Rock Starz

12| Tracklist

"Okay, day one of writing. I made a schedule that says we're going to spend the entire week from Monday to Saturday working on new songs for our tracklist." Isaiah sighed as soon as he heard that. The group was sitting on the couch watching Nathan who insisted on bringing his whiteboard.
"On Sunday you can do whatever you want, in fact, you're actually not allowed to write. That way you give your brain enough time and space to reset, got that?" Devon rolled his eyes and Isaiah had already closed his from exhaustion.
"I think it's a great idea! Gives me the space to meditate every Sunday. A really good way to end the week." Nathan smiled at Lynx and James looked at Nathan seriously.
"Nathan, one small thing. I don't write. What do you expect from me these two months?" Nathan pointed his marker at James.
"You can help me and Lynx with melodies and putting the songs together." James nodded.
"Was that it?" Devon asked "Because otherwise I can start writing now." Nathan shook his head and turned the board over. There was a whole tracklist mapped out with only two songs already filled in.
"It's time we record I Wanna F You and Rock Star (through it), because we always play it differently and that needs to change. We're not an improv band." The band sighed as soon as they realised they weren't done for the day.
"Nathan, I'm exhausted, the whole trip here was exhausting. I'm jetlagged."
"We're still in England." Nathan said dryly. Devon sighed again, conflicted.
"Let's do it tomorrow, okay? Then we'll pretend we're a nice family on vacation today." Nathan thought about it.
"Okay," the group cheered enthusiastically "but tomorrow I expect all of you to put in your best effort. Even you Isaiah, and don't you dare come up with the excuse that you're not supposed to hear a bass."
"But-"
"I don't want to hear it Isaiah." Isaiah let himself flop back on the couch with a sigh.
"Okay, teacher." He mumbled annoyed. James chuckled at his comment.
"Well then we can now talk about who's going grocery shopping." The band looked up startled.
"Groceries?" James nodded as he leaned back on a chair near the fireplace.
"Yeah, there's really nothing in the house. And the nearest store is at least a fifteen minute drive." Isaiah thought for a moment.
"Well it looks like I'll have to go then because I'm not letting any of you drive my car." He said sternly to the group as he stood up from the couch where he had just been lying so relaxed.
"I'm coming too. To show you the way." Isaiah nodded. Nathan smiled at the two.
"Great, then that's settled." Lynx turned to Isaiah and James.
"Bring tea." He said and Isaiah clicked his tongue."I'll keep it in mind." And the two walked away.
"This is never going to work out." Nathan sighed, putting his whiteboard marker away.
"I'm going to prepare myself for a meagre dinner and a vitamin deficiency for the next two months." He said as he got up from the couch and walked toward the stairs.
"Are you going to sleep?!?" Devon didn't even turn around.
"Wake me when dinner is ready. If you can call it dinner." Nathan bit his lip as he watched his friend stumble upstairs.
"He was yawning in the car as well, his soul is tired." Lynx said suddenly. Nathan frowned at Lynx.
"His soul?" Lynx nodded.
"Yeah, his soul." There was a moment of silence between the two. Lynx cleared his throat as he found himself getting lost in his words. "Anyway, should we do something?" Nathan thought.
"Like what?" Lynx thought for a moment.
"Monopoly?" Nathan smiled surprised at his friend.
"You want to play Monopoly, with me?" Lynx nodded convincingly.
"I saw it in the cupboard here, and I thought why don't I play a game with Nathan." Nathan smiled widely.
"Alright, alright, one game. But first I'm going to check on Devon, and his soul." Nathan walked up the stairs to James's old room where he passed Devon's room. He paused and waited for a moment before knocking on the door and walking inside.
"Hey, are you okay?" Devon lay tiredly on the bed and he nodded when he saw Nathan.
"Yeah I'm just tired." Nathan nodded slowly.
"And that thing, with my dad." Devon then said honestly. Nathan stood quietly in the doorway.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Nathan had learned that from James. Devon thought about it for a moment. Then he smiled.
"No, it's okay. Thank you." Nathan nodded briefly, smiled for a moment, and then walked out the door.
"Nathan?!?" Nathan turned back around when he heard Devon's voice.
"Door." Nathan smiled and grabbed the doorknob.
"Hands above the sheets."
"Nose out of my business." Devon yelled back as Nathan walked back down the stairs.

"I didn't know your parents were that rich." Isaiah said as he and James drove toward the nearest store.
"Well, I don't know anything about your parents either." James snapped back.
"They must be rich if you own your own apartment without a job." Isaiah looked intently at the road.
"The apartment isn't from my parents." He said softly. James looked at his face. Isaiah stared seriously ahead. His dark brown eyes focused on the traffic that didn't seem to be there.
"It was my uncle's." James could tell from his voice that he was struggling.
"Did he die?" Isaiah nodded without taking his eyes off the road.
"My uncle was my mother's brother, and she was crazy about him. All my sisters were crazy about him. He was my father's best friend. I looked up to him, everyone loved him. You'd think something so small wouldn't change that." Isaiah bit his lip. James listened intently.
"What happened?" Isaiah sighed.
"When he came back one day, he told us all that he had a boyfriend, for a while, that he loved him, and that he was going to immigrate abroad to live with him. My sisters and I were happy for him, but my parents were very upset. They literally threw him out of the house and cut off all contact with him. My parents talked to my sisters and soon they hated him too. For... what?" James felt his heart beat faster at the story.
"I really loved him and I wanted to hear his side of the story, so I went to see him and he was never so happy and sad to see me at the same time. When I got home, my parents told me not to come home anymore. They put a suitcase with my stuff in front of the house and locked the door." James's mouth fell open.
"I went to live with my uncle and he took care of me. He said I could go abroad with him and that we would find a school for me there. But before that happened, he died of AIDS. He left everything to me." There was a piercing silence in the car. James felt a pain in his chest and it took a while for him to let the story sink in.
"How old were you?" James asked quietly. Isaiah sighed before answering.
"Twelve when I moved in with him, fourteen when he died." James bit his lip.
"Jesus..." Isaiah nodded briefly.
"It doesn't seem like any of us have a great relationship with our parents." Isaiah said then.
"Or do you?" James laughed.
"I wouldn't call it good. What about Devon?"
"Sent to the army by his father." James's eyes widened.
"Lynx?"
"Has two rich parents with completely different beliefs than he does." James frowned.
"What does he believe in?" Isaiah looked at James for a moment.
"Ever heard of a free spirit?"

"Okay Lynx, pay up, you're in my box." Lynx pursed his lips and looked from one side of the board to the other.
"I don't really believe in money." Nathan looked at Lynx in shock.
"Lynx, that's the whole point of the game. You're on my box, so then-"
"I don't really believe in ownership either." Nathan threw his wad of money onto the board.
"Why did I think this would be fun?" Nathan muttered in defeat.

"But where does he live then?"
"Somewhere in a tent in front of his parents' giant house." James looked up in shock.
"Did he get kicked out of the house as well?" Isaiah shook his head.
"No," he cleared his throat.
"He felt too small in the house. It was way more than he needed." James nodded slowly. "Right."
"Here on the right." He said then and Isaiah turned away. The two arrived at a small store and got out. As soon as they walked inside, Isaiah bit his lip.
"What the hell are you buying for five hungry teenagers?" James laughed when he heard that. Isaiah was okay, he thought to himself. He was great, actually.