The Toy Soldiers Trilogy: Mockingbird

Chapter 11: Where's The Sunlight?

My thoughts regarding mom have been bothering me a lot. It's all I think about, and no matter how much I try to distract myself from it, I can't. Every second I breath mom's necklace is around me, and her books sit on my dresser. I can't help but be reminded of her. Let me also add that it doesn't help that everyone comments on mom and I's alikeness. Everyday my mom is in my life, and I'm beginning to see why dad tried to hide her everything from me.

It's Friday at the moment, and I've been doing the home schooling thing for a week. I love it too, because I have so much more control over my life, minus the "trapping mom's ghost" thoughts. Also, I don't eat much anymore, and it's been worrying dad. He basically forced me to eat last night with the threat of not letting me go to band practice. Which reminds me, we're meeting in ten minutes and I'm not even dressed! Last week we all had a lot going on, so we took a break, but that means we have to double time it this week.

I looked through my closet and found a Creatures shirt, then dug like a mole through my mess of a room to find dark jeans. After a studded belt, I was ready to go! My phone gave a little ding, which was the notification set to remind me of practice. Swiping my lyrics book off my dresser, I quickly bolted downstairs in time for the girls to ring my doorbell.

"Coming!" I yelled scrambling for shoes.

I found them pushed under the kitchen table; probably from the cat or something. Taylor and Cher were jokingly complaining from behind my door loud enough for me to hear and shake my head at them. I opened the door and saw them smiling, ready to go. My dad cleared his throat behind me to make me turn around.

"Forgetting something?" He asked while he handed me my guitar in its case.

"Thanks dad." I laughed as I pulled the door shut.

We all ran down the street, and wordlessly we knew to hurry because we didn't want the guys ridiculing us for our tardiness. They like to find chances to repay the teasing we do to them. It's a nice cat and mouse game we have going on with them. Of course, we were late and they just had that look in their eyes like they were ready to let loose on us.

"You're late." Elliot teased.

"Shut up." We all replied unanimously.

Chase and Elliot chuckled while I pressed the keypad of our uncle's garage. It opened to reveal the nice, empty third car unit which was separate from the rest of the house. We had gotten it to look pretty nice, so now there's a carpet, an old couch, and a chest that holds whatever we don't want to store at our houses. Not to mention, we also have a ton of posters. Everything you could think of; Black Veil Brides, Of Mice and Men, Asking Alexandria, Bring Me The Horizon, Sleeping With Sirens, Citizen, Peirce The Veil, and of course the oldies like KISS and Mötley Crüe. This was a true rocker's hang out, and thanks to my uncle, it's all ours to jam in.

"Report cards come home today." Cher reminded us.

We all shared a moment of oh shit while froze. Of course Cher -damn goodie-two-shoes- would be the only one to remember! Even with online schooling, I'm still going to get a final report from Green Mountain High.

"Well, look who forgot." My uncle Eddie snickered while her leaned on the garage door frame.

"We're dead meat." Chase muttered.

"Don't be so sure." He replied. "I talked to your parents, and... you all kicked ass! In fact, I underestimated you a little bit."

A huge smile spread across my face. "Are you serious?!"

"Of course I am! Now, get to picking a song because we're filming this weekend."

Uncle Eddie walked away, leaving us as hyper as can be. We're all so damn excited! And I also should add that I underestimated us just as bad -if not worse- as him. Bear in mind, we're all just a bunch of punks living on a damn dream. No matter who our parents are, we're still nobodies, and this is a huge deal for us. I looked at Taylor, waiting for her to suggest a song.