It's Friday today, Shaun's sat with us for almost the whole week and it's looks to be rubbing Andy the wrong way so he informs us that today, he'll sit in his regular spot. I don't particularly mind although he was good company.
Shaun told us Andy has been ignoring him the past few days, I honestly wonder why.
I have Shauns Blink album that he ordered in my bag but I don't think I should really go over there. I hesitate, but what harm can it do to just go over and give it to him quickly.
I walk slowly, he notices me coming over and smiles, Andy looks at me also. As does Bradie Webb, Andy's stepbrother in which I've never been introduced to. Beth avoids eye contact.
"Your Blink cd came" I say timidly, feeling as though my presence isn't wanted.
Andy says nothing, his eye line trails down to his hands.
I swallow, anxiously.
"Thank you so much for that" Shaun says gratefully. "This is Bradie by the way"
Bradies blank expression turns into a smile. His smile brighter and friendlier then any smile I've seen on a boy, or on anyone in fact.
"I'm Issy" I say. I cant help the fact that my voice remains drained.
"Nice to finally meet you" he says. Funny, that's exactly what Andy said when we first spoke.
"I should go" I say, still not one word from Andy.
I begin to walk away.
"Are you okay, Is?" Andys head jolts up hearing Shaun say 'Is'. What's his problem?
"Fine" I lie. I fake a smile also to make it more convincing.
****
School passes by quick, I remain quiet the whole day. I've lost their friendship within one day and I don't even know what I've done wrong. Well, I've lost Andys friendship anyway. It seems to me he used me to get his bands CD in the store. I really hope that's not the case.
It's five o'clock and I'm hard at work when the phone rings.
I read and recognise the number straight away, Emma.
"Hey Issy" I hear immediately.
"Hey Em, what's up?"
"Do you still finish at five thirty tonight?" she queries
"Yeah, I do. Do you have something in mind?"
"Sort of. Short Stack are playing tonight and we were hoping you'd come"
That's Shaun, Andy and Bradies band. Shaun told us about them.
I decide to be honest. "I don't think I'm in the good books with Andy right now, I might have to pass"
"What, why?"
"I...I don't know" I stutter
"Look, we don't have to meet up with them. We can just go to see the show. You said yourself you want to check them out"
I agree, I did say that and I DO want to check them out.
I accept her offer, they'll probably be too busy to even notice we're there anyway. I hang up the phone as I see my boss making her way in, I don't think it'd please her. It reminds me I have to ask her about the demo CD, after all, I did say I'd ask. Although Andy's not proving he deserves it at the moment.
"Michelle!" I call out.
She turns to me. "What's up?" she says, friendly smile on her face. She is a really great boss to have.
"I know this band who need some help getting... known" I start. "Is it possible that I grab a few copies of their demo cds and have them on display. Free of charge of course" I add.
She looks as though thinking. "I'll leave that up to you Issy" she decides. "Have a listen to the demo and if you think they're worthy, you can put it up"
I smile. "I'm seeing them live tonight for the first time"
"Tell me if they're any good!" she requests. I'm lucky she's so reasonable.
****
Emma picks me up from my house at seven, when we get there the show's already started. There's an estimated one hundred people here, which is quite a good audience for a local band.
Shaun finishes singing. He looks so different with his tight black jeans and black long sleeve shirt. His hair fixed in scene hair style which looks as though it needs several cans of hair spray to keep it up.
I can't see Andy, I have someone tall standing in front of me.
They start playing again. "This incentive represents this dimly lit room just a minute in..."
I must say I'm tremendously impressed. They sound amazing, definitely my kind of music. I finally catch a glimpse of Andy, he looks so cool as he plays his bass guitar as if it's the easiest thing in the world. He's dressed similar to Shaun, but I can find so many more attractive things about Andy tonight.
I watch in amazement for the whole hour, the fans go crazy for them. I sigh when I hear Shaun speak "Thank's for coming out tonight, I hope you had a rad time". I definitely did.
I internally argue at whether I should go and tell them about their demo now or if I should just leave.
I can tell Shaun the news Monday.
As Emma, Kate and I turn to leave I hear Shaun's voice.
"Hey, you"
I subtly turn to see if it was me he talking to, it is in fact me.
I briskly walk to meet them, they're all standing together.
"You guys were... incredible" I say.
"You really think so?" Bradie questions.
"Absolutely" I respond. I see him smile adorably.
I turn to Andy as he is in fact the person who asked me about the demo. "I talked to my boss, she said I can put your demo in the store" I say as quietly as he's been talking to me lately.
"Thanks heaps" he says with hardly any enthusiasm. Shaun rolls his eyes, Andy excuses himself because he has to go 'pack up'.
"Thanks for doing that for us Issy" Bradie says lightening the mood a little.
"My pleasure" you can't be blunt with that boy, he's too kind.
"I'm sorry Andy's being stupid, he'll come around" Shaun adds.
I give him a look as if to say 'yeah right' and then I tell them I have to leave.
Shaun opens his arms for a hug, I wrap my arms around his neck. He's so sweaty from the show tonight.
"Wait Issy!" Shaun calls as I'm about to leave the venue.
"You should come to the show tomorrow, I'll give you the demo Cd's"
I nod my head in agreement.
****
The remainder of my night I spent thinking about what I did to cause this sudden change in Andys behaviour. I can't think of anything what so ever. It does upset me, but hey, maybe it just wasn't meant to be.
