A Loser's Guide to be Noticeable

12: Being in a Band is Cool too

Saturday morning, I told Lawrence that maybe we could postpone studying at his house because Jaeden insisted that we needed to stop the tutor thing and he wouldn't want to go out.

"I thought you don't want both of your parents to know?" Lawrence said on the phone.

"I don't. But going to their house is the only way. Even though he kept on saying that it's useless studying."

"So then, don't bother."

I wish I could. "Jaeden just needs someone to push him."

A sigh escaped from the other line. "Is this really just about helping him?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, nothing. Forget it. Okay, fine. Do whatever you want."

"I promise, tomorrow, we can study at my house. Just this day."

"Okay, okay. Take care of yourself."

After we exchange goodbyes, I felt more guilty. I mean, studying together before the exam was just a little thing for most people, but it was our routine and a way of helping each other. So, for us, it was not little.

In the afternoon, I left a message to Jaeden: I'm outside your house. Should I ring the doorbell?

There was a quick reply: w8 4 a moment. mom was still in the living room

I walked back and forth a couple of times before the door opened, spitting an always scrunched-face Jaeden. He let me in and quickly pushed me toward his room that I almost tripped.

"Can you not be so harsh," I whispered, clutching my books tightly on my chest.

"Faster, faster," was the only thing he said and still pushed me with so much force.

"Jaeden," Mrs. Savon shouted from the kitchen.

Jaeden and I stared at each other, his eyes looked like it would go out of his socket. I was sure mine was the same.

"What?" he answered before whispering to me, "Go to my room. Go, go."

"Can you please find the mixing bowl? I couldn't find it."

I closed the door when I was inside his room. Jaeden's and Mrs. Savon's muffled voices were arguing as the sound of pans clanking and cabinets squeaking.

Jaeden's room was still the same as the last time I was here, still chaotic, and things that shouldn't be there were there. My attention went to his black electric guitar lying on his bed. It was connected to a small box with buttons and stuff, which the small box was connected to his laptop. The laptop was on an app recorder.

What was he doing?

Looking back at his door and hearing that Jaeden was still talking to his mom, I plopped on his bed, put the headphones on, and hit the play button on his laptop.

Holy shit! It was nice. I didn't know the technicalities of music, but I knew what was good and not. And it was good, really good. The music played was only from electric guitar, but it was enough. So many highs and lows, without stopping. It deserves to be on a rock band song.

Then it was gone when someone pulled the headphones out of my ears. When I turned around, Jaeden's scowling face greeted me.

"What are you doing?" His tone was like a knife, piercing with so much killing intent.

"This music's good," was the only thing I said. My mind was still in mush from the music in his laptop.

"Fuck off." Jaeden closed his laptop and put it on his study table. After, he hid the small box and his guitar away from me.