Who The Fxck Is Jack Barakat?!

Part 30

*Liz's POV*

"Save the fire, burning deep in your soul..." Joe scribbles a new song idea into his small lyrics book and updates us on how the chorus is going. "I'm not sure about this one, you think it could work?"

"Jesus, Joe" Charlie looks up from his phone and interrupts his intense Candy Crush session. "Give yourself a break! We finished working on our album only two months ago, it hasn't even officially been released yet and you're already working on new songs?"

"Always! Music is the way I deal with things, there's never a wrong time for lyrics" He states with a grin and shuts himself away in his mind palace again.

We're sitting in the East Coast office of Hopeless Records to meet up with the manager of the band, today the boys are told where the tour will lead them. They were supposed to come without me, I'm not an official band member after all, but Matt texted us saying that he needs to talk to the others plus me beforehand. Apparently the information he has to share will affect all six of us so I tagged along, hoping his news are of good nature. Speaking of Matt, he hasn't arrived so far and especially my brother's starting to get uneasy.

"Why hasn't he shown up yet? I thought he wanted to chat, something's not right here" Mark expresses his discomfort but is only met with Noah rolling his eyes.

"Dude, he's just late. Don't meet trouble halfway!" He tries to put his mind to rest.

"Hey guys" A worn-out voice behind us makes us turn around like a shot. It definitely belongs to Matt but I'm shocked to see that the person who always tends to have a laugh on his face is now as pale as death.

"Matt, what...?" Charlie is the first trying to find words but they remain lost for him.

"My... my mom" His voice is nothing but a rasping sound, cut off by tiny sobs from time to time. "She had a stroke. The doctors say her life isn't in danger anymore but the injuries she sustained have been merciless. They can't calculate how much of the damage will stay with her but I could tell from their worried faces that they don't have much hope left."

Without thinking I jump up from my chair and wrap my arms around him, one of our grandpas passed away from a stroke when I was 14. All I wanted back then was to be taken into someone's arms. Matt returns the hug thankfully and his until now unsteady breathing pattern normalises again. I watch the others as they get up as well and gather around the two of us.

"I'm so sorry, my friend" Noah empathises with the guitarist. "I can't imagine how hard this must be for you."

And he's right, nobody can. We've probably never felt more helpless, knowing how special Matt's relationship with his mother is. His father died from a sudden heart attack when little Matthew was only four years old and his mother brought him up all by herself because they don't have any other living relatives except for an estranged aunt somewhere in Washington. We would often joke about their close bond but I guess we were just jealous of this mother and son friendship, truly an outstanding picture of a perfectly functioning family. She has done everything for him and his dreams and whereas other mothers would have been disappointed about their children choosing careers in music, she was the one who always encouraged her son to never give up on the things he wanted the most.

"To be honest, I can't properly think about it right now because I don't feel like breaking down into tears" He explains, letting go of my hug. "I have to be the strong one this time. For her."

"Is there anything we can do to help you buddy? I know I'm pretty much useless but..." Mark offers with his friendliest smile. "Really, we always have your back."

"I appreciate that, thank you" A bit of colour makes his way onto Matt's face again but his serious expression stays. "You are the best friends I could have but this is something I have to deal with on my own. I need to take care of her from now on, like she cared for me no matter what we've been through."

"Of course you do" Joe nods sympathetically. "I suppose it'd be for the best if we postponed our touring ambitions until you can concentrate on the band again."

Charlie assists his proposal without hesitation. "I can't believe I'm saying this but Joe is right. Take your time, the band comes second. She is way more important than this whole thing."

"No" Matt disagrees determiningly and confuses us all. "I won't allow you to do this."

"But you need to be there for your mum right now and we obviously can't do this without you" Mark points out but his friend shakes his head.

"I've had a very long night so I had the time to think about our next steps" He takes a deep breath before going on. "I have decided to leave the band. Don't look so shocked, you know it's the only logical consequence for me. My mom will need all of my attention for the next few months, possibly years, and I would only be a burden for this band we've worked so hard for. I have a degree in music so I'll try to do some further training to become a music teacher, preferably at my old school. This way I could earn money but still spend enough time at home with my mom. It's not exactly what I had planned for my life but I want to pull this off more than anything in the world."

"You have our unconditional support" Joe speaks on behalf of the band. "But it will be tough to find a replacement for you..."

"I haven't finished yet if you don't mind" Matt suddenly grins, probably for the first time today. "Honestly, I wonder how on earth you haven't thought about this yourself!"

"What are you talking about?" Noah asks curiously.

Matt doesn't need to be told twice. "I could never let you down and I won't start with it now. I wouldn't abandon you if I didn't know the solution for our problem."

"I hate to be this kind of person but what am I doing here? I guess this is something between you guys..." I ask bewilderedly.

"OF COURSE" Charlie shouts and gives Matt an exaggerated kiss on the cheek. "You, sir, are a genius!"

"Only me or is anyone else scared as well?" Noah watches with raised eyebrows the sight in front of him.

"Noah, just think!" Matt pleads and finally reveals his plan. "Mark isn't the only one in his family that knows how to be ace on the guitar..."

"Wait" I slowly process what I've heard. "You mean I should be the new guitarist?"

"I suppose I can't make you say yes but my mom had a stroke and basically you can't say no so you're fucked, sorry" Matt manipulates me with an evil smile.

"This would actually be great, Liz" My brother elates me. "You and me taking the world by storm, just like we wanted to when we were kids!"

Joe falls down to his knees and takes my hand. "Elizabeth Taylor Knight, would you please give us the honour to join our band?"

I glare at him for using my full name, as I'm not particularly a fan of it, but Noah and Charlie doing the same thing distracts me big time.

"Pleeeeaaase!!!" They beg with their best puppy eyes and I sigh. I don't have a choice, do I?

"I'll join your band on one term" The five boys look at me with a hopeful gaze. "You never use my full name again!"

"YES, ABOUT TIME!!!" They erupt into  jubilation and go on to suffocate me in a group hug.

"Liz Knight, official member of Riots At Night" Mark whispers into my ear. "I'm proud of you, sister."

"This better works out for all of us" I reply as soon as I'm freed again and nudge him. "Let the adventure begin!"