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i stood against the wall of my garage with robin and Steve as we waited for max to show up the evening after our first show. Steve was sitting at the drums and messing around with his drumsticks while robin was going on a rampage about her upcoming date with vickie.
-"i'm just anxious. she wants to go to the park for a picnic which is totally cool! i'd love to do that and all, it's just supposed to rain! it's supposed to rain all week long after friday and what if she just forgets about the date and doesn't want to anymore after this week?" her mouth ran quickly.
-"robin, you're spiraling. just take her to the movies if it rains, it's not that big of a deal." steve rolled his eyes.
-"it is too a big deal! she wants to go on a picnic, she doesn't want to sit in a dirty theater watching a boring movie without being able to talk or look at me. that's like, the absolute worst first date ever! if i even were to offer that option, she'd get disgusted and would probably never talk to me again!" she continued, pacing around my garage.
-"im here! sorry i'm late." max skated up my driveway and kicked her skateboard up against the wall when she approached us.
-"finally. are we ready?" i asked my band members as i threw the guitar over my head, turning on the amps.
-"which song?" steve asked.
-"let's try Wheres My Mind?" i cracked my nuckles and adjusted the guitar in my arms.
i started the intro of the song, stringing my guitar pick on the strings.
i began rocking my body to the rhythm when steve's cue for the drums hit. i rocked my head lightly back and forth as the girls synced their guitars with mine.

-"With your feet on the air and your head on the ground." i began to sing in the microphone that stood in front of me.
i focused on the tabs of my guitar, trying not to mess up since this was a newer song of ours.
-"try this trick and spin it."
i looked down at my guitar after putting my lips up to the mic.
-"your head will collapse, if there's nothing in it. and you'll ask yourself.."

-"where is my mind? where is my mind?" the girls joined in with me, singing into the microphone as we sung in unison.

-"where is my mind?" they stopped, letting me sing by myself again as my guitar pick strummed the strings.
-"way out in the water, see it swimmin."

i took my hands off the guitar and waited to start the second verse. after the short pause, i strummed the strings and sung into the microphone.

after the second verse, i was getting nervous since my short solo was approaching. i haven't been practicing this song for long since it just came out 2 months ago. i took a deep breathe as i sung the last verse.
-"way out in the water, see it swimmin."

there was a short pause before we started up again, closer approaching my solo. i built up the confidence and began quickly strumming the strings, impressing myself with the sound i was making. i was shocked that i did it right this time, we havent practiced this one in a few weeks.
-"with your feet on the air and your head on the ground." my solo stopped as i jumped back to the mic, hyped from self confidence.

suddenly, all of the sound from us completely stopped. i looked up from my guitar and saw the power was turned off. my mom did this all of the time and it angered me more than anything.

-"mom!" i screamed before placing my guitar against the wall and darting inside. i walked to kitchen where i saw holly giggling while running up from the basement. when she saw me, she screamed and ran the opposite way.
-"stop messing with the power, you little shit!" i screamed, annoyed as she ran up the stairs and locked herself in her room.
-"why are you chasing your sister?" my mom worriedly came from the living room when she heard hollys scream.
-"she's messing with the power and we're trying to practice!" i expressed.
-"she's just a child, mike! quit being so harsh." she scolded me.
-"stop babying her! she's 8 years old, not 2. tell her to leave us alone!" i rolled my eyes before walking in the opposite direction of my mom and towards the basement.
my parents constantly did this. any time my sister would do some shit like this and piss me off i was never allowed to be mad. i hated my mom and dad for it.
i opened the breakers and switched back the garages power on before walking up the stairs and making my way to the garage. i slammed the door behind me and treaded back to my guitar.
-"little sister problems?" max laughed.
-"you could say that." i rolled my eyes, pulling the guitar over my head and preparing to continue.

after a few more songs, we decided to wrap up practice. after robin put her guitar in the corner of the room, she tapped on the back of steve's shoulder while he was talking to me.
-"let's go stevie." she cheered before skipping her way to his car in the driveway.
-"see ya, wheeler, mayfield!" he waved at max and i before turning and walking with robin. i turned towards max when i heard her voice speaking to me.
-"can i go get some water before my ride gets here?" she motioned her hands inside.
-"yeah, of course." i nodded before watching her jog inside and closing the door behind her.
i began to move the equipment around so it wasn't in the way of everything while she was gone. as i was in the middle of moving the drums over, i heard a car approaching. i turned my head and was surprised to see Will in my driveway. i waved before wiping my hands and walking towards his car, confused on why he was here.
-"what's up, man?" i asked as he stepped out of his car and hung his arm over his car door.
-"just here to pick up max. good practice today?" he politely asked.
-"yeah, it was good." i nodded, looking far into his eyes for a little longer than normal. he hesitated to smile before looking down at his feet.
-"hey, i saw you at our show last night. did you skip dustin's party or..?"
-"oh, no. i had left early and i was getting gas, i just wanted to pop in and see how you guys were. you guys did great by the way." he complimented.
-"yeah?" i smiled at his comment.
-"hell yeah, i had chills." he chuckled.
-"i was shitting myself. it was one of our first shows with an actual audience." i added.
-"well, you did awesome. i remember when you guys were first in the garage phase." he gritted his teeth jokingly
-"yeah.. that was certainly something." we both laughed, maintaining eye contact. as our smiles slowly faded, max came out with a bottled water in her hands.
-"hey, will. ready to go?" she grabbed her skateboard before walking to his passenger seat, tossing the board in the backseats.
after max sat down in the front, will looked back towards my direction and shared a soft smile with me.
-"ill see you around." he waved.
-"yeah, for sure." i nervously laughed as i watched him shut his door and begin to back up out of my driveway.

as i walked inside my garage, i realized i was still smiling. i started to feel redness against the sides of my face. i pressed my hands over my cheeks and felt a slight warmth. my heart was racing and i felt like i was sweating.
it's just the weather. it's summer and 90 degrees right now, there's no other explanation.
at least that's what i convinced myself.

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