A New Hope

Chapter 19: Did you pack your drumsticks?

"Ok, guys, we all need to talk," I said, gathering everyone in the main lounge.

"Yeah, we need to find out where the fuck we're gonna find another drummer," Brendon said, frustratingly running his fingers through his tossled hair.

"I nominate Chloe," Baylee said.

"What?" I said, shocked.

"Yeah, you know, like, all the songs. Come on," she said.

"But I don't have drumsticks, and I don't feel comfortable using someone else's."

She sighed. "Well, I was gonna save these for your birthday, but I'll give them to you now."

She walked back to our bunk, and when she came back she had a long, skinny birthday bag with bright colored tissue paper sticking out of the top.

When she handed them to me, I tore the tissue paper out. I pulled out two skinny wood sticks. When I looked at them, they were black, and one had the Panic! logo on it with Brendon's signature, and the other had the Fall Out Boy logo on it, with room for a signature.

"They're personalized drumsticks. I know you can play the drums, but you never really had your own sticks. And, I made Panic! for you and FOB for me. It shows our friendship. You love Panic! and I love FOB. You and I are like Brendon and Pete, we're besties affiliated with different bands."

I almost tackled her in a hug. "Thank you so much. I'll cherish these forever."

"I hope so," she said, hugging me back.

"Well, now that you have some drumsticks, what do say?" Brendon asked.

"Yeah, you wanna be our new drummer?" Kenny asked.

I thought for a second. "Well, if the roadies are willing to pull out the drum set at the rest stop so I can practice a little bit, sign me up!"

"Yay! Welcome to the band Chloe," Dallon said, giving me a really tight hug. Like, REALLY tight.

"Uh, Dallon. I... can't... breathe," I said.

"Oh, sorry," he said, letting go of me, "I'm just excited that you're in the band. I know you're an amazing musician, I'm glad to have that in our band."

"Thanks," I said, my cheeks turning a light pink.

I felt the bus stop, and I immediately jumped up out of my seat and ran toward the door, Baylee on my heels. When I got outside, I excitedly tapped my new sticks together. I just wanted to play.

Brendon told me to calm down before getting one of the roadies to unload and set up the drum set right outside the bus. I sat on the throne and got ready to play something, anything. It felt like an audition for the band, especially since I had everyone around me.

"So, is this, like, my audition or whatever?" I joked.

"Sure. Go," Brendon said.

I smiled before quickly thinking about what song to play. I just decided to play Girls/Girls/Boys, since I love it. Obviously. I just started jamming out. It was a little harder without the rest of the instruments, but I still did ok.

When I finished, I heard clapping. I hadn't even noticed that I had closed my eyes, but I had. "So, you CAN play drums," Brendon said sarcastically.

I glared at him. "Shut up. Yes, I can play drums. Are you jelly that I'm better than you?"

"Shut up, you are not!"

"Fine then. Drum battle, tomorrow's concert. We'll let the crowd decide."

"You're on."

I heard Baylee, Kenny, and Dallon laugh as Brendon and I playfully glared at each other. "Ok, it's getting kinda cold out here. Can we go inside?" Baylee asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Brendon said, and the roadie that had set up the drum set quickly unassembled it and it put away before retreating to the roadies' bus.

When we got inside, Baylee and I quickly put on our PJs and went back into the main lounge, where the boys were already relaxing in their PJs with a huge bowl of popcorn watching Suicide Squad. "You couldn't wait for us?" I asked.

"We literally just started it. Come on, come watch it with us," Dallon said.

Baylee and I nodded as we both raced to the only empty spot on the couch. I got there first, but Baylee didn't seem to care as she jumped on me. "Ugh! Baylee!!" I said.

She laughed. "I'm sure we can share."

"Just no more jumping. Please."

"Ok, fine."

We watched the rest of the movie, and by the time I heard the post-credit remix of Heathens play, all of us were ready for bed.

Baylee and I crawled up into my bunk after a very exhausting day. I tried to fall asleep, but I couldn't, even though I was tired. I had too much on my mind. With Alex and Darla together and him becoming a bully again, I didn't know what to do.

I tried not to toss and turn so I wouldn't wake Baylee up, but I still couldn't seem to get comfortable. "Chloe, are you ok?" I heard a sleepy Baylee say.

"Shit, did I wake you?"

"No, I never fell asleep."

"I'm really sorry. I just have a lot on my mind, with the whole Alex thing."

"It's ok. I get it, it shocked me too. I wasn't gonna mention it, but I knew I had to. You were going to find out eventually, and I would rather it came from me."

"Thanks. I appreciate you telling me. It's just a lot to take in, you know?"

"I know. Don't worry, I'm here for you."

I looked at her, smiling. And that's when I saw something different in her eyes. Love, but not the sisterly love she had shown before. It was... I can't explain what the love was, but it was stronger. She was falling for me. No, wait. She already fell for me.

And when I saw that look, my heart skipped a beat. Was I... was I falling for her too? I wasn't quite sure, but I had the feeling that I was. No, actually, I was sure. Because the last time I felt like this was when I was falling for Alex.

"Baylee..."

"What?"

I could sense that she knew how I felt. I mean, my heart was so loud I was sure she could hear it. "I..."

"Shhh, Brendon's gonna hear you. I know. I feel the same way."

Of course you do. At least, I hope you do.

I realized that our faces were really close at this point, and the scent of her warm vanilla body wash dusted my nose. "Chloe, I..."

I cut her off as I pulled her toward me and our lips collided in a kiss. My first kiss, might I add.

When we separated, I watched her brown eyes sparkle in the moonlight. "Chloe?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's not mention this to Brendon."

I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, ok."

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Hey guys!! I know, I haven't updated in about a month, but I've been really busy lately between summer school and marching band stuff. But, I'm officially a 9th grader! Wish me luck, and I'm really sorry for the late update.
Love, Kaitkaitkitty