He's Worth It ~ Lams (COMPLETE)

Day Zero

This and the last chapter are the only short ones

Edited

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I've always let music control my life. Whether it be the songs I hummed along to in the morning dictating my whole day or the lyrics that plagued my mind in the night, the beat of a song was always pumping in my head. If I didn't have earbuds in my ears, my friends would ask me if I was ok. It's become a part of me, branded into my mind and body ever since I could press play on Spotify.

"Alex, when are you not listening to music?" Peggy groans, pulling out one of my earbuds. I send a scowl her way and pop it back in my ear, now able to hear all the different layers of the song.

"I need it to survive, Peggy, we've been through this," I respond curtly, my split listening skills on point as usual.

"You never engage in conversation," She says, poking my shoulder after every syllable. "Humans need that to survive, you know."

"Psh, no," I say, following her lead to the cafeteria. I can hear the faint sounds of students yelling over others under my music, but it's not as loud to me as it is to everyone else. I sigh contently at the lack of unnecessary noise and slide into my staple seat at our lunch table. Peggy sits down next to me with a bounce of her tied-up curls and pulls the earbuds out of my ears completely, stuffing them in her sweatshirt pocket. I make a noise of indignation and throw my hands up, reaching for the wire. She slides down the bench and right into her oldest sister, who grunts and scowls at Peggy.

"Watch where you're going, Margarita!" Angelica scolds, flicking her sandwich in Peggy's direction. Peggy sticks her tongue out and turns back to where I'm still sitting, steam billowing out of my ears. I stare her down, trying to intimidate her into giving me back my earbuds, but she stands strong, much to my dismay. Peggy smiles her signature 'I have a plan that you're going to hate' smirk and threads my earbuds through her pocket, waving them in my face tauntingly.

"I dare you to go a week without listening to music," She says, and I look at her like she grew a third eye.

"You're funny. Now give those back," I groan, shaking my head at her proposal.

"Are you actually serious Peggy? Alex wouldn't exist without music," Hercules interjects, inserting himself into Peggy's extremely loud conversation. Everything is ten times louder now that there's no music in my ears. "He'd just, like, disappear."

"Thanks for the help?" I say confusingly, not really sure if Hercules was trying to help my case.

"But... it would be pretty interesting to see how he handles normal human interaction," Herc replies, making my lips purse. I fold my fingers together on the table, trying to make a point.

"You are all so funny, ha ha." I say, rolling my eyes hard enough to make my head hurt.

"Do it, do it, do it..." Peggy whispers, harnessing the mystical powers of mob mentality and causing the others at the table to whisper along with her. I close my eyelids and breathe, trying to use anything in my mind to block out their annoying taunts. I fail.

"Good god people, fine! If I do your dumb dare will you shut up and give me my earbuds?" I yell, making their mouths close suddenly. Peggy whoops and the rest of our small group cheers their enthusiasm.

"Why are you all so invested in this? Have you been plotting something?" I say, my right eye twitching slightly. I comfortably roll the wire back into a coil when Peggy hands it to me and watch their faces for signs and emotions.

"Alex, you miss a lot of things when you listen to music." Hercules exclaims. Angelica moves so that she's sitting across from Peggy and I and nods. "You don't listen although you say you do, and don't even ask where everyone else is anymore.You barely pay attention when someone's talking to you unless we forcefully stop your music, and your participation grade is in the pits." Hercules continues, pointing out things I never noticed earlier. There's something in the depths of my brain that agrees with his notes, and I can feel it suddenly rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Stop that, the rest of my brain scolds without warning.

"So, starting tomorrow, no music is allowed. And I'm going to tell Laf because we all know for a fact that you're going to find some way to listen to music when you're not at school," Herc says. "Delete your music apps and lock up your earbuds, Alex. You're gonna be listening to the music of life from now on," He continues smoothly, spreading his arms out and a suave smile across his lips.

Everyone bursts out laughing from Herc's words and I cross my arms over my chest, pulling my entire energy close to my body. All I had to do was not listen to music. The thing that held my life together. This couldn't be too hard. 

~863 words~