Three is a Crowd

Chapter Twenty One~BAND PRACTICE

So after we ate our burgers, Luke let me in on one more detail. We are going to be the live band on Juli’s debut. I couldn’t say no anymore although I wanted to object since Luke already sent Juli a YES. Damn that guy. So today is the start of band practice.

I walked into the familiar nook and cranny of Luke’s garage. There, I was greeted by their gardener; Mr. Winslow who often gives me freshly picked marigolds. He said that the bouquet I got on graduation day was handpicked by Luke himself in their garden. I just nodded thanks and told him good job. When I entered the garage, it is what I always remembered, a drum set out back near the door, two guitar amplifiers, a keyboard and two mic stands. Mrs. Verhona never wanted us to play inside since she doesn’t like the noise the guys made. When I was still Luke’s girlfriend, it is usually his cousins who played the instruments, now it was a whole new group.

“Helllooo there pretty lady.” Said a tall man who was sitting near the drum set.

“A butterfly seems to be lost and came to us.” Said another holding a Stratocaster.

“I’m sorry, but where is Luke?” I ask them.

“Aw man. That guy really is a chick-magnet eh?” Said the guy near the drum set. And right on cue, Luke came out with another short guy who was wearing glasses.

“Allie, did these hoodlums bother you?” Luke grinned.

“Hey, hey man. Don’t call us that. You know we were just playing around.” Said the guy with the guitar.

“I think it’s time to introduce ourselves. My name’s Tom.” Said the guy near the drum set.

“I’m Nick.” Said the guy with the guitar.

“And I’m Andie.” Said the guy with glasses, “I play the keyboards.” He smiled and somehow, something in his smile made me feel warm inside.

“So Allie, I have here the list of songs Juli had requested and she said to add some more to it. Any suggestions?” Luke said.

“Let me have a look at the list.”

(Roar, Mirrors, Good Time, She will be Loved, Treasure, What If, Vanilla Twilight, Daylight (duet), and others you guys might add)

So here is seven hours of practical jokes and practice. Actually it was fun. But, somehow it was also unnerving. The thing is, whenever it is my turn to sing, I can feel Andie’s gaze on my back. It was embarrassing enough to sing in front of a bunch of college dudes I just knew a couple of hours ago.

“Had fun Allie?”

“Yeah. Exhausting could be a better term.” I said while I walked out of the Verhona’s territory. It has been a crazy day: a lot of laughter and a lot of story-telling. And there was a lot of teasing as well.

As the weeks pass by, Luke isn’t so awkward to be with anymore. He stayed the same, my mischievous best buddy. The only thing different with him is that, he loves Juli not me.