Soby: An Oath of Peace and War

40: Worth The Music

Bret stood confused, "Did he just?"

Marshall nodded, "He sure did. Great job Tuck."

"Why don't I get a say in this?" Chase asked reluctantly, "I haven't had a say in anything today!"

"Because we thought you were dead. Stupid." Bret scoffed, "Besides, you don't talk much for a quarterback anyway."

"What's my favorite play then?" Chase asked cockily.

"Trio left stick left deep up," Bret responded with a sigh, "I study the plays, I know Marshall does too."

"Whatever. Can't I sing one song?" Chase growled.

"We're gonna let Rubble sing a song." Bret motioned Chase to stop, "After that, we'll let you sing."

Rubble stepped up onto the stage and grabbed the mic, "Hi, my name is Ryan or Rubble as some of you know me."

Some people laughed or whispered, "I get that I'm not well-liked and girls don't like me. So here goes nothing."

I feel fat
I feel stupid
I feel useless
Pass the blame
Like my life
Is a constant fucking horse chasing a train
If it's me
I don't know
But I sure feel so alone
And the reason I mistreat me
Is not feeling self-assured

Tell me, fucking tell me
All the lies you tell yourself
Lies you tell yourself
Lies you tell yourself

I have goals
I have standards
Why are those not set from me?
It's like a voice inside my head is saying
I should not feel glee
Don't be happy with what you have
Don't be stoked with who you are
And just act like you're a pathetic little
Dust ball in the wind

Lies you tell yourself
Lies you tell yourself

Tell me, fucking tell me
All the lies you tell yourself
That your worth is just the compromise
You made to lose your true self

Lies you tell yourself
Lies you tell yourself

Bret frowned after hearing Rubble sing, "Poor Rubble, he's battling depression. He's single, oh god that makes it worse."

"Thank you." Rubble walked off the stage and outside past the gym doors.

Bret chased after Rubble hoping to get something out of him, "Dude, you sang the saddest song we had to offer. Is something wrong?"

"Bret, you're my friend after all this. I'm single because nobody likes short guys! Like myself." Rubble revealed scars as if he were cutting himself: "I harm myself to make the pain disappear. I'm nothing but a useless person in society."

Bret put his hand on Rubble's shoulder, "Dude, just because your short. That doesn't mean you won't get a girlfriend. I know you dude, put yourself first, then the girls after. Think my friend."

"I can't anymore, I'm so mental I just..." Rubble had tears go down his plump and round face.

"You need to let go of your struggles Ryan." Bret used Rubble's real name, "They are temporary, the future is now. I can help you be in a relationship."

Rubble sat on a table that stood near the Gymnasium, "My struggles stayed with me. I'm just mental."

"Your mentality is your strength," Bret recalled.

Rubble didn't want to move, "The only thing that keeps me alive is the fact you're home. It shows you wanted to never go in the first place. Now you're a veteran in some people's eyes. I'm just nothing but a friend to that person.

"I'm not myself either." Bret left Rubble at the tables, "I'll show people my actual self. It hurts hiding behind a mask."