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The Tabi Cats -- Sidemen Family Short

Tobi was loath to practice at home in front of his family, so they didn't find out until almost the night before. A call arrived from the local café, asking how many seats were required for their family. At JJ's inquiry, the caller clarified that Tobi, along with his band, "The Tabi Cats," would be performing that night.

-=+=-

Tobi slipped a hand into his pocket, has backpack sagging off of one shoulder as he stepped out of the passenger seat of Josh's car, his older brother close behind him. The two had stayed late at school, Tobi for football practice and Josh for his part time tutoring of younger students. They walked in a companionable silence, Josh pulling his house keys out of his pocket with a muffled jingling noise. He casually opened the door, holding it for his brother to enter first.

Tobi stepped into the house and immediately froze in confusion. Standing in front of the door was his entire family. JJ was in the middle, a somewhat angry look on his face and his arms crossed. To his right was Simon, who was holding Vik in his arms, the younger's head pressed onto his brother's shoulder. Both looked pouty, along with Ethan, who was holding Harry's hand on JJ's left side. Harry was smiling, as always.

"Hi guys?" Tobi said nervously, stepping foreword cautiously to allow Josh to enter the house behind him. The eldest brother started in confusion, but as usual offered his arm out to take Tobi's backpack, something that he tended to do for no reason, not that Tobi minded. The younger handed Josh his backpack and turned back to his family as Josh hung both backpacks up on hooks by the stairway.

"Sorry, why is everyone looking at me like I've discarded their best Fifa players?" He asked.

"Were you planning on telling us?" was JJ's response, but Tobi was still lost.

"What? Telling you what?" he asked slowly.

"Spill. When were you going to tell us you're the lead singer in a band?" Simon said, rather than asked. The rest nodded, and Tobi's eyes widened.

"I... did Cal tell you?" he asked, and JJ shook his head.

"The café you have a gig at just asked how many seats we want reserved. I asked for six." His angry face broke into a smile and he embraced his second-oldest son. "You should have told us!" Harry laughed as he joined the hug, pulling Ethan with him. Vik and Simon held back, only so Vik wouldn't have to leave Simon's comfortable hold.

"We're not very good." Tobi flushed, surprised at the embrace. "Cal and Cal are on bass and drums, and I've been practicing guitar after school with my music teacher, but I can't sing very well anyway and we've just been practicing in Freezy's garage for the past couple of weeks. This is our first gig." JJ, if possible, pulled him even closer.

"You're an amazing singer Tobi. I'm sure you'll do great."

-=+=-

The café was dimly lit, and the six sevenths of the sidemen family were sitting down, enjoying their food, but there was a muted suspense around them. Vik and Harry were even more hyper than usual, fidgeting in their seats, and Josh had to substitute for the job of calming the two boys, something Tobi was best at. Ethan and Simon were talking and laughing normally, but they too kept glancing at the empty wooden stage at the front of the restaurant.

A man walked on stage, and the full café lowered their voices to a murmur.

"Hello everyone, I'm the manager here, and I'd like to welcome tonight's band, The "Tabi Cats!" The crowd cheered, and the manager retreated, spotlights on stage revealing a sparkling drum set at the back of the stage, along with two high stools. Cal walked out from behind the curtain, sitting down at the drums. Freezy emerged from the side door, an acoustic looking bass guitar strapped across his chest. He braced his foot on the bar along the bottom of the stool and sat on it, adjusting a tuner of his instrument.

And Tobi. His guitar was the same one that had been resting in his room collecting dust since his sixth year of school. His eyes were bright, and he spotted his family and smiled as he walked onstage, sitting at the remaining seat.

Cal on the drums started a gentle beat, slowly getting stronger. Freezy joined in on bass, the low notes adding a light melody to the song. And then Tobi let out the first strum of his guitar, and a sort of magic engulfed the room. The note was pure and smooth.

At the song's next measure, Tobi opened his mouth and began to sing. His voice was angelic, and unconsciously it seemed as though the entire room began to sway with the liltingly beautiful tune, one which Tobi had told his family before the performance, he had written. Every person leaned foreward slightly in awe, wanting to be closer to the beautiful tune. Vik and Harry were grinning wildly, Simon and JJ had their eyes closed in content, Ethan's jaw was hanging open and Josh had a shining tear sparkling at the corner of his eye. The song seemed to keep going infinitely, but as the closing notes were played, everyone wished it to keep going.

Tobi let out the last note, low and quiet, his vibrato echoing and the room lapsed in to silence, only for a second, before the entire restaurant erupted in cheers and clapping. Tobi's eyes widened at the reception, and a grin broke out across his features.

The Sidemen Family were clapping loudest of all.