It's a Long Way Down

Chapter Four: The Band Practice

Aether, Rain and I walked to the practice room together. I had thought back to the Uno game and decided to ask, "Hey, Aether, was Sodo okay after the Uno game? You said he seemed off."

"Yeah, no he, um, he was just tired," Aether said. I gave him a look of confusion. Why did it seem like he was hiding something? What happened in Sodo's room that night? Before I could ask any further question, we entered the practice room. Aether was quick to separate from us and grab his guitar, starting to tune it. I slowly picked up my own, doing the same. Rain walked over to me, holding his bass as he said in a hushed tone, "Swiss told me he wasn't doing great."

"Who?" I asked him, confused. Rain looked around as if to make sure no one was listening in, "Sodo."

"Oh," I answered. Oh? Was that the best response I could think of. Rain interrupted my thoughts speaking again, "Outside your practice with him, which with what you told me not much talking goes on, have you tried talking to him?"

"Considering I'm usually with you or Swiss during those times, I think you know the answer," I told him. Swiss walked over, a smile on his face as usual, "I heard my name. What are we saying about me."

"Nothing you bastard," I told him. He put a hand on his chest, faking his offense as he said, "Why must you hurt me with such names?"

"Because you're nosey," I told him. Rain just pulled him down into a seat as he continued talking in a hushed voice, "We're talking about Sodo."

"Ohhhh," Swiss said in a suggestive voice before noticing the serious look on our faces, his tone changing serious, "Oh. Not like... Okay."

"She was worried-" Rain started, making me cut him off immediately, "Not worried, curious."

"Okay, she was curious about Sodo after he left from the Uno game last week," Rain said, putting a strange emphasis on 'curious'. I rolled my eyes as I leaned forward towards Swiss a bit, "He's been more argumentative with me lately. I'm sure you haven't missed it."

"He seems normal to me," Swiss shrugged off. I huffed and said, "Nevermind then. Clearly he's fine."

"Yeah, just completely normal, totally fine and good Sodo," Swiss said weirdly. Before I had a chance to ask why, Copia walked in, clapping his hands, "Alright, who is ready to get started?"

He looked around the room, "We are missing someone."

"I'm late! Sorry!" Mountain called as he ran in, Sodo following after him slowly. I watched him as he picked up his guitar. There was something strange about him today. Copia clearly didn't notice as he said, "There we go! Now first things first, Sodo, how has our little Ember been doing in practice?"

"Fine. If she could go a few notes without fucking up it would be better," Sodo answered in a bored tone. I rolled my eyes, biting my tongue to stop myself from saying anything back. Copia just laughed, "You always have a way with words, don't you? Anyway. We have much to discuss. Like how we will be announcing our little Ember. Now, I did have an idea. What if we just threw her into one of the songs playing the main riff instead of Sodo or Aether?"

Aether then looked up from tuning his guitar, "Seems a little bland, don't you think?"

"Alright, my idea can use some work, sure. Anyone have any other ideas?" Copia asked the group. I could hear Sodo grumble under his breath, "Just don't put her on stage."

Rain spoke up after a few minutes of silence, saying, "It's a little far into the show but what about the riff off between Sodo and Aether?"

"Yes! Like she just comes in," Swiss starts, playing an air guitar as he said, "Doing a sick ass solo that just melts everyone's brains?"