Ghost Of You *SLOW UPDATES*

Chapter 11

I fawn over the papers on my desk as I read over the handwritten essay one last time and check for any spelling mistake or grammatical errors. I'm already sick and tired of all the people bitching to one another about the quality of each other's music. I've won the three live comps we've had so far, as well as the original song comp at the start. I came second in the other three because my work was entered 'too late' and I suck at written pieces that have nothing to do with writing music.

I sigh and close the paper before sliding it into a plastic slip and place it down on the couch beside me before leaning back in my seat on the couch and staring up at the roof above me. I ponder over my points made in the essay when a knock raps through the door followed by it creaking open. It's the seventh competition now, and we had to write about ways in which we find inspiration.

I have left this to the last minute... And I have no idea how to put my thoughts down on to paper.

I roll my head to the right and find Luke walking in with his guitar in its case, followed by Ashton who is wearing a great big grin on his face.

"Hey guys. What are you doing here?" I ask in a confused manner.

"Wondering what you're doing. The grade was all supposed to have a session by the lake today, and you decided to not show up. Let's just say, you were sorely missed by some." Ashton explains as he picks up my paper and hands it to me before plopping down on the couch beside me, casually resting an arm on the back of the couch.

"Who missed me?" I ask with a smirk as I look towards Luke who's just placed his case on the ground and moved toward the mixer station that's casually playing a few random instrumentals from my favourite movies.

"Me mostly. Plus the other idiots I have for a band." Luke chuckles as he looks at the mix of music playing and turns it off.

"How sweet." I say with a small smile as I move from my seat, paper in hand, and place it on the empty stand by the microphone.

I walk over to my acoustic guitar which is waiting patiently on its stand and pick it up gently before sitting on the seat by a microphone near the couch. Luke and Ashton both smile at me as I begin randomly strumming chords on my guitar until I like the way it sounds. Humming out random words, I begin to string those words into sentences, writing them down in the notebook which always rests by my regular seat as Luke and Ashton begin to throw in random lyrics from behind me and some other chords and beats to the song.

Halfway through ending the first verse, a curt knock breaks through the music and I stop abruptly as one two guys from my grade walk in wearing great big smiles.

"Have you seen the next competition?" The blonde one asks, his hair quiffed in the same way Luke used to when he was younger. "We need to perform something in a group. 2 minimum per team. Whichever group loses, is eliminated from the competition."

I stare at him in shock and say flabbergasted, "What?"

The black haired one nods his head but says nothing as he continues to smile broadly.

"Sorry, don't mind old Finn, he's a mute. And I'm Tom by the way." Tom says with a warm smile of his own as he sticks his hand out for me to shake.

I hesitantly put my hand in his own and shake it gently, feeling the calluses on his fingers brush against my own. I hear an awkward cough come from my side as I pull away from Tom's grasp and quickly stutter out, "Oh sorry. Um, Tom and Finn meet Luke and Ashton."

Finn's eyes immediately gain a sparkle as he beholds the two men sitting on the couch behind me. He taps Tom's shoulder and begins to use his hands to communicate his message, the excitement on his face pouring out through his hurried hand gestures.