The Sophomore

Chapter Eleven - Sabotage

Emily's POV

I returned home from the football field, and ran into Kaitlyn in the living room. "Hey, Emily!" Kaitlyn exclaimed. "Oh, you don't look too happy. What's up?"

She moved aside a bunch of papers and patted the spot on the couch next to her. I sat down beside her while she looked at me with concern. "I was just with Chris and Zig at practice, and things got out of hand with Manny again," I said.

"Again? How is he still on the team if all he does is cause trouble?"

"I think part of it is that Chris just doesn't want to step on anybody's toes..." I glanced at some of the loose papers on the couch. "Were you writing an essay?"

"Heck no. This is one hundred times more fun!"

She showed me one of the papers, and I saw that it was a flyer for her band. Someone had sketched goofy musical instruments all over it. "Cool! Did you get a gig?"

"We're getting there! We still don't know where we're going to play, but we're stepping up our self-promo game while we figure that out."

"I feel like every time I talk to you about the band, you guys are even more motivated than before."

"We are! I think seeing Natasha's new band really lit a fire under us. We're so ready to put our music out there."

"And I'm so ready to listen to it. That little snippet you had me listen to last time was not enough."

"We've been writing and practicing like crazy. This group is going places, Emily."

"I know you are."

Footsteps approached from the hallway, and we both turned to see Zack coming into the living room. "I thought I heard two of my favorite people. It sounded like you were talking about band stuff? Because I just had the best idea," Zack said.

"Okay, spit it out already!" Kaitlyn exclaimed.

"What if TBD played a show here? I just finished cleaning out the backyard, and I could run to the hardware store for wood to build a stage."

"Zack, you're a genius! But that sounds like a lot of work," I said.

"I like building things, though, so it won't be a hassle for me. You don't have to pitch in if you don't want, Emily."

"That's not what I meant! I just don't want you guys to overwork yourselves."

"It's not work if you're looking forward to doing it."

"Zack, have I ever told you that you're my favorite genius?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Just a few times."

"So, when is TBD thinking about holding its first gig? Soon? Please say soon," I said.

"Maybe in a couple of weeks. We still have to finalize a set and get a lot more flyers done, and Zack would have to build the stage out back..." Kaitlyn said. Kaitlyn smiled sheepishly at me. "Emily... can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course you can ask. The real question is whether or not I'll fulfill it."

"Okay, so... you know how you write for the newspaper?"

"Yeah, I did last time I checked..."

"I know I was kind of demanding at the Loose Pins concert... And I shouldn't have been so upset when you gave Natasha's band a good review, because they were good. But this time, I wanted to ask you for something different. Something fairer." I waited, and Kaitlyn looked at me hopefully. "I was wondering if you might, maybe, possibly... write up a little piece on TBD?"