Blake and Aimee

Chapter 8: Aimee

"So, what was it like in Ireland?" It was lunch time and Aimee and I chose to sit against one of the buildings under the roof, it's bucketing down with rain. When she picked me up from school Ma took one look at my head and nearly had a heart attack, she took me to the hospital and everything. I have to admit, my head did look pretty bruised but there was obviously no permanent damage, I mean could talk and stand and whatnot. Still, they bandaged me up- gave me some meds to stop the headache and sent me on my way. And chemo starts up again this week which is shit.

"Yeah, yeah it was nice- great. I loved Ireland, my school, my friends, my house. The smell of the ocean, the breeze, the large blocks of land and long windy roads. It was home you know?" I miss it. In London, it feels so claustrophobic, all the apartments stacked up one on top of the other, and everything smells of smoke. When I was diagnosed with cancer I was relatively optimistic about it actually. Sure, it sucked balls but I'd get through it. Because my life was still the same as it had always been, just now with hospital appointments and chemo. And my friends treated me no different- that what I liked about them most I think; that's despite everything to them I was the same Blake they had met in fourth grade. Now it's all gone. Chemo was meant end months ago; my treatment was only meant to be short-term but they found more tumours were developing. It just feels like I have no hope left, it's all been burned out. I no longer have the will to live my life, I just continue to exist from day to day until I stop breathing. I can feel my eyes starting to burn as I blink back what may eventuate into tears. I think Aimee saw though, because she quickly changed the subject. Quite literally.

"So, what subject do you have next?"

"Music." Thank god, the only subject I'm guaranteed to pass.

"I actually have no idea what I have next, I just realised; hang on," she pulls her timetable out from her bag and not looking up from it smiles, "hey who do you have music with?"

I pull my timetable out of my notebook, "Mr Martin." Her head snaps up from her paper, and she smiles from ear to ear.

"Same, we have music together."

...

"Alright Music Class, welcome! File in take your seats. I'm Mr Martin and I'm am your teacher for this year. And quick tip for you if you want to get good grades, I very much value students with a good taste in music so I ask that you take any of your cheap-arse boybands' and skimpy wannabes' OUTSIDE." God this guy is great, at least I'll know I'll enjoy one subject this year. "But that aside I hope you guys have a good year this year, so I figure let's go around the room and introduce ourselves. As I said I'm Mr Martin and I play piano and guitar, and my favourite band of all time is the Beatles. Who's next?" I half raise my hand, enough to get the teachers attention but not enough for anyone else to notice. It worked at least. "Yes, you sir in the front, nice hat by the way, what is your name?"

"Blake, I play bass and acoustic guitar, and my favourite bands are probably Green Day and Radiohead." The teacher claps his hands together; most likely late twenties, wears a suit shirt and tie but seems like the kind of guy that would prefer to get around in a t-shirt and shorts.

"Good man, I do have a soft spot for Radiohead, you know their album Pablo Honey?"

"Yeah, yeah that's actually my favourite one."

"Nice taste, anyway whose next?" Aimee look over at me and smiles, as she slowly raises her hand into the air. Mr Martin nods to her.

"Um, well my name is Aimee, I like singing but I am not very good at it, and I like pretty much all music under the sun except for what's currently popular on the radio."

"Ah yes I can certainly agree with that, modern music all sounds the same and is completely fazed over with techno and sounds effects- disgusting. Well I have a feeling you two will be my star pupils of this class, not that I pick favourites." He turns to the rest of the class but shoots Aimee and I a side wink, this guy is golden.

We spend the rest of the lesson going over different chords and theory and whatnot, our first assessment piece is an exam- buzzkill, but the rest is mainly performance-based, with two written pieces. Aimee got excited over the written of course. As we walk out of class, Aimee turns to me.

"You never told me you played!"

"What are you talking about, I told you I play video games remember?" Another punch in the arm.

"Ok, ok I'm sorry, it never came up alright?"

"You'll have to play for me sometime." Yeah. No.

"Geez I'm not good or anything I just know how to play, I haven't touched my guitars in months."

"Maybe you just had no one to play for." She smiles for a moment, as if she was planning what else to say but then dismisses it and stares off into the distance.

"Anyway, I better get to class, I have chemistry." She walks off, wrapping her jacket around her as she walks through the rain. Maybe I will play for her, someday.