The Concert

Rehearsals

The next few weeks went by relatively quickly. I spent a lot of time with Robin, Steve, Sarah and many other musicians taking part in the concert. Mr Harper kept checking in, he even sat in on a few rehearsals and was impressed by what we had done. There was a lot of interest in the concert within the community. Most of it positive, some of it less so. Usually from the would be "it" crowd, that took an immediate dislike to some of the people involved, namely Eddie. Jason and the majority of basketball team made it well known that they didn't think Eddie or the others from Hellfire should be involved, often referring to it as the "freak show". They were easily sent on their way, when the rest of us tired of their attempts to be disruptive or antagonistic. 

I was sat in the theatre room one evening with Steve practicing his part of the concert, when Mr Harrington dropped by unexpectedly, "How's he doing?" he asked me, like I had any authority over Steve. I smiled politely "he's doing really well; I think you're all going to be extremely impressed with Steve and the rest of the concert!". Steve shot me a look of gratitude. Mr Harrington picked up the list of people and the order in which they were to perform, glancing down the list of names he started to frown, "Munson?" he asked. Both me and Steve looked at him, waiting for the rest of the question, "isn't he that degenerate, that lives in the trailer park?" Steve looked at his father in horror "You do know that Freya also lives on the trailer park, right?" Mr Harrington looked at Steve and then at me, "Yes" he looked at me and smiled, then turned back to Steve, "It's not the location that makes him the degenerate son, it's his actions!" he said in a condescending way. I felt my face starting to warm, I was flush with anger. But I had to try and keep my composure, there had to be at least one adult in the room. "I can assure you Mr Harrington, Eddie is a very misunderstood person!" He smiled at me in a patronising way, "Really?" He asked, "So he hasn't been in trouble with the police numerous times?" I couldn't disagree as it was true. "And he hasn't been held back now, how many years one? two?" Steve quickly interjected, "That's why he's taking part in the concert!" Mr Harrington looked to Steve "it's a chance to gain extra credit towards his grades. It was Freya's idea". Mr Harrington walked towards me "Is that so?" he said looking down at me. I felt uncomfortable with his closeness, "Yes, I suggested it as an option for those that wished to, use this as an opportunity as extra-curricular activities, and utilise it as extra credit toward their grades". Mr Harrington remained silent, he just continued to look down at me. I maintained eye contact; my own pig headedness wasn't going to allow myself to be intimidated by a man in an expensive suit and offensively overpowering aftershave. "Well, aren't you the little philanthropist" he smiled. Steve became increasingly agitated by his father "Dad!" he said with venom, Mr Harrington didn't move, he just looked at his son, "Don't get your panties in a twist son" he laughed and looked back at me momentarily. He turned and started to walk away. I couldn't help but shoot a look of disgust at his back. "I'll leave you to continue your practice" he said looking at Steve, who sneered "yeah!".

The doors closed and Steve couldn't apologise enough, "I'm so sorry!" he was mortified "I don't know what's going on with him, I really don't! The way he behaves...it's just..." he shuddered. I shook it off "don't worry about it" I insisted "let's get back to practice!" Steve let out an exasperated groan of frustration, "he's such a dick!" I nudged him "come on focus!" Steve moved away, "I can't do this now, I'm too pissed off!" I sighed ok, well you need to keep practicing your breathing ok, that will help with those big notes!" Steve put his head in his hands "ugh!" I sat next to him and put my hand on his back. He looked over his shoulder at me, "thank you" he said softly "you shouldn't have to put up with him behaving like that!" I laughed "what like a letchy old man, who isn't used to people saying no to him?" Steve sighed "yeah...exactly that!". He eventually sat up and looked at me, "can I ask something?" I shrugged "sure"; he sat contemplating for a minute "I heard this crazy rumour" he eventually said. I looked at him raising my eyebrows in a gesture for him to get to the point. He turned to face me, "there's a...suggestion... that you are involved...." He kept trailing off "Goodness' sake Steve, spit it out!" Before he could say anything, Dustin came through the doors "Hey!" I smiled "Hey Squishy face!" I jumped up and squeezed him. Steve stayed sat where he was and shot Dustin a look that said "wtf?" which made him widen his eyes, smile and shrug, as if to ask "What?". Steve scowled at him. I often enjoyed watching the exchanges between Dustin and Steve, they were hilarious. Eventually Dustin said, "What can I say, I'm just loveable!" Steve rolled his eyes, "Yeah, in a you're a big baby that needs to be mothered kind of way...Squishy Face!" Dustin scoffed "Are you suggesting Freya sees me as a baby?" Steve nodded "Yeah!" he replied. Dustin raised his eyebrows, "Really! Freya?" They turned to me; my face was stern "I can't believe you just said that, Steve!" Dustin smirked. "I actually think Dustin is an extremely intelligent young man and I don't care for your insinuation that he's anything less! Steve's face dropped "I wasn't..." he started to scrabble for a reply. Me and Dustin broke, and we stared smiling, which had Steve rolling his eyes in relief "You two are in cahoots?!" we laughed and nudged each other playfully. "How's rehearsal going?" Dustin asked, I sighed, "it was going ok until Steve's dad decided to drop in!" I said looking at him sympathetically. Steve nodded in agreement. "Steve was actually in the process of asking me a question about a rumour, before you came in" Dustin raised his eyebrows in curiosity "Really?" he said looking at Steve, who was now backtracking. Me and Dustin looked at him as he fell over himself to change the subject when Dustin had an epiphany "Ohhhh..." he said, Steve shot him a look that reaffirmed his thought process, he turned to me smiling "I think I know what it is!" he said gleefully. Steve glared at him, but that didn't deter him, "I think Steve was going to ask you about you and Eddie!" he smiled, as Steve widened his eyes at him and shook his head. I looked at Steve in a questioning way "What about me and Eddie?" Steve fidgeted uncomfortably "I just heard a crazy rumour that you and Eddie...were...a thing..." I frowned "What makes it so crazy?" I asked. Steve laughed uncomfortably, "You and Eddie the freak?!" Dustin inhaled sharply "Oof", Steve quickly glanced at him and then back at me as I said firmly "Don't call him that". Steve sat dumbfounded for a second, "You and Eddie?" he asked in disbelief.