine Reggie's little brother to be very similar to Carlos, that's why I added the "lil dude".  Anyways sorry for any spelling/grammar errors <3

 I'm literally posting this while I'm on online school-