Down But Not Out

Chapter 19

Reckless was echoing throughout the shop while I danced around, sweeping up as I went. My iPod was always on shuffle so I had no clue what song would come up next until the song changed. This happened to be the second You Me At Six song in a row, since the previous had been Fireworks.

I sang along while I swept up the bits of dirt that customers had been tracking in all day so far while shaking my hips from side to side. Unfortunately though the song was soon over and I heard someone chuckling from behind me. I jumped, not knowing that there had been anyone behind me, and turned to see that Josh was sitting down in his usual place. I blushed and walked behind the counter to stash the broom away before sitting down next to Josh. I avoided looking at him because it was embarrassing knowing that he'd watched me jumping around and singing at the top of my voice. At least he knows what I'm like with my music though since he tends to walk in on me jumping up and down around the shop.

"Why do you like them so much?" he asked and I looked at him to see him rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. I shook my head at him.

"I don't like them, I love them" I corrected and he smiled at me. I frowned and bit my lip as I thought before I shrugged, "don't you like them then? Since their music comes on so often on my iPod?" I asked and he shrugged. I frowned, not understanding what he meant by that shrug. Did it mean he doesn't like them but was just shrugging to avoid telling me in case he hurt my feelings? I had a feeling it might be.

"It's fine if you don't like them, you're entitled to your own opinion of course. Although if you ask me I would say that you have a rubbish taste in music. You know what annoys me? People who say they are shit, it pisses me off because there are people- like me for example- who love You Me At Six, along with other rock bands and they have the nerve to tell me that my music taste is crap. If that's what they think then fine, they shouldn't listen to the music that I like, but haters need to fuck off, just because they aren't mainstream or because Josh doesn't use auto-tune on his voice, because honestly his voice is absolutely amazing, doesn't mean they aren't amazing. Anyway Hold Me Down recently went gold, and Sinners recently went silver, so those haters who are saying rock music is shit and that it doesn't sell, are wrong. Just because the music isn't on the 'pop' charts doesn't mean it's not selling so they seriously need to get their facts right" I shrugged, and saw Josh's mouth hanging open. I blushed and shook my head at him.

"Wow, you really feel that strongly?" he asked and I nodded before shrugging.

"You know what I'm like when it comes to my music. Their music in particular" I stated and he nodded.

"Of course, but why do you feel so strongly?" he asked and I sighed.

"Well I'd always liked rock music, I mean Louise was constantly playing it so I'd never been one to listen to the rap music stuff that you always heard. She knew that I liked Paramore so she introduced me to You Me At Six by playing their re-released debut album, which she'd bought about a week before that. She played me her favourite songs- which at that time were If You Run, Finders Keepers, If I Were In Your Shoes and Gossip and I instantly fell in love with them. Then she found me wearing one of the tops that she'd recently bought from their online store, so she bought me my own for my birthday. When I lost her, I tended to shut myself away in my room and just listen to their two albums on repeat, as well as Paramore's albums. If it wasn't for those two bands, I don't know how I would've coped in those first few weeks, and the months since then" I said, shrugging at Josh who had been listening eagerly while I told him. I laughed as I thought of something.

"Wow, I sound really bad, and I know lots of fans always say that their bands saved their life, but You Me At Six actually kept me from becoming depressed because every time I heard one of their songs I couldn't help but smile and dance and sing along" I said, trying to explain why I sounded so obsessed. Josh smiled at me and leaned his side against the counter.

"It makes sense Liz, and honestly you don't sound bad at all. You sound like someone who kept to herself while grieving and relied on her favourite bands to help her through. Actually it makes so much sense now as to why you love music as much as you do" he nodded to himself at the end and I smiled at him.

"So do you have a favourite member?" he asked and I shook my head.

"Not this again" I sighed and he grinned at me. I shook my head at him.

"I told you the other day that I wasn't telling you" I sighed and he rolled his eyes.

"Okay fine. How are your shoulders today?" he asked me and I nodded.

"Alright actually. Still sore but they're not hurting as much as what they were yesterday. Then again Summer made sure I took some painkillers before I went to sleep last night, and again this morning, just to make sure my shoulders wouldn't bother me throughout the day" I shook my head at the fact that Summer had nagged me about it, to make sure that I was able to sleep okay last night. I was actually positive that she felt so guilty about what had happened yesterday and was hoping that if I slept well I wouldn't hate her so bad. Of course I could read her well enough to gather that, but I could never hate Summer.

"Do you want a coffee?" I asked Josh and he smiled before nodding. He stood up and dug his wallet out of his back pocket before handing me some notes, which I automatically took. I frowned at the notes in my hand and looked up at him. He shrugged at me once his wallet was back in his back pocket and he was sitting down on the stool once again.

"My treat" he stated and I rolled my eyes at him, knowing not to argue with him once he'd made his mind up. I sighed and nodded.

"What do you want then?" I asked him and he smiled at me.

"The usual food and drink" he replied and I rolled my eyes before standing up and walking to the door of the shop just as David and Matt walked in, followed by another guy, who was quite short and was also wearing sunglasses with a white cap over his head. What a big surprise there! I rolled my eyes but smiled at him.

"Introductions later, I'm going to Marie's. Do you guys want anything?" I asked them all. David and Matt asked for their usual while the newcomer just asked for a black coffee with a couple of packets of sugar. I nodded and walked out of the shop before heading in the direction of Marie's.