Monstercat University I

Chapter 022

[Aero Chord's POV]

"He didn't have to die. This was all my fault," Braken says, choking on tears. "I should have stopped him."
"Braken, there wasn't anything you could have done to stop it from happening," I say, getting up and laying a hand on his shoulder. "I want you to know that." Braken buries his head in his hands and sobs. "Braken, look at me." He looks up at me through tear-filled eyes. "I want you to understand that it wasn't your fault Tristam died. Okay?" He nods as another tear rolls down his cheek. "I'll be here for you," I tell him.
"Tristam said he'd be there," Braken says, scowling. "And look what happened."
"Look, I'm sorry. But I promise that whatever happens I will be there for you to the best of my ability."
Suddenly I hear a loud thump on the door, someone fumbling rapidly with the knob, then Noisestorm dashes into the room, looking from me to Braken.
"Is he okay?!" he asks (loudly), a very anxious look crossing his features.
"Yeah. He'll be fine." For some reason that's all I can think of to say right now.
"We should tell Principal Monsterca-"
"NO!" Braken yells sharply. Noisestorm looks over at him, then back at me. I shake my head.
"No. There's no reason for him to know at this point."

[Braken's POV]

"Braken," I hear Noisestorm say. I look up at him. I'm so tired of hearing my name right now. "Can I show you something?" I nod, then watch Noisestorm as he starts up his MacBook Pro and sits next to me. Pulling up a video on YouTube, he makes it full screen and then turns the Mac towards me so I can see it better. A girl comes on the screen. She has wavy blond hair, pale skin, and looks to be around 16 or 17. And she's wearing a little necklace in the shape of a heart.
"Hey, um...Braken, I don't know if you'll ever see this...but, I just wanted to say that you are my favorite Monstercat artist. I love your music so much, and...I don't know if you will understand what it does to me, but...Flight was my first Monstercat song and it's what made me fall in love with the label. The second I heard the buildup for the first time I loved it so much." The buildup...that was my part... "So yeah, Flight was great. But To the Stars is the best song ever, and I mean that. Um...my grandma had cancer, and...I was listening to that song when I got the news that she had passed. You would think I wouldn't like it anymore, but somehow it means even more to me. For some reason it brings back a lot of good memories of my grandma when I listen to it. So I just want to thank you for that. To the Stars is beautiful and it inspires me so much. Um..." The girl pauses for a second and looks down. "Braken, I...I don't know who you are...but...I just wanted you to know that you can do anything. And if nothing else I think you're very special." Her voice is shaky, almost like she's about to cry. "I don't know if you'll ever find this...actually, you probably won't...but...just...whoever you are, follow your dreams, and...reach to the stars." The girl smiles for the first time in the video. "T-Thanks for everything. Uh...bye." She reaches over and turns off her camera, ending the video. Noisestorm closes his Mac, puts it over on the table, and turns to me.
"Braken, you've got to be strong. Tristam would want you to."

[Dilumi's POV]

I open my phone and see it flooded with notifications from fans saying they are sorry for my loss. Then a text from Principal Monstercat comes in asking how I'm doing and if we're still on for the set tonight. Darn it, I completely forgot about the stupid set. I groan. Why does it have to be tonight instead of on Thursday? I think I heard something about Prinicipal Monstercat leaving early tomorrow morning for a meeting at OWSLA, so that's probably why. I sigh. Well, I guess I can still play it. I'm not really in a good mental state, but perhaps DJing a set is exactly what I need for me to refresh. It is free period, so right now wouldn't be a bad time to set up so I don't have to worry about that later. I text Principal Monstercat back and tell him I'm going to go over there and set up in a few minutes, and he replies saying he'll meet me and give me some help. I put on my Bose wireless headphones and listen to Coffins on my phone as I gather everything together to take to the auditorium. Then I sit down on my bed and hold my phone in my hand, staring at the visualizer. When my favorite part comes on, about two and a half minutes through, I imagine myself playing it up in front of the crowd, pumping my fist in the air, the power and energy of the music pumping through the speakers, everybody having a good time...and the music making me feel alive again. I smile for the first time today. Suddenly, I can't wait for tonight.