~°Flashback°~

Early Bird Jazz Club

Mitchell and Alex got there just in time. The Early Bird jazz club was just opening, and they had ten minutes to prepare for their first performance. They made sure to park behind the building and slip through the back door to get to their dressing room. They were greeted by a pair of very familiar faces.

“Michael!” Mitchell exclaimed, excited to see his friend again. He hugged him tightly, not paying attention to the man accompanying him.

“Well, what do I look like, a telephone pole?” William asked, clearly unhappy with being ignored.

“You might as well be. You're tall enough,” Alex joked, handing William his bass. The two smiled at each other before prepping themselves for their performances. Mitchell made sure to get Michael his saxophone and straighten out his jacket and tie before sending him out.

“Good luck you two,” Mitchell said, fixing his hair up.

“Warm ‘em up good for us, will ya?” Alex yelled to them as they disappeared around a corner.

“Will do!” Michael responded, his voice distant. Alex chuckled to himself before throwing on his jacket and hat. He paused for a moment, and shuffled through his suitcase.

“I could've sworn I packed my tie…” he mumbled to himself. The music started up in the background and he became even more frantic.

“Just borrow mine, Al. I owe you one anyways,” Mitchell offered, taking his tie off and putting it on Alex.

“Oh, really. You don't gotta,” Alex stated.

“Too bad buddy. Besides, it's just for today. I'll buy you your own on the way outta here,” Mitchell said, tightening the tie. Alex looked down at him.

“Thanks, Mitch,” he smiled, hugging him.

“Ah, don't worry about it. Now, let's go sing our hearts out. Waddaya say?” Mitchell smiled back. Alex nodded and followed him out to the stage, where William and Michael sat, and the audience waited for a wonderful performance. The four of them smiled at each other and got into their places.

“Hit it, boys"

********

By ten in the morning they were on the road again, this time with a new pair of passengers to accompany them. Alex took the back seat with his brother while William sat in the front with Mitchell. Alex complained that “the queers are taking all the good seats” before getting in the back with Michael. It was only a 30 minute drive back to Burien, but it felt so much shorter. Mitchell stopped the car in front of Highline High School on their way back to his house.

“Three more days, boys. Everyone ready?” he asked the three. They all sighed.

“As we’ll ever be,” Michael stated, his Russian accent thicker with his drowsiness.

“It's bad, but it'll never be as bad as Ellis,” William admitted, his Spanish accent thick as well.

“Fair point,” Alex agreed. They took a moment just looking at the building before driving off, only stopping once they reached Mitchell's house.