Battle Of The Bands

Chapter Thirteen

Aaron took a quick shower, his mind running a million miles a minute. Why didn't Chad tell them? Why would he keep it to himself all of these years?

Aaron got out of the shower with these thoughts tumbling around. He got dressed quickly and walked back into the living room. He was the only one ready, so he sat down on his bed, grabbing his phone. He went on all the social media apps he had before going on the Battle of the Bands app. He scrolled through the performances from the bands and the interviews to see the hidden camera section. He looked at all the live cameras and saw nothing very interesting. No one was up yet. He started to play Hamilton music, quietly so he wouldn't wake their neighbors. He could play this kind of music when his friends weren't around.

He bobbed his head along to the songs as he stared at the ceiling. He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the quietness. That was when Alexander came strolling in. "Hi A-A-ron," Alex said.

"A-A-ron?" Aaron asked.

"Duh," Alexander said. "Aaron is spelled with two a's. How else would you say it?"

"Possibly Aaron?" he said. 

"Possibly." They laughed as Chad came in the room. 

"Whatcha boys laughin' at?" he asked. 

"I guess I am A-A-ron," Aaron said. 

"You are totally A-A-ron," Chad said, agreeing with Alexander. "So, what do you want to do when the other boys are done?"

"I have no clue," Aaron said.

"Me either." Alexander nodded. They waited until the other boys came.

James came next. He sat down next to the other three. "What are you three doing?" James asked, looking at the three boys. They had their legs on each other, laying down.

"Bored," Alexander said. "So bored."

"We are waiting for Bert," Aaron added.

"Someone should get Nutella for me," Chad responded.

"Nah." Chad looked at James, glaring.

"You are not a true friend if you don't get me Nutella."

"Dude you just spilled your guts. I didn't laugh or spread it on social media. I think that calls me a true friend," James said back to him.

"He's right," Alexander piped up.

"Fine," Chad said crossly. "Rude people."

"Thanks for the compliment," James said.

Finally Bert came. "What are you guys doing?" he asked just like James did.

"The boredom is killing me," Alexander told him.

"We could go play football," Bert suggested.

"Exercise?" Chad asked. "Ew."

"Dude, you like playing basketball but not football?" Aaron asked.

"Duh. We have the best group hugs there as we tackle each other," Chad said.

Bert chuckled. "Exercise is tiring," Chad said.

"I thought you like to dance," Alexander pointed out.

"That's it," Chad said. "God forbid. Who do you think I am? An exerciser?"

The boys chuckled at that. "So, what shall we do?" Aaron asked.

"No clue," Bert answered. His face lit up. "We could do Clue!"

"The Harry Potter Clue!" Alexander said and scrambled up. He ran to where his stuff was and opened his bag. He pulled out Harry Potter Clue.

"How'd that fit in there?" Chad asked.

"It's just like Hermione's purse," Bert said.

"Let's not play that," James said.

"Fine," Alexander said glumly. "What are we gonna do then?"

"Go get Nutella!" Chad said. "That's our mission."

"What?" Bert said.

"Nu tell a," Chad said slowly, emphasizing each syllable. He looked at each of the boys in turn. "What do ya say?"

"Fine," James said. "Come on boys."

Each boy got up and walked to the kitchen. "Nutella!" Chad said, grabbing it out of the cabinet. He kissed it just as Aaron took it out of his hands.

"Why?" Chad shouted. "No! Give me Nutella!"

Chad chased Aaron around the island, trying (and failing) to grab the Nutella jar. The door opened in the kitchen and in came Oakley. "Oh hi guys," she said brightly. Her eyes scanned around, looking at all but Bert. Chad and Aaron stopped running when they saw her staring at them. 

"Hello," Chad said. He smiled at her before doing a little shimmy. 

She just gaped at him. "Sorry about that," he said. "I have these impulses to do that sometimes. It's natural, don't worry."

He grinned. "Come on Oakley, how long does it take you?" Anika said as she stepped into the kitchen. "Oops. Sorry. I didn't know you were talking."

Anika looked at Oakley before glancing at Bert. "We'll be off after we grab the chips," she said. She grabbed the Sour Cream and Onion chips and grabbed Oakley's arm. They left the kitchen, leaving the boys there. 

"You okay?" James asked Bert.

"Yeah," he said, taking a deep breath. "I am. I know that my situation isn't as bad as some others."

He glanced at Chad. "You know, if my parents never left me, I wouldn't have been friends with you boys," Chad said. "So don't think I had it bad. I would never have met my real family."

"AWWWWWWWW YOU CARE!" Alexander said, grinning and running over to hug Chad. Actually, more like slowly squeezing the life out of him. Chad broke out of the hug.

"No I don't," Chad said even though he was smiling. 

"Hey, I'm going to go get my phone so we can see what other bands are doing," James said. "Anyone want to come?" 

"I will," Bert and Alexander said. 

"Anyone else?" James said. 

"Nope. I'm stayin' with the food," Chad said and Aaron agreed. 

James, Bert, and Alexander left the kitchen, leaving Chad and Aaron all to themselves. Not a good thing. "What to eat first?" Aaron asked Chad. 

"Marshmallows," Chad responded. He opened another cabinet and grabbed a bag of marshmallows. The stuffed their faces with them as the door opened. 

James stopped in his tracks. "What in the world?" he asked. "We leave for a few seconds and here you two are hogging out. Why couldn't you wait until I joined?"

Chad and Aaron started dying of laughter. "Gross butts," Bert commented. 

"Nah," Chad said with the marshmallows in his mouth. The two boys finally swallowed the marshmallows. 

"I hate marshmallows," Alexander said. 

"Me too," Bert agreed. 

"How in the world do you not like marshmallows?" Chad asked. 

"They just taste weird," Alexander said. "And I don't like the feeling of them."

"Weirdo," Aaron said, eating another one. 

"Boys," Chad said, shaking his head at Bert and Alexander.