I'll Be There (KH/FF fanfic)

Chapter 27: Band practice

Chapter 27:

"Guest of honor's here!" Cloud announces, pushing you by the shoulders into the living room where the rest of the band has already set up. "In her very own home." Cloud shakes his head and clamps a hand on your shoulder before leaving the room.

"What took you so long?" Riku asks as you sit down next to Axel.

"Doesn't matter," Axel answers. "She's here now, got it memorized?" Axel slings an arm across your shoulder.

"Sorry. I took a little...detour on the way back," you explain.

"We already practiced a bit," Aqua tells you. "Hope that's okay.'" You nod understandingly.

Suddenly, Sora bursts into the room, dragging Roxas with him. "Sorry we're so late!" Sora shouts. "I had to finish my science homework!"

"Took you forever to get it done," Roxas mumbles.

"You know Sora's completely hopeless," Zack replies. Sora shoots both him and Roxas a look.

"Am not!" he argues.

"Sora, you're my best friend. I've known you my whole life. And believe me, you're just about as hopeless as they come," Riku tells him.

"It's okay, Sora!" you giggle. "We love you anyway!" You give him a friendly hug and he calms down and grins like his usual happy self.

"Hey, I forgot to tell you guys," Roxas adds. "Namine couldn't make it today but she already made our band T-shirts!" Rikku claps her hands excitedly and you and Yuna exchange a look of glee. Roxas hands out all of the T-shirts, which are black with a 3D looking logo that Namine showed you before popping out of the front as a result of the tasteful contrast. All of the members exchange impressed "oohs" and "aahhs".

"Namine's been busy," Axel says in approval.

"Alrighty, crew!" Demyx butts in. "We need to come up with a few songs that have both male/female vocals. Let's brainstorm!" You never saw Demyx acting like a leader unless it came to the band.

You lay upside down on the couch, your legs slung over the frame and your hair dangling over the edge of the seat. Rikku, Yuna and Aqua sat on the opposite side of you trying to come up with a few titles. Aqua appeared to be deep in concentration. Axel was in the process of nodding off while Demyx began strumming his sitar and Zack leaned back in his chair, his head tilted toward the ceiling and his arms behind his head. Sora was chewing on the end of his pencil and staring down at a blank notebook and Roxas stares down at his hands. Out of the blue, Riku speaks up.

"Saltwater Room, Owl City featuring Breanne Duren," he utters calmly.

Demyx snaps his fingers. "Stay! Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories!"

"Remembering Sunday, All Time Low feat. Juliet Simms," you offer.

"Airplanes, Hayley Williams and B.O.B," Aqua adds as she taps a drumstick on her thigh.

"Hero, by Skillet has male and female vocals," Zack jumps in.

"Hate That I Love You, Rihanna and Neyo!" Yuna says.

"Lady Antebellum, Need You Now," Roxas names off.

"Lucky, Jason Mraz and Colbie Calliat," Rikku announces.

Sora furiously jots down all of the suggestions on the notepad, his tongue sticking out in concentration.

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart, with Elton John and Keke Dee," Axel chimes in. Everyone gives him strange looks (heehee, get it, cause he doesn't have a heart!). "What? Someone had to say it! That song's a classic!" Zack laughs and proceeds to sing the female vocals of the song and Axel chimes in with male vocals. Both of them are severely off key. You and Rikku giggle and Riku rolls his eyes. Aqua is struggling to keep in the laughter.

"You two are giving me a headache!" Tifa sighs, rubbing her temples as she walks into the room. Axel grabs her hand and begins to serenade her but she merely whacks him upside the head, causing everyone else to guffaw.

"Anyway," Tifa continues. "I made a batch of chocolate chip muffins for those of you who deserve them," she smirks, blatantly singling out Axel and Zack as those who do not deserve the treats. Zack, however, perks up and dashes to the kitchen, ignoring her warning look. "Down, Puppy!" she calls to him and he skids to a stop. "You eat last." Zack pouts and she ignores him. "Everyone else can dig in!" she says cheerfully and the rest of you grab one of the muffins, which are fresh from the oven.

"Okay, so we need to decide which songs we wanna practice," you remind everyone, your mouth stuffed with the delicious pastry.

"Right!" Rikku adds, not being very helpful.

"How about we practice lighter stuff, like "Stay", "Hate That I Love You", "Saltwater Room", etc. today," Aqua offers.

"And the more hardcore songs tomorrow?" Roxas questions.

"Correctomundo, my friend," Axel assures him.

"Alright then, let's get started!" Yuna cheers.

"After this last muffin!" You shout.

"Hey, you get seconds?! I haven't even had my first muffin!" Zack whines.

"Can it, Puppy!" Cloud jokes as he walks to the fridge in his sweatpants, opening it and taking out a carton of milk. "The dog eats the leftovers, remember?" Zack punches his friend in the arm and all of you join in a sea of laughter.

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Sorry this is such a short chapter. Just wanted to add a bit of what goes on during band practice! Thanks you guys for being awesometastic readers and leaving nice comments and votes!! You guys make my day so much better when you do that! Anyway, I think it's time for a marshmallow ride! MARSHMALLOOOOWWWW! Stay random, my friends! ^_^.

P.S. I'm gonna try to start leaving author's notes more often!