Trouble In Paradise

Chapter 6: With Friends Like These......

Joshua is hiding something.

That thought is always in my mind.

Joshua is hiding something.

I can't help to not think about it. Those words in the corridor, "Cause this will be your last-". I'm probably being paranoid but the way he said it...... Nah, I'm just thinking too much negativity. Go and enjoy yourself Chad, you are only here for two weeks.

" This room is incredible! " Jessica said excitedly.
"I can get used to this." Maxwell said.
"So what are we going to do in our new room?"
"Are you kidding me?" Maxwell said. "We are gonna celebrate tonight!"

OK, I have never been to a party or had one before so I'm quite nervous. What should I do? I heard that you dance, but I couldn't dance if my life was on the line. All I know is that everybody must have a good time, eat, drink and play something. We were all excited, including me for once despite my nervousness. I wanted to cry of joy. I can finally have fun with people that I can actually talk to without them criticising me or making fun of me. I can have that interference I was looking for. Maybe this will help me put my life back on track.
*******************
Night came shortly. We organised everything for our little party. Our brains were tired from all the planning and thinking and brainstorming, so we decided to chill for a while.
"So Chad," Jessica began, "anything interesting in your life you'd like to share?"
"Woah, hold it there." Maxwell said "Touchy subject for him."
"So it's interesting then?"
"Yes." Maxwell said
"No." I said quickly, hoping to avoid the subject.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes." I said.
We all sat on the sofa, watching The Walking Dead.
"So you don't mind me making your life more......interesting?" Jessica said, playing with her hair.
"Geez Chad!" Maxwell began, "you're redder than a tomato!"
I was blushing quite a lot. What Jessica said was.... unexpected. A zombie gurgled now on the television.

"You got a boyfriend Jess?" Maxwell asked curiously.
"No, why?" Jessica shifted closer to Maxwell. Much closer.
"I...I...I was just wondering." He stuttered.
"Really?" Jessica said, putting her hand on his chest. "Or should we go somewhere more........private?" Just as she was saying that her hand went slowly down.....down....down to his-

Maxwell made a strangling sound and he too, was blushing furiously. He got up from the sofa quickly, "I, uh, n...n...need to.....excuse me." He ran straight to the bathroom and closed the door. Jessica and I started laughing our heads off. When I had enough guts to ask a question that might end up me on the floor, breathless.
"Are you, uh......." I asked.
"Slutty girl?" She said. I nodded quickly.
"No, I'm just teasing you guys. I mean, I'm the only girl here and I'm thinking, "Hey, why not play around a bit?"
"Oh." I said blandly.

Soon Maxwell came out of the bathroom. Just as he came, red blood splotched on the HD television.
"Hey Max look," I said. "There's your face!"
Jessica giggled.
"Ha ha ha. Very funny."
My stomach grumbled. "Who's hungry?"
"Us." Jessica and Maxwell said together.
"What about you zombie?" I said, turning to the television.
The zombie growled.
"Yeah I thought so."

I went to the telephone. Next to it was a menu. I scrolled through the menu. Greek salad? No veggies for this boy tonight. Oysters? Yuck. Pizza? That's more like it. "How much is the pizza? I asked. "They don't show the price here."
"You don't get out much do ya?" Maxwell said.
"Room service is free." Jessica said, stifling a laugh but failing terribly.
A grin crept on my face. OUCH! Still gotta work on my smiley muscles. "Awesome!" I exclaimed.
"I'm gonna call. Just watch da master." Maxwell said, but then he frowned.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothin'. What pizza do you guys want?" Maxwell asked.
"Pepperoni." Jessica and I said in unison.
"You like pepperoni? I asked.
" Yup. Its my favourite. " she replied.
"Mine too!"
"Ditto. So its three large pepperoni pizzas. Coming right up."
****************
"I'm stuffed." Jessica said.
"Seriously? I'd eat another pizza any day." Maxwell bragged.
"Save it Max. I'd eat another two pizzas." I said.
"You guys can stop bragging. Let's have some fun." Jessica said, then blushed lightly. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Hold on. If we are sleeping under the same roof I want to know the people that's living here." I said.
"Fair enough." Maxwell said. "Jess can start."

"Alright." She began, "I'm 16 now. My birthday is on the 19th of May. I love singing. I hate anything that has to do with violence and people that's crazy. I play hockey as a sport. My hobbies is using my cellphone."

Maxwell was next. He stood up and said, "Evening lady and gents! My name is Maxwell Kruger. I am 17 right now as I speak. I love scaring people and making others laugh. I absolutely HATE politicians. My hobbies is playing with my XBOX."

"Hey guys," I started, "I am also 16. My birthday is on the 14th of February. Valentines Day, the day of love woohoo!" Then I stopped. I thought of the irony. I'm loved by no one yet my birthday is on the day of love. I quickly continued, "I jog every morning, so I guess that's my hobby as well. I like reading when I'm bored."

"Sooooo can we skip this crap and move on to the fun stuff?" Jessica asked.
"What are we gonna start with?"
"Well," Maxwell began, "I saw a DJ mixer. I know how to use those. I will make the beats and you guys can sing. It'll be like a karaoke night! Dubstep time!"
"Woah woah woah woah." I made a time-out sign. "Who says I can sing?"
"I do." Maxwell said.
I crossed my arms. "Oh come on! Don't be such a wuss." Maxwell said.

I gave it a thought and decided that I'm going to sing. Heck I can play a guitar as a back-up for Max and I'll sing a sweet melody..............that is, if the glass windows doesn't break first. "Does someone have a guitar?" I asked.
"I saw one next to the DJ mixer." Maxwell said. "This place has everything!"
"You, uh, you don't mind if I play with it alone?" I asked shyly. "If you want me to sing I have to warm up my vocal cords."
"Sure mate. Grab it."

The Guitar. That's what I'm naming it.

The Guitar.

It is a stunning piece of work. Five strings made melodies that could be compared to angels' harts. I found a three-legged stool and sat on it, The Guitar being held by its guitarist: me.

I wanted to create something that would be like my life so far. A story in music. I played the fourth string. And then my mind went on autopilot. My hands were moving across the strings of my life. I could hear the melody I played. Full of sadness, lost...........

When I stopped playing I realised that a waterfall was coming down my cheeks. "Chad......." Jessica began, astonished. She too, had a tear in her beautiful eyes. I quickly wiped my tears with my sleeve, not wanting Jessica and Maxwell see me cry.
"That was so........full of sorrow." Jessica said. More tears were coming down. Maxwell gave her his handkerchief to wipe her tears. When she gave it back to him their hands were locked, the handkerchief stuck in between Jessica and Maxwell's hands.......

He quickly pulled away, nervously. "So who uh, wants to sing?" He asked.
"I'll sing." Jessica and I said together.
"What?" I said. "You only live once. I'll play the guitar at a time where I think it should be suited with the beats Max is gonna make. Jessica can sing chorus and pops up wherever she feels like."
"Not bad." Max complimented. "Alright alright alright alright! DJ Queen is in da house!"

As soon as he said that he immediately started jamming out beats. Time to SING (Ed Sheeran baby!)!