The Day Music Died

Chapter 1

Song for this chapter

Secondhand Serenade - Why

I knew everyone's eyes were glued to the television set. My body is rigid from the news that is about to be announced. My green eyes stare intensely at President Mead's stone cold face. The short year and a half that he has been in office has been hell. No one expected him to ruin the whole country, but he managed to. Well, at least he's destroyed lives of all the kids. Mead has done anything he can to keep the teens of country "safe," but instead he has intentionally given us zero rights. If you're not an adult you don't have a voice, opinion, or even a brain for that matter.

His intentions went unnoticed by the public until recently. There had been laws enforced that, in the eyes of parents, would keep us safe, so everyone went along with it. Little things like the age to drive is now 21, teens must have parent consent for anything until their 21, even the things kids discuss is limited have been taken away from us. Luckily for Mead, they weren't conflicts that were enough for teens to get overly upset, until now.

My best friend Blair and I sit in my room only focused on the president because of the potential bomb he's about to drop. I lean between use and grab her hand, giving it a small squeeze as Mead opens his mouth to speak.

"We have come to the conclusion that all music will be permanently banned from here on out," President Mead's features don't change as he continues to talk about the benefits of his decision, but my mind has become a blur and his words are lost. I don't bother trying to hear what ever bullshit he has to say. I glance over at Blair, her whole body is tense and I can tell that she's on the verge of tears. I only notice that I have let my emotions get the best of my when I feel a hot tear drop on my arm. I quickly wipe away the evidence that I had cried. Although Blair is my best friend she's only ever seen me cry once.

"This can't be happening," I whisper to myself.

"Jacey, I," Blair's voice cracks before she can finish. I pull her in or a tight hug, hoping to calm her down. This has been a devastation for both of us, and I'm sure many others. Music has always been our savor. It's the only thing that helps. As Blair begins to shake in my arms I worry for her. She's been through hell and back in the past few years. No doubt that her depression is flaring, as well is mine. When I feel her chest struggling to take in deep breaths I know she's having a panic attack too. I whisper soothing comments into her hair as she tries to catch her breath. Her sobbing breaks my heart. I hate to see her like this, no matter what the cause.

The rest of the night we spend in each other's arms taking turns comforting one another. I turn my stereo on and play our favorite songs and bands on repeat. Each word they sing swallows my breath. Usually my music can make me feel better, but because this will probably be the last time I can ever listen to them it doesn't help. The news explained that throughout the next week government officials will be visiting each house confiscating any music devises. The radio stations have already been shut down; every station only plays a light static.

This is all so incomprehensible. My thoughts are swarming like bees. Both Blair's and I's eyes are red and bloodshot from the excessive crying. After Blair's second anxiety attack she needed to go home. I was uneasy about her leaving in an unstable condition like that, but she promised to text me when she got home. I gave her a tight hug before I watched her walk to her house down a few streets. Once I was alone again in my room I couldn't help but really breakdown. I stared at each band poster that hung on my wall for hours, silently hoping I wouldn't lose them too.

-

After my restless night huge bags have formed under my dull green eyes proving that I didn't sleep much. I groggily head downstairs and grab a banana for breakfast. My mom sits at the table sipping her coffee. I'm sure she knows about the music ban, she always watches the news. Plus everyone knew about it. I wait in the kitchen giving her the chance to greet me, or comfort me, but she doesn't. I exaggerate my exit and go back to my room, slamming the door behind me. I put my music player in the dock and hit shuffle. Of course, all my purchased music is gone. I quietly curse under my breath. I don't bother outing any effort in my appearance today. A t-shirt and sweatpants hang loosely around my frame. I grab my ear buds and run out the door without makeup on. I march onto the bus with a scowl on my face. Most of the kids don't notice me, like usual. I plop down in one of the back seats and push my ear buds into my ears. I let my music drown out the sound of the busses engine.

I already want to jump out the window and I'm not even at school yet. God, I hate Mondays, especially today. When the bus pulls up to the front doors of my high school, I get off with my head down. Today with surely be one of the worst days ever. Why the hell am I even in school? Oh yeah that's right my mom wouldn't even acknowledge me this morning. I mentally roll my eyes at her. I step in the front doors only to be grabbed by someone. I yank my arm out of their grip and look up. Oh shit.

The police officer yanks the ear buds from me, "Ma'am I'm going to have to take these and the device their connected to." I stare blankly at him and his stupid name tag, Richard. I just want to kick him the balls and then walk away or spit in his face, but prison isn't really the nicest place. I try to advert his attention and slowly turn away, but he's not as dumb as he looks.

"Miss, please cooperate," He speaks slowly with annoyance clear in his voice. I glare at his dark eyes while I savor the last seconds of my beloved music. I slowly pull it out and he snatches it before I can second guess my decision. He mumbles a thank you before finding other kids to steal from. My hands clench into fists as I walk towards my first period class. I don't bother going to my locker and getting my books. If teachers think I'll be doing any work they've got another thing coming.

Ms. Amber politely greets me and I blatantly ignore her cheery attitude. I sit in the back row waiting for Blair to arrive. Ms. Amber, my English teacher, looks as good as usual. She's wearing a black skirt and a purple sweater. Her blonde hair is tucked behind her ears. She gives me a weak smile, as she catches me looking at her. I turn away and pull out my notebook. Each page has a collection of song lyrics I love and wrote myself. I scribble words from the song I had been listening to before that arrogant police officer tore the ear buds from me. The bell sounds and I put away my secret journal.

Kids flood in through the door. I watch for Blair to come in, but she doesn't appear. Maybe she took the day off. Once all the students are here, except Blair, Ms. Amber stands up and greets us all. There's something about the way her eyes meet mine as she speaks that worries me. The way her voice shakes begins to really scare me.

"I know many of you are very upset about President Mead's new law about music," she pauses and takes a deep breath, "unfortunately, there's also more bad news." My eyes go wide. What happened? How could things possible have gotten worse? Right before she continues she looks at me and then the empty seat next to me, Blair's seat. And in that moment before Ms. Amber could even explain, I knew. And I knew that Ms. Amber knew too. She watched as a tear streaked down my face before she continues.

"Blair Sander's committed suicide last night," Her eyes pleaded with mine, giving me an apology. The entire room fell silent. I wanted to scream and make a scene, but instead I sate their trying to fight back tears. My best friend is gone. I'll never see her ever again. We can never gossip about the popular girls or hot guys at our school ever again. We'll never have sleepovers where we spill our secrets at midnight ever again. Blair is dead. And with that final thought I did something I hadn't done in a year. I cried, in front of people. I sat in the back row sobbing. A few kids glanced at me, but looked away quickly. I buried my face in my hands and cried. Ms. Amber talked to the rest of the class about the music ban and the impact music has on people, "Music is very powerful," she said, "but we will live without it-"

"Well Blair couldn't! I can't either! You don't know what you're talking about! President Mead literally fucked my life up with that dumbass law! And Blair's," I couldn't help but yell at her. And with those final words I stormed out of the class room. As I ran down the hall I could hear Ms. Amber's faint voice say that she wasn't finished. I stormed outside and ran down the street. Once the high school of Raven's tiny town was out of sight I broke down, again. I collapsed onto the concrete sidewalk and cried more. I let out pained screams with the tears that soaked my cheeks.

I can't live without Blair. I can't and I won't.

-

Hey guys! I started a new story! please give me feed back on it :)

Is there a band/artist/song that you couldn't live without?