The Citizen Soldier (DNF)

30) Memories

*Clay POV* (A few days prior to the day of the talent show)

Apparently, Drift knew the drums, Nuts knew the acoustic and bass, and Eret knew how to soundboard, which was all new information to me.

"Where did all of you even learn this?" I felt very confused. Eret was the first to speak up to explain the situation.

"I taught college band extracurricular for eight years to raise enough money for me to finish nursing school and caretaking classes at my college so I know a lot about different instruments m how they work, and how to play them. I also know how to teach them."

I felt impressed. "Cool." Eret kept talking, apparently enthusiastic about this. "Do you even have a clue as to how challenging it really was to teach Ben to keep beat? It was like wrestling an alligator, that one. He couldn't keep time for the life of him just a year ago, and now he's improved to being able to keep a flawless beat! I'm afraid that he's still Drift, and that will never change, but at least he has one skill that is useful that he can focus on now."

I hummed and nodded at him, smiling pleasantly. I had no real reason not to be nice about this, other than he was being a tad rude. He cleared his throat.

"Anyway, we were wondering if you wanted to be in the band? We do still need a lyricist and a singer."

"I can do you one better, but you need to take me back home for it."

"And whatever could that be?"

"That's the surprise, my friend."

Eret unhesitatingly grabbed his car keys and shook them in front of my face.

"Aight, you're on, music man."

I laughed at the ridiculousness that he'd presented. "You're the music man here."

Eret smiled.

"No, I think you are."

Nuts smiled and walked in between the two of us, holding up a hand into our faces. "You're both music men, okay? Now if you don't mind me I actually want to rehearse whatever crazy songs that one has, and do that one's warm-ups." They pointed at Eret and me respectively. I bit my cheek.

Eret just looked smug and started outside, waving me to follow. I rolled my eyes at Nuts, who gave me a finger wiggle wave, arm pressed up to their chest. I rolled my eyes again and walked out after Eret.

~~~

The moment we crossed the threshold I felt that familiar coldness and fear, but it was somehow different this time like others had been here already, in place of me.

"Who was here?"

I turned to face Eret. He looked at me strangely. "You have a friend taking care of it."

"Oh. I see. Which friend is it?"

"Someone named Zak."

It took me a second, but once I realized who he meant I slapped my hand to my forehead and gripped my hair. He really didn't need to do this for me, and now I felt really bad about it. How would I ever be able to pay him back for this? Perhaps he doesn't want to be paid back for it in the first place?

I shook my head and just looked around. I didn't want to go inside his room, but I knew that it would have to be where I went if I were to pick up my things. When I got up to the place, there was a note taped to the door in barely readable handwriting.

'Hey, buddy. Uh, I'm getting interesting vibes from this room, like repressed memories and mourning room vibes, so I'm just gonna leave this room undisturbed and undiscovered, no matter how curious I get. This stuff is your business, not mine bud.' I smiled at the handwritten note and pocketed it fondly. At least I had a friend that I could trust who actually cared about me.