The Music Freaks: Episode 10

Chapter 17 ~ Dinner Problems

Jake looked at the present Hailey had given him, holding it in his hands. It was a customised jacket, looking similar to the one he was already wearing, with some extra details. It looked like it would be worn by a rockstar. "I made it for you, for the competition. We all have outfits we're gonna wear, that's the first part of yours, I'll give you the rest tomorrow." Hailey explained to Jake, smiling at him. "We'll all get together tomorrow and put them on, practice in them, it'll be fun." She added. "Alright, got it! Uh, can I, wear this now?" Jake asked, Hailey instantly nodding. "Yes, of course! Wear it for as long as you'd like, just, don't ruin it, obviously." Hailey answered Jake. "Got it, got it." Jake said, taking off his usual jacket and putting on the new one, sticking his usual one in the box the new one came in, Hailey telling him he could take it home. He looked at himself in the mirror, smiling. "I look awesome!" Jake said, turning around only to be met with a hug by Hailey.

"Yeah, you look great, Jake." Hailey said, smiling as he held Jake tightly, him blushing and smiling. "Cheers, Hailey." Jake said, hugging Hailey back. About a minute later, they let go of each other. "Oh, and um, Jake. While here, please try your best to not tell or indicate to my parents we're dating, okay?" Hailey told Jake. "Why? Would they have a problem with it? Wait...do they hate me?" Jake asked, pretending to be sad and using a sadder tone. "No. Look, we can tell them after the competition, but for now, they don't know, and let's just keep it that way." Hailey told Jake, smiling at him and planting a kiss on Jake's cheek which caused him to blush extremely. "O-Oh, uh, okay!" Jake agreed, smiling down at Hailey. They both left Hailey's room, Jake trying to hide his blushing. They were lucky Zander was too busy with Luke, and didn't realise they had left. Once they arrived, Milly smiled happily at Jake. "Jake! You're wearing you're outfit, it looks so badass!" She said excitedly, Sean and Luke smiling at Jake as well, Zander glancing at him. "Thank you, Milly. And it's just the jacket, wait until I put on the whole outfit. I'll look so awesome!" Jake said happily.

Just then, Shannon walked in, smiling. "Hey guys, nice jacket, Jake. I've made dinner, would you guys like to join us?" She asked, Hailey and Zander obviously living there so they had to eat and Milly and Sean's parents had discussed with Shannon and Micheal that they could eat there. "Oh, I wouldn't want to use up your food, Mrs Wickham." Daisy said, smiling. "Nonsense, Daisy. Please, I insist." Shannon told Daisy. "...well, if you say so." Daisy responded, still smiling. If Shannon wanted her to eat, then she guessed she could eat. "What about you, Jake? Or do your parents need you home?" Shannon asked, reminding Jake of the last week and Zander yelled out that he had to leave. But this time, he glanced at Jake and just left the room with Luke. Was that his way of saying he didn't mind? "Oh, well, I guess I am hungry. Sure, I wouldn't mind, as long as it's okay." Jake replied, Shannon smiling. "Of course it's okay. Come along." She said, leaving the room, making Jake the last one in the room. He was about to leave before he heard his phone, taking it out and seeing a message from Zoey, who was no longer in the Jomies group chat after Drew removed her, but Jake had forgotten to block her.

Zoey:
Hey, Jake. Now, I was originally planning on realising the audio out to the whole school, but, that wasn't good enough, especially after you're already back in the club. But I wouldn't want the audio to go to waste, so I'm gonna send it to someone. Someone you care about deeply, enjoy.

Jake instantly put his phone away, worried about who she was gonna send it to. But, at that point, everyone he cared about already knew about the audio, and they had forgiven him. So, he tried to put on a smile, and tried to forget about it as he left the room and went to the dining room, sitting down at the table in the open seat between Hailey and Daisy, beginning to eat. A conversation had began between every member at the table: Jake, Daisy, Hailey, Zander, Luke, Milly, Sean, Shannon, Micheal and Bethany(it's a big table), mostly about the club and the anticipation for the competition, it only being two days away. During the conversation, Micheal turned his attention to Jake. "So, Jake, are you excited?" He asked, Jake nodding. "Extremely excited, I can't wait." Jake responded. "Good good. I can't wait to watch you sing, along with the rest of you play, you're gonna win that competition, I know it!" Micheal told them all, smiling. "I remember when I use to perform with you Hailey, you were so little and full of energy. I still remember it like it was yesterday. And now, you get to perform along Jake, you'll do great together." Micheal added, Milly looking up.

