Touchy, Feely Fool [AJR]

Chapter 3

"Okay, look, you have to tell us what happened at the sleepover!" Ryan pressed. "You said you'd share every detail!" I strum my guitar and glare at him. "No," i finalized. "I'm not sharing anything, Ry."

My mind goes back to when Alba kissed me, and i roll my eyes. I knew it was only for a shitty dare. I start playing a song on the guitar, and my head snaps up. "Should we write a new song?" i ask my brothers.

"I mean, we could," Adam admitted. "How about when Mom and Dad go out later?" Ryan shrugs. "I don't see why not," he agreed. "I'll get my keyboard. We can start on melodies." He gets up and goes to get his keyboard.

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"No, no, no! You're not playing it right, Adam!" Ryan grabs the bass from him and tries tuning it. He plays a few chords, then hands it back. "We can't play Chemical Overreaction right if it's not on the right tuning," i added.

"Well, if i'd have known we'd be playing Chemical Overreaction for inspiration, i'd have tuned the bass properly," he snapped. "Okay, you know what? How about we play something else," Ryan suggested. "Any ideas?"

"Zombie Zoo?" i offered. "Not too bad," Ryan agreed. "But i feel like that's one of his more complicated songs." I nod. "Good point. How about Yer So Bad?" Adam shrugged. "It's just acoustic and drums," he reminded me. "But we could add bass and piano."

I start playing the song to get comfortable, and i smile. "Ready?" Adam and Ryan nod, and i sigh. "Okay. One, two, three, four." We start playing, and for a bit, it's just that: playing. No singing or anything. Until i blurt out, "Leave Virginia Alone."

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"Tom, don't be ridiculous," Shawn snapped. "I'm not!" Tom insisted. "I saw it with my own eyes!" Shawn rolled his eyes. "Well, it'd be hard to see with someone else's eyes," he muttered. Tom slapped Shawn across the face. "You bitch."

"PAUSE!" Steve screamed. We all jump, and even Steve winces. "Sorry," he says. "But it's so weird seeing you guys fight, even if you're acting." Shawn rubs his face. "You didn’t have to slap me," he mustered. "Sorry," Tom sighs. "I wanted it to feel realistic."

Shawn flopped onto the floor, and Tom sat down, grabbing Shawn's hand. He opens his mouth, and i pull my hat down more. "NOPE!" i shouted. "DON'T YOU FRICKEN DARE!" Steve laughed, but i couldn't hear it much. "Calm down!" Tom sighed.

I let go of my hat, and Dan grabbed it from me. "Did you hear from her?" he asked me. "Alba?" i muster. "Pfft. No. She hasn't talked to me."

"Wow, you must feel like a huge loser," Dan said. He briskly looked around. "What? Who said that?" Steve slapped his face.