A Misunderstanding : The Music Freaks :

Chapter 1: Discordant Notes

"Remind me again why you're in that stupid music club?" Drew asked, irritation sharp in his voice.

"I already told you—it's just to impress Daisy," Jake replied. "She likes singers, remember?"

He thought back to his conversation with Daisy outside the music room and shrugged as if it were nothing.

"So you'll leave the club after the competition," Liam said, leaning forward, "since you'll finally ask her out, right?"

"He better," Drew muttered coldly.

"And Henry," Drew added, narrowing his eyes, "if I hear one more word about lettuce, I'm going to lose my mind."

Henry immediately snapped his mouth shut and shrank back into his chair.

"Relax," Jake said, trying to ease the tension. "I already told you—I'll leave the club after the competition."

He stood, picked up his lunch tray, and nodded toward the exit. "I've gotta get to rehearsals. I'll catch you guys later."

As Jake walked off, Drew's annoyance lingered plainly on his face. Henry noticed immediately.

"Awwww," Henry teased, smirking. "Are you jealous that those music nerds get to talk to your boyfriend instead of you?"

"Okay, fine," Drew snapped. "Maybe I am a little jealous. So what?"

"I don't get why he's hanging out with those music freaks more than us," he continued bitterly.

"Maybe he actually enjoys hanging out with them," Liam suggested. "He's seemed pretty spaced out lately."

"I bet you wish those freaks would just kick him out," Henry added. "That'd make things easier."

Drew paused.

For a moment, he looked thoughtful—too thoughtful. Then his usual devilish grin spread across his face.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "That would be great."

Henry and Liam exchanged uneasy glances.

"You're planning something, aren't you?" Henry asked.

"Maybe," Drew replied with a sneer. "None of your business."

"Don't tell me you're gonna try to get the music freaks to kick him out yourself," Liam said, stunned.

"Of course not," Drew scoffed. "Those idiots wouldn't listen to me anyway."

He stood, grabbed his tray, and walked off, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.

Drew stopped outside the music room. Voices drifted through the door—familiar ones. He recognized Zander and Jake, arguing.

"Relax, Zander. It won't happen again," Jake said.

"You say that every time!" Zander shouted.

Drew continued past the room toward the lockers. He stopped at one, glanced around, and pulled out a hairpin, courtesy of Zoey. After about thirty seconds of careful work, the lock clicked open.

He smiled.

Inside was a familiar blue backpack. He rummaged through it quickly: a book, a pencil, a binder, and finally, a cellphone.

Please don't have a password, he thought.

He turned the phone on. A keypad appeared.

"Damn it," he muttered.

He tried a few guesses, but none worked.

Then he heard the creak of a door opening.

"I just forgot my phone," Jake's voice echoed down the hall. "I'm gonna grab it."

Panic surged through Drew. He shoved everything back into the bag, closed the locker, and turned the corner just as Jake approached.

"Oh, hey, Jake," Drew said casually as he passed him.

"Sup, Drew," Jake replied, heading straight for the locker Drew had just searched.

An idea sparked.

Drew turned back and caught up to him. "Hey, Jake. Can I ask you something?"

"Oh, sure. What's up?" Jake said, pulling his phone from his bag.

"I just wanted to know your real opinion of those idiots."

Jake froze.

"The music club?" he asked cautiously.

"Yeah," Drew said, feigning annoyance. "You've been hanging out with them a lot lately."

Jake unlocked his phone as he spoke. "We've just been working on the song for the competition. Honestly, they're not as bad as you think."

Drew watched closely as Jake typed in the password.

3 0 5 4

"Sure," Drew said lightly. "Whatever you say. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Drew!" Jake called.

Drew walked down the hallway, unaware that someone else had witnessed him rifling through Jake's locker. The observer stayed silent, for now.

This could be interesting, Drew thought.

Meanwhile, back in the music room

"—and I've already finished creating the track," Sean said. "Now we just need vocals, and it's set."

"So I get to practice my guitar riffs?" Milly asked eagerly.

"Yes, Milly," Hailey replied, clearly exhausted.

Milly squealed with excitement, grabbed her guitar, and hooked it up to the amp. She strummed once, hard.

A booming soundwave blasted through the room.

"Maybe turn that down a bit," Jake said as he reentered.

Milly pouted and lowered the volume.

"I can't wait to get back to my baby!" Luke exclaimed, staring lovingly at his drum kit.

"Careful, Luke," Milly teased. "You'll make Zander jealous."

"I'm not jealous!" Zander shouted from the doorway as he marched to his keyboard.

"Alright," Hailey said, clapping her hands. "Everyone ready?"

Jake stepped up to the microphone. "Yep."

The others gave silent nods, fingers poised on strings, keys, and drums.

And as the music began, none of them knew that by tomorrow, everything would fall apart.