"Yeah, they've got great chemistry. You two better not finish the song with a kiss." She said casually before looking back down and by going back to eating. Micheal and Shannon stared at Milly, as did everyone before she looked up again. "What? They're dating, it's a possibility, although it would be super cringe." Milly said, not realising that Shannon and Micheal didn't know. "Wait, you and Hailey are dating?" Daisy asked, her not knowing either. "...you're dating my daughter, Jake?" Micheal asked. "Oh, uhm, ummm..." Jake tried to answer, feeling awkward and claustrophobic as everyone stared at him. "Yeah, surprising isn't it, didn't think it would be possible after Jake was kicked out." Milly added, Sean bumping her in the shoulder in a way to tell her to shut up, Milly not realising she was revealing too much. "Kicked out? Jake, you got kicked out the club?" Shannon asked. "I thought you just left, that's what you told me." Daisy said, once again, Daisy, Micheal and Shannon were staring at Jake, almost looking like they were demanding answers.

However, they were gonna get one. Daisy had pulled out her phone after hearing it, looking at a message she just got from someone. "Jake...I just got a message from Zoey, what is this?" She asked, Jake almost instantly not liking this because it was Zoey, chills being sent down his spine once he realised why Zoey had sent him that message. Before he could do anything, Daisy hit play on an audio Zoey had sent her, and since everyone had gone quiet, everyone heard the audio:

'Heck, Hailey can't even sing without me because of her stupid stage fright! And they probably wouldn't stand a chance without me! They should be grateful that I joined them in the first place! They should've known from the moment I joined, that I wouldn't be a music freak!"

After the audio was done, the entire room went even more silent, you could hear a pin drop. Daisy, Micheal and Shannon now knew why Jake was kicked out, the club was reminded why, and Micheal just heard a different side to Jake than he expected. "....Jake.....I think you should leave..." Micheal said slowly, Jake in fear that he might piss him off, nodded, walking back to the room they practiced in and collecting his things, along with the box with his old jacket in before leaving the house, everyone staring at him as he did so. Zoey had sent the audio to the one person he didn't want to hear it, Daisy, and even Micheal and Shannon. They knew Jake was dating Hailey, the same day they found out he had been kicked out for insulting the club...shit! Jake began walking home, it sucking since he didn't have his bike, so it was quite far away. He kept walking back home, eventually arriving and going straight to his room, closing the door and taking out his phone, seeing a message was Hailey.

Hailey:
Jake, I am so sorry. Milly didn't mean to open up like that, she's deeply sorry as well

Jake:
It's fine, I don't blame you or Milly...they would probably find out anyway, sometime soon

Hailey:
My dad talked to me, he wants you to come back tomorrow so he can discuss with you and me. I can't tell whether he's pissed off, sad, or just something else. But it's obvious he isn't happy

Jake:
Alright, got it

Hailey:
I- I....I'm worried. Ever since Milly first spoke, I've been having this long panic attack, Jake. The competition is in two days, we already went through the trouble with you first and now we have you back, I don't want to hear dad tell me to kick you out again or something. We've practiced so hard, and- and- .....I don't want it to go to waste

Jake:
Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure this'll be okay, trust me. We can meet at school tomorrow, alright? I'll give you hugs to calm you down ;) ❤️

Hailey:
...thank you, Jake

Jake then switched his dm's to Daisy, seeing her online:

Jake:
Daisy, please, can I explain myself?

Jake then waited for a few minutes, Daisy eventually responding and telling him:

Daisy:
Tomorrow, we can meet and talk tomorrow...okay, Jake?

Jake:
Alright, see ya tomorrow

Jake then put his phone down, sighing. This whole night had turned into a total disaster, and to think his life was going good and getting better. The only good thing that happened was that shortly after when he was laying down on his bed, Oreo, his dog, ran on in and laid down next to him, Jake smiling. "Hey, Oreo." He said as he began to stroke Oreo, feeling happier now that he was with his job, finding himself falling asleep next to him as well. He just hoped tomorrow was gonna he fine and go alright...hopefully.