Guitar Lessons

Chapter 1

I zip up the bag and lift it up with the handle on the side. First day back at college. 1 term done, Leighton, 5 more to go. "Caleb, where the fuck are my plectrums?"

"I don't know," he pokes his head around my bedroom door.

"You should know, you've been the one stealing them all."

"Sorry, sis, but I don't and I haven't stolen any since my last gig."

"Yeah, which was over the weekend, how dumb do you think I am, Cal?" I cross my arms. He has them somewhere. Probably in his case which he hasn't unpacked yet. "And why aren't you dressed? You're meant to be driving me to college."

"You're so stressy."

"Because you're not getting on with it." I pick my phone off the phone and shove it in my back pocket. My breath starts to catch in the back of my throat. "Please, Cal, I don't want this to happen again. Please get my plectrums and get dressed."

"It's okay, Leighton," he smirks.

I drop my guitar to the floor, a crash accompanied with strings twanging. "It's my first day back and I can't be late, Cal." My body shakes, breath catching in the back of my throat. "I can't be late, Cal, please don't make me late."

"I don't have work today," he replies, oblivious to my panicking. "I'm not going into town. I don't need to take you in."

"No, you don't." I pick up my guitar, pushing past him. "Don't worry about me, I'll get the bus."

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Leighton?" He pushes me against the wall outside my bedroom. "You've been acting weird ever since Mum... You know."

"Do not talk about Mum!" I shout, hand rising to his face, still shaking. "You know what happened last time."

"What?" he asks, confused. "What's going on, Leighton? Why won't you do any more gigs with me?"

"Forget it," I reply. "Forget I ever said anything. Never bring Mum up again."

I escape, walking away from him, out of the house and to the bus stop, where I take my phone out my pocket and call Serena. "Hey, are you on your way?"

"No, not yet," I reply. "I'm going to be late, I'm having to get the bus."

"Why? What happened to Cal?" Serena asks, concerned.

"He's not going into work today. I don't know what's going on with him but he keeps missing work which is not like him at all. I wish I could know what's going on with him."

"I know you're worried, Leighton," she replied. "To be honest, I am too but I need to give him the space he asked for."

"Wait, he asked for space?" I ask, confused.

"Yeah, I thought he told you," she frowns. "When your Mum died 3 months ago, he asked for some time to himself and then also asked for some space. If I was worried about him, Leighton, I would tell you. Don't fret, everything's okay."

When I'm at college, I rush towards Xander's room on the 3rd floor. When I reach the top of the stairs, I take time to regain my breath. I catch sight of Gabe, his guitar on his back, at the end of the corridor laughing with his mates. I walk away from them, towards the bathroom at the other end of the corridor. In the mirror, my makeup's still strong. I pull my lipstick out of my back and reapply it, pressing my lips together.

In the corridor, Gabe and his mates walk towards me as I exit the bathroom. "What do you want? You all hate me."

"Yeah, and you know why, don't you?" Gabe replies.